Ca' Brea

In Short – Even after a remodel in the wake of a 2006 fire, the variety of rooms here, including a mezzanine, main dining room, bar area, and an enclosed patio, create a sprawling, spacious charm. It's as if one has been invited to dinner in a country villa, adorned with colorful artwork, dark wood fixtures and warm caramel walls. The menu features Italian standbys like linguini with clams, and grilled veal chop with mushroom sauce, with the occasional surprise, like a "caprese" with smoked salmon and vegetables instead of tomatoes and mozzarella.

Editor's Tips

Parking:: The restaurant offers valet service for a modest charge, but with a little patience you can often find free street parking along La Brea.
Where to Sit:: The enclosed patio in the back is a quiet, well-apportioned place to have a meal away from the bustle of the bar and main dining room. The bar was also remodeled after the fire, and makes a cheerful place to eat if you're dining alone.
The Extras:: Given the pleasant ambiance and the popularity of Italian food, the private banquet rooms upstairs are a good way to impress for both business and family events.

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User Reviews (28)

ambiance	87.5% positive	“The ambience is also very cozy and romantic.” “Bright ambience, excellent service.” “Although the restaurant is not big, I love their ambience.” “It's close to L.A and location is good but food was not so great.” “Cozy neighborhood restaurant - great food, good service, and a great atmosphere.” “Atmosphere was comfortable and lai.”
dessert	83.33000183105469% positive	“Oh, and the "crema di vaniglia" dessert is one of the best sweets I've ever had - the 1st time I tried it, I was willing to fall at the chef's feet in humble praise!” “Worth every penny-desserts were awesome.” “Desserts have been hit or miss--the cookies with vin santo seemed a bit stale, and the apple tart was mushy, but the tiramisu was great.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“Romantic with good food and drinks!” “The wine list is great and the service was great too.” “Nice portions and good wine.” “The wine list was fantastic, the ravioli was incredible, and everybody raved about the tiramisu.” “The starter breads are great and the wine selection is above-average.” “nice place to get a Moretti or glass of wine with pasta.” “There is a nice bar that you could sit at if you had to wait.” “Good wine selection.”
food quality	86.02999687194824% positive	“My favorite fish dish at Ca Brea is a special which they have every so often - it's a white fish baked in parchment paper, with tomato-caper sauce (another fave).” “$20 should get me a nice plate with more inventive sides than the omnipresent broccoli and carrots and scalloped potatoes.” “The sauce was extremely tasty.” “The food was pretty good.” “nice place to get a Moretti or glass of wine with pasta.” “My main course was drowned with sauce while my girlfriends linguini came out as dry as a bone.” “Romantic with good food and drinks!” “Cozy neighborhood restaurant - great food, good service, and a great atmosphere.” “I've been here a few times and usually their food and service are great, but this past time was completely different.” “Location is good but food is so so.” “Horrible service but good food” “The food was good, but not worth the long wait and the disrespect of the restaurant's inability to honor the reservation.” “Went there for a Christmas party and tried quite a few different dishes, all of which were good.” “Very good food!” “How any professional cook can burn toast is mindblowing- though the fact it was served up was the real kicker.” “The waitstaff was attentive and quite pleasant, but the food was a little on the slow side arriving to our table.” “They serve authentic Italian dishes.” “Our waiter was horrible- he never once asked if the food was OK or refilled our water.” “The osso bucco was tasty, although I think the polenta should fritters should be larger or just serve it over a polenta mountain.” “My friends pasta was dry and hard(undercooked).” “This has been one of the places I count on for reliable, good Italian food.” “When they don't have it, I go for the addictive pumpkin ravioli in decadent creamy walnut sauce - comfort food at it's best!” “Overall, the experience was great because of the ease of getting in, lack of any attitude in the staff, on the whole the food was good, and it was easy to park ($5 valet).” “The pizza is really good and I highly recommend it.” “The bread is so good, that they ship it to other restaurants around the area.” “Go at Ca'Brea restaurant for an excellent taste of Italian dish.” “The sauce was tasty, but the gnocchi I thought was too flour-y and not enough potato-y.” “Great place to go for good Northern Italian food.” “The food was outstanding.” “It's close to L.A and location is good but food was not so great.” “good food, poor service.” “definitely recommend Ca Brea to anyone who appreciates good Northern Italian food.” “This dish is divine!” “The food is much more impressive than that at many more expensive places.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The starter breads are great and the wine selection is above-average.” “Good wine selection.” “They were very helpful in working with our large party without having to commit to a prix-fixe menu - a perfect situation for our group of whom several had dietary restrictions.”
overall	100.0% positive	“good place to eat, filling at decent prices.” “They don't rush you and its a great place for - catch up meals with old friends, a date, or make it your regular joint for Northern Italian - if you go often - they take care of you.” “Same owner as Ca de Sole, which is another great Italian place in LA.” “Overall, a good place.” “What I love best about the restaurant are the waiters who make y.” “If you are looking for a good restaurant to have a nice dinner, this is the place!” “nice place to get a Moretti or glass of wine with pasta.”
service	85.71000099182129% positive	“I've been here a few times and usually their food and service are great, but this past time was completely different.” “What I love best about the restaurant are the waiters who make y.” “When we were finally seated, the hostess approached my party and suggested that next time we dine at 6pm or 6:30pm when they're not busy, that way they can honor the reservtation.” “The wine list is great and the service was great too.” “good food, poor service.” “mean the waiters get excited when you order Sambuca or Limoncello.” “Overall, the experience was great because of the ease of getting in, lack of any attitude in the staff, on the whole the food was good, and it was easy to park ($5 valet).” “Bright ambience, excellent service.” “Excellent service.” “The service is always really good, from the valet to the wait staff.” “Our waiter was horrible- he never once asked if the food was OK or refilled our water.” “Cozy neighborhood restaurant - great food, good service, and a great atmosphere.” “Horrible service but good food” “The waitstaff was attentive and quite pleasant, but the food was a little on the slow side arriving to our table.”
value	90.0% positive	“Nice portions and good wine.” “good place to eat, filling at decent prices.” “The food is much more impressive than that at many more expensive places.” “You'll still spend a good chunk of change, but it will be worth every penny and you'll come out smiling!” “The food was good, but not worth the long wait and the disrespect of the restaurant's inability to honor the reservation.”
wait time	100.0% positive	“The food was good, but not worth the long wait and the disrespect of the restaurant's inability to honor the reservation.” “The waitstaff was attentive and quite pleasant, but the food was a little on the slow side arriving to our table.”

