Clusi Batusi

omfg the caprese panini doe.
Bring back Clusi!!!

I just found out that Clusi has closed as of Oct 1. What a sad day in West LA… had I known I would have been eating there every night till they closed. I had to leave my review just to share my love.
We moved into the neighborhood almost 2 years ago and fell in love with Clusi when friends mentioned the great pizza. We spent 6 months living in Florence, Italy and always look for some REAL Italian food in LA. Clusi is by far one of the best we’ve had since coming home from Italy with the most authentic flavors. The atmosphere was great, chef Michele was always friendly and did an amazing job making patrons feel like family. I’ll always remember the Bolognese (my all time favorite) and the cheesecake! But all the food was amazing and will be greatly missed!
As sad as I am to see them close — I wish them all the best in their future and I hope they keep us up to date where Michele is moving on to, we will follow!
Clusi — you will be missed!

I just learnt that they had to close as of today, October 1^st! This is so so sad to see this amazing restaurant close all due to insane leasing negotiations and real estate speculations.
Here’s the official FB Statement:
I am so sad for everyone at Clusi Batusi as they have served the best food and made you feel like family!
I wish everyone the best in their future and hope they will open doors once again at a new location…

When The Pizza Monster posts on her Instragram (@thepizzamonster1) that she puts Clusi Batusi in her top 5, you do 2 things: double tap that pic, and get your ass on over there to try it (well if you live in the Newport/​Costa Mesa area of OC like I do — where there are no top-​notch pizza joints, you bookmark it).
Suffice to say, once I was in this part of LA I sought out Clusi Batusi like a Kardashian chasing after publicity. It’s on Sawtelle near other popular food spots such as Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle, Seoul Sausage Company, and the new Bachi Burger. Don’t worry, it’s not Asian pizza!
This is thin Artisan pizza, but head and shoulders above a place like Pitfire Artisan. Although it is high quality, they prepare it in a way that leads to the pizza coming out quickly. The pizza dough is made every morning and they use fresh local ingredients. Their sauces are amazing as well.
I had to go with the Spicy Meatball Pizza ($ 11): heavily featured with peperoncini, throw some spicy chili oil on and you have yourself an instant classic. The crust had intentionally slightly burnt edges to give it the right touch. It’s a nice sized personal pizza, neither too small nor too large.
I gotta return to get a taste of their Cotto & Funghi pizza too (the ham and mushrooms look spectacular).
It’s a smaller restaurant with a casual setting. Take out is available. If there’s a wait to be seated, you can get it to go, eat it while hanging around the area, and then head on over to Blockheads Shavery or B Sweet Dessert Bar for dessert afterwards.

This place is a really great find amidst the pan-​Asian fare in Little Osaka.
Named after the owner’s cat, Clusi Batusi is a cute little Italian eatery on Sawtelle that offers really great, quality food. It’s obvious from the artsy décor to the presentation of the food that the owner takes pride in his business.
We arrived early on a Tuesday night and given the fact that they were short staffed, the chef/​owner helped deliver our food to the table. We tried a little bit of everything — Margherita and spicy meatball pizzas, pork chop Milanese, spaghetti, chopped salad, pear and pecorino salad with chicken, and tiramisu.
The food was amazing. A few highlights of the meal included the half portion of the chopped salad with chunks of salami and provolone, mixed with chick peas and peppers. It was easily enough for a meal. The pizza had a soft, chewy crust with a little char and the sauce was smooth and rich. The homemade meatballs which topped the pizza were hearty and juicy. To end the meal, we got the tiramisu which was light and heavenly. And this is coming from a non-​coffee drinker!
I highly recommend Clusi Batusi for a great, reasonably priced meal on Sawtelle. You’ll be delightfully surprised by the food and you’ll also support a good, small business.

Excellent food, service and priced just right! Great pizza’s. Have had most of them and all are fantastic.
Great place!

Now, that’s a Spicy Meatball Pizza.
Zzonk! Biff! Nommmmm!
Clusi Batusi snuck up on me like discovering an actual plot in a 1960s Batman episode. Holy pizza pie, Batman! Little Osaka may never be the same.
As everyone … well, ok, maybe a few retro-​geeks … knows, the Batusi is a groovy dance set to Bat-​music when Adam West was high as a kite. Check out YouTube for some far out flashbacks. It’s like the watusi, but Bat-​tastic. So, what’s Clusi? I have no clue, see. Does it matter? Nope.
It may not be the best pizza of all-​time, but it’s pretty tasty.
Precisely, Robin. To Clusi Batusi! There’s not a moment to lose …
A Spicy Meatball Specialty Pizza ($ 11) laid a Kapow! on my tummy’s ow. Catwoman probably inspired the near purr-​fect Thin Crust gently caressing Homemade Sausage, Peperoncini, Tomato Sauce, and Mozzarella. Meow. I love the spices in the Sauce and the slightly spicy Meatballs. 4.5 stars … Zzzwap!
Clusi Batusi is closed Sunday & Monday and only open for lunch or dinner Tuesday — Saturday. See you next week. Same Bat-​time. Same Bat-​pie.
Quick! To the Pizza-​mobile!

