Maccheroni Republic (Los Angeles, CA) [2]

Maccheroni Republic
332 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Dining date: 3/5/15 and 10/27/15

I’ve been to Maccheroni Republic a number of times for their fresh, housemade pastas at great prices. The restaurant quickly gained in popularity since opening in late 2012, drawing lengthy lines at the no-reservations spot. I still stop in once a while, though primarily for an early weekday lunch in order to avoid any wait. This post recaps two of my previous lunches.

The free corkage policy is now gone; the restaurant has their beer & wine license with a limited selection of beverages. However, corkage is still very reasonable (I think it’s like $5).

Cuffie Al Nero Di Sepia squid ink pasta with a saffron fish ragout

This dish can be inconsistent; at times, it’s my favorite and sometimes it’s middling. At its best, the pasta has a unique chewy shape and texture with plenty of seafood and saffron flavors.

Agnolotti Di Osso Bucco tortelloni filled with osso bucco meat & marrow in a salsa verde

Agnolotti are huge, stuffed with plenty of rich osso bucco and covered with a green sauce and balsamic.

Bianchi And Neri black and white pasta thin vermicelli, shrimp, mushroom & roasted pancetta in a creamy bisque

Thin strands of vermicelli still maintained their al dente texture, topped with plump sweet shrimp and pancetta in a cream sauce.

Rigatoni Pom’Amore rigatoni with a creamy tomato sauce topped with burrata

This simple pasta is usually one of my favorites. I loved the mouthfeel of the fresh rigatoni with the cool, creamy burrata. A delicious tomato sauce brought it all together.

Pappardelle Al Ragu Di Cinghiale large fettucine with a wild boar ragout

Another strong pasta, pappardelle worked really well with the boar ragu.

Risotto Mare E Monti simmered carnaroli rice with bay scallops and mushrooms

Risotto was a solid dish, though not as much of a highlight as the fresh pastas.

A G&B latte across the street is an ideal ending to battle any food coma.

Maccheroni Republic’s strengths lie in their fresh, housemade pastas and great value. I’ve had a few of the appetizers and desserts, they’re fine just not noteworthy. The restaurant is still one of the better dining bets in downtown at this price range and it’s no surprise that it continues to be very popular.