Mother Wolf

"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, Matthew Kang

"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, Eater Staff

"Evan Funke’s Hollywood ode to Roman cooking is a superb celebrity-viewing restaurant, with sight lines stretching across the high-ceiling, expansive dining room. The likes of Beyonce, Jay-Z, and the Obamas (sans Barack) have been seen eating there, though one is likely to catch a famous person down the stellar pasta and wine on any night, at any table. Just a few miles away, Funke has also proven to be a sure bet to run into a star." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff

"Mother Wolf, the highly acclaimed Italian restaurant from Los Angeles, is set to open a new location in the Miami Design District this fall. The restaurant from chef Evan Funke is known for its focus on Roman cuisine and celebrity clientele. Funke, a two-time James Beard Award nominee, is best known for his pasta dishes made in a glass-enclosed pasta-making 'lab' at the center of the dining room. The menu includes Roman pizzas, starters like fried squash blossoms and artichokes, and main courses like whole branzino, lamb rib chops, and a dry-aged ribeye. The restaurant has A-list celebrity clientele, with names like Mark Wahlberg, Chrissy Tiegan, and Vanessa Hudgens, and even a 1,500-person waitlist ahead of its opening in Los Angeles." - Olee Fowler

"Is there a more Vegas restaurant in Los Angeles than Mother Wolf? What happens when Mother Wolf opens in Vegas, then? The answers to those questions don’t really matter, especially for the dozens of eager Sunday evening diners at the new Fontainebleau resort restaurant, where chef Evan Funke does a near-perfect facsimile of his Hollywood original. Inside, find soaring ceilings, columns, plush banquettes, and an open kitchen belting out terrific extruded Roman pastas and large shareable secondi. I was especially enamored by the branzino alla brace, sporting just the right amount of charred skin and super-moist flesh underneath. The lemon-fennel-castelvetrano-mint slaw worked as a crunchy, tangy foil with the bright salsa verde keeping each bite interesting. Don’t worry, Angelenos: The grilled fish is also on the Hollywood menu." - Eater Staff