This place is the los angeles instantiation of an italian trattoria. Chef is all about quality, authentic recipes and fresh fine ingredients. Pizzas are great pastas are really authentic. I love the Gricia and the Carbonara.
Really done like my mum does back home.

_​what I ordered:
— Spicy Meatball: this is a great pizza for under $ 10, which is hard to come by on Sawtelle. It’s not overwhelmingly spicy but if you’d like to add more heat, they have a great chili oil that you can put on it! Delicioso!
_​atmosphere/​service:
Generally, the staff is quite friendly, but the main lady that works there always has a smile and cheerful. The venue itself is a cute spot with homey, handmade wall art. There is outdoor seating just perfect for a nice sunny day!
_​parking (same as my Blockheads review):
Sawtelle itself is always congested in this area so I suggest finding parking on Corinth which is just 1 block west of Sawtelle. I have also gotten lucky on the side streets just east of Sawtelle. If you really get desperate, there is a FREE parking structure on the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle where the Panda Express and the new Michael’s is.

Clusi Batusi is a small casual café on the west side of Sawtelle, just north of Mississippi Avenue. It’s great to find a tasty Italian restaurant in the middle of Little Osaka — a little variety. It is a casual place — lacquered butcher block tables inside with stackable red chairs, an open kitchen, and a little patio. They can probably seat about 26 inside and another 12 outside. The kitchen is open and had three guys inside.
I tried to come in last week, and the place was packed, so I moved on. Today, it was not even half full, so I came on in with my little group grabbed a table. The waiters immediately brought waters to the table and we were quickly ready to order.
I ordered the Muffaletta Panini ($ 12). It is an Italian twist on a N’awlins classic. A square ciabatta roll (about 5″) is layered with thin slices of italian ham (like prosciutto but leaner) and salami, topped with a thin slice of provolone and olive tapenade as well as a few leaves of arugula. The sandwich is then pressed in a grill and served warm with a small side salad of eclectic mixed greens (lots of sprouts) in a very light vinaigrette. The sandwich was very good — excellent quality bread and meats. Overall, the sandwich has a little spiciness and is very rich. The salad is a refreshing side. I devoured about ²⁄₃ of the sandwich, and I was stuffed!
I would really say it is 3.5 stars, because it took 15 minutes plus to deliver the sandwich to the table and I had to get up to refill my own water because they were short-​staffed. Pizzas were coming out fasted than my sandwich had, and we ordered when there was NO ONE there.
I would come again, but I won’t rush back. There are too many options in the area! And faster ones at that for lunch!

After the many many times I’ve been to Sawtelle and passed by this restaurant, my friend and I finally decided to try Clusi Batusi.
He ordered some sort of pizza and I got the Arrabiata Pasta. Our food took a little bit even though there weren’t many people there. The presentation was beautiful, however, the food didn’t live up to what my eyes were seeing.
The pasta was cooked okay, but the spicy arrabiata sauce was so intense that I couldn’t finish eating the dish. My friend LOVES spicy stuff and he even said that it was quite hot. I don’t remember much about the taste or flavor since the spiciness was so overwhelming.
I had a slice of his pizza, it was okay, but it’s no 800 degrees! I don’t think I will be back, especially because there are so many other better and delicious restaurants just a few steps away from Clusi Batusi.

I had been wanting to try Clusi Batusi for a while. Smack in the middle of Little Osaka, it catches your eye… an Italian place amidst noodle and Boba shops? After trying it, Clusi Batusi is a deliciously welcomed addition to the neighborhood. Its a small restaurant with a simple design. The restaurant, though, exudes personality through its friendly staff.
I end up trying two of their dishes and two of their desserts:
1) Entrees
— Arrabiata: This garlic and spiced pasta was great. Nothing overly fancy, but the sauce was very well made with just enough kick to grab your attention, you not leave you looking for water refills.
–Spicy Meatball pizza: this is a true Neapolitan pizza. Their is no overly oiled floppiness to it. The crust is perfectly thin and firm. The meatballs are less spicy than the Arrabiata, but delicious. I loved every bite of this well made pizza.
2) Dessert –This is were we go from really good to spectacular
— Italian Cheesecake: Made from ricotta, this light and fluffy cake is one of the best cheesecakes I have had in a long time. It is a MUST if you come here
–Tiramisu: A delicious, well made version with a smooth cream and perfect espresso flavoring. If you don’t like cheesecake, this dessert will not disappoint you.
I highly recommend coming here for a try. You will be pleasantly satisfied

