Noteworthy Cento Pasta Lands in West Adams (and it lives up to the hype)

Jan 7

My fave restaurant fairy-tale: from a fledgling infant to a real-real restaurant - Cento opens its first dedicated space in West Adams.

Hype Around Cento Pasta

What’s the big deal? Here’s the background:

Cento has deep roots - Cento was started in 2015 by Avner Lavi and Santos Uy as a downtown LA pop-up in Mignon. If you’ve never heard of them - me either! They were serving up a rotating 3 to 4 dish daytime lunch pastas to locals and those in the know.
Who is Avner Lavi? Cento’s website brags that he’s done his time at Sotto and Superba Snack Bar — both big names in the LA dining scene. Side note: Sotto held the mantel as my favorite Italian restaurant until it closed (sob) in 2019 (now their space is Bicyclette and headlined by Walter and Margarita Manzke of Republique fame). EaterLA calls him a Pasta Impresario; a bit high-end but I’ll take it. In summary, I’m very excited to eat at Cento Pasta.
Data night destination - Low-key, unpretentious. Outdoor dining, check. Indoor dining, check! It’s small, cozy, and casual cool where you can dress it up or down. 30 seats outside, 25 inside.
Beer and Wine menu by Santos Uy, the Beverage Director. EaterLA describes the wines as old world grape varietals - so I’m thinking Malbecs, Zinfadels, and Shirazs! Santos is a long-time LA restaurateur. He’s a major player in opening Bacaro LA, Papilles and Rice Bar (now shuttered, sad) — and is hugely interested in wine as a former AOC Sommelier.
My feeling is the open layout mimics what they loved about Mignon - center focus is the rectangle where the chefs and cooks make the magic. Big windows so you get a good visual on the place’s heart and soul.
In the heart of West Adam’s restaurant district, it’s a stones throw from the noodle-famous Mian, the bakery powerhouse Tartine, southern seafood favorites Harold & Belle, and additional local standouts Alta and Mizlala.

Cento Pasta

Get In My Belly
Reviews spoke to their **Beet Pasta**, but some rumors said it didn’t taste as unique as the other dishes so we went with the server’s recommendation - the **Pomodoro Pasta** - highly recommend getting at least two pasta dishes if you’re a pasta-lover!

Between two people, we split two appetizers, one pasta, and one fish dish - and were SO FULL. Best meal we’ve had in a long time (and yes, we don’t leave the house often since its covid times lol).