Get a Pizza Named After You at Roberta's

New York Pizzeria has always been my goal to visit. In New York of course.

The unfortunate part of my life was that I got to DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) region in the east coast, but never made it up north to partake on some of the legendary status the pizza in new york are known for.

Something to tell me that things are about to be changed in Culver City.

There was an interesting shopping & dining enclave called The Platform that opened up not too long ago. This unique plaza that sits in front of a cul-de-sac on both of this dead end street, not far from Downtown Culver City where all of the happening places are at. When the Platform was opened up, there were quite a few upscale eateries and a renown boba joint ushered in this opening.

Bee's Sting

Then a series of events leads to a closing of one of their fine establishment which sits empty for a short time being. In a twist that no one see coming, a popular Brooklyn pizzeria decided to do a few pop-ups (limited dining engagements) in that empty space on a prime location of that said plaza.

That restaurant is the ever popular Roberta's.

Roberta's is often associated by many east coast transplant for their take on the classic pizzas on the Wood Fire oven. There are plenty of pastas and wood fired vegetables that are assembled in the menu, but it's their classic stables of pizza that they are known for.

Crispy Glover

After a few test runs that often garnered adulation, many still think it was short lived as there was no news of a tenant filling in for that desired spot that is in the middle of the action. So it came as a surprised that Roberta's decided to make a permanent stay after the pop-ups for that location.

The spot has a beautiful patio set that looking in a newly modeled the courtyard by the middle of that plaza. In a stunning development, they retain some of the chic decor, where their Brooklyn counterpart was more rustic and homely feel. In a cute plot, they have a make shift take out counter by the side of the building (it has since been discarded).

The most well known pizza was their honey infused with the soppressata toppings that is aptly called the Bee Sting. There was also many pop culture referenced named pizza that seemed to rotate pies  named after some of the most pseudo celebrities you'll heard of. I even got one named after Marty McFly's dad.

For me, I finally get to experience a dough that everyone has been talking about. Some people do not like the char, but this black mark gives character to a pizza. It does make a different coming from wood fire pizza oven versus the deck oven you often see in your local pizzeria. Also for variety of different meat and cheese you get to try on their boards. This would give you an idea on the pizza would be like with those ingredients commingled with the dough.

For me, I definitely would get the Bee's Sting of mozzarella, chili, basil, tomato, and the aforementioned Honey and Soppressata. That pizza still resonates with me as of this day. I think they rotate the ingredients and come up with clever name for the week for the pop cultural referenced pizzas. If there's one that interests me, I might go for it if they have Red Hot Chili Pepper-oni.

I know I know... knowing my luck, they'll jack that from me.

Roberta's
8810 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

Walking Out More Than Expected From Jon And Vinny's

Has anyone ever been to Animal? This is the name of the restaurant that started my journey to the culinary world where I have discovered the finer things in life. I owed a lot to my early experience to the talented duo Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, who are the masterminds for introducing me to Animal.

Weirdly enough, it took me much longer time to visit their namesake restaurant, Jon and Vinny's. Located in the burgeoning hip Fairfax district, Jon and Vinny's restaurant was a dedication to all dishes Italian. This is where I have a hard time contemplating in wanting to make a visit.

Italian restaurants and Fairfax is hard for me to make visits because of parking situation around that part of the town and a few suggested places I can go for Italian nearer to my area (south LA). However, by luck of the stars, I was in the area a few doors down at Sweet Chick and a few cancellation that afforded to me attend.

I was a huge fan of the real life chefs of Jon and Vinny. I was mesmerized by their presentations and hard charge in utilizing everything on their ingredients at the Animal restaurant, which was skewered towards American fare with a touch of few European influence. With this place, they left no doubt in that this will be purely Italian.

First, when you walked in, the huge masonry stone oven is right in front of the bar counter at the left hand side of the entrance. You can tell they will be taking their pizza task very seriously. Oh yeah, even getting a seat at the counter or trying to score a table without reservation will be mission imPASTAble. Yes, I am working on my puns in on this article.

