Jon & Vinny’s

This place is very good. Went there on a very rainy and windy Sunday and had a great time. Had the meatballs with that awesome bread, a salad and some good pizza. The service was great and very attentive, answered lots of questions for us first timers.
All in all, a fun experience, will be going back.

Wow. Seriously, I think they have the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. I always seem to be disappointed in thin slice pizza’s because I feel like they always get a bit soggy in the middle. I ordered a Margherita Pizza and was blown away. We ordered the Margherita instead of a more complicated pizza and I’m happy we did because I feel like I was able to get a good feel for all of the base and simple ingredients. Their pizza sauce was to die for. I literally wanted a side to drink. I would also be happy bathing in large quantities of their pizza sauce. We also ordered meatballs and the fried green onions. Everything was delicious but I would have to say the stars of our meal were the pizza and the garlic bread that comes with the meatballs — it was cray good. I dont know if I’ll ever get the green onions again, keep in mind they are fried so it just feels super heavy paired up with pizza, meatballs, etc. I wish I had tried one of their salads instead but there is always next time. Not to take away from the green onions because they were honestly delish, but try to learn our lesson and balance your meal out better than we did.
I was going to subtract a star for all the Drake music they were playing but decided not to. haha.

I see they have 3.5 stars, totally unsure on why or how. Went with a group of 4, we split 6 entrees and the meatballs which were too die for. It was great, everything … Really. Customer service, timely food, tasty food, fun music, great energy once seated. The waiting area can feel a little hectic but step outside or go down the st for a drink, it’s worth it! def recommend !

Meatballs and Rosé
That’s all I got to say

Giving it 5 but it wasn’t perfect. (Though the food was pretty damn perfect.)
Service was great. As others have noted, you are not always sure who your waiter is but it’s mostly because there are multiple people giving you lots of attention. Not a bad thing at all (though one person was going to take something off the bill and another person did not get that message and we didn’t notice til later).
White lightning pizza, fusili, brocollini salad, meatballs, agnolotti… all great.
Great food, great staff.

It’s too bad that several others have had bad experiences at Jon and Vinny’s, but frankly we had an absolutely fabulous time! The food, the service, everything about it was great (okay, probably would have chosen different music for background). We have eaten at several of Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s other restaurants, and have come to expect small, fun, hipster spots with good food, and Jon and Vinny’s is very much in that vein.
We arrived a bit early for our reservations, and ended up having to wait about 10 minutes past our reserved time, which in a small restaurant (probably less than 100 seats) wasn’t bad. More importantly, the hostess Emily couldn’t have been nicer, checking in with us several times to keep us posted, and offering to bring us drinks. So the wait was no big deal, was well handled by the staff, and was definitely worth it based on the food!
Okay, let’s talk food …
We started with the marinated olives, they looked like the big, bright green castelveltrano olives you see elsewhere (and they may have been) but these were surprisingly soft to the bite (castelveltrano can be a bit hard) and had a very nice taste, great accompaniment with our drinks.
Then came the cornmeal dusted spring onions. Others have complained about these being greasy, but ours weren’t in the least. To us, these were like the ultimate onion rings! The batter is super crunchy, with a very nice texture from the corn meal, the spring onions were soft and sweet, and the aioli on the side was a nice step up from ketchup.
Shortly after that, the meatballs arrived. Two big, tender, flavorful meatballs swimming in a pool of marinara. Alongside was a small blob of ricotta and two big thick slabs of garlic bread with lovely grill marks and a good smoky taste, all the better to mop up that sauce!
While we were waiting, we were eyeballing their pizza oven … not a wood fired oven, but it did look like some serious pies coming out. We sprung for the Sonny’s Favorite, with thick niman ranch bacon, mozzarella, grant padano, and tomato sauce. Absolutely delicious! These are proper Italian-​style pizzas, with a super thin crust and those lovely bits of charring around the crust and on the bottom. I don’t know if I’d rate them above Pizzeria Mozza, but certainly a close second.
Our waiter Eddie also encouraged us to try the pasta, and said the cavatelli was «the bomb». How can you argue with that? We would have to agree with his recommendation, the lovely home made cavatelli noodles were still a touch firm, and were tossed with a fantastic, fennel-​infused italian sausage, tons of garlic, spinach or some other sort of green, and some hard cheese. Superb dish! Of course, Eddie also strongly advocated for the spaghetti with bolognese, so we will just have to come back and try that another time.
Although we were stuffed to the gills by this point, we had to try some of the baked goods adorning the countertop case next to our table, so we splurged on the nutella-​filled donuts, the banana bread, and the coconut macaroon. All were delightful, and not overly sweet (okay the nutella donut was pretty sweet).
Adding to the overall experience was the fabulous service we received throughout our evening, from Emily when we arrived to our waiter Eddie throughout the whole meal, to one of the managers coming by to check in with us several times during the meal. The restaurant was absolutely packed (hour+ wait for walk ins), but we never felt it from the warm, friendly and attentive service we received from everyone at the restaurant.
We will most definitely be back (we still have to try the bolognese)!

