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Six of us went for dinner here, and had we not followed someone who knew where he was going, I think we might still be looking for this place. The establishment was hidden in a strip mall and was busy and noisy, but we walked right in at 6:00 on a Friday evening--lucky for reservations. Yeah. It's early.
We weren't in Los Angeles that long ago, but even though I have a great memory, I can't recollect much about this restaurant except for the fact that the bread was mediocre, the house wine was so-so, and the meals were ok, nothing great.
I had the eggplant parmesan and Mr. K had the linguini with pesto. There was a chopped salad or two to share, as well as a couple of orders of something bolognese. Not sure what the big deal is with the chopped salad, cuz none of us at our table were oohing and ahhing about it like some of the other Yelp reviewers have been doing. Not sure if I'm missing something or being from the East Coast, I wasn't used to eating this type of salad, but it was a chopped salad with ok dressing. Nothing more, nothing less.
We skipped dessert and coffee, cuz we knew we'd be partaking elsewhere. This place was just ok. Will give it three stars because we enjoyed the company so much, but I don't think we'd return.
So, I went here for lunch with my Boss, who btw is loves their chopped salad...ok I admit it, it's pretty darn good. There were four of us- so we decided to share two full size salads...so after a fifth person joined our party and we asked for another plate. We were informed by the waiter that he would have to charge us for the additional person at our table...$6.95 just for her to sit there- we asked how much was the salad- compare the two and we decided to order another freakin' chopped salad....that the most embarrassing and weird experience....
PLUS, never got more bread or out water glasses filled- we waited for ever for the check and when it did come- our waiter brought us the dessert platter....huh????
Anyway, spoke to manager and he said "today is really busy and we are short staffed'' um. okay
First off, The marinara is the only factor bringing this rating above two stars. Secondly, I'm not going to go to an Italian restaurant and order a Chopped Salad. Thirdly, if an Italian restaurant doesn't make their own pasta, it had better be fairly cheap. This place doesn't make their own pasta but they're relatively cheap, so there you go. Salads can be nice, but I just feel wrong ordering one at an Italian place.
I got the Chicken and Ricotta Ravioli with Marinara sauce. It was passable. Pasta was well cooked, filling was a little mealy, but still had a nice flavor. The best part about the dish was the marinara sauce. Lots of places make it too sweet and either over- or under-season it. This was a very nice, albeit mild, well seasoned marinara. My cousin got the Eggplant Parm and said it was fantastic. I tried some and, well, it was OK, but no Eggplant Parm has ever come remotely close to my aunt Vanna's so I'm incredibly biased. The biggest problem with the Eggplant Parm was the cheese. It just sat in a big lump on top of the dish, almost it's own entity. The dish could not be eaten without a knife, which is a ridiculous thing.
I might go back, but I'm in no rush.
My co-worker suggested this place for lunch. It was in between meal time (around 4p) so there was only one other party in the restaurant. That, combined with its mini-strip mall location made me think that this place would be so-so.
But it turned out to be very tasty. I had a caesar salad to start (delish) and the spaghetti bolognese. My favorite bolognese is from this place called Meridiana in NYC, up near Columbia. I used to go there all the time when I was in school and always miss it now. Anyways, the bolognese at LaScala was pretty similar to Meridiana: thick tomato puree with a touch of cream and a smooth meat sauce that clings to the pasta perfectly. My co-workers watched me eat like I was in a trance. But this is the bolognese jackpot of LA!
I also hear the Leon Salad is what they're known for so I'll have to go back and try it soon.
Was turned on to this place by my anorexic friend..I thought surely if it gets her to eat must be great! They are famous for a chopped salad.I did not order it because it looks like someone ate it already.(barf) She says its a celebrity secret"Eat a la Scala chop salad if your constipated" So we watch to see what celebs came in..? Reese Sara michelle..I friendlied up the waiter to see what the secret ingedient was...He said "furniture polish" as in cottonseed oil..Gross...The rest of the fare seems cafeteria ish.....No Thanks.
Best chopped salad on the block! Can't get enough of it. The dressing is just addictive. Pastas are also delicious. The bolognese is one of my favorites. The soups are at the top of my list during the winter.
Been here hundreds of times and this is a great lunch spot.
I finally tried out this location for lunch with my friend today. We split the Leon basic salad with no extras added on. That salad was big enough to split, ps.
Service was VERY slow and we had beat the lunch crowd coming in at 1ish. The waitress forgot about the salad and the busboy had to remind her. We waited 20 minutes just wondering what was going on. She was nice, but not all there together. Lunch time should have top notch servers. Just a thought. The Leon salad was decent, but Alejo's Chopped salad blows this salad away!!!
