Pistola

Lobster tail was awesome especially the risotto underneath. We ate also clams and jumbo shrimps for antipasti and oysters were so fresh and tasty.
Definitely this is my best italian place

I’ve been wanting to try Pistola for a while. For some odd reason, whenever I would make plans to come here, somehow it never ended up working out… until Friday night that is. My friend and I set the date a month in advance so unless something important came up, this date was happening.
We both knew coming in we wanted the Spaghetti Carbonara. We’ve seen so many pictures on instagram that we knew that this was the one we wanted to try. We then decided on also getting the Octopus appetizer, Squid Ink Agnolotti, and a side of wild mushrooms.
The octopus came out first. Great presentation and great flavor. I would give this a solid ⁴⁄₅ only because i think I’ve had better a better octopus at Bestia. Next came our pastas, both the squid ink and the carbonara. The squid ink was good, but it didn’t compare to the carbonara. Not only is the carbonara extremely well presented, but it was also extremely delicious. Now you may be thinking that carbonara is usually too rich and you would be done with it in a couple bites, right? Well, this one was rich in flavor but not overly heavy, and for some reason we just couldn’t get enough of this one. We would’ve kept going but then we ate it all and there wasn’t any carbonara left. :(
We took a little gander at the dessert menu and decided to go for some sort of banana gelato cheesecake with oreo cookie crust. That’s probably not the official name but that’s what it was and it was delicious! Super refreshing after having pasta and it was the perfect ending to a great meal.
The ambiance was nice, it’s a pretty open and spacious restaurant but i wouldn’t say it’s big. They also had an upstairs that i didn’t have a chance to see. Our server sort of seemed like he was in a rush since i was indecisive at times on my drink order but other than that, i was pretty impressed. Five stars for Pistola, and seriously I can’t wait to come back.

BEST CARBONARA I’VE EVER TASTED!
No seriously! This place is fantastic! I was seated with a party of 5 and within five seconds of me sitting down, the waitress accidentally knocked over my entire glass of RED wine all over me. Luckily, their manager is super on point and immediately comped my glass and sent over a new one! He even sent over several plates of their (phenomenal) cannolis on the house because he wanted to make sure we left happy! Now that’s what I call customer service! From their chopped salad to their filet mignon, EVERYTHING HERE IS EXCEPTIONAL. Just beware that there is only one restroom for the entire venue. Sorta weird/​unsettling but whatever.
Nonetheless, Pistola is a must try if you’re in the region!

The dinner tonight started with a simple chopped salad which was delicious. The winter menu was very interesting and the pastas were superb! The dessert banana cream pie was out of this world! Love the energy in this place

As a fierce lover of all things egg and pasta, I was immediately compelled to go to Pistola after seeing inspiring pictures of its carbonara. Right off the bat, I liked the ambiance at Pistola — plush, sophisticated, romantic — this place is a good place to bring a date. We were seated upstairs in the mezzanine area, a narrow open corridor with views of the dining room below. The mezzanine sits directly next to the outdoor patio, which is reserved for large parties. With soft hanging lighting and a retractable roof, the patio is a lovely spot for any gathering.
We started off with the Kumamoto oysters, which were delightful — fresh, sweet, with just the right amount of acidity from the tart mignonette sauce and the perfect cocktail sauce… I am nothing if not a lush for good condiments.
Enjoyed the Meatballs as a starter as well. Served in a trio, the meat is very tender, melting away almost immediately on the tongue. The meatballs are served on a creamy bed of melted ricotta and come with a light dusting of quality parmesan. This dish definitely doesn’t want for flavor — liberally seasoned with oregano and other herbs, this appetizer definitely wakes the palate.
On to the main events: obviously dished on the Spaghetti Carbonara, for which I’d made the journey, along with the Squid Ink Agnolotti. Let me just say that I was not disappointed, as this is probably the best carbonara I’ve had to date. A mound of gorgeous house-​made bucatini served perfectly al dente in a mixture of pancetta, cream and cheese, all with a luscious egg yolk nestled on top. The presentation alone is impressive, but once the yolk is mixed in with the rest of the dish and you take a bite, the flavor is something else. I feel like this is the first time I recognized pepper as the key ingredient, rather than as an important seasoning — high quality ingredients coupled with masterful technique makes for a truly memorable carbonara. To nobody’s surprise, this dish is super heavy, but I wouldn’t want my carbonara any other way.
While the carbonara was the runaway star of the meal, the Squid Ink Agnolotti was nice. A medley of juicy seafood enveloped in paper-​thin pillows in a light cream sauce, this pasta was a welcomingly light counterpart to the very heavy spaghetti dish. My only complaints would be that the seafood was heavy on membrane and I caught a bite of shell at one point.
Overall, I very much enjoyed my first experience at Pistola. It’s always nice to have your expectations validated, and the Spaghetti Carbonara was everything I had hoped it would be. All of the food was good, but I will be back for that dish and that dish alone.