Another great experience at Jon & Vinny’s. Their food is simple and excellent, clearly made with quality ingredients. We were seated more promptly than usual and the staff was wonderful. Our food took a bit longer than normal to come out, which our waiter made sure to communicate with us. He also gave me a complimentary drink for having to wait an extra few mins to start eating! (I wasn’t even hangry, but maybe my resting bitch face said otherwise… oops.)
We got the LA Woman pizza, spicy fusilli vodka, and caprese burrata appetizer.
TIP: Don’t let them take the spicy fusilli vodka plate away once you finish… use the leftover sauce to dip your LA Woman pizza! #lifehack
Already made reservations to go back next month!

I was looking forward to checking this place out mostly because its a well known chef’s restaurant and it looked like it would be good. The food was good but nothing special. The prices are overpriced for what you get as well.
I felt like there was a disconnect between their vibe of «modern casual Italian diner» and the prices that they expect you to pay. The food is intended to be family style but I feel like the portions were too small to truly be family style.
Everything comes out as you order it which I like so you’re not overwhelmed by 5 different dishes coming at once.
We started with friend onions with a chili aioli which was a little too greasy for my taste but was good overall.
We also tried:
–Meatballs, ricotta, garlic bread: loved the garlic bread. My friends said the meatballs were well done
–Apple, celery, parm salad: good but I have made something very similar to this in my own kitchen. It is basically just thinly sliced apples, celery, chunks of parm and olive oil and lemon dressing. I did like the surprise of figs at the bottom however.
–White Lightening Pizza, delicious! With pickled jalapeños and white cheeses
–Ricotta ravioli: ok, not amazing. It tasted fresh but for some reason I wasn’t too into the filling
–Spicy fusilli: Our favorite dish of the night. The pasta is obviously homemade and almost has a sourdough taste to it. The sauce is spicy and flavorful. Yum
The service was good. Very attentive and nice. Parking is metered. I am sure they have valet too. My main qualms with this place is that the portions were small and it was overpriced for the type of food you get.

Amazing food & deplorable service.
Never have I been so conflicted in writing a review.
Let’s start with the good news…
They have some of the best pasta I’ve tried at any Italian restaurant-​I highly recommend their spicy fusilli. The ‘Nats’ pizza is decent, but nothing to write home about. There caprese is fresh and seems to have a nice lemony twist… maybe lemon zest…
Now for the terrible news… upon arriving at the restaurant I was poorly greeted by their hostess. I shook it off since the restaurant was quite busy… I was told that we would be seated as soon as my friend arrived… which was just moments later… once my friend had arrived I was told that my table was given away and that we could sit at the bar… I asked for an explanation as to why our table had been given away… a shoddy excuse was given by the same incompetent hostess who by any measure seemed entirely uneducated. I found it ironic that she happened to be wearing a sweater that donned the name of a prestigious Ivy League when she simultaneously acted as though she didn’t even possess a high school diploma…
Unfortunately the manager had to get involved and only slightly mitigated the problem. The first round of free drinks was some consolation, but further disciplinary action would have been nice to see.
I would recommend the food from the restaurant but not the restaurant itself. In my opinion, the only reason for the hustle and bustle is the trendy location… otherwise this is just a decent Italian joint with a hostess who lacks manners, tact, and professionalism.

