Is Maccheroni the formal of macaroni?
we love carbs
Michelin Bib Gourmand: Michelin guide’s best value for money restaurants – offering a three course meal at a reasonable price.
Next on our Tour de Bib Gourmand is Maccheroni Republic downtown, a sweet and aesthetic Italian eatery tucked into an industrial block.
With its plant-forward decor, it really does feel like an escape amidst the concrete jungle that DTLA has become.
They don’t accept reservations - so expect a wait - but don’t waste your time standing around as they do not have a bar. We spent our 35-minutes at the bar next door, and there are many more options (Grand Central Market included) right down the block.
What we ordered:
Arugula Salad: At an Italian joint, I almost always defer to a Caesar Salad, but our waiter recommended their arugula salad with walnuts, goat cheese and roasted grapes (aka raisins to some on our group..) So happy that’s what we went with. Roasted grapes > raisins any day.
Trippa Pasta: If there is a pasta with red sauce, Janice is ordering it. If there is a pasta with red sauce AND animal guts (in this case, tripe) Janice is DEFINITELY ordering it. The tripe was delightfully bouncy and tender, the sauce classic and straightforward. But our favorite part was the fun pasta shape.
Linguini & Clams: If red sauce is Janice’s thing, linguini & clams is Rachel’s. If it’s on the menu, she’s ordering it. While this version felt a little claim-lite, the sauce was perfectly balanced - acidic, garlicky, buttery, and covering each noodle tip to tail. This was a seasonal special, so it could be leaving the menu soon….
Bianchi E Neri: The restaurant boasts this as their signature dish. Black and white spaghetti with shrimp, mushrooms, and pancetta all tossed in a creamy sauce. Admittedly, we probably wouldn’t have ordered this had it not been noted as a crowd favorite, but I’m SO glad we did. The unanimous favorite of the evening, this dish is worth coming back for. Salty, rich, and drowning in an artery-clogging sauce, this is a can’t miss dish.
Flourless Chocolate Cake: Did we need to order dessert after this carb fest? We did not. But when Janice spotted a flourless chocolate cake on the menu we figured it didn’t count since it’s technically gluten-free. Cute photoshootes aside, this was probably the most forgettable part of the meal. Next time we’d opt for something different.
Cost: $60/person including tip, dessert and a bottle of wine!
#BibGourmand