Delicious food but it’s odd that they want you to place your entire order at once. So unless you have your main course in mind… you won’t be able to order your appetizers.
To start off, we order the crab cakes, meatballs, and pizza. Crab cakes are delicious, spicy which I love. It was too spicy for a few of my group members. The meatballs are just okay and pizza as well.
I had the half chicken with Brussel sprouts and veggies. That sauce that’s served on the dish is slightly sweet, which gave all the veggie more flavour. I did manage to finish everything on my plate, including the chicken. Ate perfectly around the bones with my fork and knife skills.
Our server was great, but don’t remember her name. I’m guessing she didn’t give it, or else I’m very good at remembering these things. Our waters and iced teas were consistently filled by one of the guys.
Not sure on the parking situation. We took and über over to the restaurant from sunset. They do have valet parking out front which is probably a lot easier and worth it when it’s a busy night out.

Honestly some of the most superb Italian food I’ve had in LA. Came here last night for a holiday party with my firm and I was instantly a fan. Very nice southern type of décor, pretty bar, friendly bar tenders, and good service all around.
Now lets get to the good stuff: the food… AMAZING! MOUTH WATERING! Everything good cooking should be. I don’t even know where to start… the pizza, the chopped salad (yummm), their meatballs were delicious as well, then my entrée steak… literally to die for. Their desserts were yummy too from the sorbet to some of the best cannoli’s I’ve ever had.
I told my BF and best friends this is certainly a place we need to go back to and enjoy. Thumbs up for me.

This place is adorable. I went in for a quick happy hour drink and really enjoyed it. The décor is gorgeous with a hint of sophisticated charm. My friend and I sat at the bar and ordered a few bites. They have a selection of wine, cocktails and food for $ 8 during happy hour which I believe runs from 5pm to 7pm. I got a glass of red wine which the bartender was kind enough to let me sample before I settled on it.
My friend and I noshed on a couple of items, I ordered the meatballs (two per serving) which was perfect… juicy with the right amount of sauce. I had to laugh at my friend who ordered the burrata crostini thinking that she was getting a few pieces of bread but instead got one bite-​sized piece of bread. She offered to share but I couldn’t deprive her. We split the Rigatoni alla Vodka which kinda blew my mind. This dish made our night — the sauce was thick, the noodles were al dente with bites of prosciutto and sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Yum!
We had a really nice experience at Pistola. The manager offered us another taste of red wine he had just opened; we took him up on the offer. I know it’s good business but it’s not often that people do that at restaurants these days. I can’t wait to go back here for a meal in the near future.

Love this spot.
I have been here a bunch and have had a great experience every time. The food is delicious, my favorites are:
— Eggplant Parmigiana
— Skirt steak
— Rigatoni Alla Vodka
— Bucatini «Cacio E Pepe»
— Wild Alaskan Halibut
— Sicilian Cauliflower
— Brussels Sprouts
Friendly service and classy décor. A great spot to go for a fun night out.
I will definitely be back!