Items Selected:
Raspberry Bombolini
Warm Banana Bread with Salted Butter
Rosemary Pinenut Tart with Heavy Cream and Custard
Honey Date Scone with Salted Butter
Nutella Toast — Pain de Mie, Nutella, Olive Oil, Sea Salt
Crispy Potato, Parmesan, Black Pepper
Olive Oil Fried Eggs, Grilled Tuscan Kale, Crispy Potatoes, ‘Nduja, Preserved Meyer Lemon
BLT: Grilled Gjusta Cuiabatta, Bacon, Fried Egg, Tomato, Arugula, Aioli
Buttermilk Pancakes, Berries, Salted Butter, Maple Syrup
Anson Mills Polenta, Olive Oil, Parmesan, Fried Egg
LA Woman — Local Burrata, Tomato, Basil, Olive Oil, Sea Salt
49^th Parallel Espresso Soaked Tiramisu
Chocolate Budino, Caramel, Olive Oil, Sea Salt
Sal’s Cannoli
Maple Apple Bread Pudding with Soft Maple Cream
Missed out on during a September trip to the City of Angels when a fire behind the oven temporarily shut the small shop on Fairfax down, it was almost a similar fate that befell a visit to Jon & Vinny’s during a more recent trip westward thanks to a fully-​booked Friday evening, last-​minute scrambles rescheduling a party of four for a brunch rolling into lunch that once again showed the guys behind Animal and Son of a Gun striking paydirt — not one item out of fifteen less than delicious though auto-​grat service charges once again seemed to bring staff’s motivation to exert additional effort down.
At this point sort of a known entity, the narrowness of the space and loud music from days gone expected and actually conducive to happy smiles and spontaneous bouts of sing-​along, Jon & Vinny’s sees the reigning kings of Los Angeles ‘cool kid’ dining take on an Italian Pizzeria concept and offering breakfast from 8:00 — 11:30am daily before transitioning to a lunch/​dinner menu served continuously till closing the concepts of locally sourced, top-​tier ingredients and in-​house baking are proudly promoted both on the menu and by staff, the pastry case itself a reason to visit even in a city where modern upscale bakeries are not for lack.
Seated in a slick wooden booth, the expandable tables along the wall paralleling a Chef’s Counter and open kitchen allowing larger parties when need be, it was just past 10:15am when the full party was seated and perusing both menus before an order was placed it was only after a perplexing delay that coffee was served along with four pastries, the $ 1 per refill after one upcharge a bit offputting considering the fact that it was drip with a $ 5 up-​front price.
Not a breakfast for the thrifty, though certainly not pushing the upper edge in a city with occasionally laughable cost: quality ratios, it was with four pastries from the glass plus one toasty slice of Gjusta Brioche slathered with Nutella, Olive Oil and flakes of Salt that the meal got underway and whether one starts with a light pocket stuffed with Raspberry Jam or the dense Banana Loaf there really is no ‘wrong’ choice, the scone brought to life by butter as good as most found in Europe while the Tart eats like an Italian ode to Gâteau Basque with aromatics offered by Rosemary sandwiched by Custard and Whipped Cream.
Moving on to the proper breakfast menu, four «entrees» and a side of crispy smashed potatoes rife with pepper and parm selected, Jon & Vinny’s offers options intended to please fans of both sweet as well as savory and although items like a BLT that entirely eschews «L» or Olive Oil Fried Eggs may not seem all that ‘exciting’ the quality of the ingredients and care in preparation more than make up for such simplicity, the spicy ‘nduja particularly memorable as were the buttery bowl of polenta heavily shaved with Parmesan and light-​as-​a-​feather yeast-​leavened Pancakes.
Saving room for the lunch menu, though service delays would inevitably prevent ordering meatballs, chicken, or pasta it was after nearly thirty-​five minutes that one of Jon & Vinny’s signature pies would emerge from the oven and featuring just the right amount of blister amidst a crust that was cracker thin the «LA Woman» proved as perfect as all the rumors would have one believe, the burrata quite literally the texture of butter while tomatoes were bright with acid complimented only by flakes of sea salt and olive oil, whole leaf basil adding its characteristic herbal tinge.
Requesting desserts to be expedited, a hockey game at Staples beginning at 1:00, it was with another quartet that the meal would end and although the budino was a relatively straight forward chocolate pudding both the unthinkably light Tiramisu and Maple Soaked Brioche with roasted apples were nothing short of reference standard, a similar compliment paid to a filled-​to-​order cannoli with a shell so robust that it actually proved difficult to crack without making a mess, the chocolate chip studded filling hovering somewhere between mascarpone and ricotta in texture without being overly sweet.

