Brera Ristorante Reviews

We went with friends who had been before. Northern Italian food. A wonderful old downtown LA building. Interesting looking structure outside and in. Wood burning smoke filled the city air when we arrived. Our friends ordered the Farinacci? A chickpea tart not on the menu. Very unusual and tasty. I had the pork shoulder with polenta and kale. Very impressive looking and good. My husband had the braised beef shoulder with root vegetables and potatoes. All was quite good. We had warm donut holes with a bourbon caramel sauce for dessert. Loved it all. We sat in a back room. Dining room was fairly noisy.

This new Italian Power house is drop dead in the middle of down town LA. The made an amazing transformation of an old space and made it fabulous.The menu is Modern Italian and has something for everyone on it. The wine list is very good probably one of the best esoteric list in the city that I have seen in a while. Though slightly over priced you can still find some Value. A great bottle not to familiar to most lagrein, heinrich mayr, nusserhof, alto adige I jumped on it when i saw it. Service was great worth the trip down town for sure! k.

I loved the warehouse chic design of the place and the lighting and skylights. This is sister of Factory Kitchen, but not as good. My pasta with mushrooms was lovely, but my partner's pork shank was not that special. We were looking for drop dead delicious and only got good. Ingredients were fresh, tender, well-prepared.

We had an incredible meal here. Love the open space and ambience. The food was terrific. We shared the gnocchi to start and moved on to pappardele with boar. The pastas are homemade and just incredible. We also shared the lamb chops. They were aged and seasoned to perfection. Also tried the beef checks which were so tender and delicious. The service was great even though they were busy. Everything was spot on from the moment we were met at the door by the host. Can't wait to return

Angelo and Matteo have hit another home run; nay...a grand slam! There are few better chefs anywhere than Angelo so your are assured of a fantastic meal, and with Matteo running the front of the house you are assured not only a great meal but a great experience. They really care about the food and your pleasure. Bona fide old country kicked up a notch for hip and cool Arts District L.A. There is something for everyone - run don't walk to this place.

Having already been to the Factory Kitchen and absolutely was wooed; I was excited to try the latest creation from Matteo Ferdinandi and chef Angelo Auriana. Still in downtown, Officine Brera is a very modern-eclectic style space, nestled off of 6th street downtown. An outdoor patio area offers a nice space for a pre-dinner cocktail. The menu choices are meal size and not tapas size like at Factory Kitchen. From the appetizers to the desserts, everything was exquisite. The servers and support staff seem to be always there for anything you might need or want.

First timers to this restaurant and it was very good. Very unassuming from the outside but when you walk in, great and lively place. The service was very good and they have a great menu. Everything we ordered tasted great. Definitely recommend this place, the place has a great vibe.

I'm born in Italy and I feel pretty spoiled since I have the opportunity to visit my country quite often. I live in Los Angeles and in the past ten years I experienced a real "boom" of italian restaurants. Some of them are really great and authentic, some are just average. I had dinner at Officine Brera few days ago and I'm not convinced. Service was good, the aperol spritz excellent and the food pretty tasty. But I didn't see any Italian in the staff. Dining in an Italian restaurant is not just about the food. It's the atmosphere, the cordiality, and some little details I'm expecting, especially when you know the bill won't be cheap. Nothing against the service but this could have been an american restaurant, pretending to be italian or mediterranean.

Loved my dinner here. I was with a good-sized group and out of several substantial meals we had together, this restaurant was the most professional (the least “La-La Land”) and treated us accordingly. The food was outstanding. I’d post the photo of my pork shank but it’s obscene. The wine list is good. Service excellent. Driving past Skid Row is always an exercise in social awareness, but it’s better than putting your head in the sand. If I lived in LA I’d eat here often.

It is hard to leave Officine Brera without saying "WOW, what great food!" America is in its third decade of Italian food supplanting French as the country's favorite adopted cuisine and every couple of years a formerly unexplored mini-regional cuisine of Italy emerges and excites American chefs--all for the better. It took the USDA decades to approve the importation of real prosciutto and finally less long cured meats, and now the whole country experiences winter truffle season as if we lived in the Langhe. The cuisine presented at Officine Brera is ostensibly that of the Milanese countryside, and it is terrific. One must really visit this restaurant with a table of 6-10 people to experience the variety of delicious dishes coming-out of the kitchen. On a recent night we began with the quickly fired, soft dough fritters, that look like a portion the Pillsbury dough boy were snipped off, seasoned with Italian herbs and quickly deep fried, not to the point of ubiquitous crunchiness we expect everywhere, but just enough time to puff up and cook through---simply delicious with an aperitif. Next was a perfectly cooked risotto flavored with small chunks of homemade mini-link sausage surrounding melt in your mouth pink saucisson appearing sausage, novelly cooked sous vide style and cut into quarters to melt into the risotto--wow, a stunning dish with remarkable flavor and variety of textures. Next was the beef cannelloni. This is a remarkable dish and whose photo appears in every report and critique of the restaurant. Three homemade cannelloni are stuffed with impossibly tender shredded beef, perfectly seasoned, so tender as to almost seem pre-chewed, which is admittedly a gross image, but but it is hard to figure out how this degree of tenderness is achieved. The seasoning is perfect and richness is added with chopped up foie gras--oh my! It is lightly covered with cheese and cooked in the oven. One cannelloni is enough because of its richness, three come in the order. One cannot leave a discussion of this dish without remarking on the pasta comprising the actual cannelloni. It may be a personal quirk, but how many of us enjoy the thick gummy taste of one millimeter think, industrially produced , hard, nondescript cannelloni noodles that our mothers and countless grade school kitchens have used and cooked for generations. Let's be honest, pasta was invented because it was a poor man's way of preserving the protein and carbohydrates in grain needed for nutrition. It stored well and was the mainstay of middle and southern Italian cooking for a millennium. The noodles we grew up with in the U.S. were not made from the artisanal varieties of wheat found in Italy and had and have a horrible bland starchiness rather than the real grain flavor achieved in the best Italian pastas. At Officine Brera the cannelloni pasta is handmade, thin enough to contain the beef without breaking, but not overly thick and it melts in your mouth. Would that all pasta were the same. you must order this course to experience its greatness. Finally, another must--order the pistachio ad hazelnut gelatos. Vivoli's in the Florence is the acknowledged master of gelato, these two scoops of ice dream exceed their Florentine cousins, an almost impossible, unexpected achievement How so much flavor can be press in the gelato without grainiess from nut meal is amazing, but you must ry it to believe it. Go, go, go.