There are 5 restaurants that the duo have involved themselves in that are immensely popular and this place was no exceptions. I chanced on the fact that someone will not showed up. I gladly took a counter seat after a 45 minutes wait when someone didn't showed up for reservation. That person missed out big time in my book.

What did I wanted when I entered Jon and Vinny's? Get this... meatballs!

I'm sure they will tell me that missing out on their famous pizza will be case, but I just wanted to try their handmade marinara braised beef with the heirloom tomato sauce I had been hearing about. At that weird point of my life, I wasn't going to take things for granted. My gosh, these things were just incredible! With the ricotta sprinkled all over and being complimented with the grilled bread, this was the thing I realized I can't lived without.

Supposedly I read somewhere the sauce was made with Bianco DiNapoli peeled tomato, which was from the famed pizza maker Chris Bianco. I would say bravo on this choice.

After dabbling with a few olives and cheese on the menu, I was already satisfied. Within an aroma, something made me with that whiff. I sit so close to stone oven and I can see and smell every pizza being assemble and shove to the take-out boxes. Yes, apparently take outs are the big operation at this tight limited-capacity, popular restaurant. For all those that didn't reserved and can't wait for the table, take outs are the best option.

Roman Gladiator (Bacon, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, and Ham)

Yours truly here decided that giving in to temptations are the benefits to let the readers know whether or not the pizza also lived up to enormous expectation. Without a shadow of doubt, I can't believe that I believed in no carbs diet. This is worth the cheat meal I have been saving up for. Everyone will know that I believe the crust is the important element on any pizza. The charred on the edge of the round crust was phenomenal. For some, it looked burned, but I say the char add more flavor to crust.

The Roman Gladiator pizza with every conceivable meat toppings (Bacon, Italian sausage, pepperoni and ham) was a meatlover's dream. With the crust, this pizza from Jon and Vinny's is now one of my favorite pizza in town along with Spicy Salami Honey pizza.

The return trip to Jon and Vinny's will have to include some pasta dishes next time. If there is anything you must go for Jon and Vinny's is their meatballs. Seriously, that's something cannot be missed.

As in for the guy who decided not to show up for his reservation... a huge thanks from me!

Jon and Vinny
412 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Love Affair Continues at Ar Cucina

In a city I want no part of, it's amazing I still coming here every other week.

Not quite sure if was by design or by accident, I think this part of the area was more of tourist trap than any other city on the westside including Santa Monica or Venice. It fascinates me that a portion of the city is right dab smack in the heart of many hollywood types who have a studio nearby.

Believe it or not, I love coming here for dinner or brunch. To AR Cucina, I definitely love coming here.

While north portion of Hollywood gets starlets wannabes, I started to notice the industry workers tends hang out here in Culver City. People might not know them, but their credits on IMDB tends to rival the performers/actors anyway.

This brings up the interesting thing about AR Cucina in  a busier section of the street that caters for industry types, that are busier than Canon Blvd up in Beverly Hills or Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. AR Cucina was a restaurant I followed closely back in the day when it used to be an Indian restaurant called Sambar. It abruptly changed to an Italian focused restaurant sometime in early last year.

Steak Tagliata - medium rare grilled steak, salsa verde, pickled cipilloni onion, travioso radicchio

I can tell you in that the setting almost remains the same with the cocktails serving here remains roughly the exact posh presentation as well. The restaurant always had a big wood fire oven that was seemed out of place I guess for tandoori chicken, but works great for pizza. So the transition went very smoothly.

Polipo - Grilled Octopus, Arugula, Fingering Potatoes, Fresno Chili

Speaking of which, many of the naan reminds me of either a pita bread or pizza dough. Of course, I was thinking Indian fine cuisine was somewhat in style for the trend a few years back, I can see why this place wants to catch that hot trend of the moment.

