BRAGO CENTRO
525 S Flower St, Los Angeles,
CA 90071
(213) 228-8998
AMBIANCE
Celestino Drago’s 9,500 square-foot-
downtown eatery is sophisticated,
elegant and spacious.
What to Order
You’ll love the modern take on classic Italian fare such as L’antara — duck breast, polenta, Brussels sprouts, brown butter and fonduta – and the quintessentially Sicilian gli spaghetti con il pesto alla trapanese – basil spaghetti, Sicilian almond-tomato and basil pesto.
Top Tipple
The wine list is quite extensive, though we have a special place in our hearts for the Queenie St. Clair cocktail: gin crème de violette, lavender bitters and Moscato d’Asti.
Sweet Tooth
I bombolini – doughnuts with lemon cream, apricot jam and honey gelato – are divine.
RAO’S
1006 Seward St,
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 962-7267
AMBIANCE
This L.A. outpost of this iconic Harlem eatery is dimly lit, cozy, comfortable and classically Italian.
What to Order
You’ll enjoy classic Italian fare here like shrimp scampi, veal parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs, but we prefer the slightly tweaked contemporary favorites made specifically for the Hollywood location such as ravioli purses with Bartlett pears, brown butter, sage, dried cranberries and ricotta cheese.
Top Tipple
Rao’s is so old school that you won’t feel right if you don’t order a traditional Manhattan.
Sweet Tooth
You can’t leave without trying the peanut butter tart with its heavenly mixture of chocolate ganache and peanut butter mousse.
LA SOSTA ENOTECA
2700 Manhattan Ave,
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 318-1556
AMBIANCE
La Sosta Enoteca is hands down the most romantic restaurant you’ll find in Los Angeles.
What to Order
Chef and owner Luca Manderino stays true to his roots by serving up classic Venetian fare. Pasta dishes such as Pappardelle ai Porcini, homemade pappardelle with porcini mushrooms, are exquisitely prepared, as is the Gnocchi Allastice, homemade gnocchi with lobster.
Top Tipple
Forgot the cocktails and ask for a wine pairing; though the wine list changes frequently, trust that you’ll be more than satisfied by the selection.
Sweet Tooth
We highly recommend the profiteroles with Belgian chocolate or pears prepared in a red wine reduction.
DAN TANA’S
9071 Santa Monica Blvd,
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 275-9444
AMBIANCE
The fact that this classic Italian eatery will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year should speak volumes about its popularity with the Hollywood set. A dinner here is a boisterous good time for all who enter.
What to Order
Dan Tana’S dishes are simple and elegantly prepared. In particular we love the broiled swordfish and penne with meatballs,
though you really can’t go wrong with any
of the pasta dishes.
Top Tipple
The best wines here are by the bottle, and who can complain when Chateau Margaux is on the menu?
Sweet Tooth
Italian favorites like the cannoli or spumoni
are decadent delights.
News
January 23, 2014Haute Cuisine