Decided to come here cause hubby was craving Italian food that evening, this is an elegant and classic restaurant and bar. We got seated at a corner booth next to the window, intimate and comfy, couldn’t ask for a better seat for two ppl.
Started off with bottle of sparkling water as usual. I had a vodka cocktail in cucumber flavor, it was refreshing but not strong enough for me. So I asked for a Goose vodka Lemon drop, it was a great pour, strong and tasty. Hubby had Vesper martini, it was pretty good.
Starters:
Table bread: hubby liked it.
Steamed mussels: tender and fresh mussels, the broth was amazing, hubby dipped bread in it too.
Entrees:
Halibut with veggies: the halibut was very tender and soft, one of the best halibut I have ever had, so good.
Special of the night duck confit, with housemade spicy sauce: hubby LOVED the duck, amazingly flavorful and tender! The spicy sauce was bomb, I tried a little with my fish too, it was absolutely delicious!
Sides:
Sautéed spinach and Brussels sprouts: both were so yummy.
Dessert:
Double shot espresso, Mango sorbet, glass of port: refreshing with enough sweetness, loved it.
We enjoyed our cute little Italian dinner date so much, our server was extremely friendly and attentive, even the section managers checked up on us a few times too, very professional indeed. This place got crowded later on, lots of ppl at the bar too, lively vibe, I liked it. Absolutely loved this Italian restaurant, can’t wait to come back soon!

THIS IS MY 100^th REVIEW! WOOT WOOT!
Like anyone give a shit.
But you may care about this: the special dish that blows everyone away at Ristorante Pistola is no longer on the menu. But, if you beg hard enough, the kitchen might still make it for you. SQUID INK AGNOLOTTI. Miniature pasta-​dumplings with a seafood filling bathed in black squid ink sauce.
So intensely good it hurt.

What a place?! And have you seen the giant mirror transform into a beautious TV?! What a place! Shawn took care of us at the bar and the bar seating is comfortable compared to local peer restaurants… And what can I say about my company?! Sweetie picked it out… It appeals to the ladies!
Oh and Henley and I have to mention that from 5:15 when we arrived to about 6 they played the game on the nice TV with the VOLUME ON A BIT! A great thing in dining… We will continue to frequent this establishment! Thanks to Joe as well behind the bar (for a spot) btw.

I really enjoyed this place! We arrived a little late for a 6:30 reservation and the hostess was nice enough to seat my dinner date and I right away. The restaurant has a nice bar, with a wall full of liquor. A cute ladder that the bartender can climb up on to get bottles. I loved the décor as well. Small, but intimate.
For starters we ordered the grilled octopus, and the chopped salad. Both were extremely tasty. The octopus was grilled perfectly. Not chewy, but soft and tender. The chopped salad had a few pieces of salami mixed into it which gave the dish a unique flavor. For our entrees the waitress recommended the the New York strip. Cooked to a perfect medium rare. Juicy, and perfectly seasoned. A good piece of meat only needs to be seasoned with salt and pepper and still be flavorful. Which Pistola achieved.
I ordered the halibut for my entrée and it was a generous potion of Halibut. Served with cherry tomatoes, and cous cous. Both were lovely dishes.
The service was fast, and friendly. The general manager came by several times to make sure our food was cooked to our liking. Dessert was the Banana cream cake. A must try! To me it was like a gelato cream cake. Hard to explain, but extremely Delicious. Over all Pistola was amazing. Great service, nice ambiance, and good food. I will defiantly return.