Been a fan of Shook and Dotolo since I first ate at animal oh so long ago. This place does not disappoint for some simple straightforward Italian grub.
WHITE LIGHTNING
Mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, onion, oregano and pickled jalapeño. Thin, crispy, chewy and flavorful, really good stuff. Maybe a tad bit overpriced at $ 17 but still worth it.
BUCATINI
Perfectly cooked al dente bucatini with plenty of pecorino romano cheese and pepper just how any good cacio e pepe should be. Portion size is a bit on the small side but still really damn good.
BUDINO
If you like chocolate you should check this out. Basically a donut filled with warm gooey chocolate, ’nuff said.

I had breakfast with a friend here on a Sunday morning. We were seated at the counter facing the kitchen, where all the magic happens. It’s pretty cool to be able to watch your food being made, except for when it takes too long and all you’re really doing is WATCHING… not eating.
We had one of those donut things filled with Nutella. That came pretty quickly, and is delicious. I ordered an iced coffee, while my friend ordered a hot tea. Both took about 10 minutes to arrive. Not sure why, since all they needed to do was pour… however, i must admit that the coffee is very good. I had the Soft scramble which comes with eggs, cheese, toast, and sliced tomatoes. Now… this took forever. My friend had the avocado toast. He was already done eating when my food arrived in front of me. I’m just wondering why it took so long… eggs, toast, sliced tomatoes… sounds pretty intense right? Not Really. Simple…
It was a little of everyone waiting on us. Not sure who the waiter was. Interestingly… this was the first place I’ve been to that charges a gratuity or some sort of tax… practically the price of a meal. I’ll have to be on the look out for these charges in the future

First we were told that we needed to be out by a specific time because of other reservations, no big deal, places get busy. We rushed a bit, as much as we could but that’s later in the review, and there was no need as there were plenty of open tables when we left.
Our server was on it and got our orders in and then disappeared… I mean he was gone. Our food started coming out without him. When we looked for him to put in more orders, about 40 minutes after initially ordering, and asked where he was. The other server said he left and he was our server… Huh? This guy was unconcerned about our needs and only his regular tables. Our initial server returned about the time we ordered dessert.
The food is good. The pastas were fine although the sauces were a bit watery. The meatballs were fantastic. The pizzas were average at best. One of our orders never got put in.
I don’t get the hype.

