April 6, 2012

Osteria Mozza



burrata with bacon, marinated escarole, & caramelized shallots
squid ink chitarra freddi with dungeness crab, sea urchin & jalapeno
grilled octopus with potatoes, celery & lemon
ricotta and egg ravioli with browned butter
orecchiette with sausage and swiss chard 
banana and chocolate hazelnut gelato

Happy Friday everyone! Yay for another weekend to eat, wine, and tan! {agenda for the wknd}

Over the past weekend, I visited Osteria Mozza in LA. Of all the fine restaurants I've tried, I've never had fine Italian, so this was a real treat. I didn't know how good pasta can get. I was completely happy with my previous all-time favorite Italian restaurant, Trattoria la Siciliana, in Berkeley, which is authentic and mouthwatering, all i need. But yes, Mozza stole the spot. Pasta can get REALLY good. I had passed up this place before, but seeing it recently honored as #6 on a "Top 20 Restaurants in America" list sealed the deal. Osteria Mozza sits on the busy corner of Melrose and N Highland. The decor inside features contemporary dark wood, reminding me of a blend of Ad Hoc and Wayfare Tavern. The menu has so many dishes with big Italian words that becomes intimidating, but the servers are super helpful when it's time for questions. We made our own "tasting menu" where we chose 5 dishes and just split each dish in half. My favorite dish of all is the squid ink pasta. It was unique, refreshing, and it has so much uni! How could you not love that? Every other dish was very tasty and had something special to it, like the runny yolk in the ricotta and egg ravioli and the zingy taste of celery to compliment the grilled octopus. The tastes of each dish stay with you. It fully deserves its Michelin star because not only is the food memorable, the service was on point and hospitable. This is my new favorite Italian restaurant and favorite overall in LA; though I haven't been too many, I can imagine Mozza hard to beat.


19 comments:

  1. you look so cute and the food looks so good!
    xo, Tina
    TINACIOUS.ME ~ TINACIOUS.ME

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  2. Oh my goodness that gelato looks AMAZING. I seriously need to high-tail it to California soon, lol. You're looking gorgeous as always! xo

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  3. everything looks so yummy
    http://sugarspiceandsomestyle.blogspot.com

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  4. Everything looks delicious!
    Love the pics ;)

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  5. Dang I don't even remember how this place tasted.
    It has been so long. I had my good bye dinner at
    Osteria Momma before I left LA for New York. I'm starting
    to miss Los Angeles.

    http://thesengen.blogspot.com

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  6. I've heard so many great things about Osteria Mozza..lovely pictures! :)
    http://blog.josh-monje.com

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  7. Ahh that looks delicious! I'm hungry now :)

    xx maggie
    saltandleather.blogspot.com

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  8. yummy!! another restaurant to add to my list for when i visit LA again!

    xoxo,
    http://pancakeSTACKER.blogspot.com

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  9. You look perfect as always :)

    That is some fantastic looking food, you're making me hungry! I've never gone out for a gourmet meal like this before, it really looks spectacular!!

    ~Britta
    www.vancouvervogue.blogspot.com

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  10. Hey sweetie! You have a very beautiful blog with a lot of inspiring posts! I'd like to invite you to be my friend and follow each other:)
    I also have an amazing GIVEAWAY on my blog, please check it out:)

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  11. It looks so delicious! :)

    - Victoria
    www.Vickkitas.blogspot.com

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  12. I hear about this place a lot but never gone there! Really want to though, I'm a sucker for Italian food! All the photos look so yummy especially the gelato!

    www.rougefox.com

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  13. Food look so yummuy! And you look beautiful too xx

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  14. great pictures!

    http://thehandbagconcept.blogspot.co.uk/

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  15. Oh yummmmm all the pictures of the food look so gooooood

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  16. wow love these photos! the squid ink pasta indeed looks delicious :) i just came across your site, and i'm loving it~~ keep in touch :D

    -Joyce
    carouselstreet.com

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