Plugs — Bucatini

L.A. food and drink recs from shopkeepers Victoria Fayad and Sofia Stephens

Plugs is The Angel’s recs column. Every Saturday, you’ll get six picks — a restaurant, a bar, a shop, an ingredient, a person, and a treat — from someone in Los Angeles who knows what they’re talking about. (Plugs are for paid subscribers of The Angel only. However, if you’re in the restaurant industry and want a free subscription, hit me up. :))

#12 is Sofia Stephens and Victoria Fayad, co-owners of Bucatini, an elegant retail shop in Echo Park stocked with pantry and home goods from across the Mediterranean. They sell the best pasta (all imported from Italy), French cutlery, perishables like pecorino romano and beurre de baratte, vegetable-shaped Portuguese ceramics from Bordallo Pinheiro, and so much more. Last week, the duo unveiled the latest iteration of Bucatini in a Sunset Avenue storefront, just in time for the holidays—with ornaments and panettone in stock. If you’ve been to Bucatini 1.0 or 2.0, you know that Sofia and Victoria have exceptional taste. Here are their L.A. plugs!

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Restaurant — Jones, Playita Mariscos

Sofia: Jones was the first restaurant I loved in Los Angeles. I’ve celebrated countless birthdays here, endless nights after hours, and almost my own wedding. At any given evening you’ll spot multiple B-list celebrities, your best friend’s little sister, and the local has-been from down the street. There’s no one type of person or a specific scene—it’s perfect because it’s a mix of everything you love and hate in this city. The food isn’t the best of the best, but somehow the combination of music, lights, and vibe make it right. It just hits all the marks! Best people watching! Best martini! Best doorman (shoutout to Paul)! Best late night menu! It has felt the same since I first walked through the doors 10 years ago, and will probably feel that way forever: quintessentially Los Angeles.

Jones’ photo wall. Photo by Sofia Stephens.

Victoria: This past summer was a hot shrimp summer, and we owe that mostly to Playita. Bucatini is fueled by a combination of shrimp tacos, cheese quesadillas, shrimp ceviche tostadas, and agua pepinos. If you drive down Sunset Blvd often, chances are you’ve probably seen Sofia and I (or Erin and I) housing down our respective trays at least three times.

Playita Mariscos. Photo by Victoria Fayad.