Dinner – Emilia – August 14, 2019 – Beverly Hills, CA.

This place is bright, cheery and the Italian cuisine is exceptional! All the things you crave here in Beverly Hills. They are the new kid on the block bound to end up with all of the huge success stories of great Italian eateries in Los Angeles!

This location used to be called The Larder on Burton Way. I never ate there; so, I know nothing about it. This building is relatively new so you can see all of the great design work in the architecture. The interior of Emilia doesn’t disappoint. It’s modern, cozy and just has good vibes all the way around. The interior is elegant and modern with light green panelled walls, light colored wood floors, white marble top tables and a wrap–around patio. The Bar area is fun and part of it is against the wall with art by Miro. There are high ceilings, brown leather club bar stools, white ball light fixtures, white ball lights strung outside, and nice big windows facing out to Burton Way.

Here’s What I Tried:

Something To Share:

Tortellini Emiliani con Crema di Parmigiano, Housemade traditional tortellini filled with prosciutto di Parma and served in a light Parmigiano-Reggiano sauce. These are bite-sized mini tortellini, but so flavorful and juicy.

Tagliata di Tonno, Seared tuna thinly sliced and topped with toasted pistachio, drizzled with Italian EVOO and lemon. This is a super protein-packed appetizer that is light and flawless.

Insalate:

Insalata di Carciofi, Fresh baby artichoke and hearts of palm salad with toasted walnuts, topped with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, arugula and an EVOO and lemon dressing. Nice and fluffy with good crunch, but the cheese on top sealed the deal for me.

Insalata di Cesare, Classic Caesar salad with butter lettuce and garlic croutons, topped with 24-month aged Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese. A nice rendition of this very special classic.

Paste & Risotto:

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Handmade tagliatelle with a traditional beef and pork Bolognese ragù. This pasta is so delightful, just the right consistency, and the sauce is otherworldly. Italian menus in Italy never have huge plates of pasta; it is just a small plate, which for me is so ideal!

Risotto agli Asparagi, Acquarello Carnaroli rice, with fresh asparagus, crispy prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The very subtle flavor of the asparagus is in every bite, but the super creamy risotto is just the perfect balance.

I Secondi:

Filetto di Manzo al Pepe, Grilled beef tenderloin with a green pepper sauce, served with sautéed oyster mushrooms. The beef is cooked delicately rare and the sauce is deep and luscious, an excellent choice.

Sogliola alla Mugnaia, Fresh Dover sole baked with a lemon and caper sauce, served with sautéed broccolini. The presentation is to show you the whole fish on a platter after it is cooked, but fileted and delicate. The flavor once you have it in your mouth is equally exciting and delicious. What a treat.

Contorni:

Grilled oyster mushrooms, these are grilled with super great flavor, so delicious.

Medley organic vegetables, colorful and tasty, cooked to perfection.

Dessert:

Tiramisu, served in a glass cup, delicate and all consuming, you must have to try this.

Chocolate Cake, this is a rich bold chocolate delicacy.

Pinna Cotta, is bright and fruity, I just loved this dessert.

Wines:

Ferrari, Brut, Trentino Alto Adige, Chardonnay, NV. In Italy they make wine that is grassy and herbal as opposed to our super buttery oaky Chardonnays, and some how it matches the flavors of the food, this wine went great with the beautiful dover sole.

Lunae, Colli di Luni Vermentino, Toscana, 2016. This wine can go with any of the pastas or salads; it has some bright notes and did round out the acids in their dishes.

Planeta, Chardonnay, Sicilia, 2016. A nice light Chardonnay that I loved with the asparagus risotto.

Giovanni Almondo, Nebbiolo Langhe, Langhe, Piemonte, 2017. A super charged red wine that enhanced the flavors of the steak all the way around.

My waiter, Raffaelle Mazzarella, was so accommodating and so sweet…did I say extremely handsome as well? Don’t let a handsome face fool you. He is such a nice person having moved from Puglia, Italy and only working at their sister restaurant, Amici. I suggested that he take up acting because at some point someone will discover him. He just set the tone for a very elegant evening.

Seems like the word has gotten out about Emilia with families, locals, dates, the fifty-something crowd and double daters out the night I was there. It was a nice full house. Everyone was enjoying themselves and taking in this new spectacular restaurant. Emilia has only been open for 6 weeks.

I just love the old school vegetable crudité on ice on the table–a special treat. There is upbeat music like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to fill the air space. Something about this place just makes you feel good and as if you are somewhere in Florence or Milan…it’s just that authentic! I just loved the whole experience. I’ll be back!