"From the al dente penne to the sweet and cheesy sauce."
(in 5 reviews)
"Hands down, the best bolognese I've had in the U."
(in 7 reviews)
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Madeo Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
67 reviews for Madeo Restaurant
Review Highlights
The first time my mother went to Madeo, she came home and described the spaghetti bolognese with such aromatic vivacity that I dreamt of it before I ever stepped foot in the dining room. This was almost ten years ago, and I have since managed to taste this object of reverie on more than one occasion. It is indeed worth raving about.
The venue is none too special. The restaurant has been around for a while, and the decor and the general air feels old and a bit drab. The strange location of the bathroom doesn't help. The seating is comfortable, though, with plenty of booths, and the service is great. Besides, with the quality of food on offer, Madeo could have bad porn projected on the walls and I'd still probably enjoy myself.
Instead of plain old white or wheat, Madeo provides both a nice bubbly flatbread and a soft focaccia with olive oil and balsamic to drizzle to your liking. I have tried a number of things on the menu and have not had a single bad or even boring bite. On my most recent visit - a girl's lunch with my mother and aunt for which relaxed Italian was just perfect - our group of three split an appetizer of burrata caprese, followed by the spaghetti bolognese, the ravioli branzino, and the artichoke risotto. We ended with ricotta cheesecake and mille feuille for dessert.
The burrata caprese isn't always on the menu, but if it is, do not miss it. This may be the best caprese I've ever eaten, worlds above your standard mozzarella version. The burrata was soft, creamy, and lightly flavorful with a heavenly mouthfeel. It paired poetically with fresh wedges of tomato and green green basil, all drizzled with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. We were also served rosemary flatbread at this time, which I don't think was relevant to the caprese, but was a nice extra.
The pastas and risotto were masterful. The renowned bolognese is worthy of its reputation, with sauce so deeply imbedded in the pasta you'd think the two were born together, just like so. The ravioli stuffed with sea bass in red sauce was beautiful. I didn't realize fish could make such an on-point ravioli filling without losing its meaty flake. Now I know. The risotto was cooked perfect, a melded whole bonded with plenty of moisture but with each grain speaking for itself. It was rich, especially with a grating of parmesan on top, but we cleaned up every last bite.
When dessert time rolls around, instead of menus, you get a tray displaying your options. I'm generally skeptical of this sort of presentation, as I associate it with massive, cheap, and unthoughtful desserts. While dessert is certainly not Madeo's main draw, both the ricotta cheesecake and the mille feuille were great. The cheesecake wasn't too sweet and had a nice dense crumb that made it a different dessert from what you might find in the ol' Factory. The mille feuille was sweet and simple with sugar-snowed layers of flaky pastry and lickworthy pastry cream.
Madeo isn't a trendy, showy, or even a particularly innovative restaurant, but it demonstrates classic upscale cooking with the best ingredients and fine-tuned technique. The prices are a bit precious (you can easily avoid the valet at lunch time, incidentally), but the quality of the food is obvious, and it's worth shelling out for once in a while. There is something extra special about being impressed on well-covered ground.
I went to Madeo last night for dinner with my girlfriend and one of my best friends. I have to say that the atmosphere was great. Lot's of people, tables close together to promote a kinda club atmosphere. It was apparant that many people in this restaurant had been there before or were regulars. I was quite impressed with the fact that when we left at around 10pm or so, every table seemed to be filled with diners.
My first complaint was the fact that, even though we had a reservation at 7:30pm, we did not sit at our table until around 7:45pm. I may be a little harsh, but if I meant to make a reservation at 7:45pm, then that would have been the time that I would have made the reservation. If I make a reservation at 7:30pm, then my expectations are that I would sit at 7:30pm, and not 15 min later.
Our waiter, Luigi, was fantastic. What a great guy. And, my tip at the end of the dinner acknowledged this. My girlfriend is Italian and Luigi and her struck up a friendly conversation about where each of their respective families were from. Luigi was extremely helpful with the menu with his suggestions.
Based upon other reviews here, I ordered the Spagetti Bolegnese. My girlfriend and my friend ordered ravioli dishes.
