Amidst all the chaos of Los Angeles lies a little piece of Italian heaven.
Located in one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, the Kodak Center, Trastevere Ristorante Italiano conjures the wonderful aromas and tastes of southern Italian cuisine onto a dinner plate for your enjoyment.
From the moment you enter the restaurant, you are greeted with a smile as if you are family. The wait is never too long, even on a Saturday night, ranging from five to 10 minutes on average.
As you are seated, crushed olives in olive oil and a basket of bread are brought out. The bread isn’t toasted, but the servers do not hesitate to accommodate. However, a warning is suggested for the incredibly sinful delight; once you’ve had one piece, it’s going to be hard to refuse a second basket.
The Mista Italiana salad, which is priced at $8.95 for a small, or a large which could easily feed two for $10.95, is a light and refreshing choice to start your meal. With leaves of romaine, spicy arugula, sliced radishes, shredded carrots, cucumber and tomato tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing, this salad is crisp, yet bursting with earthy flavors. The vinaigrette, made on location in the kitchen, has a tangy taste with a hint of Dijon.
One might think there wouldn’t be anything special about a cheese pizza, but they may not have tried the Margherita pizza at Trastevere. For $12.95, this classic thin-crust Italian pizza is big enough for two. The cheese used on this pizza, a milky mozzarella, is completely unlike any fast food creation. The mozzarella is so creamy and rich that it stretches with every savory bite.
In contrast to other pies you might get at franchise Italian restaurants, the tomato sauce used in the pizza is not too overpowering. The right amount is used to enhance the pizza, but does not take away from the other delicious elements. The finishing touch to this pie is a sprinkle of fresh basil.
As pasta is synonymous with the Italians, the arrabbiata with penne should be synonymous with Trastevere. The sauce is simple, aromatic and enticing to the palette. The chunks of garlic saut’eacute;ed in the sauce allow the flavor to envelop your taste buds. For an extra kick, the crushed chili peppers explode in your mouth with each bite, leaving a sweet taste packed with heat on your palette. The arrabbiata with penne is a generous portion for $14.95, enough to enjoy for dinner and lunch the next day.
One Italian specialty people may not have heard of is gnocchi, a fluffy and chewy potato dumpling. The Gnocchi di Patate al Pomodoro for $17.95 is a medley of perfectly round bites of gnocchi in a Pomodoro sauce of tomato and basil. The aromatic basil infuses throughout the dish, pleasing both your sense of smell and taste.
For dessert at Trastevere, one can never go wrong with the classic Italian dessert, Tiramisu, a combination of lady fingers soaked in espresso, mascarpone cheese and delicious whipped cream. One bite of this decadent delight might send you into a sugar trance. For $7.95, Trastevere’s Tiramisu is perfect for two, but sinful enough for one.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is very intimate, with soft lighting from chandeliers and candles at each table. The d’eacute;cor is defined with dark wood chairs, cream-colored cushions and black and white photographs.
Whether it’s a family dinner, catching up with friends, or with that someone special in your life, Trastevere is the perfect restaurant to choose for your occasions.
With many Italian restaurants scattered throughout Los Angeles, Trastevere stands out among the rest with their attentive service, relaxed environment and, most of all, their classic and unforgettable southern Italian cuisine.
Where: Trastevere, at Hollywood and Highland
Price Range: $10-$20
Contact: (323) 962-3700
