Melograno
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 465-6650
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Whitley Avenue
- Hours:
- Tue-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
Message from Melograno
Northern Italian Cuisine in a romantic setting.
- Indoor & Outdoor seating.
- Fine Wines & Full Bar.
- Romantic Setting.
Paid advertisement by Melograno.
Editorial Review for Melograno – by Martha Burr
In Short
Located next to the majestic old Hollywood Boulevard Victorian that was once the school of Charlie Chaplin's kids, this small spot named after the pomegranate fruit is decidedly more civilized than its clubby neighbors. Here, the well-heeled crowd revels as much in the Murano lamps, white linens and Italian designer stemware as they do in dropping $200 for a nice Barolo. Chef/owner Alberto Lazzarino (formerly of Il Moro, Piccolo) showcases his hometown Piemontese cuisine with dishes like tenderloin carpaccio with tonnata sauce, nettle gnocchi with butter and sage and taglierini with wine-braised hare and (what else?) pomegranate.
Hits: This place offers a romantic destination for discerning foodies in this part of Hollywood.
Misses: Raucous weekend partiers from the courtyard-adjacent La Cantina and Memphis could be a distraction to older patrons who dining al fresco later in the evenings.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkSommelier Giuseppe Cossu greets every diner with a complimentary glass of Prosecco. The all-European wine list is 90 percent Italian, specializing in Barolo, Barbaresco and other high-end reds, plus some more modest whites. About 15 are offered by the glass (priced from $7 to $14), and the corkage fee is $20 per bottle.
Where to SitAn olive-tree-lined patio is great for warmer evenings; the extremely charming round table in the circular front window seats six, and is great for watching the Hollywood Boulevard hipsters on weekends.
The ExtrasTucked in back is an intimate four-seat bar featuring nine specialty cocktails with ingredients like elderflower liquer, organic passionfruit and pomegranate.
Look GoodLocated five minutes from the Pantages, this an ideal pre-theater dining spot if you get in early enough.
User Reviews for Melograno
05/16/2008 Posted by kczubrin120
What a surprise! Hidden on Hollywood Blvd, this quaint Italian restaurant was a delicious choice. My father-in-law was impressed by the wine list (which is always a good sign) and the ambiance was wonderful. We sat out on the patio on a pretty LA night. I ordered the artichoke salad to start and the halibut as my entree-excellent. Others got the pastas which they were very impressed with. Overall, I really enjoyed Melograno and would definitely recommend that others go dine there.
Pros: Ambiance, food, service
Cons: Didn't love the desert (rich chocolate cake)
03/24/2008 Posted by nightranger
Melograno has that Elegant, Simple, Spare quality of a NYC "Northern Italian" eatery along the lines of Le Zie or Bottino in Chelsea or even the qualities of Il Cantinori in Greenwich Village. I am not saying Melograno is like these restaurant, but rather it distinguishes itself in the way these restaurants do by focusing on "superb" choices. The menu is the exact right arrangement of smart choices and the specials are extraordinary. All the right elements and "NONE" of the wrong ones. Chief Alberto Lazzarino complete confidence in his choices is apparent in everything offered in the Menu, as is his partners command of the wine selection. We wisely asked for guidance on what wine would go with our 4 very different entree choices and the suggestion of an extraordinary Barbera was made. It was an exceptional value for $45 that we ordered a second bottle even before finishing the first. (really special) Everything about the restaurant plays to the New York sensibility with out being divisive or forced. The cleaver location in the soon to be super trendy Hollywood Blvd location, the Simple elegance of the decor is a page right out of Tribeca or Chelsea, The Strong menu and Specials with no Fill or Frills. The simple , tasteful presentation of the food show the hand of a confidant master with no need to show off. The focus is on the food and the dinning experience. This is "NOT" a restaurant for Celebrity watching or Paparazzo but rather for the much smarter and more discerning patron who is looking for a special evening with friends, extraordinary food and great wine. An absolute Joy I will go again and again. Now I know I wrote this from the perspective of a wayward New Yorker , but I am sure they will welcome folks from anywhere in the world with the same great spirt and warmth that they welcomed us.
Pros: Feel and Quality of a tastful NYC restaurant, With the great weather of LA
Cons: You have to overcome your phobia of eating out on Hollywood Blvd.
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