Yummmmm… Who doesn’t like Italian food? If you don’t, I’m not sure I want to be Unilocal friends…
Anyway, Jon & Vinny’s is a small and casual-​ish place, although it does attract a pretty trendy crowd with trendy place prices to match. Make reservations in advance, because the wait for walk-​ins can be pretty long.
We came with a giant group, so we got to try a LOT and everyone’s reactions veered from neutral enjoyment to love. Nobody hated their food which is always a great sign.
What you must get:
Start with a bruschetta and some veggies (ALL of them are good! Go with whatever your heart desires!) and then get a pasta. Those are really what they do best. My favorite of the pastas: cacio e pepe, spicy vodka fusilli, and kabocha squash agnolotti (keep in mind, this one is a small dish). Not feeling pasta? The chicken parmesan is also fantastic. Finally, if you still have room, their desserts are pretty great. I loved the chocolate budino but it is a very sweet/​savory combo with the olive oil. Not many in my group liked it. The crowd pleasers at our table were the bread pudding and the Strauss family creamery soft serve.
What I suggest skipping:
The pizzas. Really nothing special.
Service? Could be better, especially at those prices. They aren’t the most attentive. Also the food comes out «piecemeal», as it’s ready. Which means your food is hot out of the oven (so to speak) but it also gets awkward in a large group. We all tried waiting for each other initially being the polite people we are, but after a while realized that wasn’t feasible. One person in our group got their food after we all finished! Makes for an awkward date or family dinner…
On a side note, the waiters all wear Lady and the Tramp t-​shirts. Being the Disney freak I am, this really warmed my heart.
Overall, Jon & Vinny’s is not a MUST so don’t prioritize it on your bookmark list, but it’s a great meal if you do decide to stop by.

Such a fan. The service is unmatched. This place is crazy busy and small and crowded and has its share of knuckle heads who only think about themselves. Despite this the staff is great. Somehow they keep a smile going as they manage people pouring in. This alone is worth 6 stars. They’re nice and considerate and honest.
The food is so so good. It’s earned all the rave reviews and then some. We will be back.

Ambience is a 10! Food 9.4 ! Cleanliness 9.3! Service 9.4! Chances I will return its a 10!
Delicous meal, great spot! Sat at seats 7 and 8 overlooking all the action.
Awesome foodie experience!
A little heavy on the oil, but it’s darn good oil! #carbloaded #happytummy

If you love traditional Italian American cuisine and really who doesn’t, then Jon and Vinny’s is a must try.
I will say it is pretty pricey so depending on your personal taste and experience regardless of how good the food is that will be the determining factor on whether or not you return.
The dishes are meant for sharing so when you go you order three dishes. That is what it takes to be full. Not to mention everything looks and smells wonderful you will be tempted to order more.
I really like the place and I’m a sucker for this type of food so my wallet’s willing to take the hit.
Recommendations:
Meatballs are a must order if you are a meat eater.
Pastas:
Spicy Fusilli vodka sauce. It is the best I’ve had (though admittedly it has been a while since I ordered it)
KABOCHA SQUASH AGNOLOTTI, RICOTTA, HAZELNUTS, TRUFFLE, SAGE — all caps because I just copy and pasted from their menu not because it’s the best thing of all time however it’s pretty f’ing awesome.
Six Hour Bolognese — this was a heavier, creamier version than I have encountered before but really good.
Pizzas:
EL CHAPARRITO — I’m a sucker for chorizo and they incorporate it beautifully in this pizza.
WHITE LIGHTNING — mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, pickled jalapeño, onion and oregano. This was a great balance of sweet and spice.
Hope you enjoy!

We had an amazing meal there. One of the best I’ve had in months which is saying a lot.
The service was some of the best I’ve had anywhere. The staff really goes above and beyond to make it a great experience. It also feels very genuine and heartfelt, which is so nice!
The food was incredible. Dishes kept coming out and each one was better than the last. The bucatini cacio y pepe was just ridiculous. I could eat this by the trough. The rosemary tart is one of the most perfect savory desserts I’ve ever had. They have a super interesting wine list thanks to wine purveyor Helen, who has a delicious little closet store in the back.
I cannot wait to come back here. Everything was exceptional.

