Mother Wolf
Italian restaurant · Hollywood ·
Roman pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and celebrity sightings await
.jpg "Mother Wolf by Eric Wolfinger/Mother Wolf")
.jpg "Mother Wolf by Eric Wolfinger/Mother Wolf")
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23147735/2022_01_04_MotherWolf_009.jpg "Mother Wolf by Wonho Frank Lee")
Roman pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and celebrity sightings await
"It's hard not to feel like you've just walked into what promises to be the best night of your life—well, perhaps of your week–the moment you step inside Mother Wolf, set within the 1931 art deco Hollywood Citizen News building. The massive Romanesque dining room is ornate and opulent (yet keeps a safe distance from kitschy Vegas vibes), the crowd is boisterous, the food is delicious and plentiful. Chef Evan Funke brings his usual passion and fatto a mano (made by hand) dedication to Mother Wolf, his ode to Rome in the heart of Hollywood. The rigatonicini with oxtail ragu is nothing short of a revelation. Tender and flaky, the branzino is grilled to perfection. The pizza is airy, light and crispy. The torta di ricotta with figs and raspberries is to die for." - Celeste Moure
"How Far In Advance Should You Book? Same-day on most weeknights. A week for primetime weekend tables or larger groups. Mother Wolf now has locations in Vegas and Miami, but this flashy Italian restaurant’s enormous, chandelier-filled dining room in Hollywood is where its empire of pink booths was born—and the handmade pastas and cocktails are still worth the fuss. The giant space means tables are easier to snag during the week, and even weekend reservations are way less of a scramble than they once were." - cathy park, brant cox, sylvio martins
"The arrival of Mother Wolf from Evan Funke was a definitive moment for the bustling corner of Wilcox and Selma in Hollywood, where luxury hotels and upscale restaurants dot the streets. This ode to Rome is breathtaking on the inside, with an elegant dining room that can seat 150. On most nights, the room is full and buzzing with energy as diners sip on glasses of wine hand-picked by the sommelier or ice-cold cocktails. Still, Funke’s food shines through with wood-fired pizzas, rigatoni all’Amatriciana, and bistecca alla Florentina. Make sure to book a reservation in advance on Resy, it’s often difficult to score a table as a walk-in unless sitting at the bar. Parking can be tough in the neighborhood; keep an eye on signs that include gridlock zones, and there’s always the option of valet just in case, though it is a bit expensive." - Rebecca Roland
"The towering columns, high ceiling, and grand red-tinted dining room of Mother Wolf act as Evan Funke’s ode to Rome. The menu hews pretty strictly to Roman pastas and dishes, like fried squash blossoms, blistered pizza rossa, and tonnarelli cacio e pepe. Servers don tuxedo jackets while sommeliers offer rare Italian wines by the glass, giving dinners here a celebratory atmosphere. It’s no wonder that, even after some management switches, Mother Wolf remains buzzy, worthy of frequent celebrity sightings." - Matthew Kang
"The group’s managing partner, Giancarlo Pagani, penned a petition asking government officials to support and amplify struggling small businesses and restaurants across Southern California. The petition’s signers include A.O.C. chef Suzanne Goin, the Benjamin’s Ben Shenaassafar, MXO chef Wes Avila, and Funke/Mother Wolf chef Evan Funke; the appeal seeks official recognition and assistance for restaurants coping with enforcement, economic strain, and other pressures." - Mona Holmes