Back in the day, I loathed coming to this area because of the high pretentiousness of certain industry types I have to hang around with, but love the potential of cool vibes of certain part of the city. This restaurant along with its sister restaurant Akasha always gets me in a good mood.

The other selling point was their outstanding happy hour nibbles and creative drinks that can soothes the wary naysayers such as myself. These drinks often inspires me to check out the other creations they might have and reduce me to a happy go lucky person by the end of the night. Luckily, this tends to be ever changing menu with different specialty based on the main components.

Tagliatelle - Pork & Beef Bolognese, Tomato Strattu, Paraigiano-Reggiano

Oh, let's not forget about the pastas. It's probably the saving grace in this fine establishment. Especially the Tagliatelle, the Pork & Beef Bolognese version is the best I have encountered here. I also recommend any of Steak dishes they served that night. They do anything beef right in here. With so many Italian repertoire, it would be amiss if the steak is not present.

One Crazy dessert...

Overall, I just love coming here to AR Cucina. I haven't really formally go to the flagship restaurant Akasha as I thought it was more of a date place during evenings where ARC is more of a cozy bistro. You will get the feeling of having the urge to check out the newer spots in downtown Culver City as there was a revolution of new places popping up along Culver City Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd and Jefferson.

Now, I may want to come here for meal... living here in this city is still a love/hate thing for me that is hard to get over. People needs to live here to find out.

Ar Cucina
9531 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

The Steak Best Witnessed at Chi Spacca

Question I often get asked is... "steaks, where is the best?"

Seriously, I get that question all the time and automatically offered up a super blase answer of "Black Angus?".

The entrance to Chi Spacca is by entering Mozza2Go

There is one place I am proud to go and have no problem in shelling major bucks in this regards. Honestly, It's this place was the only steak I am willing to go for as I can see them up grilled close and personal on their work station in the open kitchen.

That place would be here at Chi Spacca, part of the immensely popular Mozzaplex.

If you ever been to Mozzaplex, which is like 4 places within close proximinity of each other on that Southwest corner spot of trendy Melrose Avenue and desirable Highland Avenue. This corner included the tourist trap of pizza machine of Pizzeria Mozza, fine Italian courses of Osteria Mozza, the order-to-go take out counter of Mozza2Go, and this meat-centric cozy little restaurant of Chi Spacca.

Press Play to see the origin

The thing to remember about dining in on the 3 big names restaurants above (minus the 2Go) was that it might take a good reservations ahead of time for busy weekend evenings. I often made the mistake in thinking I could just strolled in to Chi Spacca and immediately think I can be seated at one of their counter even though it was next to impossible (so said on table reservation on their website). Lessons would be learned when I was denied twice for Saturday evenings.

The catch of it was simply that I had to put down a deposit for reservation. Obviously if I no-showed or canceled too late, then the business would lose out on a bill that evening. So without hesitation, they would charged that deposit at the end of the night. It's more than a guarantee assurance for the restaurant and a hindrance for the rest of us diner who are not fully committed days ahead.

Press Play to see the final stage before plating

Once you are ready to go, You would just need to head over to the location of Mozza2Go, where Chi Spacca is jointed with the take out space/accessories store. You would noticed something out of place right away as the hostess with her stand is standing by a left side wall by the store of Mozza2Go and would greet the patrons of Chi Spacca that arrived for their reservations. The side wall with an obscure seen door handle would popped open for the diners to be seated at the tables on the other side of the wall.

Press Play to see the perfect cut of the steak

My best description out of that would be like going to a speakeasy, but for a steak or Italian dinner.

I often prepared to sit by the counter seat close to the grill as I can see the action of how the steak are prepared and how the buzzy action of the kitchen staff prepared their menu items of pasta, pizza, or steak are worked. It's an eye-popping experience that will only leaved you impressed when you get to take it all in.

Costata alla Fiorentina 42 oz (Dry Aged New York Steak)

The steak as it is was everything you wanted. The way the cook prepared with seasoning and checking the temperature on the meat when it was on the grill was immaculate. Coming out and even cutting it to be plated was beautifully done. The presentation in this was on point. In fact, throughout the night, every steak was expertly mobilized to be evenly presented when arriving to the diners.