12/11/11

Disappointed

by FranGMZ

I had dinner at Ca' Brea last night after some months. The service was good, but the food was extremely disappointing. The Carpaccio appetizer for example contained hardly any meat, and this minimal quantity was of bad quality with an unpleasant taste. The shaved parmesan was not "parmiggiano grana" but cheap un-aged parmesan. The only good thing on the plate was an abundance of fresh arugala salad, but this was not worth the $16 price tag.

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04/24/08

Best pizza anywhere

by usagrantsincnews

Go at Ca'Brea restaurant for an excellent taste of Italian dish. The pizza is really good and I highly recommend it.

Best wishes from USA Grants INC

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12/06/07

My Top 3 Fish Dishes EVER - ( see my reviews for 2 others )

by paulinask

We've been coming here for years, before they remodeled. I even had my b-day banquet here once...they NEVER disappoint! My favorite fish dish at Ca Brea is a special which they have every so often - it's a white fish baked in parchment paper, with tomato-caper sauce (another fave). This dish is divine! When they don't have it, I go for the addictive pumpkin ravioli in decadent creamy walnut sauce - comfort food at it's best! Oh, and the "crema di vaniglia" dessert is one of the best sweets I've ever had - the 1st time I tried it, I was willing to fall at the chef's feet in humble praise!

Pros: Quality, dependable, never disappoints
Cons: Can get busy in evening so definitely make reservations!

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12/01/07

Location is good but food is so so...

by birdiemaster1

I had dinner at Ca Brea on Friday. I heard very good reviews on this restaurant but is wasnt good as I expected.... My friends pasta was dry and hard(undercooked). I had chicken and it was very salty.

It's close to L.A and location is good but food was not so great..

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10/25/07

Horrible service but good food

by graiti

The food was pretty good. I prefer Guido's in West LA but no complaints over the food at Ca' Brea. The service is another issue. I had an 8 p.m. reservation. I was seated at 9:30 p.m. When I arrived, the hostess politely explained that they were short staffed and had too many reservations. She said it would be a 20 minute wait. That turned into 90 minutes. That's unacceptable. Period. My party was compted one free drink at the bar. So at least they tried to make ammends. There was also no parking at the valet, so i had to find a meter 2 blocks away. When we were finally seated, the hostess approached my party and suggested that next time we dine at 6pm or 6:30pm when they're not busy, that way they can honor the reservtation. The food was good, but not worth the long wait and the disrespect of the restaurant's inability to honor the reservation. Go to Mozza, Guido's, or frankly even Maggiano's before going to this place.

Ca' Brea

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What People Are Saying About Ca' Brea

Andrew Rosenblum

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Editor's Tips

12/11/11

Disappointed

by FranGMZ

04/24/08

Best pizza anywhere

by usagrantsincnews

12/06/07

My Top 3 Fish Dishes EVER - ( see my reviews for 2 others )

by paulinask

12/01/07

Location is good but food is so so...

by birdiemaster1

10/25/07

Horrible service but good food

by graiti

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