Evan Funke Is the ONLY One Making Cacio E Pepe in Hollywood 🍝

Tastemade
TastemadeApr 16, 2026

Why It Matters

The restaurant shows LA diners reward authenticity and immersive design, prompting a shift toward region‑specific, experience‑driven concepts in the competitive hospitality market.

Key Takeaways

  • Evan Funke revives authentic Roman cacio e pepe in Hollywood.
  • Mother Wolf blends opulent design with handcrafted Italian décor.
  • Diners engage directly with chefs, fostering community through food.
  • Menu emphasizes traditional Roman dishes taught by authentic mentors.
  • Meticulous craftsmanship—Venetian chandeliers, Moroccan tiles, hand‑blown glass—enhance dining experience.

Summary

Mother Wolf, the Hollywood restaurant founded by chef Evan Funke, is dedicated to bringing genuine Roman cuisine—most notably the elusive cacio e pepe—to Los Angeles.

Funke pairs that culinary mission with a deliberately opulent interior: hand‑blown Venetian chandeliers, Moroccan‑sourced tiles, custom leather chairs and 3‑D‑printed wallpaper that mimics traditional tiles. The design is meant to transport diners from LA streets to a Roman piazza while preserving a rustic feel.

The menu is built on dishes taught directly by Italian mentors, from thin‑crust Roman pizza to fried artichokes and the “saltimoka” veal cut. Guests regularly watch chefs stretch dough and converse, creating a theater‑like experience that the chef describes as community‑building.

By marrying meticulous craftsmanship with authentic regional food, Mother Wolf raises the bar for upscale casual dining in Southern California, encouraging other restaurateurs to invest in provenance, storytelling and immersive environments.

Original Description

I’m Ben Hundreds, and we’re heading to the iconic Citizen News building in Hollywood to visit a restaurant that defines "grandness." Mother Wolf is Chef Evan Funke’s love letter to Rome, and the design is just as opulent as the pasta.
Evan transports us from the streets of LA to Italy through hand-blown Venetian glass chandeliers, custom leather chairs, and 3D-printed "tile" wallpaper. This is a masterclass in storytelling through luxury. We’re getting into the kitchen to see the high-heat oven in action, tasting "potato-chip-crisp" fried artichokes, and learning why a perfectly executed Cacio e Pepe is the ultimate expression of Roman consistency.
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