LAVO Ristorante

Time flew by and suddenly, it had been much too long since I’d seen Chris and Jeff. So, of course, dinner reservations were to be made. Chris suggested LAVO Ristorante. As it’d been on my To Try list for a while, I was delighted.

Once seated, I started with a VENUS SIDECAR (Rémy vsop cognac, cointreau, passionfruit, lemon), as Chris had it while at the bar – and raved about it. A server came by and offered us a sliced citrus selection for our water.

The SEMOLINA SESAME GARLIC BREAD ( basil pesto, marinara, gorgonzola dolce) and the HAMACHI CRUDO (bronze fennel, Sicilian orange, pepperoncini) were up next. The crudo was small – as usual – but full of flavor. However, the star of the appetizer show was the garlic bread.

If you come to LAVO, you MUST order the garlic bread. It is a revelation. It is an oral orgasm. You’ve simply never had bread like this. The basil pesto, marinara and gorgonzola dolce dipping sauces are lick your plate clean good. I had to make myself stop eating the bread to make sure that I had room for our main course dishes.

For my dinner drink, I ordered the SPEZIATO cocktail (mezcal, lemon juice, peach, cointreau, habanero, club soda, orange zest). This was GOOD. Again, I have to say that the drinks at LAVO don’t suck, at all. And, if there is a drink on the bar menu that isn’t on the main dining room menu, they will make it for you. Why there are two separate menus, no idea. But, it is what it is.

As our main course, we shared the SILK HANDKERCHIEFS (white bolognese, parmigiano reggiano), the SWORDFISH PUTTANESCA (piennolo tomatoes, olives, capers, salsa verde) and the VEAL CHOP MILANESE (wild arugula, lemon).

To compliment as sides, we also had the BROCCOLINI (bomba calabrese, lemon zest) and the BUTTERBALL POTATOES (lemon, olive oil, parsley).

Personally, my favorite was the silk handkerchiefs. I was also shocked that the puttanesca was not salty, at all. The olives, capers and tomatoes were toned down and merged on the tongue well. The veal chop Milanese was also delicious. But, the other dishes were  was also

For dessert, I wanted a treat. As the men ordered mescal espresso martinis, I order the AFFOGATO (amaretto gelato, caffè napoletano, biscotti crumble). It was all a decadently delicious affair, wrapped in a bow.

Now, LAVO is a place that you’ll go, feel like you recognize a famous person and the waiter won’t confirm if you’re right or not. We thought we saw 2 Chainz dining with his family. But, could not get a confirmation. However, you just KNOW – like the energy feeding off of them – that the person that you can’t help to look at would be someone in a magazine. It’s that kind of place. But, it’s also a place to enjoy quality food on Sunset Blvd.

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