The food was fine. I really don't have any complaints about the taste. It was not overwhelmingly great, but it was good. I guess my opinion of the food was colored by the fact that we all thought that the prices were absolutely insulting. My bolegnese dish was $28. The portion size of my meal appeared to be an appetizer size. I thought about saying something to Luigi, but I decided not to. The ravioli dishes were equally as small. We ordered a bottle fo wine which was very good; however, it was the least expensive bottle on the menu at $48. We also, based upon reviews here, ordered the Burrita (spelling?) which is a soft mozarella and tomatoes and basil. It was very good; however, at $18, there was barely enough for two people to share.
I thought that the atmosphere was great, the food was adequate; however, because of the rediculous pricing, I will not be going back to this restaurant.
Walking up to Madeo, you may suspect something special about this place. Is it the valets hustling with Porches, Mercedes and the such? No. How about the paparazzi hanging outside with cameras waiting to snap a photo or two of some celebrity? Maybe. Or perhaps everyone you see leaving who has just dined here, is leaving with a big fat smile on their face. Yeah... that's the ticket.
Walking down this Thursday night, you see a slow simmering scene. The lights are a little low, (well for the evening at least), candles were flickering, a din of groups and small tables are seen sharing a glass or two, shining their whitest of pearly whites, laughing, enjoying the moments of the evening. The hostess greeted us with a smile, a friendly hello and promptly showed us to our table. (Note to all: Get a reservation). My brother in law and I were quickly joined by my sister, they raved about how great a place this was. The food was exceptional, what ever you order it will be great. Stories of Al Pacino and various other celebs. Meh. Let me order. Let me taste. Let me sample this experience and I will decide for myself.
We started off with a bottle of some red, but with a quick glance I did notice a pretty lengthy wine list. I like a good selection. We started with an order of meatballs, my sister ordered her favorite salad, with langoustines, white beans arugula in a lemon vinaigrette. The meatballs were tender, moist, flavorful, addicting. The salad was delicate, succulent, refreshing with good sized chunks of seafood. Okay... this is a good start. A really good start.
Then we got our main meals, I went with the rosemary chicken, my brother in law got some pasta and my sister got the gnocchi with bolognese sauce. Really, let's forget the other stuff, even though they were great. I need to talk about these gnocchi. They have been seared in to my memory. I have been told, many times, how they are supposed to taste. How they are to be light pillows of air. This is the first time I had them and thought nirvana. Indeed they were like pillows of decadent air. Soft, not gummy. Flavorful and bodly stood up to the bolognese sauce, carrying it while they both enhanced each other. It is a rare event that I ever have dish envy. That the dish I want is not my own. Yeah. I had the green eyes flashing. I savored the flavor.
I will admit I did get the less flashy of the two, however I rolled it up when I get dessert. Okay, it was more of a three way tie. The daily tray of decidedly delish desserts that were carted our way, was more than one could handle. Easily there were four choices I wanted, however when I sank my mouth in and around the tiramisu, I knew I had the answer. Not too strong, but more balanced yet "I want to lick this bowl clean" good.
The decor is perfect for so many occasions, dates, celebrations, business meetings, catching up with friends, most likely if it involves some great Italian food, then this might be the place to have it. The service was on point, but not obtrusive, friendly and generally happy to have us there. What did make me sad? Leaving at the end of the night, knowing I will be in Chicago in a few days.... far.. far.. far away from Madeo. I know my next trip to LA will be including this place and it couldn't happen quick enough.
Nobody in our party of four thought the food was anything exceptional. My pizza was gummy and salty. Waiter chased us down when we left because he was unhappy with his tip. We all swore to never return.
Just finished reading some more reviews and I can't believe we ate at the same restaurant others praised. For example, Steph. C raved about the burrata caprese drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper. I ordered the same thing, but had a very different experience. Yes, the burrata was good, but the dish only came with two very tiny basil leaves centered on the plate like a garnish. No olive oil drizzle, no pepper. and no rosemary flat-bread. Not worth the $18.00 price. Next I ordered the porccini pizza. It was soggy, salty, and skimpy with the mushrooms. Couldn't finish it, even though I was still hungry. As for the "grated Parmesan" , it never made an appearance at our table. A server (not our waiter) did come around with a bowl of that powdery type of Parmesan cheese found in pizza parlors and cans that I, regretfully, requested be sprinkled on half my pie. It was extremely salty and void of that delicious Parmesan flavor.
