Pizzeria Mozza

Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza has been a fixture of the LA dining scene since 2006, occupying a comfortable corner of Hancock Park on Highland Avenue. The space strikes a balance between polished and unpretentious—think white tablecloths without the stuffiness. It’s the kind of place where you can bring your parents for a nice dinner or slide into a bar seat solo after a long day, and either scenario feels perfectly natural.

The menu shines brightest with its antipasti and select pizzas. The burratina is non-negotiable: a plump ball of housemade cheese nestled on braised leeks and garlic toast, drizzled generously with olive oil. It’s simple but stunning. Among the pies, the Bianca and goat cheese versions outperform the classic margherita, which suffers from underwhelming tomato sauce. The crust itself remains impressive—puffy, light, and satisfyingly crackly—but the toppings don’t always live up to the foundation they’re built on.

This is a restaurant that rewards reasonable expectations. Walk in expecting a reliable neighborhood spot with genuinely good food and you’ll leave content. The meatballs al forno deliver comfort in a pool of hot tomato sauce, and the butterscotch budino is the kind of dessert that makes you forget about whatever came before it. Just don’t expect the meal of your life, especially if you’ve been chasing the Mozza mystique from its early days.

For a relaxed evening out in Hancock Park—whether it’s a casual business chat, a family dinner, or just a craving for solid pizza—Pizzeria Mozza remains a dependable choice. It may no longer be the crown jewel of LA pizza, but it’s earned its place as a comfortable classic that continues to draw crowds nearly two decades in.