Ok. This restaurant is great. It's in a weird location (just by the LA Gun Club, surrounded by warehouse buildings) and for some reason we struggled to find it. The decor is that industrial / warehouse style but it really works and they have a good outside terrace with a fire in case it's cool. The service is impeccable - the perfect balance of attentiveness with real knowledge of the menu. The small plates to start were delicious. And not so small. For the main I had lamb shank which was extremely tasty - others on the table had halibut, pork and pasta. Everyone thought their food was delicious. Definitely coming back.

This far-flung former factory works on the outskirts of downtown is a stunning, open space with wood burning ovens blazing and authentic risottos which are hard to come by in LA. The boys at the bar were terrific as was the service overall. The food is fine...I need another trip...but the off-the-menu crepe is a no brainier and the prices are fair. One slip, they double-charged our rather expensive bottle of wine. MADEO still beats all comers for Italian food, but at half the price and a wonderful atmosphere, we're coming back for more!

Visited Berra Risorante in April 2019 for a business dinner. The restaurant offers valet parking, or you can self park. Good atmosphere, good service, and good food. Very good set up for business dinner. California Pino Noir we had was good also. Overall, a good outing.

Had dinner for 2. Interesting menu of northern Italian dishes that are well prepared and served efficiently. Overall an excellent meal that is not quite up to its sister, The Factory Kitchen. Worth a try.

Since the LA Gun Club was closed til 3 pm, we decided to grab a bite at Oficine. Hahaha! Beautiful, airy space that married the funkiness of the warehouse space with Italian coolness. Definitely not on the hipster radar, Oficine offers a more sophisticated true Italian menu. Lotsa men in suits, movers and shakers of DTLA. We split the fagiolini salad (green beans, raddichio, walnuts) which had a nice subtle dressing that begged for another serving! And the lingua tonnata with beef tongue in a tuna/caper sauce was refreshing and light. Would like to try dinner in the near future!

Imaginative, authentic, hearty Italian food without being precious or skimpy.The risottos were among the best I've had outside Italy. Beautiful, high ceilinged warehouse space with a skylight. We were there before dark and the room is magnificent. It gets noisy, but not like some places.

Nice old train parts factory space, great industrial Chic decor. The food was great, loved the lettuces that came on the Grilled Octopus. The chicken liver mousse was good, but not worth writing home about. The Gnocchi was good, but there wasn't too much variety in taste, except for some toasted nuts. The semifreddo desert was top notch. The wine prices are reasonable. Want to try the Factory Kitchen, also.

Food is excellent with much of it cooked on wood burning ovens. Atmosphere is terrific. Wait staff a little inexperienced but still good.

Just went back to this restaurant again after a good dinner in July. The service were professional and personal on both occasions. On our first visit, we enjoyed the roasted pork shank, very tasty and a seafood pasta. We tried the grilled octopus as a starter and braised beef shoulder as our main course. Not as interesting as the pork shank.

What a find in LA....Northern Italian food in a wonderful old downtown LA building. Wood burning smoke oven fills the city air when you valet your car. Very comfortable seating, not too loud until someone gets a bit enthusiastic. Service is good, wine list is good and food is clean and delicious. Love it.

Bone marrow-Not quite Bestia level with this one but it tries. Ricotta dish with wild boar-Ricotta needs some work but the boar is excellent Salad-AMAZING!!!! Fish-Very good but honestly we were too full to appreciate Cocktails-good Dessert-didnt try but looked decent Service-excellent Bathroom-satisfactory This was a date night. I would come back but not have the ricotta dish or the bone marrow.

Drinks and a small plate, fiore di zucca. I needed a break from traffic. I love the Decor and openness. The chef is behind a glassed wall. This place is an oasis amid factories.

Great Italian restaurant in heart of down town Los Angeles great food great atmosphere will be back again great service but waiting time is little too much

The building itself is hidden in the arts district. You wouldn't know this spot is there. It is a lovely renovated warehouse with a cool bar area and warm elegant lighting. The food is decadent. I recommend it for foodies. Definitely have to valet and get reservations as the wait will be long without them.

Wednesday evening and we were greeted by the fact that bottled wine was half off. The order for some wonderful Prosecco was in immediately. The menu was not huge, which made me very happy. Some places want to serve everything and it is usually not a great outcome. I had the Fegatini (chicken liver mousse in a pate a choux) and it was divine. My sister had the Mare (marinated blue crab, etc. salad). Oh, my. We followed that with Risotto Milanese and Anguilla (eel!!!). Everything was delicious and the staff was capable and pleasant. We finished with the Soffice di Cioccolato (chocolate mousse cake). Dine righteously.

After the successful opening and tenure of Factory Kitchen, the same owners finally opened the much anticipated Oficine Brera, an Italian Grill themed restaurant, located in downtown L.A. just blocks away from their flagship restaurant. What first impresses is the vastness of the room very high ceilings with a familiar industrial look, seen in many establishments in this area. I was also impressed by the number of staff members, though after a while one notices that they are mostly just standing around not doing much. The menu is focused on three major categories each offering three or four options, from crudos, salads and cheese starters, to pastas and risotto to their larger plates made up of a couple of fish options and two or three meat options. My basic issue with this establishment is the following - in the first place the difference in quality in the kitchen between here and Factory Kitchen is enormous - both in quality of the food and presentation. It is certainly hard to beat the amazing and delicious offerings put out by Chef Auriana, but the drop in quality is noticeable. Our entrees were nothing special and the fish dish we had (Monk Fish and Snapper) were just simply cooked and piled on top of extremely overcooked vegetables - no finesse and nothing very distinguishable... Oficine Brera lacks the personality and charm of Factory Kitchen, probably because of its size, but also because the clientele is a much younger demographic and maybe not as demanding and understanding of what it means to be served outstanding food, prepared in a way that distinguishes the restaurant from the rest. I am hopeful that this labor of love that obviously has had a lot of work pout into it is a success, but to be so, there are going to have to be some significant improvements, especially in the menu.

Love this place. The space is beautiful. Food was delicious and interesting. Cocktails excellent. Will definitely return!