A solid 4 stars from me.
Ambiance is great as were the food & drinks. Great place for a date or just a meal with friends/​family.
We arrived a bit early so we sat at the bar for a bit and ordered a drink. The bartender was awesome — super nice, friendly and most importantly, made my special request perfectly.
Best dishes:
Grilled octopus — i had 1 bite that was a bit too salty but aside from that the dish was great and i would order it again.
Brussel sprouts — addictingly good
Sicilian cauliflower — (see brussel sprouts comment)
Pea pesto + burrata — heart eyes emoji! I love anything with burrata on it. Add in pea pesto and I’m in love.
Prime rib — pleasantly surprised at how this good was coming from a non steakhouse.
Least favorites:
Cacio e pepe — not enough cheese in my opinion. It was ok but not great and i expect great from an Italian restaurant.
Bone Marrow — *disclaimer* I’m not a huge fan of the gelatinous texture of bone marrow so im not the best person to comment on this. The person who ordered this also thought it was just ok though.
Oysters — as good as anywhere.
Overall this place was a gem among all the restaurants littered on 3^rd and I would definitely go back.

Pistola. You are what I’ve been looking for, maybe.
You walk in and are greeted by a classic Italian restaurant feel that appeals to the modern, trendy times of today. Seriously, this place has the perfect atmosphere for a night out with a group of friends or just a date night.
Meatballs, Rigatoni alla vodka, Oxtail agnolotti, Chocolate panna cotta. Starting with the meatballs, probably the best I’ve had at any Italian restaurant. The sauce and cheese were so on point and creamy. The meat was also seasoned perfectly and tastes like the Italian meatball you’ve always wanted. The Rigatoni alla vodka was the best dish here. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce had a nice savory flavor that made you want the dish to never end. Just get the Rigatoni. Now the oxtail, it’s not as amazing. The dish was good, but the flavor just wasn’t there for me. The filling was too creamy for my liking and the flavor didn’t have that oomph. The dessert, chocolate panna cotta, was also maybe just above average. It tasted good don’t get me wrong, but maybe I just wanted something sweeter at the moment.
All in all, Pistola could be the dream Italian joint I’ve been looking for, and it could be yours too.

(Pew pew!) Pistola hits the mark for yet another birthday dinner ~
* CMP — Bread = complimentary, comes with olive oil
* APP — Fried Squash Blossom [ricotta, thyme, parmigiano, sughetto, lemon] = delicious
* APP — Charred Octopus [sunchoke, zucchini, mint, vinaigrette] = yummy and not overcooked
* DRK — Sauvignon Blanc x4 = delicious
* DRK — Riesling = sweet wine
* GET — Pappardelle Ragù [Bolognese] = hearty al dente pasta
** GET — Rigatoni Alla Vodka [prosciutto, tomato, cream] = savory pasta
** GET — Oxtail Agnolotti x2 [red wine ristretto, thyme] = we loved the oxtail agnolotti, good portion, filling & excellent flavors… it came to the table lukewarm, though
* SKP — Alaskan Halibut [couscous, olives, capers] = oh no, this may have been the toughest and driest halibut I’ve ever tasted… thank goodness it wasn’t my dish
* GET — Banana Cream Gelato Pie = everyone loooved this!
* GET — Chocolate Panna Cotta = decadent chocolate, part of the bday dessert
* AOK — Coppa Catalana (aka crème brulee) = this was ok, part of the bday dessert
* SKP — Sicilian Cannoli = is the inside of a cannoli supposed to taste like an exceedingly-​way-​too-​sweet icing on a cake?! If so, we were def. not a fan, sorry… it was left mostly untouched.
* YES — Friendly service by our waitress. And so nice of the manager to stop by twice to see how our dinner was going during the night~
* YES — Beautiful space split into 2 dining spaces (front, next to bar and dimmer side)
* YES — Full bar with seating
* YES — We had best table in house (booth in back — can see both sides of restaurant)
* WOA:
— $ 7 valet out front or try street meters if you’re lucky
— Takes reservations, takes credit cards

