"There are a few blockbuster Los Angeles Italian restaurants that seem to get all the glory. But LA is also home to some fantastic neighborhood Italian places - and Osteria La Buca is one of them. The lively spot along Melrose by Paramount Studios doesn’t have the absolute best Italian food in town, but it’s pretty damn good and hits the spot every time. This is the kind of restaurant where you can just as easily take a first date or a rowdy group of friends as you can a client for a Wednesday power lunch. Definitely order the carbonara." - jess basser sanders, brant cox