Jemma Hollywood is the new hot spot serving upscale yet approachable Italian-American dishes in a chic space, perfect for a pre-show bite near the Pantages.
"It's easy to be charmed by Chef Jackson Kalb’s Hollywood Italian American spot Jemma. The menu features approachable Italian dishes like meatballs, pepperoni pizza, cacio e pepe spaghetti, pork osso bucco, and spicy rigatoni alla vodka. Where Jemma shines is its execution — even in the simple dishes, the use of well-sourced ingredients like fresh pasta and high-quality produce shines through. Jemma is an easy not-too-fancy restaurant, whether looking for an after-work bite, a special night out, or a family-friendly restaurant that’ll please even the pickiest of eaters." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang
"Chef Jackson Kalb’s restaurants always do a great job of showcasing compelling menus for DineLA, and his newest in Hollywood is no different. The reasonably-priced $45 dinner allows diners to choose two courses among a dozen different dishes, including meatballs, kale salad, tagliatelle Bolognese, chicken Milanese, and pepperoni pizza. Finish with classic cannoli or lemon cheesecake." - Matthew Kang
"Jackson Kalb’s Hollywood eatery opened in October 2023 at the Aster Hotel serving classic Italian food. The menu features dishes from Kalb’s other SoCal restaurants, along with fresh pasta, sandwiches, pizzas, and pork osso bucco, among others. Be sure to order ranch, marinara, or vodka sauce dips for the pizza." - Eater Staff, Mona Holmes
"Jemma Hollywood is a big, upscale Italian-American restaurant on the ground floor of The Aster that we’d recommend for one specific reason: a convenient dinner before catching a Pantages show across the street. Any other pasta-related needs can be satisfied elsewhere in Hollywood. Jemma Hollywood is the red-sauce sibling concept of Ospi and Jame Enoteca, but the food isn’t as good as those two dependable Westside spots. An oily linguine alle vongole includes lots of empty clam shells and chewy shellfish. The radiotore in spicy pork sugo is on the soupy side and nearly devoid of heat (there is a nice fennel thing going on, though). The next time Chicago is in town and you want to treat your parents to a big night out, Jemma Hollywood can work, but just for a few cocktails, a fairly good chicken milanese, and the famous kale salad we’ve been raving about for years." - Sylvio Martins
"It looks like LA’s red sauce moment is here to stay and one of the genre’s latest newcomers is Jemma in Hollywood. Located smack-dab in the middle of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, Jemma’s done-up but comfortable dining room offers a reprieve from the action outside, while the food comforts with familiarity and panache. An order of the fried calamari is a must to start and should be followed with the rigatoni with vodka sauce. The cannoli and tiramisu are both notable and worth saving room for. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor" - Eater Staff
