Drago Bakery

For decades, the Drago family name has been synonymous with premier Italian dining in Southern California. At the heart of this esteemed culinary empire, which includes legendary locations like Il Pastaio and Drago Centro, is the essential production hub: Drago Bakery in Culver City. Originally known as Dolce Forno, this artisanal bakery is far more than a simple pastry shop; it is a critical commercial kitchen and production facility that underpins the quality and authenticity of one of Los Angeles’ most celebrated restaurant groups.

Founded by Master Chef Celestino Drago, a Sicilian native regarded as one of the pioneers of Italian cuisine in the United States, Drago Bakery operates with a clear mission: to preserve and provide classic, rustic, hand-made artisan bakery products. This commitment to 'true Italian fare' ensures that whether you are dining at one of the upscale Drago restaurants or purchasing goods directly from the Culver City location, you are experiencing the heritage and quality rooted in Chef Drago’s childhood home in Sicily.

The bakery’s approach is unique in that it measures 'freshness' not by the day, but by the hour it was baked. This dedication to supreme quality means the facility is bustling seven days a week, not just producing bread, but also a range of authentic Italian pastries, desserts, and fresh pasta. This establishment is a trusted purveyor for a wide range of customers, from individual restaurants and hotels to local caterers and sidewalk cafés, making it a powerful, though somewhat 'secret,' engine of the LA food scene.

Location and Accessibility

Drago Bakery is centrally located in Culver City, California, making it a key distribution point for its wholesale operations and a reachable destination for retail customers who know where to look. Its address places it firmly within the dynamic West Los Angeles area.

The exact location is:

3828 Willat Ave, Culver City, CA 90232, USA.

In recognition of the diverse needs of the California community and its commercial partners, the bakery provides essential accessibility features:

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LI Wheelchair accessible entrance

LI Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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For convenience, the bakery accepts standard electronic transactions, specifically Debit cards, for payment.

Services Offered

Drago Bakery operates on two primary levels: a large-scale Wholesale Bakery business and a smaller, but highly valued, Retail Bakery component. This dual function allows them to both service the extensive Drago restaurant group and offer their exceptional products directly to the public.

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LI Wholesale Artisan Bread Production: Supplying an extensive range of authentic Italian breads, pastries, and desserts to a wide variety of individual restaurants, hotels, multi-location eateries, and caterers across Southern California.

LI In-House Catering Support: Providing all baked goods, desserts, and fresh, hand-cranked pasta for the entire Drago family of fine dining restaurants (including Il Pastaio and Drago Centro).

LI Retail Shop and Takeout: The location in Culver City features a retail shop where the general public can purchase products directly. This allows local users to access the same quality ingredients used in the high-end Drago restaurants.

LI Fresh Pasta Production: In addition to baked goods, the bakery specializes in fresh pasta, a key ingredient for the Drago restaurant concepts.

LI Breakfast Options: The bakery offers simple dining options, with services available for a quick visit breakfast, allowing local patrons to start their day with authentic Italian quality.

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Features / Highlights

What sets Drago Bakery apart in the competitive Southern California food landscape is the seamless integration of its wholesale operation with a commitment to individual, artisanal quality, all while being anchored to a celebrated Italian culinary tradition.

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LI Connection to Master Chef Celestino Drago: The bakery is the production arm of one of Los Angeles’ most lauded Italian chefs. The product quality is assured by the exacting standards of the entire Drago restaurant group, which has been delighting diners for over 40 years.

LI Specialization in Authentic Italian Goods: The focus is on authentic Italian breads, desserts, and pastries, including items like crisp grissini (breadsticks), olive bread, and panna cotta, which are signatures of the Drago dining experience.

LI Dual Commercial/Retail Functionality: The ability to service an extensive range of wholesale clients while still maintaining a small, open retail shop for public takeout is a unique feature, giving local users a rare opportunity for high-quality, fresh-baked goods.

LI Beyond Bread: The facility is a full-service production kitchen, also specializing in prepared Italian items for their restaurants, such as house-made Lasagna Bolognese and various soups and specialty desserts like Apple Tart, which can sometimes be available for retail purchase, offering excellent 'plan overs' as one satisfied customer noted.

LI High Volume, High Quality: Despite making thousands of rolls and focaccias daily for its various clients, including air catering, the mission to deliver 'classic, rustic hand-made artisan bakery products' is maintained, with freshness measured by the hour.

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Contact Information

For information regarding retail purchases, wholesale accounts, or to inquire about product availability for a quick visit, please use the following contact details:

Address: 3828 Willat Ave, Culver City, CA 90232, USA

Phone: (310) 280-6004

What is Worth Choosing

Choosing Drago Bakery is not just about buying a loaf of bread; it is about accessing the foundational ingredients of a four-decade-old, critically acclaimed Italian culinary tradition in Los Angeles. While some customers note its primary focus is on wholesale, which limits a spontaneous retail pastry purchase, this fact is precisely what makes it exceptional. The bakery’s dedication to volume catering for top-tier restaurants—which demands absolute consistency and quality—is what guarantees the excellence of every product sold to the public.

It is worth choosing Drago Bakery for the following reasons:

Unmatched Italian Authenticity: You are buying products crafted under the direction of a Sicilian Master Chef, ensuring that the breads and pastries are truly authentic and reflect the heritage of Italian cuisine.

Restaurant-Quality at Home: This is your chance to bring the same high-quality focaccia, pastries, and even signature fresh pastas that grace the tables of celebrity-favorite Drago restaurants directly into your own kitchen.

Specialty Products: Beyond the bread, the opportunity to purchase specialty, prepared items, such as their lauded Lasagna Bolognese or silky pumpkin soup, provides a simple way to elevate your own home dining experience with minimal effort.

Drago Bakery is a local Culver City gem—a behind-the-scenes hero of the Los Angeles dining scene—and a go-to for any Southern Californian who appreciates that a truly great meal begins with exceptional, hand-made ingredients.

Drago Bakery

3828 Willat Ave, Culver City, CA 90232, USA