I do have to say that the orange flan was very good. Not too sweet, with the perfect egg consistency.
Best Italian food in Los Angeles? Not even a chance. Ca Brea, Michelangelo's, Valentino's, Campanile's, are all much better and don't shake you down for a higher tip.
Called the manager on the phone to ask if it's customary for his staff to confront patrons when unhappy with the gratuity. He said we should have left a full 20% tip. Never asked if we liked our food, or what we thought of the service. Simply put, this place sucks.
Definitely the best Italian food I've had in LA. I was there recently for dinner and tried the cheese gnocci bathed in gorgonzola. Needless to say, it was amazing. I love the ambiance too, it's relaxed and comfortable, with red tones and dark wood making up most of the surroundings. One of my favorite places for sure.
The best Italian food in Los Angeles hands down.
Reserved only for those who are privileged enough to experience the unparalleled quality of the authentic Italian cuisine, vast selection of outstanding wine, historic vibe/decor and last but not least, top-notch service that one can only get from a family run business.
The prices reflect the freshness of the food and the attention to detail in preparation. Never in my life have I had a veal like the one that is cut 'from the cart' by the owner, whom my father and I simply refer to as 'Papa Madeo;' it is simply amazing! I agree with others, definitely only for the more high-rolling/older crowd of folks... wouldn't recommend it for those younger groups of friends just looking for high-quality well priced cuisine -- for those who aren't looking to come out of dinner so light in the pockets I'd certainly suggest another choice.
However, for those of you that only love/accept the best in food then, Madeo is the place for you. I've had Italian food all over the world, nothing compares. Try everything on the menu, it is all ... absolutely divine! I am lucky enough to say I've eaten here just about every other week for the past two years so I have been getting to experience so many different dishes and I am just so happy whenever I finish every single one of them. The feeling when I eat here with my family cannot be matched, it is, for lack of better words, something truly special.
One of the best places I've ever eaten for Italian food.
My wife and I had the Buffalo Moz and Tomatoes, as well as the carpaccio for our starter. The Mozarella and Tomatoes were heavenly, the Carpaccio was good, I wouldn't say I'm a huge Carpaccio fan, there is just nothing really special about it for me. The Parmesan cheese on top of the Carpaccio was a winner though, very strong cheese flavor.
For dinner my wife had the Risotto (Seafood) -- She loved the seafood, the risotto was a little too oily, but still and excellent dish. I had the Spaghetti alla Bolognese. Now, I need to take a moment before starting about this dish.
....
.......
WOW... fantastic! It was extremely simple but the flavor explosion and the perfect al dente pasta made this one of the best simple pasta dishes I've ever had in my life. The portions aren't huge, which I actually prefer -- It was extremely filling and in the end I had cleared my plate. I would much rather clear my plate than have leftovers to carry around which I probably won't eat anyways.
Add all that together, along with seeing Katherine, Joe, and Randy Jackson whom came in while we were dining, this was an excellent experience. The wait staff was fantastic, heavy Italian accents which I would expect from a place like this. I believe the owner/one of the brothers came by and checked on us a few times. Excellent 5 stars from me, I'll be returning.
For those of you complaining about the price, I felt like my $200+ bill with tip for 2 is pretty normal for an excellent 5 star meal like this, in LA or Orange County.
You know you're at a terrific Italian restaurant when even the simplest dish, like the Penne Madeo (essentially pasta, cheese, and tomato sauce) is out of this world!
I tend to come here for special occasions because the ambiance has old fashioned fine dining/ Mafia-esque written all over it and the prices are on the bit higher end.
The Napoleon is the best in LA and the Tiramisu is made fresh and is delicious as well.
meh...
average italian at BEST.
anyone who says it's even close to the best in LA needs to go out more...
not nearly as good as Pastaio or La Buca or Angelini. Shit even, Locanda is a billion times better... and that place peaked in 2002.
The idiotic craparazzi out front with their cameras and lack of purpose make arriving and leaving a chore.
The food is insanely overpriced.
The wine list is solid.
Service is fine.
All in all, this is the worst of LA (people wise) and nothing authentic of Italy (food wise).
