Il Pastaio
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 205-5444
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Burton Way
- Hours:
- Daily 11:30am-10:30pm
Editorial Review for Il Pastaio – by Martha Burr
The Scene
Well-heeled locals gather for agent lunches or casual dinners, particularly lively on the early side. Blue-eyed gurus in white turbans rub elbows with society wives and character actors you can almost recognize.
The Food
Don't miss the tender eggplant rolls filled with tangy, meltingly soft goat cheese and sun-dried tomato, or the delicate zucchini soufflé. Mussels and clams in an irresistible tomato garlic broth is a fine old standard, but careful filling up on the crusty Italian bread as you mop it up. Pastas, served al dente, range from simple--rigatoni with eggplant, tomato, basil--to sinful, like linguine with half a lobster and crab meat in ethereal tomato sauce. But the ultimate trattoria comfort food is undoubtedly risotto, offered here in half a dozen imaginative incarnations. Most elegant is a risotto with wild mushrooms and truffle-cheese fondue; most rock-and-roll is the one with black squid ink sauce, calamari, shrimp and scallops.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasGreat Italian desserts are made fresh every day. The tiramisu is light and delightful.
Where to SitSidewalk dining is great for people watching.
ParkingValet parking is available, but look on the street, or in the $2 public lot a block north.
User Reviews for Il Pastaio
03/31/2008 Posted by rroBevHills
We've been eating here since it opened and I should have written a review a long time ago. Excellent management style. Delicious food. Everything rocks. The seating is prompt. The staff is organized and helpful. They are extremely accommodating no matter what your situation. I have enjoyed everything I've ever ordered here. YUM!!! I would give this place 10 stars!!!
03/22/2008 Posted by FoodEEEEEE
So this month my wife and decided that we were on a mission to find the best Italian food in Los Angeles. We went to Il Pastaio last week and it was very good, but it most definitely was not the best in LA (this weeks foray to Il Grano blew it away, BTW). Still, it was very good. I'll keep it short, since there are already many reviews. THE GOOD: Excellent pasta. The standouts are the freshly made 'flat' pastas like the pappardelle and tagliatelle. The raviolis (also fresh made), were little pockets of joy. The antipasti were also pretty solid. Great bresaola and salads. The prices were surprisingly reasonable for 90210. THE BAD: The Secondi were VERY average. We had both veal dishes and the branzino, and all three entrees were mediocre. The basic vegetable sides and garnishes made the plates look like something from 1985. When I asked the server for a recommendation, he constantly tried to up-sell me on the most expensive thing on the menu. I hate that. I actually gave him the benefit of the doubt and took his recommendation on the Venison Pappardelle, but my wife's Paglia Fieno (at half the price) was far superior. That is when I realized that he was inexcusably full of it. CONCLUSION: Great place to grab a bite in BH (it was packed on a Wednesday night). Stick with the antipasti and pastas and you won't be disappointed.
Pros: Great Fresh Pasta and Antipasti
Cons: Average service, dated menu, and meat dishes less than spectacular
Users Like You Also Viewed
Gingergrass
2396 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Bastide
8475 Melrose Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90069-5311
