Yes, Mother (Wolf).
LOCATION: Hollywood | CUISINE: Italian | OVERALL MFK RATING: Marry
Nestled in the heart of a sleepy Southern Californian town…
Nah, I’m just kidding. This is Los Angeles! There are almost four million people here, and for every person in this city, there are at least two restaurants claiming to be the HOTTEST NEW THING. So, you’ll have to forgive me for dismissing any hyped-up new spot the second it opens.
Mother Wolf opened in January 2022. I first tried it about a year later, in January 2023. Since then, I’ve already been back three times.
Because here’s the thing: Mother Wolf has earned its hype. From the moment you walk into the restaurant, the experience is immaculate. The staff is insanely friendly — if you live in LA, you know this is a shocking revelation, and a welcome one — and the atmosphere is luxurious without being stifling. With warm, cozy lighting and music that is lively but not too loud (a win for the neurodivergent girlies), the dining room feels less like the trendy showroom that most new restaurants have become and more like your super-rich-but-super-generous friend’s living room. It is also like a super-rich friend’s living room because you are almost guaranteed to see at least two recognizable celebrities per visit, which is a great way to convince your out-of-towners that you are far more important than you actually are.
And oh, we haven’t even gotten to the food, which is what you’re here for! The menu, which is served family-style, consists of various types of extremely fresh and immaculately-constructed Roman cuisine. From the appetizers, to the pasta, to the dessert, you will want to get at least one of everything, but here are my highlights:
Fiori Di Zucca (Squash Blossoms)
Forgive my poetry, but I dream of these little flowers in the night. These tender orange blossoms are filled to the brim with seasoned ricotta, then dipped into a batter that becomes shatteringly-thin when fried. The result is a balanced, crispy bite followed by warm and savory cheese and just… oof. Honestly the most impressive part is how perfectly salted they are — just enough to bring the other flavors to their limit but not so much that you can’t kill an entire plate on your own (which is… hard not to do).
MFK (Marry, Fuck, Kill) Rating: A fling turned into an irresistible situationship.
Spaghetti All’Arrabbiata
You guys get a photo of a mostly-eaten plate because I was genuinely so excited to eat this that I forgot to do my job. This is, very evidently, my favorite menu item at Mother Wolf. The pasta is perfectly al dente and the sauce carries enough heat to make your mouth tingle while still leaving room for other flavors to come through. Plus, the portion is large enough to share without having to “accidentally” stab your dining companion with a fork to assert dominance. Word to the wise, however: don’t eat the little pepper on top. You may think you can… don’t. It’s not worth it.
MFK Rating: Immediate wedding bells.
Margherita Pizza
You can’t go to a family-style Italian restaurant and not get at least one pizza for the table. My friends and I have varied tastes and all tend toward being pizza purists, so we opt for the classic when we go. And, listen, it’s a good pizza! It’s got a fantastic, chewy crust. The sauce is just the right amount of sweet while still keeping true to its savory, tomato roots. The cheese is… maybe a little bit greasy? But, at the end of the day, most people are into that, and I did like this pizza. It’s just that, compared to the all-star menu items around it, it felt forgettable and fell a little short. If your party is flexible, I’d recommend opting for a more novel pizza, if for no other reason than to strive beyond adequate.
MFK Rating: Sent to the farm upstate, but a free range one.
Maritozzo
I won’t even mince words here. Get this. Get this!!! I usually skip desserts. I am often disappointed by desserts. This dessert — a humble brioche filled with a mountain of cream — will only disappoint you if you skip it. It is fresh, sweet, fluffy, creamy, and might actually cure your existential dread for the thirty seconds you spend eating it.
MFK Rating: Already on the honeymoon.
In summary, this is one of those spots where even the just-okay food is actually really good. It is my personal go-to for guests, birthdays, celebrations, and literally any other excuse I can think of to just hang out there. For me, it checks every box of what an upscale restaurant should be, and that’s a rare bar to clear. Good on you, Mother Wolf.