On a positive note... the green olives are to die for.
Great restaurant, somewhat pricey but amazing food. Celeb spotting site. Recommended.
Granted, I've only been once. Still, I would say this is a first-class restaurant, elegant and classy, with the food to match.
On the daily specials menu, the spinach ravioli with porcini mushrooms called out to me, begging me to order. I wasn't disappointed. It was truly exquisite -- a touch of cream sauce and fresh mushrooms with such light delicate raviolis . . . oh, it was heaven.
I followed it up with the lamb chops, which is an enormous plate of food, and though the roast potatoes are divine, I wouldn't order the lamb again. I told the waiter I didn't want any pink in it, and it nonetheless came out pink. I hate sending food back because it usually comes out re-heated or worse. I ate it but I think even if it was medium well, as I had requested, it wouldn't have tasted all that much better.
My cousin had the spaghetti with Maine lobster and that was fantastic. The pasta was al dente and the tomato sauce was delicate, not overwhelming, like most pasta sauces.
Her husband had the spaghetti bolognese, also good, and my partner had the rabbit, which I didn't like, but she said was very well done for rabbit, which has to be slow cooked for hours to preserve its tenderness.
Our table also ordered the caprese as an appetizer and though I didn't try it, it looked good.
Service is excellent and the owner takes a personal interest and stops by the tables to talk.
The dessert tray didn't look spectacular but the berry tart tasted much better than it looked.
The menu is so varied, I can't wait to go back to try different things.
Plus, Matt Damon and Jeremy Piven had dinner two tables away with a slew of other people, so that made me feel like I had chosen well and was part of the in crowd. If I saw my therapist more often, I wouldn't feel this way, I know, but I'm saving up my money to eat here again.
Madeo is by far one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. The food, staff, service and price all reflect it too.
I have been going here for over six years now and the place has gone from a quiet italian spot to the hottest place in town. Every night they are packed with people from celebs, execs, to ordinary people out for dinner.
I have known owner and his sons (who work there also) for quite a while now and I can honestly say that they treat everybody like family. It doesn't matter who you are, they treat you with respect and warmth - something missing from most L.A. spots.
For dinner I suggest starting with the meatballs or eggplant, move on to the Lobster Pasta or Osso Bucco, and be sure to order the Napolean for dessert. Also, have a bottle of 50/50 in the decanter if you really want to make it nice.
Madeo though is really about the crowd. The regulars are extremely friendly and the celebs are no exception - one night I actually sat and drank with Al Pacino, he is too cool.
If you've never been you really need to try it, and if you have been then go back! Where else are you gonna go?
It was ok. I think if the Italian food wasn't sooo bad in most of L.A. Restaurants then this place wouldn't have such high marks. Service was great, decor kind of steak house old school. The food was good, not great and Waaaaay over priced. A lot of Hollywood talkers over lunch including an actor that use to be a regular on E.R.
I've gotten the same quality food, same service and better atmosphere at half the price at Spumoni in Sherman Oaks, but you are paying for location here at Beverly & Robertson.
Hollywood historic. Food is uber fresh. Prob the best and most simple Caprese Salad I've ever tasted. After initial inquiry I was steered away from the gnochi due to potential smaller portion size so I opted for the artichoke risotto. Wow wow wow. I wanted to leap up like a little kid dancing around with joy after being handed a candy bar. Yum! The ambiance is sorta Italian basement however the authenticity and taste make up for the location. Prices reflect so be prepared. Well worth it.
Vegetarians beware. The waitstaff is terrible. I'm a vegetarian. I told the waiter that. He claimed to check with the kitchen to make sure that my soup did not have chicken stock, and then he brought out my main course, a plate of risotto drenched in veal au jus. When I told him about the mistake, he did not offer to take it off the bill or make a new one.
MADEO Ristorante
Authentic cuisine in a lovely ambiance
In this day and age when distorted truths are fed to us piecemeal through every media available, much like Himmler with his propaganda machine in the heady days of the 1930's, it is nice to know that good food is still available for the mind and the soul and the stomach.