Fabulous inventive food. The most beautiful, airy, architecturally interesting space. If it were not downtown, I would eat there 3 times a week!! I had the pork shank which is not too big for a woman even though they say it is. Ha. Had the octopus for my appetizer which was heavenly. The only thing I did not like on the menu were the sage dumplings which were just lumps of fried dough and they were greasy. Get some bread instead. Much better!! My friend had quail and loved it. For dessert we had gelato - chocolate and vanilla- so decadent. Vanilla tasted like creme brûlée and the chocolate was almost black it was so rich. Divine. Wait staff is iffy, but they have just been open about 6 weeks and are getting their sea legs. The chef has it all right, so go try it. On Sundays they open at 4:30 and are full by 6:30. I;m sure it will another great success just like Factory Kitchen is - their sister. :-)

The location is amazing! A restaurant very trendy but at the same times casual. The quality of foods is average compared the price that you spend! Excellent wine list. Overall I recommend the restaurant but there is something better in LA.

Brera makes you feel as if you are enjoying a meal somewhere in that great country of Italia! The staff are so very knowledgeable and professional and deliver consistently excellent service. The menu is chalked full of many Italian favorites as well as some chef's creations. The wine list and cocktail menu are quite fun and extensive. The atmosphere is chic, but not over the top. Note that they do offer valet parking and self parking is also available nearby.

We stopped by the restaurant in the off chance of a quick meal before heading into the Lost Spirits distillery tour. We were not disappointed. The food was delicious and everyone was so helpful in getting us seated, served and fed in the quickest possible time. My only regret is that we didn’t have more time - next time we will be sure to make a special trip!

Discovered this new restaurant while reading a local destination magazine and decided to surprise my GF as she loves Italian. The place is located in the Art District Downtown in a cool warehouse that has been decorated perfectly. Cool vibe, high ceilings and open kitchen.When you valet in a very spacious/gated lot, you can smell the wood burning ovens. That first impression makes you eager to try what's coming next. We did our research ahead of time and had an idea what we'd be trying. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Our waiter was not exceptional as when we ordered cocktails, he did not really know what the bar had and what was available. We ordered anyway and asked him to get back to us and confirm our choices. He did not return with details but 10 minutes later the drinks we wanted were delivered. Poor follow up. The menu is difficult to read/follow as it is cramped and not really clear on what appetizers and mains are. Thinking they should spread it out and open it up with better category titles. We had 6 different people during our evening approach our table and ask if we ordered etc. While this is great, the communication and organization of the dining room seems fragmented. This place opened earlier this year and is truly trying to make an impact. The wine list is satisfactory and on the pricey side. We ordered a bottle and it was opened at the table. That is the last time we had anyone pour us or refill our glasses. We filled our own throughout the evening. Service anyone? We ordered certain Main courses that needed specific silverware.Those were not brought as we had to ask. Again, a need for better dining room management control. The food is delicious and presented well and the desserts are worthwhile too. We'd return as the experience was a pleasant one.

We met up with another couple here for dinner on a Friday evening. The restaurant is situated near the Arts District with a large parking lot for their valet, making it much easier for patrons. The decor modern yet with a rustic touch given the exposed brickworks. The high ceiling gives lots of open space feeling but at the same time, makes the restaurant on the louder side with sounds and conversations reverberating. The food was excellent as expected from the team at the Factory Kitchen. We started off with the simple green salad, cured pork fat and grilled octopus. The cured pork fat, glazed with chestnut honey and topped with candied walnuts, was a touch sweeter than expected. It would have gone better with toast rather than bread. As the octopus was lightly breaded in the outside, it gave a crunchy texture on the outside yet cooked perfectly and side and moist on the inside. For entrées, the spit roasted leg of lamb was tender and amazingly, not gamey. The prime beef rib chop was cooked to warm pink center, what medium rare should be while the homemade ink pasta with crustacean sauce was rich in flavors yet not overwhelming. A bottle of '09 Brunello was the perfect match for the hearty entrées. Overall, this relatively new restaurant offers some unique twist to classic Italian cuisine in a trendy and high energy setting. It is a perfect spot for friends getting together but not so intimate for couples.

Nice style to this restaurant off the beaten path a bit deep in DTLA in the Arts District. Its adjacent to their other restaurant Sixth+Mill so don't get confused when entering as the doors are not clearly marked. Brera employs an informed and welcoming staff which is greatly appreciated as ingredients aren't always as they appear with some dishes when people dine out. Here the menu clearly lists and identifies a varied set of delicious options. I'm a pescetarian and was wishing for a few more options, however I tried the fish croquettes which were tasty and perfectly sized coming with about 5-6 per plate. The FIORI di ZUCCA was also quite delicious and very cheesy inside. My main dish of the Gnocchi was just perfect. The right size portion and blend of sauce to pasta was spot on. I loved the fresh robust taste. The location is good for groups or a romantic evening. Easy in/out with valet and self parking in the adjacent lot. Its in an odd area of DTLA so just plan that for your evening. I will be back!

Very nice decor and spacious instead of tables crammed next to each other. The food is really quite good. Portions are ok. I would recommend to try everything else but the gnocchi.

Not only great food, ambiance and service in DTLA, but Officine Brera also is a large restaurant so you can actually book a table, and they even have parking! Rustic, traditional fare in a old brick warehouse. We will definitely be back.

I have not been in a few months but the last two times we were there we had great food and service. It is a good place to go with a group of friends so that you can all try different plates.

we had a very unique experience/dinner , very special from every aspect , the atmosphere is very nice, service , very good wine list and great dishes.

The ambiance...the service...but mostly the food & drink are outstanding. The chestnut pheasant pasta was AMAZING! And the best Manhattan I've ever had!

Had lunch here while visiting a friend in dtla. Had couple of appetizers and drinks, everything was well prepared and fresh. Decor was beautiful, I will come back to get some more.

Based on Jonathan Gold's recent review in the LA Times, we ate at Officine Brera. A friend of ours managed to snag a reservation on Saturday night at 8 (how unlikely). Although loud, the restaurant is much less loud than other places we've been in LA lately. Easy to find and parking right there. The food was fabulous. Among the four of us, for appetizers, we had the octopus, the tongue, the beef and the blue lake green beans. We had two risottos (seafood and sausage). Jonathan Gold was right, these are fabulous. For main courses, we had Branzino, Swordfish and Beef. A very nice Granache complemented all. We were stuffed after this, so no dessert. A great evening.