I had the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara Con Funghi with bacon, onions, and mushrooms in a cream sauce. It was very yummy. My friend had just plain pasta with oil. Over all the food was decent for lunch. Did not break the bank for us since we shared the salad.
I've walked by this place a hundred times, and finally decided to stop in. It's small and cozy, like the other 10 Italian places in this neighborhood, but its definitely not as good. The waitress seemed to be in a huge hurry (even though there weren't that many people there) and while she was pleasant, you go the feeling that she wanted you in and out as fast as possible (which is contrary to most Italian places).
My friend and I both found the food good, but nothing special. The prices were also reasonably, which is a huge plus in Brentwood, but not enough to get this place 4 stars.
I did sit on the patio, which is nice, neither too warm or too hot, but your view is of the street... so that's less than optimal. Overall, I think in a different location this place would seem better, but since its surrounded by so many good Italian places, I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon.
I love this place. Great food, attentive service. I haven't been to the BH one but I don't feel the need since I live a block from this one. I love the Salmon Special with steamed veggies. Even though this place is Italian it feel quite light. One word of advice is to order the Chopped Salad with extra salami ($2 more) The salad is awesome but extra salami hits the spot! They are a little crazy about people who come and share or don't order. Probably because they are so busy they would like everyone to order something. I have been going for a while so I don't think I would be hassled but you should know this in advance.
Any time someone comes to visit, I take them to La Scala. It's a hop, skip, and a jump from everything in Brentwood. Located right on San Vicente in a cute little shopping center, it's the perfect spot for friends to meet for a delicious Italian meal and the best "house" wine in Los Angeles.
The wine ... let me tell you about the wine ... a FULL, yes, frikkin' full carafe is only sixteen bucks. This is enough to share for a table of four and more than enough to get an Italian buzz for a table of two. Get red or white - whichever you prefer. They are both fantastic and there is absolutely no need to order fancy schmancy wine by the glass or bottle - unless, of course, you're wine snob.
Next, enter the chopped salad. The best I've had. So good that you'll want to order another one but then you'll feel like a fat kid eating a second piece of cake. It's THAT delish. Perfection with a capital P. Order it.
The main dishes are great and you'll be happy with whatever you get. I usually get the roasted pepper pizza because I'm vegetarian and it's loaded with giant red peppers which just melt in your mouth with all the cheese, fresh basil, and other flavorful toppings. Foodtacular.
Self-parking is $2 which is much better than lame forced valet places like El Cholo that charge $5 to park your car.
La Scala is located in a small shopping center next to a Mrs. Fields and a couple of fancy shmancy little boutiques that are surprisingly still in business. Outside of the restaurant is a glass walled off patio that is covered with ivy and other green plants that makes sitting outside feel more intimate and comfortable that normal. Inside is one dining room and a bar counter. The food, Italian, of course, is much more "neighborhood" Italian cafe than haute cuisine. Service was okay. The spaghetti bolognese was tasty, but had too much cream for my taste. I'm partial to the eggplant parmigiana, and I have also had a mean corn chowder. This place would make a quick neighborhood rendezvous, and serves some classic dishes, but do not expect a novel gastronomical experience.
This is my favorite place in LA! I feel in LOVE with the chop salad here when I can about 15 years old!!
GO FOR the LEON CHOP SALAD! Its pretty big, so you can get a half portion, and if you are not into the traditional take you can swap a few things around to do it with turkey or add things etc.
I personally get the classic Leon and add cucumbers and tomatoes! YUM!
They also have good other stuff, my mother is a huge fan of the lasanga. For appetizers, the prochiuto and melon is sooo yummy as is the bruchetta.
Its great because they have these really nice LARGE red booths inside, or a nice patio with heating lamps outside!!
You are pretty much missing out if you have not been here
1 thing to say here: ONLY GET THE CHOPPED SALAD.
There is nothing else good here. But the chopped salad is amazing.
Thats it.
My buddy Todd took me here for lunch... nice quaint Italian joint in Brentwood, very white table clothes.. the waier refilled my water (no ice) from the small carafe he woudl bring by.. very nice.
Supposedly they are known for their chopped salad, which looked good. I had their special of the day Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable salad, they lost a star for over grilling my shrimp to a crunchy level, both other wise it was great.
Not too expensive, and authentic for sure. Oh and they validate parking, but don't give you free refills on Coke, HOW RUDE.
Located in a little complex full of typically Brentwood shops and restaurants, La Scala has just the right mix of casual comfort and luxury. Their soups and salads have given them their reputation, and I don't think I've had a better minestrone anywhere else in LA. Their salads are huge - if I have soup or an appetizer to start, I usually can't finish mine - but so tasty you keep picking at it long after your stomach tells you to stop. The chicken caesar comes with a dressing made in-house, the traditional caesar way, and isn't that thick, artificial white you get in bottles and foil packets.