Service and hospitality, those little acts of kindness that make the heart glow, can be found in scattered places around the city. One such being a much loved and frequented hideaway on Beverly Boulevard where, for the past 30 years, Signor Madeo and his family have been taking good care of their longtime patrons - directors, producers and entertainers from the upstairs ICM offices, and folk like me who enjoy quality cuisine in a lovely ambiance. And Madeo Ristorante is a feast for the eyes in its simplicity - no hi-tech and glaring ostentation. Exquisitely etched glass and mirrors abound, comfortable seating and white linen covered tables with fine glass and silverware, while the large sit-around bar with its fascinating ceiling and large array of drinks is inviting any time of day or night.
Madeo and his wife keep close ties with the mother country, in fact they are there now but his sons have the same spirit of service and knowledge. I have enjoyed lunching and dining here on a number of occasions and think it is great seeing the Madeo family in the front room enjoying the authentic foods and wines of Italy. Many of the dishes served are family recipes, having been handed down from generation to generation, so be sure to ask for such delights as Penne Madeo with tomato sauce, basil and parmigiano cheese, Risotto Bruno with champagne and cream sauce and Nonna's special dessert - slices of pastry filled with custard, infused with chocolate and pine nuts, heavenly!
Specials include Cacciucco, a fresh seafood soup in tomato sauce, Spaghetti alla Bottarga, with sea bass dried eggs, Fagioli e Aragosta, Italian cannelloni beans with lobster in a lemon dressing, Ravioli Branzino, filled with sea bass in a tomato sauce Tagliata alle erbe aromatiche, sliced broiled New York steak served with aromatic herbs, spinach and potatoes, Pollo Griglia con erbe, grilled Chicken breast with rosemary, Scampi arancia e salvia, Langostines sautéed with orange and sage sauce and choices of chicken, fish and meat dishes cooked with Italian panache and always delicious.
The excellent wine menu offers many selections from various regions of Italy and the Castellare Chianti Classico 2002 we chose was perfect with our meat course. I always let Caesare chose my wine as he and I have a penchant for dry white Italian wines, and I then go flying round town trying to find where to buy it!
I HEART this place!!!! You can never go wrong here. The filet mignon carpaccio is to die for! The linguine pesto is so incredibly fresh and flavorful, it tastes as if it was ground using a mortar and pestle... yummy!
The restaurant is set low which I love, because it gives off a warm ambiance. However, when a celebrity is there the restaurant is flooded with a strobe light effect from the pap storms...no big deal though.
The restaurant has a very European feel to it (walking down from street level to enter the restaurant might have something to do with it). The service is very good. Food is above average, although expensive. Their pizzas are actually quite good, and their steaks are good, too.
A minus for the restaurant is the fact that the restrooms are actually outside the restaurant, to the back - the restaurant is under an office building, it seems, and the restrooms are in the building.
I went to Madeo Restaurant with some regulars for lunch the other day, and the lunch was delicious. We had some pasta first with truffles on it, and then I had veal cooked in lemon accompanied with a few roasted potatoes and mixed vegtables.
I guess Madeo's is a place to go. The Wednesday lunch crowd filled the restaurant.
We had guy waiters, and they spoke italian.
Yes, go here to eat Italian.
A classic. From the warmth of the decor to the warmth of the service it's such a comfortable place. I could listen to the waiter speak Italian all night!
We requested a dish not exactly on the menu. I love a seafood pasta and they only had a seafood risotto on the menu. When we asked if they could accommodate us, the waiter didn't bat an eye and questioned us on exactly what we wanted. It was just delicious!
If you want excellent food, service, ambiance - then this is a great place to go. The meal was rather pricey - but when you take everything into account - it's well worth it. Definitely cheaper than a trip to Italy! This was like a mini-vacation - you really forgot you were in the middle of L.A.
Also, I rated it 4 dollar signs as a splurge restaurant. You can dine more inexpensively than that, but if you're drinking and having appetizers and coffee & dessert - it will be $60+. Enjoy!
My sister is normal.
She loves celebrities and reads all the tabloids. She really, really loves celebrities. I'm in the biz, and she knows more celebrities than me. I figured that Madeo would be a good place to take her since last time I was there, Pacino was in one corner, and Aniston & Cox were in the other. While she drools over the stars, I can drool over the food. The food is AMAZING...and very expensive (thank goodness I haven't paid for food here).
