By 
I worked in Inglewood for almost one year. Every time I drove around the area, I remember being amazed by the variety of ethnic businesses and restaurants: Soul food, Jamaican, East African, and even Pakistani.
One of my coworkers was a middle-aged woman who grew up in LA. She always told me that back in the day Inglewood was a no-go area. It was so bad that people used to call it “Inglehood”.
Although there is still some gang activity, Inglewood is going through major changes. Its rapid development has been accelerated by the Sofi Stadium (completed in 2020), and the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics. Right across from our office, there was a massive lot that was under construction. I had to clean my car at least once a week to get rid of the dust! In other words, the Inglewood from today is a far cry from the Inglewood in the early 90s.
Offering old-school Italian favorites, Sunday Gravy reflects Inglewood’s burgeoning culinary scene. The restaurant was founded by brother-sister duo Sol and Ghazi Bashirian in 2019. But it actually goes way back! In the early 70s, their Iranian dad, Ahmady, settled in Los Angeles from the East Coast and opened 12 Jino’s Pizza locations.
Originally, the restaurant was going to be named after him, offering a variety of sandwiches and tacos. Sol said:
“One day an older Italian man was passing by and told him that he should serve pizzas. Our dad didn’t know how to make pizza but was eager to learn. He spent a week learning from the old man, and then never saw him again.”
As Ahmady got older, he started selling the locations. However, Sol and Ghazi had a good feeling about the Inglewood location and decided to keep it. Sol had been working in restaurants for years, and Ghazi had amazing customer service skills and an eye for design. All of this led to the inception of Sunday Gravy. It was very important for them to create a family-friendly space with a neighborly feel to it. Outside of the restaurant, the Jino’s Pizza Beer sign hangs predominantly over the Sunday Gravy circular sign – a nice way to pay homage to their dad’s original restaurant.
Sol said: “We went in with the mindset that we had to win back our community and the best way to do that was through creating a warm, inviting space with wonderful service and no frills, simple, but high-quality food. We didn’t advertise to anyone outside of a 2-mile radius. There were no press releases, no PR teams, or Influencer Collaborations. Sunday Gravy was for Inglewood. Every bit of growth or recognition we got was through word of mouth from people in this very community. New customers would come and say, “Our neighbors dined here and told us we needed to come here!”
In an interview with Eater.com, Sol said: “It’s about your own family enjoying this meal that was made with love. Everyone is chilling, happy, and keeping it casual. We’re Persian, we have that too, it’s the same idea. Every culture has their own Sunday Gravy. Come in and be around people you love, having a good time and laughing.”
The pasta is made at Florentyna’s Fresh Pasta and the bread is made at Cadoro Bakery. Both places are in Inglewood. Sol mentioned that they try to source their products locally as much as possible.
When Sunday Gravy was featured on ABC News, Sol and Ghazi encouraged people to order one of these appetizers: Brussel Sprouts, Caesar Salad, or their Cheesy Garlic Bread. The Caesar salad is a crowd-pleaser!
Italian cuisine is universally loved around the world, and Sunday Gravy is a shining example of that. Sol and Ghazi are Iranian-Americans, but for them, Italian food is intrinsically linked to home and family. On ABC7, Ghazi said: “When I think of Italian food I think of family food, comfort food. I think of, honestly, food for the soul.”
I went there on a Friday around 2pm. The host kindly greeted me and said that I had come at the perfect time because I was the only person there. “It’s usually really busy,” she said.
Many places in LA are designed to transport you to another place, like Baja California or Italy. At Sunday Gravy, it feels like you’re at someone’s house in Inglewood or somewhere in South Central. There were a few references throughout the space that paid homage to Los Angeles, like a portrait of Nipsey Hussle, who had a big impact in South LA, as well as Lakers memorabilia. I loved the greenery and the palm tree portraits, which reminded me of some parts in West Adams and Baldwin Village (South LA). I also loved the music! There was a mix of old-school R&B, Hip-Hop, and Reggae. The stained glass lamps added a homely touch to the space.
When I asked about the appetizers, the host encouraged me to order their seasonal summer appetizer, which was watermelon with prosciutto and cheese. “It’s not even on the menu yet, but we started serving it yesterday. This is a very typical Italian appetizer in the summertime.” For the pastas, I ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs and the alla Vodka. If you go by yourself and you want to venture into their pastas, order two. Don’t worry if you can’t finish them because they hold up really well the next day!
Antipasto
I was very excited to try this one, but the slices of cantaloupe were very mild. They were refreshing, but they weren’t ripe enough. If you’ve ever eaten a ripe cantaloupe, it’s very sweet, juicy, and has a strong flavor profile.
I loved the creaminess of the straciatella cheese and how well it paired with the soft slices of prosciutto. But I yearned for that sweet and savory punch that your tastebuds would pick up right away. The extra virgin oil and the roasted pistachios were a nice addition and contributed to the overall presentation, but ultimately, failed to enhance the flavor. The cantaloupe is a key ingredient in this dish!
If you go there, I’d highly recommend ordering either the Caesar salad or their chopped salad. Both of these items are very popular and look amazing.
Pastas
Alla Vodka
Whenever I order vodka pasta in a restaurant, I like the sauce to be spicy and heavy on the cream. This one didn’t have spice nor cream, but it was still very tasty. The noodles were cooked al dente, just how I like them. If you’re only ordering this pasta, I’d highly recommend ordering a side of bread to dip into the sauce!
Spaghetti and Meatballs 🍝
I was already full from the appetizer and the vodka pasta, so I only took a few bites. Even though I heated this pasta in the microwave the following day, the pasta noodles held up very well! The beef flavor from the tender meatballs and the deeply rich tomato sauce transported me back to my childhood. The tomato sauce was the star of the show! Out of the two pastas I ordered, this one was my favorite!
For dessert, Sunday Gravy offers gelato by the brand Nancy’s Fancy Gelato that you can get either by the scoop or by the pint.
Overall Impressions
I really enjoyed eating at this neighborhood gem. In a place like LA, where it’s common to find pastas for $30, it was very refreshing to see such an affordable menu with items for less than $9. After eating, you pay at the cash register. My total for the three dishes was about $50, which was reasonable. The Spaghetti and Meatballs was $20, which was one of the most expensive pastas.
From the sauces to the freshness, the pasta dishes were excellent. Many people on Tik Tok have said that Sunday Gravy is much better than Jon & Vinny’s. However, Sunday Gravy isn’t trying to be the best Italian restaurant in LA, but rather a place that fosters a sense of community. There’s a reason why they’ve been flying under the radar since they opened.
The mom-and-pop vibes are ever-present. The host complimented my blush, which led to a whole conversation about blushes and brands. Throughout my meal, Ghazi was also checking in on me asking how I liked my food.
Although Sunday Gravy is a great addition to the neighborhood, Inglewood is still considered a food desert. In an interview, Sol and Ghazi expressed their desire to see more chef-owned restaurants. Sol said:
Sol said: “The biggest gripe I have about the city is that parts of Inglewood can be a real food desert. Citizens here deserve better options than just fast food and big chain markets. We’d love to see more chef-driven restaurants open up with the help of the city. There is so much talent hiding in Inglewood.”
Address: 1122 Centinela Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302
Hours: 11AM – 10 PM (CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS)
