Mamma Mia in West Adams: Tai Lopez Finds LA's Pasta Holy Grail at Cento Pasta Bar
TL Team Sep 14, 2025
“From Carbonara with Chili-Crunch Swagger to Banana Pudding Tiramisu, Here’s Why Tai’s Calling It the Best Pasta in Los Angeles”

Setting the Scene: Tai’s Pasta Pilgrimage

When Tai Lopez takes a friend out to eat, he doesn’t just pick any spot-he hunts down the kind of place that Instagram reels and TikTok montages won’t shut up about. His pregnant friend wanted pasta, and everywhere he turned one name screamed back: Cento Pasta Bar. With visions of spicy pomodoro and beet spaghetti (that’s right, beet) swirling in his feed, Tai hit West Adams to see if the hype would stand up to a real-life fork twirl.

This wasn’t just another dinner for Tai; it was an occasion. His friend was about to welcome a new life into the world, and Tai thought, what better way to mark the moment than with one of LA’s most buzzed-about restaurants? Besides, pasta is basically the food equivalent of a hug, and if there was ever a night to lean into comfort carbs, this was it.

He also had something to prove—to himself. He’s eaten pasta around the world, from tucked-away trattorias in Italy to Michelin-starred spots in New York. Could a West Adams restaurant with a cult TikTok following really stand up to those benchmarks? Tai was ready to find out.

West Adams: A Neighborhood on the Rise (and a Parking Headache)

Let’s get this out of the way: West Adams isn’t Beverly Hills. It’s gritty in patches, but it’s also where LA’s food scene is heating up. Ambitious chefs are moving in, eclectic restaurants are blooming, and yes-you will probably circle the block three times before giving up and letting the valet save your night. The trade-off? You’ll get cutting-edge food without the tourist-trap crowd.

West Adams has long been known for its historic architecture and cultural significance, but in recent years it’s become one of the city’s buzziest dining corridors. Think of it as LA’s answer to Brooklyn a decade ago: a little rough around the edges, but brimming with creativity and ambition. Foodies are flocking in, not for glitz, but for genuinely innovative cuisine.

Tai liked the fact that Cento wasn’t parked on a glammed-up stretch of Melrose or hiding in Beverly Hills. “There’s something about finding world-class pasta in a neighborhood like this,” he said, gesturing around the street. “It makes it feel more earned. Like you discovered a secret.” Just be sure to pack patience-or cash for the valet stand.

The Story Behind Cento: From Pop-Up to Pasta Stardom

Cento started as Chef Avner Levi’s downtown pop-up, a word-of-mouth sensation that pulled in pasta die-hards across LA. Known for his playful twists on Italian staples—think beet spaghetti dripping in brown butter and poppy seeds or agnolotti stuffed with sweet summer corn-Levi quickly earned a cult following. In 2021, Cento Pasta Bar landed in West Adams with a permanent home, and soon after MICHELIN came knocking with a Bib Gourmand nod. Next door? Its sibling, Cento Raw Bar, for seafood and martinis when you’re not dining with someone expecting.

Chef Levi didn’t just stop at making noodles; he created a narrative. Every pasta at Cento has a story, whether it’s the carbonara crowned with a chili-crunch yolk or the sweet corn agnolotti that channels summers on the East Coast. Food media quickly latched on, and Cento went from pop-up darling to permanent pasta pilgrimage site. The MICHELIN nod was just the cherry on top, cementing Levi’s reputation as one of LA’s chefs to watch.

For Tai, knowing the backstory added to the anticipation. He’s a storyteller himself, so he appreciated the arc: scrappy pop-up hustler grows into Michelin-lauded chef without losing the creative spark. “I like when restaurants have that underdog-to-legend journey,” he said. “It makes the food taste even better.”

Tai’s Cento Backstory: Why Pasta, Why Now

“I’ve seen that spicy pom in my feed so many times I felt like it owed me rent,” Tai joked as he sat down. He wanted to celebrate his friend, but with pregnancy restrictions, the menu narrowed. Raw fish and tartare were out. Caesar salad? Nixed because of raw egg. In a way, the limitations made the choice clearer: lean into cooked pasta, try the house hits, and leave no rigatoni unturned.

The truth is, Tai had been circling Cento for months. Every time he scrolled, someone new was raving about it. Friends texted him TikToks, strangers slid it into conversations—Cento had practically become the city’s unofficial litmus test for pasta. Finally, he decided to stop lurking and start twirling.

And celebrating a pregnant friend made it feel purposeful, not just indulgent. Pasta is communal, festive, forgiving-it’s the kind of food that carries joy in every bite. If there was ever a moment for carb-loading in style, this was it.

Inside the Pasta Oasis: Ambiance & Vibes

Stepping into Cento feels like teleporting out of West Adams and onto a Mediterranean terrace. Whitewashed walls, alfresco courtyard tables strung with twinkling lights, and an open bar where the pasta magic happens. The clientele? Not your influencer-selfie crowd, but serious food people-the kind who debate whether bucatini or rigatoni has better sauce-cling. It’s laid-back, transportive, and comfortably chic.

Tai noticed the energy right away. Servers weaving between tables with cocktails, a couple at the bar leaning in over a plate of beet spaghetti, the quiet hum of people genuinely enjoying their food rather than posing with it. It wasn’t sterile fine dining, nor was it a chaotic hotspot—it was somewhere in the sweet spot in between.

“Honestly, it felt like being dropped into a coastal Italian patio,” Tai said. “The kind where you’re not sure if you should order another martini or just never leave.” For a restaurant tucked into a transitional LA neighborhood, the escapism was part of the charm.