As we arrived, paparazzis were hanging out in the front --I thought this was a good sign. We got there early so we went to the small bar area. OMG, 3 drinks cost me $50 (including tips, came out $45 and didn't think I should tip $1/drink at this place)! Hmm...I think I'll let someone else pay for drinks next time. While we were waiting, lo and behold a celebrity came in...Susan Lucci. I know...stars whores can't be picky. If my grandmother was alive and there, she would die seeing Lucci.
Anyhoo, let's fast forward to the more important part --the food! We started with the caprese salad (not called that, but it is that) and had the Bresaola (Imported northern Italian beef--sliced very thin and served with rugola, lemon juice and olive oil) and finished with the mushroom risotto (heaven!!!) and the prosciutto crudo pizza (super thin and the leanest prosciutto). Oh, sorry, we finished with the chocolate mousse, which was very thick and good. Everything was fantastic! Service was impeccable.
2 thumbs up for Madeo!
Veal parmiginia, meatballs, service divine! Warning, very expensive, and an older vibe. My favorite restaurant in LA!
Thumbs up!
I vouch for the pesto pasta, on the company dime sitting across from Mel Gibson.
This old school place is tucked away under street level and feels very warm and energetic inside. we waited a bit for our reservation for 4 at the crowded bar. lot's of regulars all shaking hands and kissing one another's asses. We had a perfect table in the middle of the floor near the back with booths surrounding us. Everyone there seemed to know one another. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was in the house eatin' GOOD on taxpayer dollars. It was funny to see him make the rounds of Hollwood elite and other monied folks- makes you realize who he is really working for. (can you say-fundraising?)
I can't even remember the appetizers we had but they were all good. I had the branzino and sampled the spaghetti and steak as well. All fine and dandy. For desert I had the 3 brulee combo incredible. Finished with a grappa.
I like Dan Tana's better than this place but I'd come again if someone else is footing the bill.
One of the best Italian restaurants in LA. Very old school feel. Good service.
This restaurant pretty damn good even for the insane prices 75 dollars for a fistful of pasta to give you a frame of reference. However it was pretty damn good it was truffles in a cream sauce with taglioni pasta but 75 bucks? i don't know if it was worth that amount. I also tried the vongele pasta and the lobster pasta both good but not as good as the special truffle taglioni. The pizza was pretty awesome too really thin crust good sauce and the right amount of cheese. The service was really nice to us and gave us some free desert. For a fancy restaurant this lives up to the hype, and the price, sort of.
Oh those paparazi guys were all outside but they weren't dicks or anything they just looked like a bunch sad nerdy guys as we were waiting for the cars from the valet they were talking to us about the crazy shit they see on the job. all in all a pretty good experience
Oh My God! Finally! The BEST Italian restaurant in the city! Dont even give it another thought...go to the bank withdraw a bunch of cash and ENJOY!!!
I ate at Madeo last Thursday with a group of 9 for a work function. Besides the hostess making a big deal of us changing our party number last minute to a lower amount (meaning she had to switch table tops), the experience was excellent.
While we were waiting for our table and the rest of our party (about 10 mins), Jerry Ferrara walks behind us leaving the restaurant. Not bad for a celeb spotting 10 mins into being in the restaurant, plus I am a huge Entourage fan.
Anyways, for our large party, the service was great, our little Italian waiter really knew his wines and made a point to customize certain dishes for our larger group. He kept the wine flowing (a fabulous Pinot) and the food coming.
We ordered the Veal meatballs and Tomato & Mozerella (the best caprese salad I have had yet!) for appetizers, and I got the New York Steak served with herbs and potatoes. My steak was cooked to perfection, and sliced well.
Everyone else really enjoyed their meals, ordering the lamb, other steaks, the lobster pasta, etc. We had a variety of deserts after our meal, all of which were great.
Also sat a table away from Courtney Cox & David Arquette! Very exciting!
Good food, old school Italian, pricey wine list; dark and intimate, with lots of Celebs hiding in the corners if that's your thing.