Located right on a popular stretch of San Vicente, it's easy to walk across to Whole Foods for dessert or the Coffee Bean nearby for tea if you and your dinner companion want to extend your conversation. Pre-dinner stops might include Dutton's, just a few blocks away, perfect for browsing books or relaxing with coffee at the cafe.
La Scala is known for the Leon Chopped Salad. For me, it's pretty much the reason I go. There's something about the dressing that makes this salad irreplaceable. Get it with turkey and you won't be disappointed. All of the pastas are amazing as well. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The small patio is fun for lunches and has heat lamps for dinner. The prices here are extremely affordable, especially for it's prime location in brentwood, so splurge on the exceptional wine list. They have a ton of bottles already open, so you can ask to try some before you buy the bottle. And if you really like it, Moe's is right across the parking lot.
Not a complicated restaurant. Simple italian food prepared well and served up without breaking a big bill. I concur with Morgan abt the chopped salad. Spaghetti Bolognese very good. My friend had the Spaghetti with Chicken meatballs and was alsi very happy.
I use to frequent this place and the chopped salad is fantastic. The restaurant was a family favorite growing up and has been around a LONG time. My last visit I was informed of the changes by management and was quite disappointed to learn that there is now a mandatory minimum charge per person, even on Sunday for lunch. We bought extra food and drink items when we didn't want to.
The Leon Chopped Salad is by far the greatest salad I have ever had. One might say that it is difficult to rate such a simple dish, but La Scala gives lettuce a whole new name.
There is an ecletic mix of add-ons and the dressing is fantastic. I recommend the Brentwood La Scala to everybody who asks.
A+++
This place has been around for a long time by LA standards, and it was a family favorite growing up. I think it has the most New Yorky Italian joint feel of any establishment in LA. As I write this, I realize it's been a while since my last visit, but I'm hoping that they still have the red leather booths, the dim lighting, and the caricatures of celebrities lining the walls. What keeps people coming back is the food, and with good reason. Though I'm not a fan, I know that their chopped salad is definitely a crowd pleaser. Their bruschetta is the best in LA. In fact, they should offer master classes in the art of bruschetta. It's not just chopped tomatoes, people. For entrees, my all-time favorite is the Spaghetti Bolognese, with a great, creamy meat sauce. I also love their lasagna (extremely rich), and their home-made tagliatelli verde, a flat green pasta with a delicious mushroom and tomato ragu.
The food here, I think, was just okay. Nothing special. Just some normal Italian food. It didn't even fill me up... so I was forced, yes forced, to go to the Coldstone Creamery a few doors down. Oh yeah, we saw Mimi Rogers there with her family.
we've walked by here tons of times and always thought we should check it out, so finally we did. first of all, it looks fancy-shmancy and almost intimidating on the outside -- but once you get there, has a menu and vibe much more like a comfy neighborhood joint. the food and service were just ok -- granted, we didn't get the mythical chopped salad. our waitress said the spaghetti bolognese was their signature dish -- it wasn't that great. overall, the food was just so-so (and yes there are tons of italian places in the neighborhood so it's tough to compete), but because the prices are very reasonable, i'd be willing to come back to try something else.
I ordered La Scala Presto through http://gourmetgodelive... for a meeting, as I have done before in the past - this time was a disaster. The panzanella salad arrived missing ingredients and soaked in liquid - more like a soup. When I called gourmetgodelivery to see about a refund (pan of salad was $46) they tried to get in touch with the restaurant. After a few days of no answer, I called the restaurant myself. They referred me to their corporate office to someone who doesn't work on Mondays. I had to follow up a few days later (she said she left me a message) - and she was very rude and unhelpful. Apparantly, to get a refund, she has to speak with the OWNER. Almost a week later, no one has really helped me, and I have not been refunded. Each time I've spoken with someone, they pass the buck to someone else. I say AVOID ordering take out from La Scala Presto. If there is a problem - no one will believe you and you will have to fight for a refund. I'm sad to write this review because I've loved the BH La Scala for years. Their customer service is seriously lacking.
real solid, real good place. Lot of good meat here. It's a culinary delight with moderate prices, and has a mix of your, uh, good fats and your bad fats. Casual and comfortable.
Although best known for the Chopped Salad, I go there for the linguini and clams. Just might be the best anywhere. Am also crazy about their chocolate mousse.
We Deliver!
Neighborhood: Westwood
Wine Down Weekends
Neighborhood: Studio City
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Brentwood
Category: Italian
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