Went for Dine LA! It was a great deal, and we sat outside with the heaters which was a cozy romantic vibe. It smelt a bit funky inside. Despite being the only ones outside, our service was VERY attentive. Our water was never empty which is always a great metric for me. Loved our server Shelby and staff how kept checking in on us. Unfortunately we were a bit disappointed that the meatballs came with only three when we were told they came with five. Additionally, the cookies were a miss :( cold and hard and not so flavorful. The pizza and vodka pasta is so good though, so I'd go back for that. But please change the dessert for the next Dine LA!

Ospi is a walking distance from my apartment, and it's normally my go to. Minus when they are Uber crowded. Their Kale salad is SOOOOO tasty and so good!!! My go to's: SPICY RIGATONI alla vodka CHITARRA blue crab, jalapeño, vino bianco LEMON TAGLIOLINI lobster "fra diavolo," basil, pistachio CAVATELLI (limited) pork sausage, fresh black truffle, housemade truffle butter Need to post pics of all their food. My only issue is the noise level in there, its a bit loud.

My fiancé & I happen to make a reservation on Friday night and also the first night of dine in LA. The restaurant was buzzing, seemed to be the place everyone wanted to be that evening. However, the wait wasn't too long after we checked in with the host. We tried the dine in LA special plus added a few additional items, the beef tartare toast was verrrrrry nice. The food, energy, ambiance was all good - but the reason I was compelled to write the review (this wasn't our first time @ Ospi) was because the manager took the time to meticulously write my name in calligraphy on our to-go bag. Again, the restaurant was quite busy, it didn't look like there was too much time without 10 things going on, yet the manager found the time/space to beautifully express his art and do something uniquely special for us. Sometime's it's the small things that make a big impact. Thank you.

OSPI is an absolute gem! From start to finish, everything about this dining experience was a 10/10. Whether you're planning a romantic date night or a fun dinner with the girls, this place is the perfect spot. My friend and I went on a Wednesday evening, and it was impressively busy for a weekday--thankfully, we had a reservation. The customer service was fantastic--super friendly, attentive, and accommodating to dietary restrictions. They even allowed ingredient substitutions, which was such a nice touch. Now, onto the food and drinks! The creativity behind their cocktails blew us away. As for the food, the pizza and pasta are not to be missed. Having lived in NYC and experienced its Italian food scene, I can confidently say OSPI holds its own and even surpasses many spots back home. The flavors, presentation, and overall vibe of the restaurant were just incredible. It was an amazing experience, and I can't wait to come back!

I went to Ospi Venice with my girlfriends to celebrate Esther A.'s 40th birthday. It was a great spot for a fun, festive group dinner. We'd noted the occasion when we made the reservation, and we had a prime table awaiting us, with a little card acknowledging the occasion. The space was attractive and contemporary, the ambiance vibrant, the service solid. It was more or less what I expected, in a good way, of a newish Italian restaurant in Venice. There was a full bar with some interesting cocktails and mocktails in addition to beer and wine. I got a Chef's Negroni and it was excellent, made with Madre mezcal, Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, Cappelletti, and a lime twist. I switched to wine for the rest of dinner, enjoying a glass of Sancerre. The food was all tasty and mostly quite delicious, with a few things I could kind of take or leave. I liked the garlic fett'unta with olive oil and sea salt, but it felt more like a complimentary bread than a $7 starter. I did love our other starters. The crispy provolone was fantastic, like fancy mozzarella sticks: two breaded and fried discs of gooey cheese, topped with parmigiano and herbs and served with Ospi's addictive vodka sauce. The crispy brussels sprouts special was lovely, with a citrusy "schaiffoni" dressing, cauiflower purée, sesame, and chili. I also thought the kale was worth ordering, which is high praise for kale. It was well prepared, with almond dressing, parmigiano, avocado, and herbs. We ordered two pizzas, and these were just not my particular thing. Ospi's pizza is more like flatbread, with a thin, crackery crust. I'm sure it's authentic to something or other and someone else's preferred style of pizza (my friends loved it!), but I was hoping for a little more to chew on. The toppings were nice, though. We got the vodka, which came with vodka sauce, basil, stracciatella, and pickled fresno chiles for some intense, welcome heat. The funghi pizza was fragrant with smoked scamorza, taleggio, and plenty of mushrooms. I was much more into the two pastas we ordered, both of them made from scratch. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka is an Ospi signature, and it was satisfying, cooked al dente with that flavorful vodka sauce. The lemon tagliolini was even better: long, delicate ribbons served with lobster "fra diavolo," basil, and pistachio. We shared a chocolate hazelnut mousse for dessert, which came with a little candle. It was lush and rich, a sweet way to end our dinner, and I assume everyone near us appreciated the chorus of excited ajummas singing happy birthday. I'm far enough from Ospi that I'm not sure I'll come back, given the number of great Italian restaurants closer to my house. This was a wonderful night, though, and I feel like I'd make good use of this place if I lived near Venice.