Don't ask for cheese for your pasta:
http://haphazardgourme...
great service, food sucks! there are so many better italian restaurants in LA.
this place has been living on hype way too long and it needs to be buried!
a joke of an itailian restaurant. great atmosphere , but terrible food . stay away! you have been warned. war is about to break out!!!!
our seafood ravioli were disgusting and the lobster pasta inedible. Wondering if they even get their fish delivered fresh. The veal chop with sage and butter is very good , but the potato and spinach sides are a complete afterthought. Deep fried potatoes and lukewarm spinach. for these prices the food needs to be much better and fresher.
The only thing i can recommend are the wonderful professional servers and a fun atmospherre. just dont expect a great meal.
When we arrived for Wed. dinner at 6.30pm, the place is almost full-housed. The tables are tight, and voices loud. The basement setting is old-world cozy.
The beef carpaccio $18 was wonderfully fresh, pizza with porcini mushroom $24 was thin and crusty (mix feeling), and the all-time-favoirte and delicious- linguini with Manila clams $24- a perfect dish.
Special of the day we had: pounded pork chop $35 (healthier and tastier choice than the veal Milanese $44 on reg. menu, b/c minus the deep-fried bread crumb coating).
Another special: Mama's lasagna was normal. $28
And the most expensive special: Vitella $45, slices of veal from the carver's cart.
Dessert to try: the crusty layered with cream Millefoglie. $12
Dinner for 8 with a bottle of wine $60 comes to $600+.
Overall, if this didn't come highly recommended, I will be price-shocked for the ingredients/portion that didn't justify the cost.
I am glad that after comparasion I know I can get the same Italian fare and better service in Bangkok's 5-star hotel's Italian restaurant for less.
But this is LA.
With few more days in town to nail down some more recommend places by helpful fellow yelpers before I end my culinary adventure.
Will report soon...
Not at all sure what anyone could have to complain about at Madeo. The food is some of the best Italian I've had anywhere and I have been to some of the finest Italian restaurants the world over. The service is impeccable and the crowd exceptionally well heeled. I would hardly say that it was expensive by LA standards and certainly NOT by Beverly Hills standards. I have had the pleasure of eating here on several occasions over the past year and a half and have been duly impressed each and every time. The most recent visit (which I will document with pictures as soon as I am done typing) was no exception. We started off with an excellent bottle of the house Pinot Noir at the bar and once we were seated enjoyed:
Carpaccio: Filet mignon--sliced very thin, served with artichokes, Parmigiano cheese and lemon juice (fantastic)
A specialty meatball appetizer that rivaled my own mother's meatball recipe
Mozzarella and Heirloom Tomato Caprese: Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil (the fresh house-made mozarella was to die for)
Prosciutto E Melone: Italian Ham and fresh Canteloupe Melon (the prosciutto was perfect though the melon wasn't as sweet as I would have liked)
Branzino all'Isolana: Broiled Italian sea bass served with sliced potatoes and tomatoes (both girls who had this loved it!)
Pizza Margherita (perfectly baked)
Spaghetti with crispy soft-shelled crab (delectable)
Linguine Al Pesto: Fresh basil, olive oil and garlic sauce (delicious)
...and I had: Penne Madeo: fresh tomato-basil and Parmigiano cheese which was ridiculously good. As I've mentioned previously, I like my Italian food simple and this was simply perfection. From the al dente penne to the sweet and cheesy sauce. I ate every morsel.
This is a first class establishment from start to finish and I can't wait to go back.
Had an amazing time here with my co-workers. Everything I had was fantastic. For appetizers started off with the calamari salad, eggplant parmesan, prosciutto e melone, and a mushroom pizza. The eggplant parm was excellent, I'm usually not a huge fan but it was quite good.
For my dinner I had their house salad and the filet with porcini mushroom. it came with a side of spinach and potatoes.
For dessert topped it off with the tiramisu!
I would definitely go back with my boyfriend. The quality was wonderful and the service was great.
This classic restaurant is top notch. Great food, nice crowd. but i think a lil over rated.
The food is nice, but hardly worth its prices. The atmosphere is pretty good though. much nicer than say Dan Tana's for actually being able to hear your friends.
Anyway, it is a nice spot, but a bit over priced for what it is. The owner is nice enough, but sometimes his coming by to the tables feels a little fake and unconvincing.
Yeah it's nice to get a visit from the owner, but not if he is insincere and just doing it obligatory.