We recently visited Brera for dinner. Great atmosphere, ambience and the we were immediately greeted by their friendly staff. We had drinks at the bar and bartender made us some of th best drinks we've had in a while. Dinner was great. Some of the items our party had included fried oysters, escargot, veal, grilled octopus and all the items were cooked just perfect. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We will be returning for future dinners.

We returned here after about a year and our experience was spectacular. First our server Jeremy was over the top great. He helped pace each course even though it was a Saturday night and he and his whole team were attentive and spot on with service. We loved the special cocktails and i had the vodka with pea pure which sounds terrible but was just amazing. And then with Jeremy's guidance we dove into the menu. Zucchini blossoms a great light way to start the meal and then the tartare was just incredible. Jeremy paired our meal with a Barolo and Chardonnay which were both perfect and we moved on to the Beet salad and the pappardelle pasta which was like being in italy. Cooked al dente and the wild boar was so good and served piping hot from the kitchen which is so much better than the cold pastas they bring out at dtla hot spots these days. We ended up sharing the lamb chops which were aged and seasoned and cooked to perfect. We ran out of time as had to get to the theatre but will be back to try some desert selections that Jeremy recommended.

Took two business associates there last nite. The staff was very warm / excellent service manger checked on us during our meal. The food was was great / clean & fresh with just enough added flavor to take it over the top! The acoustics were perfect to have a conversation & the lighting was set just right. Not cheap but well worth the experience!

Very pleasant atmosphere, high noise level Sleek new restaurant, traditional and authentic northern Italian cuisine.

We have dined there twice. Food and service are excellent! Very expensive wine list. Italian wines are very affordable but not here. Menu is complicated for non Italians or people who have not spent a lot of tim in italy. Service is excellent and charming! The lardo is divine...Americans need a taste because the idea of ordering lardo is nuts! The menu needs to be more user friendly for americans but keep the ingredients. I speak italian but found it challening to explain the menu to friends.

Wine list great! Very attentive to bday guy. Pork shank great! Not porky at all. White anchovies good. Veal 'stew' really good. Octopus my least fave dish - not too chewy but too thick. Overall pretty good. Compare to bestia? No. Go to both and see the difference - both have strengths and weaknesses

Chick pea bread, gourmet pasta fagiole, gorgeous pasta, perfect risotto, a truly memorable and exquisite meal.

It was time to head back to the Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District for another “hot ticket” restaurant. Thirty years ago you wouldn’t be caught dead in this part of L.A. (well, actually if you were found here, you might be dead), however in the past 15 years the area has been revitalized and gentrified by an influx of millennial professionals buying lofts and a score of fantastic restaurants like Church & State, Bestia and 2014 Travels With Mai Tai Tom Restaurant Of The Year, The Factory Kitchen. Speaking of The Factory Kitchen , the gentlemen who brought you that fantastic Northern Italian eatery, Matteo Ferdinandi and Executive Chef Angelo Auriana, recently opened another restaurant in the area; Officine BRERA. Wow! There were three of us dining, so William (our waiter) suggested we share.    The menu is divided into four sections.  We started with three items from the “Fried, Cured & Cultured” portion (perhaps I’ll use that name as the title of my never-to-be-published autobiography). The Friseu ($6, six vegetable sage fritters, red onions and Boston Lettuce) was light and crunchy and our table declared it a “Wow” dish. I was already regretting this “shared” thing, as I could have easily eaten all six, but I digress. The appropriately named Lardo Al Pepe ($10, cured pork back fat, chestnut honey, arugula, candied walnuts and pink peppercorns) was up next. This is basically a salad wrapped in a really thin sliced piece of fat. I mean, really, what’s not to like about that?  The candied walnuts and tiny pink peppercorns added a nice crunch.   By comparison, however, the Raschera ($9, Piedmont cow’s milk cheese with slivered apples and celery leaf salad) was a tad unexciting, but out of nine dishes this was the only miss, so bravo BRERA.   We skipped over the “Raw, Savory & More” (the X-rated portion of my autobiography) opting instead for the “Rice, Wheat & Grains” portion of the menu.  Let me preface this by saying I am a Gnocchi fanatic. One time in Lake Bled, Slovenia, I ordered one gnocchi as my appetizer and another gnocchi as my main dish. I’ve never seen a waiter so perplexed. Well, let me say this about Officine BRERA’s gnocchi, it is one of the BEST gnocchi dishes I have ever tasted. The handmade potato gnocchi, Castelmagno cheese fonduta, black summer truffles and chives ($25) melted in my mouth.  If I could give this a “Double Wow” (well, of course I can...it’s my website), I would. I tried to tell Tracy and Susan it was terrible and that I would eat it for them, but they saw through my selfish charade (next time, the gnocchi is ALL mine). Next up was the cannelloni ($22; braised beef stuffed oven baked fresh pasta with melted cheese béchamel).  This was delicious, and Tracy said she was glad the three of us were sharing.  It had a nice citrus essence, and they did not skimp on the beef filling.   Last up from this section, we tried the Milanese risotto ($22; Vialone Nano rice, saffron, roasted bone marrow, Lodigrana).  Risotto is my second favorite dish in the world behind gnocchi, plus “I’m just wild about Saffron,” however it did not come with an “e-lec-trical banana.” I loved the presentation with the bone marrow in the bone in the center of the dish. Tracy is not really a marrow person, so Susan and I gladly took her share.   While we were dining, we saw entrees from the “Wood Grilled, Spit Roasted & Slow Braised” portion of the menu come out.  The portions looked really large and the tables around us were all sharing their entrees.  Holy mackerel, I don’t know where they get their trout, but those were some big fishes.  At this point we were starting to get full and as we really wanted to try the desserts, we decided to save the “Wood Grilled, Spit Roasted & Slow Braised” for another visit.  On this evening’s menu there where three fish entrees (trout, pink snapper, Mediterranean sea bass), pork, veal and beef.  The entrees ranged from $29 for the aforementioned trout to $69 for an 18 oz. California Reserve prime rib-eye. Usually we split desserts, but after perusing the menu, we knew that would be an impossibility because there were just too many good choices. It was at this point I knew my recent four-week old diet was history, but you know what they say, “A waist is a terrible thing to waste.”   There were eight items on the dessert menu plus gelato and sorbet.  The three of us already knew we wanted to try the Castagnole ($9, five freshly fried doughnuts, anise sugar and salty bourbon caramel sauce).  William suggested we try the Formaggio Dolci ($10, ricotta baked cheesecake, Bing cherry jam, lemon feuilletine crunch).  We rounded (much like our stomachs) out our dessert course with the Ciocco-Motto ($10, chocolate custard, earl grey, blackberry coulis sauce, fresh Chantilly cream).  The salty bourbon caramel sauce from the Castagnole earned another “Wow” from our group as we dipped our doughnuts in it.  That sauce is so delicious, the restaurant should sell that to go.    Tracy is not a big cheesecake person, but she loved the lemon feuilletine crunch topping on the Formaggio Dolci, which we learned are basically crushed wafer flakes.  I am a cheesecake person, and this dish was unique...and good. If you are a chocoholic, the Ciocco-Motto is for you. Somehow we managed to finish the three desserts, and once home I immediately hid our scale.   During our evening, the food presentation was great, and the service impeccable, including a change of silverware between each course. Every member of the staff who stopped by our table bringing us dish after dish was personable and professional. The three of us are in unanimous praise of this restaurant, and as stated, get your reservation well in advance. Bring a good and adventuresome appetite, because you’ll want to try many of these dishes. I can still taste that gnocchi!