Such a beautiful classy Italian Steakhouse in the former space of the old AOC. Same owner as Gusto, a chef driven restaurant which means expect new menu items and changes. Went in to sample a few offerings from their new Happy Hour Menu which runs from 5−7pm with $ 8 appetizers and drinks such as the following:
FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS filled with Ricotta, Thyme, Parmigiano Reggiano. Served with Tomato Sughetto & Lemon. Believe it or not this was my first time actually trying squash blossoms and absolutely fell in love with the flavors and light texture of it.
BONE MARROW AL FORNO with aromatic Tuscan Herbs, Horseradish Crema, Parmigiano Reggiano & Fettunta. If you’re a fan of the marrow definitely do not pass this up. Served with toast points which soak up all the fat. Pure deliciousness.
LOCAL BURRATA CROSTINO was also another great appetizer. Topped with English Pea Pesto, Tendrils & Meyer Lemon.
FRIED STUFFED OLIVES ASCOLANA — could not stop popping these in our mouths. The crunch and flavors of those meaty fried olives were addicting!
Favorite drink of mine happened to be the Vodka Young Turk — Chamomile Infused Vodka, Fresh Ginger, Lime and soda. If you’re a fan of Moscow Mule I’d suggest trying this drink.
For Entrees we opted to try:
The PRIME NEW YORK STEAK 16oz. was cooked to medium-​rare perfection. Had three steaks within one week and this had to be my absolute favorite steak as of yet. Seasoned and cooked just right. Beautiful char on the outside yet extremely juicy and pink in the center.
OXTAIL AGNOLOTTI with Red Wine Ristretto, Thyme & Parmigiano. Think mini raviolis, slightly acidic from the Wine Ristretto which I loved SO much. Balanced out so nicely with the oxtail meatiness.
And for dessert: BANANA CR EAM GELATO PIE — Chocolate Cookie Crust, Caramelized Banana, Chocolate Fonduta & Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream. Amazinggggg! Think gelato ice cream cake. A pure slice of heaven.
Highly recommend stopping by this classy restaurant for an unforgettable meal.

Suzie Q’s Fun Facts:
Did the proprietors of Pistola intend an homage to the Italian mafia («pistola» is Italian for «pistol»)? Or does the restaurant’s name refer obliquely to the club-​shaped pestle used to grind spices in a mortar (which, in Italian, is actually called a «pestello» — not a «pistola»)? Who can say…
=≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅~
Maybe I’m tired of pretentious, overpriced LA food, and Pistola just hit too many of my buttons. Or maybe I’m spoiled from having visited one too many other (better) Italian restaurants.
In any case, while I can’t put my finger on anything done wrong or badly, I wasn’t captivated by Pistola.
My friend and I began our meal by sharing the Pistola «Chopped» (a refined version of the more rustic, traditional chopped Italian salad, with salami, chickpeas, tomatoes, etc.) and the charred octopus. Our waiter also brought out some mouth-​watering-​looking rustic bread and sweet butter.
The «Chopped» was perfectly okay, but it wasn’t anything special. It lacked that «wow» factor. And as with all starters on shared-​plates-​oriented menus, it was smaller than you’d expect for the price ($ 15).
The charred octopus (small, and overpriced at $ 19) — presented in an attractive, architectural-​looking stack of blackened octopus ribbons — tasted pleasant, but also didn’t wow me. The ribbons were chewier and more bitter and charred-​tasting than I would have liked.
I’ve had better — and less-​expensive — versions of this traditional grilled octopus dish at other Italian restaurants. To name a few:
Scopa Italian Roots:
Nik Nik Grill:
Toscanova:
For his entrée, my companion ordered the Veal Chop Alla Parmagiana: A huge, pounded, crunchy-​breaded veal chop topped with tomato sauce ($ 55). He asked to leave off the Mozzarella di Bufala (to each his own!), which I’m sure would have added something special to the dish. Nevertheless, even with cheese, I suspect that the chop would have been pretty bland and one-​note. My friend also complained that he’d expected the chop to be meatier, not pounded into thin scallopini.
As for my entrée: I ordered the Wild Mexican Halibut with caramelized lemon and capers ($ 39). This would arrive by itself, so in order to complete my meal, I also had to spend $ 9 on Hen of the Woods mushrooms.
I guess this is what irks me most about Pistola: For $ 40 (or $ 50 if you count the mushrooms), I would have expected to receive more than a single piece of fish on a plate — albeit a large one. Perhaps a small side of steamed spinach, or risotto? And for that price, I’d expect to be treated to a showstopper of a dish. But while the fish tasted fine — it had a nice crust on top, its flesh had a pleasantly creamy consistency, and the tangy caramelized lemon and briny capers were a pleasant contrast — it didn’t rock my world.
I do have to give Pistola props for great service and very attractively plated and presented dishes. But an Italian bistro charging Mastro’s Steakhouse prices just didn’t sit well with me. I don’t think I’ll return.

