A rounded facade offers a wrap-around patio and front terrace popular for long business meetings of Biz agents and demanding clients during warmer months. Inside the space is divided between an extravagantly large wine bar with lounge seating and more classic dining room with dark wood tables and low-back bistro tables. After 11pm the bar comes alive with local singles and cocktail schmoozers that work their social routines across the room and outdoor smoking terrace.
The Food
By day the restaurant is more of a Hollywood power scene with spicy tuna tartar salad, a sensation grilled calamari over arugula and tomatoes, and not-so-Italian Cobb with egg and avocado. Appetizer portions of tuna carpaccio, zucchini blossoms and fried calamari are large enough for sharing. A separate pizza menu is served from a stone over with choice of veggie toppings like olives and prosciutto. Heartier entrees are more common at night and include Drago’s infamous homemade pastas including burrata ravioli with tomato basic sauce, gnocchi Bolognese and citrus tagliolini with clams and white wine. Meat and fish eaters discover the classic dover sole with caper sauce, langoustine grilled in olive oil and grilled Florentine steak served with choice of rapini or red beet sides.
Last Word
Its location is a familiar one to LA foodies, a series of short-lived restaurants have occupied this corner of Beverly Hills but ultimately failed. But that was until Giacomino Drago, youngest brother in a family whose restaurants include Drago and Il Pastaio, debuted this splashy new Italian design for this restaurant and wine bar lounge.