I've dined here twice in last 2 weeks and enjoyed each visit immensely. What did I like? The ambiance (old building, former warehouse, beautifully remodeled inside, keeping the downtown old building charm). The food - creative Northern Italian cuisine--many fav's including: grilled octopus salad, Milanese risotto with bone marrow and saffron, pesce risotto with mussels, smoked eel and the like, and entrees-especially quail and branzino and veal chop. Not to mention some savory sweets for dessert. The service--excellent--very attentive and friendly. What didn't I like? Almost nothing. Everything fit and was delightful. Areas of improvement? The wine service--stems were fine, but wine knowledge appears to be a little on the inexperienced side. Nevertheless, everything worked well. I'd like to go back several more times and try different menu items. This is definitely one of my new go to places:-)

We started off with the farfinata, a pancake made of chickpeas, olive oil and water. It was an excellent way to begin a meal on a rainy day. For my entree, I had the polpo e fagioli, octopus on beans w/ cured pork. It tasted great, but the only downside was the octopus was a little too charred. The ambiance is very nice and not too loud. Likewise, our waitress and the remainder of the waitstaff was on point. I can't wait to return for dinner and try more of the dishes.

As one of several DTLA "industrial" restaurant, this one seems to stand out with the best food quality. I would rank this place above Bestia. Lots of interesting options on the menu but don't try to conduct business there as the noise level is quite noticeable.

It's hard to find fault with a place that is in a fabulous space, has a superb conscientious staff, a good wine list, and some terrific dishes. But -- I'm a snob so I will. It is not Bestia. On this last minute visit to LA I could not get reservations at my favorite downtown Italian place. My buddy suggested I try Officine Brera. I was pleasantly surprised upon my arrival because the space is airy and had a good vibe. I was greeted by a friendly hostess, seated at a great table, and waited on professionally by a conscientious crew. The food was really good. We had a couple of salads, and a gnocchi appetizer. For the main meals we had a combination of different risottos and pastas. They were out of the famous bone marrow this evening. We also had a terrific Brunello wine. All in all I think it was one of my best restaurant experiences in a long time. Nevertheless, it does not quite make it up to the standards of one of my favorite restaurants on the west Coast – Bestia. When that is not available, however, I do recommend this place!

This is a great arts district restaurant for a group: the soaring spaces are gorgeous, the iconoclastic Italian food is excellent and perfect for sharing, and we had very attentive service overall, although the bar was oddly slow a keeping the cocktails coming. Tables are spaced apart so the usual warehouse roar is minimized and the chairs were shockingly comfortable. The only serious negative part of the experience was the restrooms. On a busy Saturday night around 830-9, the women in our group reported that the toilets in the ladies' room were unacceptable and unusable. The men's room seemed okay and this restaurant has a shared sink design in between. Bottom line: when dinner is over $500 for 5 people, the restaurant needs to figure out how to maintain basic restroom cleanliness or we won't be back.

Near the flower and produce markets and in a nice industrial looking brick building this is a popular and trendy Italian restaurant. The service was good and atmosphere was nice, but open in the one main room. The wine and food was very good especially the gnocchi, but I would pass of the fritters Public parking is only 20 feet away, but if you can afford the expensive meal, what is an additional $5 at valet

This DTLA restaurant has a cool contemporary interior - think brick, fantastic ceiling windows, gorgeous flowers and an awesome patio. They also have wonderful food and excellent staff. It's a bit pricey especially the wines by the glass, but I enjoyed every bite from the squash blossoms to the ricotta dumplings and then the mussels. Tip: If you don't want to valet, they also own a self park lot next door that is a $1 cheaper to park. Street parking is not available.

I took my boyfriend out for a celebration and this place was really special. The service was excellent paired with beautiful wine and food. The atmosphere was great and it was nearby to some cool bars.

What an excellent restaurant and experience. We put our trust in the waiter and he selected four plates for us that were perfect. He also recommended a few cocktails, one rye and one bourbon, they also hit the perfect spot. Would highly recommend this spot and I will be back as soon as I can.

gorgeous converted warehouse. Great great great service...fabulous food...octopus was unbelievable...fabulous all the way around gourmet style with lots of different variations.

We went there for the first time after the Opera. The food was amazing. Very nice wine list. The service was very good and we really enjoyed the decor. The restuarant is in an old beautifully convert factor. The have a large parking lot, valet only I believe, at least in the evening.

And absolutely outstanding. I've not had such creative, perfectly executed Italian food in a long time. In a week of nonstop fine dining at the best Los Angeles has to offer, our dinner at Officine Brera ranks #1. We were a party of six and ordered cocktails, copious apps and various primis and secundis all around in addition to opening about six bottles of wine with the help of the gracious sommelier, Francine. The risotto Milanese is, texture-wise, so incredibly perfect you just want to cry. I *never* order risotto in restaurants because it's only right when made to order. In a restaurant with as many tables as this I don't think they can make it to order but if they don't, I don't understand what technique makes it possible for them to produce what no one else can. This comes with a roasted marrow bone in the middle of the plate. Ricotta gnocchis on veal sugo and roasted pork shank with polenta and kale were also standouts. But an important point is that everything we ordered was flawless. Can't recommend Brera highly enough.