I came here with a group for dinner since I’ve been hearing about it for a while from friends. We came way early and they sat us right away… the restaurant wasn’t packed at all. strange for having no reservations. The hostess took us upstairs and they had a great little patio that had an open roof. I was pleased.
We ordered a bunch of things to share on the menu: oysters, charred mediterranean octopus, Classic Shrimp Cocktail, Pistola «Chopped», Chicken Scarpariello, Rigatoni Alla Vodka, Hen Of The Woods Mushroom, and Brussels Sprouts.
I personally had the shrimp and the chopped salad so mine was great. Can’t really go wrong with food that’s already unseasoned. The octopus was also tasty. My bf originally ordered a pasta with lobster that was super salty so he switched it to the Rigatoni Alla Vodka, which was a bit better but still had a lot of salt to it. One of our friends ordered the chicken, which was also way too salty that he returned and then it came back still pretty salty. Same goes for the side of the veggies. WAY too over seasoned.
I’m a little surprised since I heard so many good things about this place maybe it was just an off night for them…:/

I had high hopes for Pistola but I was quite disappointed. Service was fantastic. Beautiful space itself but only things I’d order again: Carbonara + their Tortino dessert.
Pistola is an «Italian Steakhouse», whatever that really means… so they have pasta & steak. I don’t eat beef but their pasta was overall extremely disappointing.
We ordered:
–Antipasti
*Pistola «Chopped» (iceberg, treviso, salami, beans, provolone, shaved red onions, sweet tomatos, pepperoncini peppers & chianti vianigrette): Beautiful presentation but at the end of the day, it was just a Chopped Italian salad.
*Meatballs with Sunday Gravy: Table loved this but didn’t eat it because of the beef
*Calamari (Crispy Monterey Squid & Shrimp Maionaise): eh, nothing special. Shrimp Maionaise looked like cheese whiz.
–Seafood
*Jumbo Shrimp Scampi (Garlic, Lemon & Butter): I will say that they didn’t lie when they said JUMBO shrimp. However, extremely tough as they grilled it. I think even Red Lobster could do this better…
–Contorni (Sides)
*Hen of the Woods Mushrooms: I LOVE Hen of the Woods for how meaty it is. But interesting prep here, very tangy… not a great complement to the Hen of the Woods
*Cauliflower: Just okay. tasted like roasted cauliflower
*Creamed Spinach: .a little bland but the best Creamed Spinach I’ve had was at CUT so not really fair t compare Pistola with CUT eh?
*Brussel Spourts: Salty. it was tasty enough.
Pasta Secca:
*Bucatini Alla Carbonara: I LOVED this. It was served with the egg yolk and they mixed it fresh for you. The Bucatini was perfectly al dente. Yum.
Pasta Fresca:
*Rigatoni Alla Vodka: The rigatoni itself also had a great al dente texture but sauce was extremely bitter. Proscuitto added nothing to this dish.
*Squid Ink Agnolotti (lobster, shrimp, scallop & sea urchin): I can eat seafood but this was SO seafood tasting/​smelling. Ugh. Also when it’s agnolotti, I expect like Spago pillows but none of the above. Also bitter for some reason. Skip it.
Dessert: My only complaint is that I wish the Tortino (Chocolate Cake, Peanut Butter Crema & Marshmallow) slice were bigger! It’s like Ferrero Rocher x Reese’s…so decadent but not too rich. Wonderful texture too.
Gelati wasn’t memorable. Wish our server told us that the Tortino was already topped with Vanilla Gelati.