I came here last Friday night with a group of characters and we had an amazing time! It was a very old Beverly Hills scene and by old, I mean a bit Gerry if you wanna know.
The food was very good. I had the fillet with mushrooms, my only complaint was that the sauce make it a bit soggy. I am sure that's a plus for the older clientale though because it made it easy to bite in to. Some of of people in my group ordered the veal scalliopine and raved! I also love how they bring olives and chunks of parmigian cheese... love
The topper was running in to Tobey Maguire and sitting across from Jack Nicholson and Harvey Keitel. It is always a joy to see a skinny black haired pale skinned girl with a thick english accent get berated by Jack when asked to take a photo. Its just another Friday night in LA....
I just go here to sit at the bar and drink beer and eat the huge calamari salad that is so fresh and tasty and delicious and people watch. Yum!
We came here to celebrate my cousin's birthday two weeks ago (as it was highly rated by everyone who'd been there). We had reservations, but we still had to wait half an hour because our table was occupied by a certain celebrity party who had finished eating, but felt the need to stay and chat for 20 minutes over coffee. Not-so-great Asian actress with a reputation for dressing badly shall remain unnamed. ahem.
Still, the food (with a few minor exceptions) was fantastic!
There were so many yummy looking meat options to try on the menu, but the bolognese was highly recommended, and I love bolognese, so I have to give a go.. OMG, THE BEST BOLOGNESE I have EVER had. IN LIFE! haha, yeah. Lamb Shank was exquisite. Solid choice right there. Some sort of creamy rappini pasta dish was also excellent. I was not a fan of the Crab Ravioli, but my friend who ordered it loved it. I forget what else was ordered, but quite a few of us got the bolognese.
On to dessert, we ordered 4 different ones and shared them family style. The table was fairly evenly divided on which was the best. The chocolate torte got the most votes for #1, while the tiramisu came in a close second with most top votes. I personally liked the strawberry thing we had best, but I don't remember what it was exactly.. custard tart? I don't know, but it was good.
The minor exceptions? I wasn't happy with the soup I ordered (Pasta E Fagioli), but I think I just don't actually like that kind of thick bean-y soup? My friend hated her Lobster Risotto (I tried it.. tasted like tomato sauce with a slight hint of lobster after you already swallowed).
The portions look small, but in reality they're just the right size because you're perfectly satiated when you finish (guys should get an appetizer of some sort, girls should stick with just an entree).
All in all, a great restaurant. If weren't for the ridiculous wait, I'd give it 5 stars. I want to go back to try the rest of their extensive menu, and I may revise my review accordingly.
My dish was good which was the Sea Bass Ravioli. My friend kept raving about the dessert, and it was actually really tasty but didn't look like it would be. Simple layers of sweet crispy dough with a vanilla-like custard in between topped with powdered sugar. Sorry, I already forgot the name of this dessert! Our waiter had such a thick Italian accent...we could barely make out his words.
I esp loved the owner who kept saying hello to us and "Grazie". He's adorable. Staff was good, food was good, ambience was good for a Wed night. I would go again but ask for a table near the back.
Star Gazing in Northern Italy... not only amazing italian food from northern italy, but the people are nice as can be. While you are moaning and groaning you might just see Mark Wahlberg or Jennifer Anniston.
My friend J introduced me to Madeo. I had heard about it on food blogs too. It is one of those places in LA that has the miraculous combination of "Sceney" and "Authentic food".
We had a table of four and we shared the buratta caprese and smoked salmon. The buratta was heavenly... it is my favorite cheese... and it is fairly rare that you stumble upon it.
We also eyed the bass roe pasta and sea urchin pasta dish... both quite rare to find in the US... (you find it everywhere in Japanese Italian restaurants) but I decided to follow my friend's recommendations and went with a spaghetti aragosta... lobster ragu. It was amazing! The pasta was cooked to perfection al dente, and the lobster ragu was amazing.
In all, very, very authentic Italian food with good Italian hospitality. A delight to find! Will always come back here when I am in LA. Our bill was $72pp and we shared one bottle of wine (Hess Chardonnay). The sommelier was extremely helpful in picking the wine out.
Oh... and the decor is slightly shabby (some may call it classy) but there were quite a few Hollywood types dining there too!