Had lunch here today and the food and Service were truly excellent. The space is an old gas factory and it does not disappoint. High ceilings, lots of natural light -- it's a great spot to have lunch or dinner. There's a lot of staff around to help and they were very attentive. The food is quite excellent and the portions are not small. I started with the bean soup. It was almost too much food for a small appetizer. In fact, I could not finish the whole bowl lest I leave my entrée alone. For the mains, I split the pappardelle with turkey Ragu with my friend and had the sword fish. Both were extraordinarily delicious. The swordfish is light but incredibly flavorful and comes with spinach and green beans. The pappardelle was rich and wonderful and I could've eaten it all by itself. This place is absolutely worth a visit. And the three-dollar valet makes it old-school in LA!

We've been to Officine Brera twice in the past two weeks, once for lunch (mid-week) and once for dinner (weeknight). The food was fabulous both times. For our lunch, the service was great and we enjoyed a leisurely time, but the restaurant wasn't completely full. For our dinner, the service was slow on the uptake, it was sometimes impossible to hear across the table. Still, because of the great food, which deserves a "5", it gets a "4" overall. We'll definitely go back.

We were 5 adults dining pre-show. Results were mixed, but the stand-outs were the lasagne and the pork shank. Interestingly, it was a return visit and this time the pork shank came up roses! Son-in-law was only lukewarm on the lamb chops, son was very pleased with veal chop, and daughter was a bit disappointed with the bone marrow. As you can see, the menu leans Italian and is meat heavy. The price was fairly steep, but the portions were ample and the service was good.

Rich, freshly made and authentic pasta dishes. Tried 3 pasta dishes and all were primo. I Loved the delicate and flavorful mushroom pasta- would definitely come back for this one. Ricotta dumplings on a bed of rich tomatoey veal ragu were also excellent with the "dumplings" presented like clouds covered in shaved parmigiana cheese. Ground beef-stuffed raviolis were also beautiful- delicately spiced meat- all dishes melt in your mouth! Love the long wooden bar and outdoor lounge space. When full, it's a little loud on the main floor. The dimmed "warm" lighting and surfaces makes the large open space feel more intimate.

Great ambiance to be shared with new visitors and seasoned veterans alike. Great specialty cocktails with unique mixes, incredible textures and flavors throughout the meal.

We love everything about this new restaurant: the beautiful cavernous space, the warm welcoming ambience, the attentive observant service and most of all the outstanding well crafted dishes. It started with a masterfully concocted Rye Old Fashioned, a delightful cold Italian deep red La Rossa Doppelbock Beer made from roasted barley and a nice Chianti. For first course we had Frisceu vegetable sage fritters and Miata salad with fresh frisée, toasted hazelnut shaved pears, cranberries. The salad dressing was just the right amount. Next came the Bassa Padana risotto withe sausage, moist creamy and delicious. Followed by a satisfying hand cut wheat pasta with pork ragu, tasty slow braised beef shoulder with potato, a whole spit roasted Mary's chicken (moist and juicy and excellently seasoned). The portions were just right. We finished with a latte It was a wonderful dinner. Highly recommended.

When it first opened I had to go there right away. Unusual location next to L.A. Gun Club on 6th and Mateo. Valet parking, secure lot, totally safe for you Westsiders, btw. Was initially somewhat disappointed with the food and service, although the cavernous but low key, hipster vibe room and the overall concept were intriguing. Prices were rather high and I thought I wouldn't go back. I guess I wasn't being fair to them. Have since been invited there twice more and now have gone back on my own as well. They have really figured it out, this place totally rocks! The food, which is a slightly different interpretation of Italian with what might be called a south Asian flair, is memorable. Menu changes often. Always interesting meat and pasta dishes that you have not had before. Od course there is usually a short rib dish and exotic pasta e.g. wild boar. Some communal style tables. Small but cool bar serves well made cocktails and a short but curated craft beer list. Super cool and sophisticated crowd. They are happy to see you, no arrogance from the staff (Bestia, take note!) Officine Brera, along with Manuela, Spring and Otium, are DTLA's best and hippest establishments right now. If you like Italian food with an adventurous and different interpretation, you should really enjoy Officine Brera.

We really enjoyed their Factory Kitchen and now Officine Brera provides another excellent choice in the Arts District. Don't be put off by Skid Row a few blocks away. You don't have to go to the Arts District that way. Once arrived you will be in a very impressive, hip space much larger than FK with three story ceilings and blazing fires behind an open kitchen encased in glass. Some have said it is noisy but the four of us had no problem hearing each other on a jammed Saturday night. The atmosphere is casual. No white table clothes here but think trendy. Of course the food was very good. Ordering the octopus appetizer I was surprised to receive a large tentacle which was wonderfully seasoned and tender. My coulotte steak was large and perfectly cooked to medium rare. My wife's Cavolo Rosso salad was just okay but she commented on how good the sauce on the lamb was as did our friend. Sardines and lardo appetizers also got good reviews from our friends. Overall I wouldn't call the food outstanding but it is very good and well prepared. The most notable part of the experience was the service which is among the best we have experienced in Los Angeles. It was very attentive but almost invisible as it should be in a fine restaurant. In fact we loved that they did not clear plates for a course until everyone was done with the course. It amazes us that more restaurants do not understand this basic rule of good service. We would come back again but not frequently. The prices are on the higher end, so it is best saved for special occasions or out of town guests. I appreciated that corkage was a reasonable $20 since we like to raid our stash. However, the wine list is excellent.

If you want to have a quiet dinner, this is not the place for you. But if you wish to experience a good Italian restaurant with a wonderful renovated warehouse interior, go for it. Our meals were excellent and the kitchen and servers timed delivery of each course spot on. I think some of the food could use a little more spice but overall, very good. It is on the east side of downtown Los Angeles, so if staying at a downtown hotel, either a taxi or Uber is needed.