Just sat down and we have complimentary birthday champagne which is lovely! Our server is super nice and the music is in great taste. Excited to have a calm brunch here, there's barely any people inside. Parking is in a garage for $10 across the street but if you're going to walk after brunch, not a bad price! The shakshuka pizza was pretty good, the linguine wasn't fishy which was nice, and the guava syrup for the lemon ricotta pancakes was excellent!

Venice has plenty of solid options for pasta but Ospi continues to stand out as a fun spot to catch up with friends over cocktails and great food. I recommend ordering a couple things to share family-style for the full experience. Crispy Provalone - I think about this a lot and is a must. No meal here is complete without it. The breading is so well-seasoned and the cheese pull is unreal Japanese Eggplant - 11/10 one of my recent discoveries here. Best described as a deconstructed eggplant parm. I appreciate the use of the Japanese eggplant here because it is sweeter and has better overall flavor Spicy Rigatoni - One of my favorite staple dishes. Pasta is cooked perfectly al dente and not too heavy Kale Salad - This is was one of the best side salads I have had this year. The almond dressing has a great balance of sweetness/acidity and is a great alternative to the Caesar salad (vegetarian friendly) Ricotta Gnudi - Not my favorite but can see this being amazing for someone who loves ricotta Stracciatella Fett'unta - This is essentially a burrata toast served on a slice of rustic bread and was surprisingly filling. A stronger kick from the calabrian chilies would really elevate this Service here is top-notch and the playlist is such a vibe. Only downside is that the parking situation can be challenging as it is either street parking or the paid parking garage next to Si Mon, but worth the trouble.

As a huge pasta lover, it's my duty to try all the best pasta restaurants in LA. It was love at first bite with Ospi. Came for dinner twice. FLAVOR (4.5/5): 1. BEEF TARTARE: The beef tartare was amazing! It had a nice balance of texture with the bread, tartare, and chips on top. Great for sharing as an appetizer 2. SPICY RIGATONI: I loved the rigatoni. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce had a nice bite to it without being too heavy or overpowering. 3. CAVATELLI: The spicy rigatoni and cavatelli were definitely the top dishes of the night. The cavatelli was rich, creamy, and so packed with flavor! If you prefer something more filling, I would pick the cavatelli over the rigatoni. 4. MALLOREDDUS: The malloredus was good in its own right, but I think the rigatoni and the cavatelli were too well executed to be topped. This dish lacked the wow factor that I think the other dishes had flavor-wise. 5. CANNOLI: Delicious, airy, and creamy with a crunch! Sweet, but not too sweet - the hallmark of a great dessert. SERVICE (5/5): Service was friendly and accommodating. Both times I came after exercising (1. dip in the ocean; 2. Venice Run Club) and I was accepted with open arms despite being somewhat disheveled haha. TAKEAWAYS: I love pasta, and Ospi does pasta justice! If I were to describe the perfect order I think it would be: the Beef Tartare, Spicy Rigatoni, Cavatelli, and the Cannolis - however, further research is required so I will be coming back ;)

Ospi is one of the best restaurants Venice has to offer! I likened it to an upscale Jon & Vinny's, complete with a great, lively ambiance and excellent Italian food. The pasta is made in-house, and you can actually see it made in real-time (in a Din Tai Fung-esque way in the back of the restaurant), which was super cool! Moreover, the waiters were all super attentive and our food was brought out quickly, which was much appreciated. Me and my friends ordered: 1. Crispy Provolone with Vodka Sauce: 3.5/5 - It was delicious, but would be very one-noted and cloying if it weren't paired with the vodka sauce, which was outstanding. 2. Spicy Rigatoni: 4.5/5 - This was definitely my favorite dish of the night! Again, the sauce made the meal. However, the pasta was a bit too al dente for me (which might've been an anomaly considering the rave reviews of this place), but regardless, a great dish. 3. Vodka Pizza: 4/5 - Probably one of the best pizzas I've had in LA. I need Ospi's vodka sauce on EVERYTHING. 4. Cannoli: 3/5 - It was my friend's birthday so we were gifted a complimentary cannoli, which was much appreciated! However, I wouldn't willingly order this dessert. I'm not the biggest cannoli girl, so it was too rich for my taste! Ospi is one of the best Italian spots I've enjoyed in LA. I can't wait to return!