I came here with slightly low expectations since Unilocal gave them 3.5 stars. I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, they are from the same owners of Animal across the street, Trois Mec, Son of a Gun, etc., so it had some credibility there! My bf and I were originally going to get burgers, but happened to pass by this place, and wanted to try it after seeing how good the menu looked. I first read about this restaurant in Food & Wine magazine. Jon and Vinny’s opened up to be a casual pizza joint, where one can just unwind with good pizza and a glass of wine to go with. Awesome concept!
It’s a little strange that on Unilocal there are NO pizzas featured. But we had to try the pizza… we ended up getting a pizza that I can no longer find on the menu. It had mozzarella cheese, red onions, and mortodello. The crust was thin and crispy. It was perfect to share with someone (and order other dishes), like a small-​medium pizza, 3-​slices each. It was a delicious pizza, and reminded us both of the pizzas we eat back in San Francisco (i.e. Pizzeria Delfina).
We also ordered the Spicy fusilli vodka, basil, Parmesan cheese pasta. WOW. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente… very impressive for what the pizza place they go by. Who would’ve thought their pasta would have been just as good? It was amazing. Good for those picky vegetarian eaters too.
Our appetizer, the Hass avocado Bruschetta, olive oil, lemon, crushed red chili with Parmesan on top, was fantastic too. The bread was perfectly soft but crunchy on the outside. The lemon citrus flavor really brought the whole dish together — I will have to try that myself next time I try to make Bruschetta!
Service, on the other hand, was a bit slow. They were very nice, and personable, but it was slow. We must have waited about 15 minutes before getting our pasta dish. You would think bruschetta would be quicker to make, and that they’d bring it out sooner, but they didn’t.
Anyhow, even though the service wasn’t great, I’d still return. Love the pizzas! There were SEVERAL that I wanted to go back and try. Sometimes your stomach just isn’t big enough.

Suzie Q’s Fun Facts:
Before they opened Animal, culinary school classmates Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo were caterers, and once had a stint as private chefs for Harrison Ford.
=≅≅≅≅≅≅~
Jon & Vinny’s thinks it’s a laid back, casual pizza joint, complete with diner-​like plating and presentation, and paper placemats for the kids to color on. But tell that to the throngs of imperious, stylishly-​dressed, impatient customers demanding to be seated… and tell that to the chefs themselves, whose menu (and prices) are decidedly upscale for the «down home» feel they were going for.
On a weeknight a couple of months after Jon & Vinny’s opened, I was able to reserve a table with just a little bit of effort (the easier option would have been to sit at the bar, but I always prefer a table). My friend and I were seated promptly.
To our amusement, for the first few minutes after we sat down, the table immediately to my left was being used for a food photoshoot (Vinny Dotolo was hovering in the background). Not the most relaxing surroundings for an evening meal, but an interesting view nonetheless.
After we were seated and placed our order, service was distracted and inconsistent. Our server apparently assumed that my friend and I wanted to share everything we ordered (rather than interpreting my order of salad and pasta as «I’ll have a salad to start, then a pasta as my entrée»). So my friend got his meatball dish something like 30 minutes before I got my pasta. It was annoying to watch my friend eat his entire plate of food while I sat there totally starving and envious. The manager ultimately apologized, but it didn’t do much for my mood.
As for my food, it was nothing special — especially for the price.
To start, I had the burrata, white peach, sun gold tomato, basil, and arugula salad ($ 14.25). While the burrata was creamy and yet still refreshing — a great combination with the peaches — the balance of the dish was a little off. First of all, the «sun gold tomato» consisted of only 3 cherry tomato halves (not a very generous helping). Secondly, the arugula was markedly peppery, so it overpowered the gentle sweetness of the peach and burrata. The salad also wasn’t a particularly generous plate of food overall (see photo).
My long-​awaited entrée — the house-​made bucatini, cacio e pepe, pecorino romano ($ 16.75) — was also a disappointment, and not only because I waited far too long for it to come out of the kitchen. While I realize the dish’s key ingredients are cheese and pepper, I felt that the pepper flavor was overwhelming. The pasta itself was a little undercooked and chewy. Overall, the dish was flat and one-​note.
Our dessert, a big square of tiramisu, was just fine, but very casually and ineffectively presented. My guess is that presentation is not a massive priority for Shook and Dotolo at this restaurant.
As my friend and I exited the restaurant at the end of the evening, we had to squeeze past a throng of pissed-​off looking would-​be diners, who had apparently assumed that no reservation was required (they were wrong). One of them even loudly copped an attitude.
Conclusion: If you are really looking for a laid back and casual dining option, then Jon & Vinny’s may not be the best choice — not until the hype cools down significantly (as will inevitably happen).