The steak that I placed the order was a 42 ouncer of a Dry Aged New York steak. My gosh, if you see the result of this, you will be in love by staring at it. It also didn't take long for it to be devoured as well. Would have gone great with a red wine, but we wasted no time in finishing this bad boy.

Puglia Burrata (was acquired from that region from Italy, special delivery for a cheese)

My other highlight of the night was their burrata that was imported directly from Italy. My gosh, so creamy when this was popped open for the world to see. The toast was also grilled to be crispy, perfect to be a compliment to that burrata that you'll be ecstatic about.

Butterscotch Budhino

The perfect ending to this dining experience has to be their desserts. Getting anything less from a Mozza restaurant would be a shock. The butterscotch budhino was the right call on this night. Rich and decadent, a sweet contrast that settled nicely after a hearty meal.

Here's the deal about coming here was that this restaurant was prominently featured on Netflix's Chef Table as the star chef Nancy Silverton explained her love of Italian cuisine in her life. It was more of her life story, but this restaurant on the show got me because of how the steaks was prepared and showed for display on the screen. There was just no way I was missing out on this.

If I saw that episode on Netflix... just imagine on how many others might have. Not just Los Angeles, but the world. So this will be a sticker shock on the wallet and many others will be happy to replace you on the reservation.

For that question above, no doubt about where to go for that best steak.

Chi Spacca
6610 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Greatest Backup Find Ever at Baldoria

 

A weird turn of events..

I was hoping to visit Seoul Sausage Company and quickly found out they were closed (happens quite often in DTLA) where shelves life can are worse than a stale bread in your local supermarket. The expiration date to make it or break it tends to be 6 months after it opens, but Seoul Sausage got a few years. I guessed I was surprised it didn't make it.

For a back up plan on the fly, I got to say that Baldoria was a good fall back if I say so myself. It's conveniently located on the other side of the block where we took a short cut along the apartment drive way path to get there.

Caribbean Spiced Duck Wings - Confit Duck Wings, Mango Salsa & Chives

Baldoria was set up to be more of a social hangout that catered to last minute meet togethers or famously posted on their website as a place for people with no plans. Hilariously, it blend well for people not looking for reservations and completely have no expectations on what to get.

Realistically, it's not going to win out the dining crowd that is expecting big fancy dishes. The street near Baldoria is full of these types of restaurants within walking distances, but maybe the promotion strategy of nonchalant might works out.

In their epic strategy of "don't expect anything" faux pas to happen, they got their stuff together. I was massively impressed on the low key gastropub feel of a decor with a no thrill kind of atmosphere to be so lively. Want to know what's more impressive about this? Their food was actually on point.

Lil Tokyo Steak — Miso marinated flat iron, yuzu kosho, shiitake, shishito, cherry tomato red onion

In a weird classic way, they came up with a pizza that meshed with steak. If you think about it, who actually cooked steak well done or trying to baked it too long with the pizza? You just don't, but their steak was nicely tendered grill to be add on to the every slice of this pie. It's a win for this concoction.

Jack Mortimer - 10 Year WhistlePig Rye, Laird's Apple Jack Brandy, Maple Syrup, Apple

Their drinks may not be the most innovative like some of their mixology that is out there, but suffice to say they are trying to be over the top and just serve the most neat and poignant drink that can be there. No need to outdo a classic drink if you can just serve when people are thirsty for one.

I can honestly say this was the most spectacular luck of turn of events that we really like. It can be a lot worse like going to an original place you wanted to go and turned out bad.

Which does reminds me.... I actually didn't like Seoul Sausage the first time. Why did we decided to go there in the first place?

Baldoria
243 S San Pedro St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Only Ingredients Needed Are Love and Salt

Italian cuisine has arrived in a big way. Did you know many Italian restaurants I posted before I decided to make a comeback to the blogging world? Guess how many Italian restaurants pre-2017 circa?

