This restaurant in LA flies in pasta from Italy daily. But is it worth a visit?
I’ve been in a heated competition for my boyfriend’s attention with… the Roman Empire. I’m telling you, since he visited Italy with his family this past fall, he’s thought about it daily. Me? Jealous of a time period? No way…
Okay but seriously, I’ve been dying to try anything remotely close to the meals he described on his vacation. We’d seen positive reviews for Uovo on Yelp touting it as some of the best pasta in LA. That’s all well and good. But what piqued my interest most was the claim that this restaurant flies in pasta from Italy daily alongside tomatoes sourced from a very specific part of Italy for the most authentic Italian experience in Los Angeles. I’ll spare you the details, but check out the Uovo website to learn more.
As our Friday night date night rolled around, we set out to taste this globe-trotting pasta for ourselves.
Here's our review of the pasta at Uovo:
THE ATMOSPHERE
The Shops at Sportsman Lodge give off posh vibes. We’re talking about an Erewhon grocery store, Equinox gym, and a bunch of clothing boutiques that I probably can’t afford. The trees glisten with lights and tranquil ponds dot the pathways. Tucked away between an expensive “medical wellness gym” and a trendy IV infusion spa sits Uovo. I won’t lie, the whole place feels expensive, luxurious, and very “Beverly Hills” for this side of the hill; but it’s a vibe I can get down with from time to time.
The restaurant itself holds a capacity of 44 diners with only five or six actual tables. The remainder of the seating perimeters the open kitchen at a butcher’s block wood, counter-height bar. Diners sit at backless barstools and keep a watchful eye on the pasta chefs as they sling boiled noodles into pans and toss them with ladles full of sauce. There’s an air of excitement around all of this which sets the table for a dinner that feels like an experience.
The bar seating accommodated my partner and me perfectly for date night, but I imagine a group of three or more struggling to hold a conversation spread out in this seating arrangement. It seemed the few tables in the establishment were held for larger parties for this very reason.
Expect a bit of a wait upon arrival. The establishment does not take reservations. We arrived around 6:30 and waited around 30 minutes for a table. By 7 pm, the seating line was out the door, but availability eased up by 8:15 pm.
THE MENU
Uovo’s dine-in menu consists of three appetizers, over a dozen pasta dishes, a couple of sides, and a singular dessert. The bar hosts a collection of Italian red and white wine. There are also three tasting menus; The Classic, Cheese & Truffle, and The Regional. Each tasting menu feeds two guests and includes an appetizer, three pastas, and dessert. The pastas are each plated separately with one portion divided into two plates for each guest to enjoy.
OUR MEAL
This being our first visit, we opted for The Classic tasting menu. It’s the classic so it must be the best the house has to offer, right? During our visit, we were told that the Vongle was unavailable that evening and would be substituted for Ravioli di Ricotta. In addition to that, the chef opted to swap the Pomodoro for the Arrabbiata to better match the substitution. We decided to trust the chef’s intuition and go for it. An so we enjoyed...
SAUVIGNON BLANC - This Luisa, 2021 was a delightful start to the meal. Honestly, one of the better Sauv Blancs I’ve had in recent memory with bright and crisp flavor. RATING: 5/5
YELLOWTAIL CRUDO - When we ordered, our waiter politely confirmed that we were okay with yellowtail as our tasting menu appetizer. I assume many diners don’t enjoy raw fish. On the contrary, I found the portion here large and the preparation refreshing featuring chili pepper, olive oil, lemon, and blood orange with a micro arugula topping. This felt like a nice palate cleanser to start. RATING: 4.5/5
POMODORINI E BASILICO - Following the fresh start, we were plated this light pasta with yellow tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and a touch of garlic. The tomatoes offered a bit of brightness, but the basil and garlic did not come through as I hoped. I think some pepper or cheese would have aided the flavors a bit, but I was too scared to ask because the website notes “We recommend eating our dishes the way they are served without adding extra cheese or black or red pepper. We politely decline any modifications.” I ate the dish as prepared and felt a bit underwhelmed. RATING: 2.5/5
RAVIOLI DI RICOTTA - So delicious I forgot to take a photo. These ravioli were soft and simple, but the rich sauce stole the show. The tasting menu offered a decent portion of around eight ravioli each. No complaints here despite this being a substitution. RATING: 4.5/5
ARRABBIATA - Billed by our waiter as a “spicy spaghetti,” this pasta packed a little heat which perfectly ended our parade of pasta. I enjoyed this dish thoroughly but did realize about halfway through eating it that none of our plates had any meat included. I felt this dish especially would elevate into the stratosphere with pork or beef added to the sauce. RATING: 4/5
CHIANTI - We switched to red wine as the Arrabbiata reached the table, and oh my, this was great. I felt the first sip tasted like cake (the official notes of this 2021 Castello Trebbio Chianti Superiore are small red berries with hints of spices and flowers, so not sure where the cake came from lol). A solid wine pairing to finish out the meal. RATING: 5/5
TIRAMISU - Tiny tiramisu in a cup? Say less! This was delicious, rich, and creamy. Texture akin to melted ice cream, I battled my partner for extra bites. No notes. RATING: 5/5
SERVICE
Our waiter, Collin, was amiable and eager to assist with any questions we had. He took great care of us throughout the evening. The pasta chefs were also kind as they served our dishes and put on a masterful show.
VALUE
Our meal for two landed at around $150, including a 16% fee (Uovo considers themselves a “no tipping” establishment and notes this on your receipt). Despite the atmosphere, service, and experience, I felt the price was a little steep for the meal itself.
OVERALL
I didn’t walk away wowed. The wine and dessert were by far the highlight for me here, along with the service and presentation. Having recently enjoyed a phenomenal dish of spicy penne ala vodka at Rouge down the street, I find Yelper’s awarding this the “best pasta in LA” to be a bit of a stretch. My partner left satisfied, but confirmed that “Italy kicks that place’s ass.” Guess I’ll just have to wait for a trip to Italy to experience the finest pasta in the world. While I’m not dying to return, I’m open to trying a bowl of pasta with meat next time, along with a few more glasses of delicious Italian wine!
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