Maccheroni Republic is one of the notable Italian restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles. The other two are Bestia and Factory Kitchen. Each providing different styles of what they consider Italian.
The service was great. The waiter was full of recommendations and provided the names of all the popular dishes. Our water was always filled to the rim as we sat in the hidden Italian oasis in the middle of busy Downtown Los Angeles. Furthermore, the food did take a little longer to come out than other restaurants in its class.
Now, the food. I had a chance to experience a lot on the menu but I’m only going to describe my favorite dishes.
- Polpettine Di Gamberi – The appetizer plate is crispy pan-fried shrimp cakes with balsamic caramelized onions and lemon. The crispy batter gave way to tender plump chopped shrimps. The lemon provided a zest of life to it while the caramelized brought sweetness into your life like your favorite daughter.
Polpettine Di Gamberi - Cuffie Al Nero Di Sepia – The squid ink pasta came with morsels of saffron fish ragout. The squid ink texture was nice and chewy; the fish gave it contrast by being soft and flaky. The sauce didn’t overpower the pasta or soak the fish batter. It’s probably one of my favorite pastas at the restaurant.
Cuffie Al Nero Di Sepia - Bianchi & Neri – The thin black and white vermicelli served with shrimp, mushroom & roasted pancetta as it bathed in a creamy bisque. The silky vermicelli was a level below al dente where it was still chewy yet soft enough to enjoy. The creamy bisque was full-flavored without being too heavy on the palate; the shrimps and mushroom produce a plump and juicy flavor for the pasta.
Bianchi & Neri - Agnolotti Di Osso Bucco – The osso bucco meat and marrow filled the tortelloni as it laid in a shallow pool of salsa verde. As you bit into the tortelloni, your palate is overwhelmed by the tender veal and the earthy flavors of the salsa verde gave life to the dish. The sauce was very lively like a vinaigrette to a salad.
Agnolotti Di Osso Bucco - Pappardelle Con Ragu Di Cinghiale – The large fettuccine served with wild boar ragout and a tomato sauce was fantastic. It’s easily my second favorite pasta here. If not, first. The tender morsels of wild boar marinated in the zesty tomato sauce as it sat in the bed of soft fettuccine pasta. The comforting dish gave me an of how it was like to grow up in an Italian home and eat pasta throughout my youth.
Pappardelle Con Ragu Di Cinghiale
- Service - 7.5/107.5/10
- Presentation - 7.5/107.5/10
- Flavors - 9/109/10
- Decor - 8/108/10
- Ambiance - 8/108/10
Summary
Maccheroni Republic is one of the notable Italian restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s a very solid restaurant providing authentic pasta for relatively cheap. It’s definitely comes to mind when I think of restaurants to recommend for people visiting Los Angeles.