Zero. None. Big Goose Egg.

Yup, there wasn't much to write home about back then. However, since I made my epic return last month, this would be my third Italian restaurant that I wrote about within a 4 weeks span. It befuddled me on why I would not have any Italian joints at all for any of the 4 years in the early days of my blogsphere.

Hence, the big question: Did L.A. just recently have Italians stormed our sunny beaches and wanted to settle here to be part of this socially inclined culture? Or did we just took it for granted for so many years?

Either way, there are so many new places opened up with introductions to the many fine works of hand made pastas that are done within confine of the kitchen or oven baking pizzas that are both delicious, but considered to be the work of art by an angel.

A post shared by Right Way To Eat ™ (@rightwaytoeat) on Oct 12, 2017 at 7:54pm PDT

Duck Egg Pie - pancetta, panna, potato, rosemary, mozzarella, parmesan

One of the finer place in town is in the southwest coastal confine of Manhattan Beach. I love going for a stroll to the beach and visit many of the boutique shops situated in the a plus sign shaped area stretch near the city hall to the pier. Fantastic places to go if you want to immerse yourself to a beach atmosphere minus the fast pace touristy feels of Santa Monica.

Love & Salt dropped in to this upscale uber high class neighborhood a few years back, right when the Italian invasion was about to swept through LA. It first stormed the beaches with their high bone marrow dishes (remembered what I showed at my Bestia posts? Everyone loves bone marrows now) to the much publicized "pig head".

A post shared by Right Way To Eat ™ (@rightwaytoeat) on Apr 3, 2017 at 7:29pm PDT

Rabbit Porchetta wrapped with Prosciutto & Swiss Chard and accompanied with Black Rice and Farro

Majority of their menu consists of their popular pastas and a section dedicated to their oven baked dishes including their artisan pizzas. I think one of the big positive attraction was the Rabbit Porchetta. This was a fantastic dish of a rabbit wrapped in prosciutto and a Swiss chard that to me should be the highlight of their menu.

I owed that thanks to a certain ex-LA dining critic who complained about the accessibility of the dish and its price (it's half of the price and can be served as a single main course ...instead of a big platter that was served back then).

Chicken Liver Pate

I love the set up of this place, which has big open window looking out of the street. Apparently the location was a former longtime French restaurant whose front door encompass the window view, which made it looked like a den back then.

The reboot from a French bistro to a more modern Italian cuisine with a new direction pays off immensely with a fresher look by getting rid of the column tables for a open settings and an open kitchen that does not deter them from offering an elegant dining experience.

The awesome dining experience I just had can be traced back to the time I had in Simon LA, which is now run by the same chef that I used to have the pleasure dining at. Apparently the name of the restaurant is the same as their motto. The only ingredient you really need is "Love & Salt.

With the dishes I was able to go through, my thought process was that I need to come back and tried their other well crafted dishes. Very impressed on what I was able to taste so far. Probably the best dining experience I have had in this part of the peninsula.

After what I experienced in the past few years, I can safely attest that the Italian cuisine has never been better here in LA. Full steam ahead I say!

Love & Salt
317 Manhattan Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Best of the Best of 2017 - Bestia

I guess it's so cliche to do an end of the year list of best bites or best places you have gone to. Ever since so many of the end of the year lists are coming out with their own best places to visit, I was tempted to do one myself. Alas, it's just not meant to be.

The criteria I was thinking of was do one I have visited this year, regardless if it was opened this year or in the past year. Regardless of type of cuisine as well. More importantly, which place would be the one I can go back without a hesitation of a 2nd thought?

There was only one.

Bestia, considered by many as the standard bearer of Italian restaurant that is being measured upon for both its excellence in taste, but more importantly how it is compared for its buzz and energy that is captured on the place by its patrons. It's easy to judge by the taste and the decor, but it's harder to capture the feel and the liveliness of the places when people wanted to enjoy the night out.

