Bestia

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Address:
2121 E. 7th Place
Los Angeles, CA 90021

Neighborhood:
Downtown

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $31 to $50

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Bestia Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://bestiala.com/
Phone: (213) 514-5724
Hours of Operation: Dinner

Tuesday - Sunday: 5:00pm - 11:00pm
NOW OPEN at 5pm!!!
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Executive Chef: Ori Menashe
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wine

Getting there

Cross Street: Santa Fe Avenue
Parking: Valet

A word from Bestia

Ori and Genevieve's signature style shines on the Bestia menu with a plethora of seasonal dishes that have been sourced from local purveyors. The emphasis on nose to tail cooking can be found in dishes such as Coppa di Testa comprised of housemade headcheese and Cassoela Milanese with braised pork,… veal ribs and pork sausage. From housemade mustard for the charcuterie to skillfully crafted squid ink bottarga, the menu reflects the attention to detail that the duo pays to only seasonal ingredients. The emphasis on sustainable ingredients and products can be found not only on the menu, but in the design of the space as well. Working with designer Greg Bleier, Genevieve sourced the contemporary elements from local artisans, who rely on reclaimed materials to create the unique elements found within Bestia, from the light fixtures to the stools and tables.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diners' Choice WinnerItalian

Bestia - Best Restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles

Diner Reviews

"it lived up to the hype. we got several dishes and enjoyed each one."
Dined on 7/21/2014
"I loved the food! Service and atmosphere were great. The plates were the best I've had in Los Angeles."
Dined on 7/20/2014
"First visit was great: great service, knowledgeable waiter, outstanding food. Took a group of 8 for 2nd visit, w/ high expectations. Waiter immediately suggested we order a certain # of dishes so that we could share. Told him only a few of us would be sharing, the rest wanted our own. Brought octopus salad for 2 of us, forgot my husband's order, so that came after he had finished his delicious but tiny main course. (octopus slightly over-charred, not the perfect dish I had enjoyed on my first visit) We asked for some bread. Brought 2 plates of toasted bread w/ no mention of any extra charge. Showed up as an additional $8 on our bill. Waiters consistently placed each dish in middle of table for sharing, though we each wanted our own."
Dined on 7/20/2014
"Have eaten at Bestia many, many times. Just love their food, however, the octopus/calamari salad barely had any calamari and was overall very skimpy. We should have said something to the waitress but she was out of sight and we were hungry. Also, they were out of "coffee & donuts" and "peach crostata". We love our deserts and were surprise that they would be out since it wasn't that late in the evening. Maybe the kitchen just didn't want to deal with making the donuts."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"Bestia was the best italian food I've had in downtown!! the food was authentic and absolutely to die for! We made our reservations for another trip the second we left!"
Dined on 7/19/2014
"Our waiter and the hostess were cold and snobby. Liked the food. Have been there a few times, but the service turned me off so much that I don't think I will be back or recommending this place to anyone."
Dined on 7/17/2014
"Su comida es excelente! Prueben el tuétano es lo mejor! Lastima q su lista de bebidas no es muy conocida. Pero vale mucho la pena!"
Dined on 7/16/2014
"Bestia hit the mark on all levels. Amazing selection of dishes/options. Seasonal, eclectic Italian inspired food. Absolutely delectable. Every single bite was incredible."
Dined on 7/16/2014
"Literally one of the best restaurants in LA that I have ate at to date. It's a definite MUST TRY!!!"
Dined on 7/15/2014
"Some of the best food I've ever had in LA. I love this place."
Dined on 7/14/2014
"This was my sixth visit to Bestia. I loved it on my first visit shortly after opening and was eager to return and share my find with friends. However, my last two visits were disappointing. The food is still very good, but the service has gone down. We were there on Monday night and the restaurant was nearly at capacity. Our food was very slow coming out, and we had to ask a couple of times for even utensils. We did order several dishes, but our dinner took over two and a half hours, and it was not because we lingered over our food. Also, as they have crammed more tables into the dinning room, the noise level has gotten even louder. We were trying to read lips to understand out waiter and could hardly hear each other across our small table."
Dined on 7/14/2014
"Everything that we had at Bestia was outstanding! We are very picky when it comes to Italian food, but Bestia superseded all of or expectations. The service was also top-notch and we had all of our needs met quickly and graciously. Loved the decor and vibe of the restaurant and were huge fans of the music selection! We will definitely be back!"
Dined on 7/14/2014
"I kept hearing about how great this restaurant is from friends. Finally got a reservation and was not disappointed. Food was great! Noise level is high though. But I'm finding it that way in a lot of restaurants these days. Fun, energetic atmosphere."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"Yet another fantastic meal for me--this time, I'd say even better as we were outside in a fairly quiet part of the restaurant. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and helpful throughout the meal, and made it an even more enjoyable experience."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"Hostesses were very kind and accommodating this time and our server was sweet and amazing! Had a great time and will be returning next month! Love this place!"
