This Summer we visited some amazing restaurants while vacationing in Los Angeles, California. As promised, we will be highlighting some of our favorites in the next few weeks/posts. First up, in the West Hollywood area: Nonna of Italy. We were immediately struck by the high ceilings and beautiful contemporary decor mixed with an old Italian and Hollywood vibe. The pictures on the website don't do it justice. The staff who greeted us were all very friendly, accommodating and patient. We were able to sit in the enclosed patio, located at the quieter end of the famous Sunset Strip. The weather was perfect, a warm 80 degrees on a Saturday at 7pm. 
As we waited for the rest of our party to join us, we indulged in Nonna's TWO different kinds of table bread...it was almost impossible to stop ourselves from spoiling our appetites with the warm rolls. Luckily the rest of our party arrived. 
We proceeded to order a bottle of 2009 Querceto Chianti Classico from their extensive list of Italian Wines. The scent of tart berries and the taste of cherries with blackberries, along with a smooth, soft feel made this medium-bodied wine simple but flavorful. We soon ordered a second bottle. It's the perfect pairing for some Italian pasta.
We sampled several dishes...all of them delicious. The portions were just right too!
STARTERS:
Soup Sampler - Tomato, Minestrone and Garden Vegetable
PIZZA:
Quattro Formaggi
Asiago, mozzarella, gorgonzola, goat cheese with arugula and kalamata olives...FAVORITE!
ENTREES:
Petto di Pollo Arrosto
Pan roasted chicken breast, white wine, shallots, herbs de Provence, gold whipped potatoes, and
sauteed spinach
(Left) Pollo Parmigiana - Chicken Breast pounded and breaded, Mozzarella, Parmesan, tomato sauce, gold potato gratin, and green beans
(Right) Ravioli di Riccotta e Spinacci -Spinach and ricotta ravioli, butter, sage, and parmesan
DESSERT:
Carrot Cake
Weiser Family Farms carrots, toasted nuts
Our experience at Nonna was wonderful. Everyone in our party was pleased with their dishes and the service we received. It was a pleasant change of pace to not feel rushed and have a nice, relaxed dinner with family & friends. The ambiance, the staff, the decor, the food, the wine, the location...not one thing was deserving of a complaint. It is no surprise that the restaurant was winner of the 2011 Open Table Diner's Choice. If you plan on dining on a weekend evening after 7pm, reservations are strongly recommended. (Note: Nonna's is closed on Sundays.) If you'd like to dine on the patio, it is heated on cooler nights. There is valet parking service right in front of the restaurant, though it is $7 (still much cheaper than the Hollywood parking lots, unless you miraculously score some street parking). In terms of fashion, it would be wise to dress the Hollywood part. While we did not feel a sense of fussiness or snobiness, this is an experience of fine dining in the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills area. Ladies, some dressy jeans and heals with a nice blouse would do just fine. A casual dress or trendy skirt and blouse would be even better! Men do not require a suit and tie, though you will find some business meetings taking place in the early weeknight evenings. Some nice slacks, or jeans paired with a trendy or collared shirt would look great. Be prepared to spend some money, though the prices are certainly not ridiculous considering the quality of food and service received. We definitely recommend Nonna of Italy if you're looking for a great experience to share with friends, to celebrate an event, or even a romantic dinner with your significant other. The lunch menu and Happy Hour sound promising too. Visit Nonna of Italy's Website for more info.
Even the coffee was good...and much needed after that meal!
The End.
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