When I first saw the storefront of Clusi Batusi back in 2012, I was skeptical — why oh why is an Italian pizza joint on Sawtelle, aka «Little Osaka» ?!?
Eventually, I couldn’t resist going in because of their cute red cat logo with a wine goblet for a face. The clean-​lined Italian Mod interior and exterior are dotted with red chairs and umbrellas on the street-​side patio.
Since they do both dine-​in and take-​out, you probably won’t find a line snaking out the door unlike the other joints on this block, which mainly focus on dine-​in.
Having lived in Tokyo for 4 years, I can say this wouldn’t be out of place at all architecturally in Tokyo and for its menu comprised of balanced, yet rich flavors. The chef, Michele Gargani, a young man who hails from Tuscany, has a cooking style encompassing all the regions of Italy from north to south, but is marked by a light hand. If you have a concern with oversalted dishes, for example, that won’t be an issue.
PIZZAS
I’ve been here a handful of times so far and usually I’ll get one of the pizzas, which are individual sized. Clusi Batusi offers a low gluten crust — less doughy and more similar to soft cracker-​like crust, it’s a pizza that’s easier for me to digest than bread-​like crusts. Note: because of the thinner crust, the tomato-​sauced pizzas sometimes get a tiny bit soggy on the bottom center.
The fresh artisan ingredients used for the pizzas are prepped everyday from the housemade sausage, meatballs, basil pesto, and d.o.p. pecorino toscano sauce, etc.
They’re all individual sized at around 9 inches or so. Someone with a good sized appetite could get away with ordering 2 pizzas, but 1 pizza is just right for me. I tend to eat solo so I appreciate that they’ll do ½ and ½ of same price items on request.
I’ve tried a few of the Chef’s Specialty Pizzas and have enjoyed them all:
~~Cotto & Funghi (ham & balsamic mushrooms, mozzarella, tomato sauce)
~~Spicy Meatball (housemade meatballs, pickled peperoncini, tomato sauce and mozzarella)
~~Clusi’s Favorite — Arugula, D.O.P. Pecorino cheese, Toscano sauce (white sauce), mozzarella, balsamic mushroom.
~~San Gennaro — Tomato sauce, mozzarella, housemade sausage, peperonata & fresh oregano
PASTAS
They offer around a dozen, but I’ve only tried one kind so far — Sea Urchin Special $ 17 (limited availability). It was a bit pricey considering the spaghetti was not made from scratch. Still, I enjoyed the sweet briny taste of the uni that was not overpowered by the olive oil and the spaghetti was perfectly al dente. Chopped chives were a refreshing touch, but I would have liked a bit more sea urchin. They don’t always offer it so it’s best to call beforehand if you are interested.
DESSERT
The desserts are made in-​house by the chef’s mother, Catherine and are a good ending to the meals. The Tiramisu $ 6 was made with Lady Fingers soaked in espresso with a marscarpone cream that wasn’t too sweet and light in texture. The Pannacotta with Black Cherry sauce $ 6 had the right amount of tartness. I’ll be trying the Italian Cheesecake $ 8 on a future visit.
TRATTORIA STYLE DISHES
They also offer some trattoria style dishes aside from pizza. Because of the kitchen’s small size, they only offer 1 regular entrée, the Milanese Pork Chop with Salad $ 15. The large pork chop was pounded out, breaded and fried. Salt and pepper were used sparingly and I mainly seasoned it with the generous lemon wedge that came with it.
The open kitchen is small with a commercial pizza oven and a few burners. Aside from the pizzas, salads, a few appetizers and pastas, they can’t offer much more because of the prep and storage space. However, after seeing Chef Garani preparing a roasted red snapper, I asked him if it was a special, and he said that it was a dish he was making at a customer’s request made in advance. He said I could also ask for the same dish as well as the Sicilian style Lobster Diavolo that I had missed out on during the tasting menu offered 1 night last summer.
SUMMARY: Whether dining solo, on a date, small groups or a family including young children, Clusi Batusi will fit the bill for casual intimate eats for lunch or dinner.
SERVICE: Like the chef, the staff are very friendly and polite. Water glasses have always been refilled on my every visit. I haven’t had any wine there yet, but I’ve observed that the wine is properly stored in a cooler and served in a glass decanter.
PARKING: They offer validated parking from the lot around the corner.
TIPS:
*Stick with the Chef’s pizza combinations and then do add-​ons to your liking. For control freaks, you can Build-​Your-​Own-​Pizza.
*½ and ½ pizza of same price items on request (off-​menu)
*Family-​friendly
*Check out the stand for free extras of basil, oregano, pepper, seasoned olive oils, etc.
*Homemade desserts (tiramisu, panna cotta and cheesecake) by the chef’s mother, Catherine are delish and reasonably priced.