Been there twice, one for lunch with friends and last night for dinner. The place is spectacular, high ceiling, fantastic decor with taste, however, the place was noisy and service was slow. The waitress was friendly but I think there weren't maybe, only two waitresses. Strange tho', there were four ladies up front and occasionally walked around the restaurant. Bus boys were very efficient. Appetizers came quickly but main course took a long time. The dishes were OK but the grill seafood plate was very tasty. Although owned by the same people, (I saw the couple in both restaurants), I would still go back to my favorite, the Factory Kitchen. The Factory Kitchen is noisy and packed, however, the food and the wonderful service there always make me feel welcome.

Industrial and warm don't often fit in the same setting, but Officine Brera is just that. The setting offers a cool, sleek atmosphere alongside sophisticated comfort food at its finest. Fresh pasta, grilled meat and seafood along with simple yet sophisticated starters makes this an amazing stop at lunch or dinner. Just around The Factory Kitchen, either place will not disappoint.

The over the top reviews of the newly opened Oficine Brera are true! This is a most important new restaurant. Everything is perfect. The hostess is helpful, friendly, warm, and professional. The servers are intelligent, knowledgeable, patient and excellent. The menu is intriguing and strong. Each dish--and we had many--had a history, a particularity, and a perfection about it. The range on the menu is broad, but not overwhelming. The wine list extraordinary. This is a serious restaurant that is totally satisfying. Is there a downside. Maybe the room can get a little noisy, so what. Is it in an unlikely part of the downtown? Not for long I hope. I loved this restaurant.

We had a delicious dinner at Brera. We have diavolina pizza and the wild boar pappardelle with truffles. Both dishes were delicious and were a large portion size. For dessert we had the gelato which was delicious. The outside of the restaurant doesn’t look like much but once inside the ambiance is great. It is worth a visit if you’re looking for an Italian meal.

We have dined at this establishment on a number of occasions and have had positive experience. As a result, we decided to make Mother's Day reservations well in advance to assure seating. We had 7:00 PM reservations; arrived at 6:45; were not seated till 7:50. Once seated, service was erratic at best. Two servers and a food runner were confused! Orders came out in a haphazzard fashion, including an attempt to deliver another table's order. Once the food arrived, although out of sequence, it was as usual excellent, but we had such a long wait between courses that we had lost our appetites. We just wanted our check and leave. Which wde did, at 10:00PM. Another example of restaurant greed. Overbook and the hell with the clients. Granted that it was Mother's Day, with large party's that tend to linger over the meal, nevertheless, isn't it a restauran's responsibility to factor this into their reservations? As our fearless leader would say: SAD!! We will return to Officine Brera on a non-special event day; hopefully, Mother's Day was an aberration. If not, we will scratch it and go to other fine Italian dining spots that do a better job managing their reservations and the pacing of dinner courses.

We had a cocktail hour and dinner in the private room and outside patio, and everything was wonderful. The appetizers, small plates and entrees, all very good. Everyone who attended our event thought the food was presented well. Service staff was excellent. The sardines entree is quite tasty, as is the grilled octopus plate. The decor is done well. The only thing to be aware of is that because of its location in the industrial "arts district", the surrounding neighborhood is a little rough. However, the valet parking area is secure. Highly recommended dinner spot only about 10 minutes east of downtown LA. Totally appropriate place for a business meal.

We went to Officine Brera based on a recommendation by a dear friend and foodie. Perhaps our expectations were too high, but there's no denying that the food was over priced, over salted, over cooked. Wished it was over the top instead. Interior seemed industrial with steel frame chairs, wooden tables, very tall ceilings, dark and low-lit interior. We arrived at 5:30 PM but the place filled up quickly and became uncomfortably loud. Difficult for the 6 of us to carry on a conversation without losing one end of the table or other. Valet parking is friendly and efficient, as are the hosts who greeted us. The waiter wasn't very helpful in describing the menu items to us. The menu with some unfamiliar words like "cavolo rosso" and "dritte," we looked to the waiter to pronounce and describe the items. We ended up asking a couple of the staff and finally felt we understood enough to place our orders. All their portions were sensible. The seafood "zuppa" or soup wasn't really a soup at all but instead it was some very salty fish with some soup ladled over the seafood. They don't even serve it with a spoon - not enough soup to put into it. $40 The other dishes received by our party were also salty. We were so hungry, most of us ate what was served. The table service was superb. Seemed like the wait staff made a concerted effort to serve and remove plates simultaneously for the whole party. Water was topped off timely. Table was kept orderly and clean utensils were brought with each course. The coffee is quite good. Food was disappointing but service is very good. Not a fan of the restaurant though because at their prices, one expects both good food and good service. Ambience is pleasant until the tables fill up then the place is just too noisy for comfort and enjoying the dining experience.

Officine Brera earned a top review from Jonathan Gold and I agree. It is great food, really sharp servers and a really well run restaurant. Perfection in everything. Beautiful large room and visually grand without being fussy. The only problem is when busy on a weekend it can be loud. Really wonderful restaurant. When they say they have three different risottos they mean three different varieties of rice grain, not just what is added.

We stopped for lunch before an afternoon st the Museum of Ice Cream. We were driving around and just happened upon this place tucked in an industrial part of LA. Wow! It was great. The decor is rustic industrial. We were seated right away. Fantastic, eclectic menu of game and fish and pasta. We ordered the Italian burger. It was really good size and perfectly cooked on a flat Italian bread with crispy potato. I had butternut squash ravioli in a brown butter sauce with a drizzle of balsamic. It was some of the best ravioli that I’ve ever eaten. We had a picky teenager with us and they made her a Parmesan risotto that was delicious. Very hip crowd. We’ll definitely go back.

Well decorated and spacious restaurant in the art district of downtown LA. The menu was a unique delight of Italian cuisine and some interesting surprises. The menu does change every day. The biggest surprise was a cured venison dish that was very good. We ordered 4 different entrees. They were all very tasty. The risotto is some of the best ever. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the cost. This is a very pricey . But you need to experience the food. It is absolutely delicious. Would love to go back.

We went for lunch on a Friday in July 2017. The arts district location is funky and next to a gun club, by a warehouse, The interior space is well done with lots of light, flowers, and contemporary style, even if the chairs are scratched and need some attention (or is that intentional?) The food was solid, high-end Italian, and the service was good. We had the heirloom tomato salad, the porcini mushroom risotto, seafood pasta, two glasses of cabernet, the chocolate budino for dessert, and two espressos. It was good, it was all good, but it wasn't extraordinary. So many high end Italian places to try....

