Downtown LA New Mona Pasta Bar Does Pastels, Wine, and Noodles for All | Eater LA

"Housed in the former 9th Street Ramen space, Mona Pasta Bar quietly opened for dinner service on Friday, August 4 after being transformed from a dark, neon-lit noodle hangout into a pastel party spot serving Italian staples such as bolognese, spaghetti alla vongole, and a veal chop Milanese. Owner Devin Carlson, previously a partner at 9th Street Ramen and a longtime Downtown resident who runs Suplex Agency, designed the pink-and-tan interior with nods to certain 1980s Italian design movements; the pocketbook-sized dining room is under 850 square feet, features chunky white tile and backless stools, and seats just over 30. Freylin Morales (All Time, L&E Oyster Bar) oversaw the opening menu, which focuses on compact Italian comforts rather than sprawling East Coast red-sauce fare (à la Donna’s in Echo Park): expect dishes like calamari fritti and meatballs, burrata and tomato salad, whole branzino with caramelized fennel, a bucatini take on cacio e pepe for solo diners, and tiramisu to finish. The restaurant launched with a daily happy hour from 5–7 p.m. offering $10 glasses of wine and dishes in the $10–$13 range, keeps hours Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. or later (closed Monday and Tuesday), and takes reservations via OpenTable." - Farley Elliott