Roasted Marrow Bone - spinach gnocchetti. crispy breadcrumbs. aged balsamic

People tend to go for the most newest and most decorative ambiance, but for a place that has been considered the highest revenue generated restaurant in Los Angeles, this place has all the menu of what people expect for Italian cuisine.

If you must order anything, you must go for their pasta dishes as the dish that are must order. All of the pastas are handmade at the restaurant with the ingredients you can only find at true authentic Italian locales. Under duress, I would chose the lamb ragu of Pici al Sugo di Agnello as my choice of pasta dishes.

Pici al Sugo di Agnello - Lamb ragu with Saffron and Capra Sarda

32oz Bone-in Dry Aged Prime Ribeye

Pizza - Burrata, Mozzarella, chili flakes, fresh oregano, and paprik

Burrata Pizza - (san marzano tomatoes, castelvetrano olives, oregano, fermented chilies)

The Pizza itself was the made of the quality of the highest order. You can tell that was the dishes we wanted to try the most in a city that is full of many pizza options. I must say this was on top of any pizza lover's wish list. Try the clam pizza, the acidity of the burrata with clam was just right.

Coffee & Donuts - Spiced Chestnut Zipole, Whipped Cream, and Coffee Ice Cream

If there's a dessert that is must try is their ever popular donuts that are made at the restaurant with ice cream and whip cream. It made look ordinary, but I assured it's not. Absolutely a try if you must.

Overall I do think it's a place I have no hesitation in going as you can see by the many dishes I have able to taste, but I do want to stress one thing about this place. You do need a reservation for dinner or expect the long wait for any possible chance of cancellations by others.

If you are waiting for the almost impossible cancellations made by others, you are going to waste at least a hour or two. So be smart and booked a ressie in .... a month in advance.

Bestia
2121 E 7th Place
Los Angeles, CA 90021

Friday Night Out at Rossoblu

Let's get some suggestions on where to go on a Friday night! Luckily for us Angelenos, there are plenty of options, but it's just hard to pick one that stands out.

A chic place opened up on industrial section of downtown have come on strong lately in that it caught the buzz of many critics and was on so many blog's to go list for 2017. To be quite honest, I was skeptical for only one fact.... it's in the boon dock portion of the town. OK, it's been gentrified where that part of the town are now home to many top restaurants, but it still kept me alarmed.

Going in, the decor was actually nicely done on the modern side of upscale power luncheon. In fact, the energy in this room was abuzz with allure of important people socializing and catching up on the ongoing of today's events. More so than taking a date on a romantic evening. It can be done, but this is more of settlers going in to shoot the breeze than dress to impress kinda night.

The restaurant itself serves a modern Italian fare with recipes of traditional ingredients from local farm to table ingredients. I just have to check out the famous Nonna’s Tagliatelle Al Ragu Bolognese (Beef, Pork, Not Too Much Tomato Sauce).

This did not disappoint in one bit. I was pleasant surprised by the fresh hand made pasta. I was told it better be good because this is what it is known for. I can also guess that probably got more ordered than any other dish at any given night. The dish may look ordinary, but I assure you it's not. It pops with so much flavor, you will keep putting these in your mouth without any worries in the world.

Nonna’s Tagliatelle Al Ragu Bolognese - Beef, Pork, Not Too Much Tomato Sauce

The other sure fire hit among the diners seemed to be hand made meat ball. The sauce and the bread that came out with it seemed to be very unassuming as well, but let me tell you in that nothing was simple or ordinary. There were too fabulous for words. If you can make something that looks easy to make, but wound up psyching people out, you're doing a fine job.

Braised Pork Meatballs - Tomato, Grilled Polenta, Bread

I also think dessert and drinks were a winner here as well. Their cocktail program seemed to be inspirational and with subtle touch of creativity on their side.

