Pinocchio's is a beloved throwback Italian eatery in Burbank that serves heaping classic pasta dishes, hearty meatballs, and has a delightful attached market.
"Even if you rolled into this throwback Italian cafeteria with a hungry family of four, we’re not sure you could spend more than $100. The combination of retro prices and extremely solid red sauce staples turn this place into Costco before Thanksgiving during the lunch and dinner rush. Parents with kids in soccer uniforms, high school mathletes, and exhausted studio workers all line up with red trays pointing at meatballs and giant lasagna squares behind the glass. Wine is served in goblets. And, yes, there are Pinocchio paintings all over. You’ll want the creamy house caesar that’s built in front of you and served with a half-bottle of dressing. Be sure to explore the attached deli and grocery, too. That’s where you’ll find all their house-baked bread, pastries, and silky gelato (your dessert)." - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"The Order: Caesar “That’s a heavy dress”: Our thoughts while watching Lady Gaga climb the Met Gala steps and when the Pinocchio employee poured half a bottle of dressing into our salad. If you’re a caesar-purist who likes their salad spackled with creamy dressing, this old-school Italian cafeteria in Burbank hits the spot. Bonus: It comes with a plate of garlic bread. " - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"Dinner rush at this 70s-era Italian cafeteria in Burbank is a sight to behold. Parents with kids in soccer uniforms, high school mathletes, and exhausted studio workers all line up with red trays pointing at meatballs and giant lasagna squares behind the glass. Wine is served in goblets. And, yes, there are wooden Pinocchio dolls everywhere. With a combination of retro prices, extremely solid red sauce staples, and a brand of kitsch that could only exist in LA, it’s no mystery why this place regularly turns into Costco before Thanksgiving. Be sure to explore the attached deli and grocery, too. That’s where you’ll find all their house-baked bread, pastries, and silky gelato (your dessert). " - brant cox, nikko duren, garrett snyder, sylvio martins
"Even if you rolled into this throwback Italian cafeteria with a hungry family of four, we’re not sure you could spend more than $100. The combination of retro prices and extremely solid red sauce staples turn this place into Costco before Thanksgiving during the lunch and dinner rush. Parents with kids in soccer uniforms, high school mathletes, and exhausted studio workers all line up with red trays pointing at meatballs and giant lasagna squares behind the glass. Wine is served in goblets. And, yes, there are Pinocchio paintings all over. You’ll want the creamy house caesar that’s built in front of you and served with a half-bottle of dressing. Be sure to explore the attached deli and grocery, too. That’s where you’ll find all their house-baked bread, pastries, and silky gelato (your dessert)." - Brant Cox
"Pinocchio’s is the kind of casual Italian American destination that doesn’t try too hard, which is why it’s been around for decades. Stop at the dedicated market before or after a meal that includes huge meatballs, spaghetti with red sauce, cannoli, a chopped salad, and fettuccine Alfredo." - Eater Staff, Mona Holmes