Very L.A. feel here. Laid back upscale vibe and very upscale Italian cuisine. Our dishes were very pleasing, yet not all home runs, and prices seem on the excessive side for the ingredients on the plate.

We had a very good dinner at Officine Brera. The restaurant is large and you have a lot of space around you. The service was professional and courteous. As main course I had grilled eels, probably not everyone favorite, but absolutely delicious! We drank a red wine from Oltrepo Pavese: Bottarda, one of my favorites very hard to find in Los Angeles!

Our party of 4 struggled to hear our conversations in this cavernous former factory building in the "arts district" near the LA river -run by the Factory Kitchen team. With difficulty we ordered from the inventive, very rustic family-style menu, ultimately sharing wonderfully Grandma-like pasta with beans, risotto alla Milanese with bone marrow, and a bottle of 2006 Croatina - one of the many little-known but dry and medium bodied Italian grapes. Our starters: a plate of home-cured meats and cheeses, with the ricotta, salami and speck memorably fresh and smooth. We practically fought over a platter of farinata, a pancake made of chick pea flour. The marinated grilled octopus was reminiscent of our trip to the Greek islands. Not so great was the pork shank over polenta and spinach; the meat was tender and good, but lacking the seasoning and depth we expected from a chef who spent 18 years at Valentino. We finished sharing a tasty chocolate tart called ciocco-mocha, served with blackberries. Hope they add some vegetables to the menu!

Okay, so you have to drive past Skid Row tent cities in a bleak part of downtown, but once you pull into the gated parking lot and step into the huge, high-ceilinged warehouse-like space, you're blown away. Loved the chic, modern decor, long bar, glassed-in kitchen and cool-restaurant vibe. The cuisine is, well, simply not your typical L.A. Italian restaurant fare -- in a very good way! Order the off-the-menu chick-pea flour bread, like a tasty pizza without (and not needing) a topping. Another good starter to share is the vegetable sage fritters with red onions and butter lettuce. Big chunks of wood-oven-roasted meat reign here, like the pork shank for $28 and the Nebraska prime rib chop for (gulp!) $58. I was happy with the grilled pink snapper filet with mussels, clams, charred tomatoes and fava beans. My husband found the gnocchi bathed in a creamy cheese sauce and topped with black summer truffles a bit monotonous, but he ate every last one. Portions are large; wines are expensive (think $60 a bottle and up..up...); service is prompt and friendly. Overall, a treat for foodies and for friends seeking a new and energizing dining experience. And don't say "no" to dessert (see below.)

LA is full of good Italian, but this place is my new favorite. Located in an old warehouse in Downtown LA's "Arts District" (artists can't afford it any more), food/service/wine is impeccable. The threesome that built Factory Kitchen a block away have outdone themselves here. Wood ovens produce impeccable meats, everything seems fresh and imaginative. I live in Santa Monica and seldom brave the traffic to hit Downtown, but it's worth it to have a long lunch here. Bravo!

From the atmosphere, cocktails, service and food this was a meal to behold! Our menu for 4 people (in the restaurant business, btw) to share was: Farinata-chickpea, water and salt "pancake"- delicioso! Frittino al Mare- fried, octopus, calamari, shrimp & veggies, Polpo-grilled mediterranean octopus, watercress, frisee, sunchoke purée Capunsei- with shaved black truffle, house made fresh ricotta dumplings wild boar ragu, raspadura, lemon zest Carre di Maiale-roasted bone in pork loin, parsnip puree, spigarello, red onions Cosciotto D'angello-spit roasted leg of lamb, roasted kabocha squash, cavoletti, herbal oil (there were enough leftovers for 1 person for yummy lunches for 2 days!) We passed on dessert, being ridiculously full from our meal, opted instead for after dinner amaro nonino & amaro dell’erborista. From start to finish, with wine in between that we brought ourselves (husband is a master sommelier), it was a meal to remember. We went on Sunday evening 3/5/17, perfect in every way. Will definitely recommend and return! GO, piu rapido!

Driving to this restaurant is a challenge as you drive through skid row and effectively the warehouse district of LA but the journey is worth the end result. A very open loft apartment type feel to this restaurant which makes the atmosphere friendly, open and bustling. The star of the show is the food. Excellent cuisine , simply presented , outstanding taste, great Italian fare. I liked the fact you can bring your own wine for a 20 usd corkage. Great place for foodies. Will return soon.

Really like Brera. Parking available. Nice warehouse atmosphere. Loud, but not over the top. Food was really delicious. Had octopus. Stuffed zucchini blossom appetizer was great. Only negative was that the food came really quickly so we felt that our meal was rushed. Rushed is so better than slow service!!

I am genuinely so impressed with this restaurant. The restaurant itself is very cool but the food was AMAZING. Everything! Make sure to get the off menu item, the “Farinata”, a chickpea pizza. Delicious!

This restaurant is a must for a a true foodie and lover of Italian food. That being said, it is not the Italian restaurant for everyone--meaning the menu has some true Northern Italian fare and not everyone is used to that particular type of food. The food was simply amazing. I had the handmade gnocchi, my friend had the pork shoulder, and we split some amazing appetizers. Next time I want to try the Risotto!

This site was the original one intended for Factory Kitchen, which is operated by Matteo and Francine Ferdinandi with Chef Angelo Auriana. While this site remained out of their reach (for almost 2 years) they opened Factory Kitchen, a legend of the cuisine explosion of DTLA. In Feb 2016 they launched Officine Brera, which is the meat and fish counter part to Factory Kitchen's pasta themes. The space itself is sublime. While the location was getting into its groove (a process expedited by Matteo's unique organizational skills), Francine had her wine list assembled and Chef Angelo and Chef Mirko Paderno were refining their dishes, a certain food writer wandered in, wrote a glowing review and a little local secret went public. Yes, Brera is amazing. Yes, ask Francine for recommendations on wine if you see her. Yes, that is Chef Angelo and Chef Mirko behind the glass at the ovens. Yes, Matteo is extraordinary. I think everyone wanted to keep this location for themselves, maybe me included. Now, it belongs to all of us. Order any dish that has both meat and pasta. As Jonathan wrote, it's "nearly operatic." Frisceu; lardo al pepe; pisarei e fasö; bassa padana; manzo all'olio. & Farinata, which is not on the menu.