Haute Restaurant: La Sosta Enoteca

If you’re in the mood for romance (and some fabulous Venetian fare), then you’ve found the perfect spot in La Sosta Enoteca. 

This eatery is tucked away off the beaten path in the South Bay, and when you find it, you very well might want to keep it your own private secret spot.

A dinner here is, quite simply, magic. Italian-born chef and owner Luca Manderino has fashioned his upscale establishment after a spot native to Venice both in cuisine and ambiance. The restaurant is dimly lit, intimate and dotted with twinkling lights and wooden beams; it lends itself fully to a romantic evening.

The fare here is fresh and light. Starter standouts include dishes like Carpaccio scottato, thinly sliced and seared carpaccio lightly tossed with olive oil and lemon ad Polenta e gamberi, polenta typical dish from the Veneto region served with shrimp lightly sautéed with a  touch of olive oil  and parsley.

Pasta dishes such as Pappardelle ai Porcini, homemade pappardelle with porcini mushrooms, are exquisitely prepared, and seasonal innovations like butternut squash gnocchi are so beloved that they had sold out before our arrival. Trust that entrees like the Branzino al forno, Mediterranean seabass simply baked, will sate your palette, while Filetto al pepe verde od alla Voronoff, filet mignon with green pepper corn or Voronoff, will melt in your mouth.

The wine pairings here were some of the best we’ve been offered in LA, adding subtle flavors to and enhancing each dish.

Sadly, La Sosta Enoteca is so great that we realize it can’t remain our little secret for long.

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