Nestled in colorful surroundings, Hippo serves up a vibrant mix of contemporary American and Italian dishes, along with expertly crafted cocktails and wine.
"Hippo hasn’t been open very long, but it’s already become a Highland Park neighborhood hangout. You’ll find people popping in for a drink or solo meal at the bar, families from Pasadena seeing what’s going on a little closer to LA proper, and a bunch of people who just bought a fixer-upper down the street catching up with friends over pasta. The menu is long, so you’ll probably order too much, but the servers will tell you when you’re being over-the-top and help you cut things down (as long as you get the sweet corn cappelacci)." - amy clark, brett keating
"Hippo is a kind-of-Italian spot with qualities you currently find in most nice LA restaurants: high ceilings, graphic floral designs on the walls, and a menu full of crudos, pasta, and big plates of meat. But Hippo mashes all those familiar elements up in a way that feels exciting. The crudos and pasta are all excellent, and it's also a great spot for a few drinks before heading out to all the other bars along Figueroa." - brant cox, sylvio martins, andrew ryce, cathy park
"Our goal in life isn’t to fly to the moon or become a millionaire. It’s to become a regular at a cool neighborhood restaurant. A good candidate is Hippo, which seems like every other place that serves crudo, pasta, and salmon entrees, but all of those things turn out to be way more interesting than renditions at other places. Come eat cappellacci by yourself at the bar every week and you’ll be on a first-name basis with the bartender in no time." - jess basser sanders, nikko duren, sylvio martins
"Chef Matt Molina’s Hippo in Highland Park continues to draw crowds hungry for a California take on handmade pasta, large-format proteins, and plenty of cocktails. The patio is especially fetching this time of year, and so is the corn-stuffed agnolotti — get it if it’s on the menu." - Cathy Chaplin, Eater Staff
"Located in the former Highland Park post office, Hippo serves big and small plates that are smartly composed with seasonal influences and well-sourced ingredients. The handmade pastas are particularly excellent, especially the parcels filled with fresh corn during summer months." - Cathy Chaplin, Eater Staff