Molto Forte

Hey Mambo

Overall, I believe this place is right up there with Bestia and Officine Brera as my go to place for an exciting meal on a Friday night. The buzz and energy of people watching is too much to pass up. I definitely would come here for a drink in the bar on any given night as well. You will turn down a chance to come here if any of your friend suggest it.

Rossoblu
1124 San Julian St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Finally Found a Romantic Spot @ iL Chianti (Lomita)

One of my biggest fear whenever I utter the phrase "romantic" spot, the places around my area in the lead for that title was the Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden. Luckily my persistence in finding other spots have finally paid off.

Don't worry not my ladies readers, I'm not off the market just yet, but I do want to find that romantic spot just in case a dive in the hole restaurant of a noodle joint was not good enough. I think this little hidden gem would do the trick.

This place is not really that hidden as it was very popular among my south bay friends for many years. It is however a true gem as the place does put a nice little touch in making sure the mood was just right for the guys to make the little impression. The place was not too pretentious, but yet has all the decor in a dim lighted mood (my pictures were going to suck in very low light situation) with the little candle light in your table.

The wine selections selections at this place was very extensive and yet moderately priced for a bottle. I scoured beer list first before I went back to the wine. Possibly I did that because I was dreading the wine was going to be expensive, but I was relieved to find many of the bottles to be less than $40 while the expensive ones are up at $140. The wine menu was also very detailed on how dry, sweet, or smooth it was going to be. I was grateful for that as a wine novice like me would appreciate that. I settled on the Ruffino Chianti for only $29, which was not too dry and not too sweet as it worked well with our meal.

Ruffino Chianti ($29 for the bottle)

We started it off with a starter of Alaska Pollack Roe Sashimi and the Seared Beef Tataki. The roe sashimi was thinly sliced and had a little lemon sauce for more flavoring. The beef tataki was excellent. Presented very well on the plate and was an excellent partner for that wine we had picked. The starters have gone very well so far.

Seared Beef Tataki ($8)

The restaurant is a bit of fusion in serving Italian cuisine with a Japanese flair. Very popular among the Asian diners who are introduced to the pastas and Italian fare, but remake it with a Japanese influences on those dish.

The first try we have was to check out their Antipasti with cod and Seaweed. I should be busting out my Spoon House (another place that served Italian with a Japanese influence) review shortly as it will be regarding about the little ingredients that should be left out from the pasta. The Antipasti was very good, but my dining buddy and I felt a little weird having the cod mixed on to the dish. Should we have ordered something else that excluded that? In the end, we did liked it, but we also had put the cod out on the side.

Antipasti with Cod and Seaweed ($11.50)

Two big main dishes we have ordered for the night that restored our faith for the place. First off, the beef tongue was our favorite dish of the night. I find it to be savory and cooked to perfection. It could have been a disaster in having this particular dish not as reformed or sophisticated, but it was very delicious and stood out confidentially among the more beautifully plated dishes.

Stewed Beef Tongue ($13.80)

The Country Beef Stew was our other "heavy" dish of the night. This one will probably not win against Suzanne Goin's version at Lucques, but at almost one third of the price she charged, it was a much better value. It was tendered and the beef was stewed in a rich sauce surrounded by string bean and potatoes. Decadent? Probably not, but solid nonetheless.

Country Beef Stew ($14.80)

We ended the night with a creme bulee that fits the entire meal. How can you not go to an Italian restaurant and not ordered a creme bulee or a tiramisu?

Creme Bulee ($5)

This place fit the bill of a romantic place. The small dishes are not in the Hungry Man's portion as it built to the small portions fitting in on what any chic place would have done. The food wasn't terribly bad, but a cute place like this will make most couple forget about the food and just enjoyed the atmosphere.

The service was just great for the night. Very attentive and leave you well alone when you don't need to hang around you. When you do need them, they are there.

Il Chianti won't win any James Beard awards, but if I need to come up with a romantic spot in a pinch, Macaroni Grill won't pop up in my mind anymore after this.

iL Chianti
24503 Narbonne Ave
Lomita, CA 90717
(310) 325-5000

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