Four stars for the heirloom tomato bruschetta… It made my month. The shop is very cute and romantic even. The guy behind the counter was cute and quirky.
I enjoyed my experience here… I can’t believe I haven’t been back!

I’ve been to Little Osaka many times, and have always overlooked Clusi Batusi. After reading the terrific Unilocal reviews, I knew we had to try it out.
We went on Saturday early afternoon, and it was beautiful day outside. We opted to sit outside at dining patio versus inside the restaurant, enjoying our fresh handmade authentic Italian pizza.
The bubbly crispy crust was light, tasty, yet just the right amount of chewy, doughy.
I really enjoyed my customized grilled chicken, balsamic mushroom (very flavorful), fresh basil, and pepperoncini. You can drizzle some of their chili oil on your pizza to add some zesty spice to it!
Everyone in my party tried their beers, except for me.
The homemade tiramisu was fluffy, light, creamy, melt in your mouth delicious! We’ll be back again and again.

I came here for lunch after seeing all the positive reviews for pizza.
I walked in to the sounds of guys talking Italian behind the counter and the velvety-​breezy voice of a female jazz singer lightly playing on the sound system. I was immediately greeted and told to sit wherever I wanted. I felt relaxed and ready to eat.
Since I was by myself I didn’t think I could eat an entire pizza so decided to order a panini. I went with the Muffaletta panini (italian roasted ham, salami milano, provolone & homemade olive paste) and also ordered a bottle of root beer (other bottled drink options included cream soda, lemonade and Mexican Coke).
The panini was served with a side salad. The flavorful greens had a citrus dressing that complimented the essence of the panini exceptionally well. The panini was undoubtedly the best panini I’ve ever had. The first bite caused me to emit a quiet, but still embarrassing, moan of pleasure. I think it was the homemade olive paste that really made it so magically delicious.
I don’t get to this area often but will make a point to get back here to try their pizza.

If you work/​live in the West LA area, you know that Sawtelle is crammed with good eats (mostly asian cuisine). The various options are always a plus, yet sometimes I crave something other than sushi, boba, ramen, etc.
My co-​worker mentioned pizza and I was sold! How did I just find out about this place?! The prices are fair, the portions are just right and the service is great. Like most places on Sawtelle there isn’t an ample amount of seating but they do offer indoor and outdoor seating which is always a plus.
I opted for the Margherita pizza which was delish ($ 8)! Not too much sauce or cheese and the thin crust is perfect for a light yet filling lunch. I couldn’t finish it so I took a couple slices for the road. Between 12 – 1 this place is pretty packed so I’d wait till after 1:00 if you can hold over that long.
Service is not the fastest, so don’t come here if you’re in a rush. Happy eating! (Also they accept cc’s– yay!)

I was craving pizza one evening and decided to give this place a try since it’s super close to me. I normally go to Sawtelle for the usual asian affair but I was so glad I came here.
I got he ½ Clusi fav (mushrooms galore) and ½ spicy meatball. The crust is crispy and not too thin or too thick, just right and the portion of the pizza is perfect for one! The meatball was really tasty and very moist!!! They even packed the arugula and cheese in separate containers for me so that it won’t melt/​wilt with the pizza. A’more.

I ordered the prosciutto pizza and loved it! The crust was crisp and they didn’t skimp on prosciutto. My friends had the chicken pesto pizza and the meatball pizza. There wasn’t a slice left when we finished

Went back for the first time since I have moved out of West La and was both bummed and delighted at the new dinner menu which was started a few weeks ago. The dinner menu is available from Wed-​Saturday from 5:30 — 10:00 pm. They are closed on Sundays.
I had a hankering for the chopped salad: iceberg lettuce, radicchio, red onion, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, salami milano, provolone, peperoncini with oregano vinaigrette dressing and was sad to learn that they don’t offer it during dinner hour Wed-​Sat. They also don’t serve the mixed green or Caesar salads during the above mentioned time/​days.
I think it’s smart that Chef Gargani has created the dinner menu and expanded from counter service to table/​waiter service. More money and a more formal dining setting has ensued though it’s still a casual, local haunt with a passion for authentic Italian and fresh ingredients.
At my most recent visit I split the roasted beet carpaccio salad (with goat cheese and vincotto) and tried the Carbonara (guanciale, eggs, black pepper, and pecorino toscano). It was salty and delicious. The guanciale was crispy and flavorful and the portion was just right.
Our server was nice enough but offered white wine suggestions when I inquired if they had a Pinot Noir. I gently corrected him (I’m no wine expert but it’s important to at least know the family of the wine if it’s a red or white…)
I’ll be back soon because I like the hands on approach of Chef Gargani. He’s cooking in the kitchen, often delivers plates to tables, and always makes sure that the guests are happy. This is what a small business model should look like: make the customers truly feel appreciated and at home in a cozy setting.