What Tai Ordered (and Loved)
  • Radicchio Salad - Bitter, fresh, perfectly dressed. A pivot from Caesar that paid off big.
  • Carbonara with Chili-Crunch Egg - Rich, peppery, pancetta-savory, crowned with a yolk Tai had zero intention of splitting. “This one’s all mine,” he grinned.
  • Spicy Pomodoro Rigatoni - His friend’s order. She left a few bites, and Tai finished the job. Punchy, fiery, and the dish everyone Instagrams for a reason.
  • Banana Pudding Tiramisu - A mash-up that shouldn’t work but totally does. Nilla wafers, a whisper of Kahlua, layers of creamy nostalgia. Tai demolished it.
  • Dirty Martini (extra dirty) - Perfectly executed, though Tai teased they’d earn a bonus point if they stocked blue cheese olives.
“Mamma mia. New favorite pasta in LA,” he said. “And I’m not saying that lightly.”







Cento’s Greatest Hits: Beyond Tai’s Table

Unfortunately, Tai couldn’t devour everything. While Cento’s menu is a rotating mix, a few of the dishes Tai missed out on have reached cult status:
  • Beet Spaghetti - The magenta beauty that made Cento Instagram-famous.
  • Sweet Corn Agnolotti - Summer corn, Old Bay, crème fraîche: little pockets of bliss.
  • Broccoli Bucatini - Garlicky, cheesy, with anchovy punch and creamy burrata.
  • Ricotta Gnocchi Bolognese - Silky pillows in a long-simmered meat sauce.
  • Date Cake with Bourbon Caramel - The dessert rival to Tai’s banana pudding tiramisu.
  • Cocktails - Don’t miss the Gin + Saffron or the Espresso + Date-proof that Cento takes its drinks as seriously as its noodles.
Tai’s Official Ratings
  • Food: 10/10 - “Hands down my new LA pasta obsession. Rivals stuff I’ve eaten in Italy.”
  • Service: 9/10 - Servers handled pregnancy restrictions with grace; Chef Avner even mingled with tables. Pastas took time, but quality showed.
  • Ambiance: 8/10 - Mediterranean patio fantasy, minus the ocean breeze.
  • Location: 6/10 - West Adams is cool but tricky; valet is a must.
  • Value: 9/10 - Elevated dining without Beverly Hills gouging.
  • Overall: 10/10 - “Worth every bite—and every parking headache.”
Perfect For...
  • Date Night - Romantic patio vibes, carb-driven intimacy.
  • Celebrations - Promotions, birthdays, even “baby almost here” parties.
  • Food Nerd Hangouts - Pasta debate club members, unite.
  • Out-of-Towners - Show them LA can do pasta as well as tacos.
Tai’s Cheat Sheet for Conquering Cento
  • Book a reservation; peak nights fill fast.
  • Valet or Uber unless circling the block is your cardio.
  • Merch is legit-don’t leave without a tee.
  • Give yourself time; pasta comes out slower because it’s made with care.
  • Save room for dessert; the banana pudding tiramisu deserves its own fan club.
  • Bring a friend who isn’t pregnant if you want to explore the raw starters-or just double up and hit Cento Raw Bar next door for oysters and martinis.
Make It a Night: West Adams Add-Ons

West Adams isn’t just home to Cento Pasta Bar-it’s become one of LA’s fastest-changing food and nightlife hubs. The neighborhood that once only popped up in historic preservation tours is now stacked with chef-driven restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and quirky coffee shops. If you’re making the trek out for Cento, it’s worth turning dinner into a full West Adams experience.
  • Cento Raw Bar - Right next door and perfect for a double-header, this sibling spot is all about seafood: think oysters, crudo, and strong martinis. It’s moody, elegant, and the ideal follow-up when you’re craving a surf-and-carb combo.
  • Alta Adams - One of the neighborhood’s gems, Alta serves California-style soul food from chef Keith Corbin. Expect warm hospitality, modern spins on classics like cornbread and collard greens, and cocktails that hit the spot.
  • Highly Likely - A café that transforms into a chill hangout, offering everything from third-wave coffee to natural wines and hearty grain bowls. Perfect if you want to ease into the evening or keep it low-key after pasta.
  • Johnny’s West Adams - A classic neighborhood bar with a nostalgic vibe. Great for nightcaps, beers with friends, and extending the evening without overcomplicating things.
Tai’s Tips for Surviving LA

Tai’s not just a visitor-he’s lived in LA on and off for years, which means he knows the city’s quirks better than most. Traffic, neighborhoods, and hidden gems are second nature to him. If you like this review, you’ll want to dive into his other LA food blogs-he’s been everywhere from taco trucks to rooftop lounges, and his guides read like a local giving you the cheat codes.

Here are a few of Tai’s go-to survival hacks for Los Angeles:
  • Plan for traffic like it’s a boss battle - If dinner is at 7, leave at 6 (or earlier). LA traffic doesn’t play.
  • Uber and Lyft are your friends - Parking is often overpriced or impossible; rideshare keeps things simple.
  • Neighborhood vibes change fast - West Adams is food-forward now, but some blocks still feel transitional. Stay smart and street aware.
  • Layer up - LA evenings cool down even in summer, so if you’re doing patio dining (and you should), bring a jacket.
  • Mix it up - Don’t just stick to the Westside or Hollywood; each neighborhood has its own flavor. Tai’s reviews cover them all.
Tai’s Final Thoughts

Cento Pasta Bar isn’t just a hype machine-it’s a pasta temple. Tai went in skeptical, walked out converted. Between the chili-crunch carbonara, the spicy pomodoro, and that banana pudding tiramisu, he’s already plotting his return. West Adams might make you curse your GPS, but Cento makes every twirl of your fork worth it.

“This is the pasta spot I’ll be sending people to in LA,” Tai said. “Bookmark it, book it, and bring stretchy pants.”

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