Resident recommends Osteria La Buca
Italian tradition in the dishes, California in the farming
Chef Joe Cardenas and Stephen Sakulsky
The basil on the ravioli dish I ordered was picked by the man who cooked it. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I find that special.
The basil was not sourced. Osteria La Buca owns a private farm in West Los Angeles. Chef de cuisine Joe Cardenas drives out Wednesday and Saturday mornings, harvests for all three restaurants, and brings everything back the same day. He works his farmers market runs into the same trip.
The menu constantly changes as everything follows the season. All of which is why you can really taste everything.
Chef Joe put it simply. No frills. Nothing hidden under a million sauces. Italian tradition in the dishes, California in the farming. Sourcing this way, he said, takes the guesswork out of what's actually fresh, and it puts the farmer, the kitchen and the guest in the same conversation.
The Kampachi Crudo is the dish we ordered first. Aguachile, avocado, market melon and cucumber, bright and tasty enough that I wanted to lift the bowl and drink what was left. The House Made Ricotta arrives light and fluffy with fresh rosemary, sweet agave and grilled ciabatta. The Prosciutto & Market Melon is the familiar pairing with an entire orchestra behind it, an ajo blanco you never knew the classic dish was missing. The Corn & Crab Ravioli is delicate enough that you can tell the pasta was made that morning, sweet corn and chunks of crab with just enough chili oil to give it a tiny kick. The Mushroom Pizza is far from ordinary with a perfect crust and seasoned so well that every bite tastes like a dream. And the Hanger Steak comes rich and full, over a cauliflower cream that's silky and smooth.
The prices are fair, and that surprised me. For food this carefully thought out, I expected the prices to be higher than they were. It's also considerably cheaper than flying to Italy, which is the only other place I've had a seasonal meal with flavors this memorable.
The wine list is worth a look. I didn’t drink this time, but the list caught my eye. Everything is organic or natural, the way Chef Joe puts it, "the way wine should be in Italy back in the day." There's real range by the glass, and a fair number of California bottles sitting comfortably next to the Italian ones.
The restaurant is bright and clean, the music soft enough that you can actually have a conversation and hear each other. The photographs on the walls are owner Stephen's very own, some shot on a film camera during trips to Italy
My two quick tips: They're cashless, so make sure to bring your credit card or Apple Pay. And a Sunday spaghetti and meatball dinner for two launches soon, with farm lettuces to start and tiramisu to finish, for $51.
Also there is Happy Hour (Aperitivo Hour) 3-5 PM Weekdays and Weekends. Full menu on weekends.
3rd generation Angeleno and Loyola High alum, Stephen Sakulsky is a partner and driving force of the renowned L.A. favorite, Osteria La Buca, an institution for over 20 years.
Stephen is known for his devotion to his staff, which is evident as most have been with him since the day he took control as general manager in 2009, notable in an industry known for its two-week turnover. Stephen cultivated his sharp eye for detail and taste for cultures through his travels as a photojournalist capturing moments from
Most recently, Stephen has partnered with a master craftsman to form RAW Millworks. The small millwork shop has built some of the best restaurants in the city, including Osteria La Buca -Sherman Oaks. RAW Millworks has further honed Stephen’s ability to build better restaurants
with more control, better value engineering/lower costs and a more honed eye to details and the
construction process.
Stephen has lived with his son in Agoura Hills for the past several years.
Jackie Jorge Myers is a communications consultant and longtime North Ranch resident who shares her local finds at @livingthe805 on Instagram.
Osteria La Buca
(818) 699-6950
30760 Russell Ranch Rd Ste d, Westlake Village, CA 91362