Dined on 7/11/2014
"Celebrated my 21st birthday here with fiancé.So lucky to have Melanie as our server.She took the time to get to know our likes, eating styles, and preferences which meant the menu we created and timing of food delivered was perfect.Everything is made in house (pastas, pizza dough, desserts, simple syrups for cocktails, meats, even mustard!) and it shows.The food was exceptional and the attentive, friendly service elevated the dining experience. We arrived shortly after the restaurant opened of dinner and the place was barely populated.Within the next hour, it filled up.We were still able to carry on conversation and truly enjoyed a special evening that we didn't want to end!If the strawberry crostata is on the menu, order it!Cocktails too!"
Dined on 7/9/2014
"Flawless food, friendliest service, can't wait to return!"
Dined on 7/9/2014
"I am from Houston and my colleagues from Denver, we loved it!"
Dined on 7/8/2014
"We went with many industry people and let the server choose the menu! He did a great job and all of the food was amazing. He maybe had too many tables, but we had to ask the busser to pour the open wine and ask for things. I appreciated how the sommelier took the time to come to the table and serve our wines and was very involved in the service!"
Dined on 7/7/2014
"One of the best is Los Angeles a must try. The food is cooked to perfection you will not be disappointed"
Dined on 7/3/2014
"Must say that the whole experience was amazing! Would definitely go back to try the other food."
Dined on 7/2/2014
"We got there when the place was empty and the hostess tried to sit the two of us at the entrance of the kitchen or near a door. I really don't like sitting in high traffic areas. She didn't seem to understand. Had the burrat and peach salad, the grilled octupus salad and the kale salad. All were fantastic. Main course of spahetti rustichella which had sea urchin. What a great dish. The urchin added a hint of salt to the sauce. Odd that the menu doesn't have a roasted chicken dish. The valet parkers do nothing to assit passengers getting in or out of cars. There were five of them standing there watching me. I can open my own door but found that amusing when they charged $7.00 to park. Not the best first or last impression of the restaurant."
Dined on 7/2/2014
"We've eaten here once, total. But boy will we be going back. We are mostly familiar with all of LA's trendiest and most highly-rated eateries. What impressed us MOST about Bestia was the service. These guys are full of energy, and seem to care about their product, AND that their diners ENJOY the experience. This counts for so much, and can elevate a great meal. Speaking of which, the food was excellent. Just about everything we had was well-conceived, innovative, but most importantly for us, well cooked and delicious. The pastas may have been the standouts. We had the Agnolotti, as well as the Cavatelli. Both were absolutely ridiculously good. Tons more to say about individual elements, but overall--a real winner in the elite LA circle."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"Most of the food was very good (the exceptions--the pork chop and 1 of the pasta dishes which were average), but the eardrum-splitting noise level definitely defeated our ability to enjoy the experience. I made my reservation (for 2 birthdays) about 4 months in advance and asked for outside seating (which they do not promise). The hostesses were extremely snooty and we waited at the bar for about 30 minutes (on a Monday night). Also not appreciated was the lack of Chardonnay and other basic drinks in their attempt to be special. We found it pretentious and ridiculous as we would have certainly purchased more alcohol if they had simply had what we wanted. The birthday candles requested for the desserts were forgotten upon serving. Sigh..."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"Mussels were as big as my pinky fingernail(super small), pasta was super salty (the duck sausage one and the uni one), bone marrow dish was a grease pit with little flavor, mojito was a tall glass of crushed ice with scant liquid inside as well as the presence of the barmaids fingers deep inside the glass shoving the mint down there(disgusting). Pizza looked good but didn't go there for the pizza. Glad they are doing great business but won't be rushing back there anytime soon personally."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"It look quite some time to book a suitable reservation at this restaurant, but it was worth the effort. The food was superb, and all levels of service were impeccable, from the courteous busboys to the knowledgeable wait staff. However, there were are a couple of issues. The service sequence was somewhat disorganized. There was some confusion over which server was assigned to our table. In addition, while we were in no hurry, we endured significant delay awaiting our second course. The pasta dishes were undersized. While the Quadretti was of an acceptable serving size, the Agnolotti could be counted on two hands. In stark contrast, the appetizers were quite generous. Despite this, everything was delicious and beautifully presented."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"After high recommendations from multiple friends about how great the restaurant was, I got a reservation to Bestia. The food did not disappoint - delicious all around. I was particularly impressed by the housemade charcuterie plate. The downside was the service. My friend and I were seated at the chef's bar, right in front of the salad prep station. Our waiter was unattentive and rudely tried to rush us through the dinner. At the quality and price of a restaurant like this, there's no excuse for such treatment. On top of this, the restaurant reported to OpenTable that we didn't show up for our reservation. And on top of this experience, I wrote a complaint to the restaurant, and they didn't even acknowledge it, let alone apologize"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"Excellent food and service. Signature cocktails and unique wine list."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"This was my fifth time at Bestia, and once again the service, dishes, and space did not disappoint. Although four of the five non-dessert dishes we ordered were ones I had previously had, the new try this time, the lamb heart, was a standout. I'd also highly recommend the strawberry crostata for dessert--moist and soft and just wonderful with the ice cream pairing."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"Great food, service, ambience. Little dissappointed on seating. We were one of the first parties there and they stuck us on a little table on a busy aisle. The place was 85% empty for close to an hour and a half."
Dined on 6/26/2014
"We dined at Bestia on a Wednesday night and the place was literally SRO. We sampled several small plates and a couple larger mains. Every dish was excellent, using interesting ingredients that were well prepared. Service was great. I wanted one of the cocktails, but was driving so asked the server to bring some sparkly and refreshing. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it tasted wonderful."
Dined on 6/25/2014
"Really great food! The pastas stood out especially. We had the Cavatelli alla Norcina which was delicious and rich. The Agnolotti alla Vaccinara literally melted in my mouth. It was absolutely incredible. We went with a group of 4 people and we ordered 5 dishes plus a dessert. The waiter suggested we order 8 dishes, 2 per person, but we were more than satisfied. It is VERY LOUD in there and they play loud music on top of it. If you can request to sit outside, I would do so"
Dined on 6/24/2014
"Food & cocktails awesome. My favorites: Sazerac, Cavatelli, roasted marrow bone & panna cotta."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"Amazing first courses. Wonderful pastas and salads. However, if you've gorged on the first courses, you won't appreciate the entrees as much. They are rich and full. The wait staff were incredible -- attentive, informative without condescension, and genuinely interested in how the meal was received. The only disappointment is that Chef does not want you to be seated until your entire party is present."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"This was my first time at Bestia, I had it saved on my Foursquare app for months! I finally got to try it and I was thrilled with it all. The service is the best! Our waitress was so sweet and very helpful when it came to helping us decide on what to get. My favorite dish of the night was the sea urchin on the toast. It was a flavor I have never had in my life, it was amazing. Not only that, but the cocktails here are amazing! I planned on only having one but I couldn't resist another Granita Applebum. All in all this place is so cool, so delicious, so LA."
Dined on 6/20/2014
"Had to wait about 30 mins to get seated even though we had reservations. What's the point of having reservations if you still have to wait? Food was good, but nothing with a wow factor."
Dined on 6/20/2014
"We FINALLY got a reservation at Bestia and it was so worth the effort! The food was delicious (the spaghetti with bottarga, uni and squid ink was heavenly), the drinks were great, service was spot-on, and the place was fun! YUM - lived up to all the hype, so good!"
Dined on 6/17/2014
"I didn't have any knowledge of the Bestia other than it was one of the better restaurants in Los Angeles. What I got was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. Subtle, yet distinctive taste, yet subtle, perfectly prepared. I was particularly impressed with the timing of the meal. Just as we finished one course, the next course magically appeared. Great atmosphere but noisy, it is definitely a hot spot."
Dined on 6/17/2014
"Pasta was undercooked. Bummed me out! As someone who has worked for AOC Bottega Louie and Craft all working stations that had pasta dishes, I was super bummed that Bestia of all places served my table some really undercooked cavatelli. Couldn't finish the dish. Everything else was great."
Dined on 6/16/2014
"We ordered a whole bunch of dishes ranging from chicken gizzards (surprisingly tender), Bone marrow over roasted pasta: loved the chewiness with cruchy char on the spinach pasta, agnolotti alla vaccinara: tender pillows bursting with flavor, spaghetti with sea urchin and squid ink: subtle sea flavor gave the dish depth without overpowering the palate and the highlight was the grilled orata sea bream. The fish one took the house down for us: perfect execution..haven't had a whole fish we truely enjoyed since the branzino over 10 years ago at Angelini Osteria. We were just a little bummed that they ran out of the "coffee and donuts" for dessert as we were looking forward to tasting that after hearing so many raves about it. Maybe next time."
Dined on 6/14/2014

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