Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Osteria Mozza: Still a Big Deal
()
On March 5th, I called Osteria Mozza to make a reservation for April 5th (they only take reservations a month in advance.) I thought I would call at lunchtime when they would first be open. A critical mistake. Turns out that the reservation line for both Mozzas opens at 10 am. I could get 5:30 or 9:45. Not being a New Yorker, I took the earlier time.
Thanks to Daylight Savings, it was full daylight when we arrived at the Osteria last Saturday. The place was nearly empty. I had gotten my confirmation phone call the day before, but they still had no reservation for us -- and after a runaround where they confirmed we didn't mistakenly make a res at the Pizzeria, they never found our reservation, but told us they could seat us anyway. We went to wait for our friends at the bar, but were shooed away from the cheese bar (which was, as the maitre'd told us, the bar was "straight ahead") first. This is the kind of stuff that drives my husband bonkers, and I think that if it were up to him, we would have left right then, but fortunately we stayed.
()
Support for LAist comes from
When our party was complete, we were seated in short order. I was surprised at how dressy people (particularly women) were. Guys could get away with jeans and button down shirts, but most ladies were in dresses and heels with flashy jewelry. Unusual for LA. The service was better than excellent, and our waiter seemed just fine leaving us with the menu nearly five times while we figured it out. For four people, they recommend sharing 2 -3 antipasti, 2-3 pastas and an entree each.
We started off with Grilled Octopus with potatoes celery and lemon. It was so tender that it was almost like sashimi, and it was lovely. My personal favorite was the Burricotti with grilled artichokes, pine nuts, currants and mint pesto. It was light and refreshing, and perfectly delicious. Then there was the burrata with speck, peas and mint. One of our party was absolutely charmed by it. There's definitely a group of people out there who love it when something tastes like something it totally isn't. I expected creamy burrata with salty spec studded with peas and mint. But it tasted -- I'm not kidding here! Like bubblegum. I wasn't into it.
()
We went pretty non-experimental with the pastas, enjoying both the Garganelli (doesn't this make you think of Gargamel from the smurfs every time you see it? I always do!) with Ragu Bolognese and the Fresh Ricotta and Egg Raviolio with Browned Butter. Both were fabulous. The pasta was chewy and fresh bit not sticky, the ravioli were perfectly cooked and very light. The bolognese was flavorful and rich. I like to experiment, but I like to try more basic dishes too. Doing both equally well is the mark of a truly great restaurant.
()
The entrees arrived in short order. Three of us got beef -- two went with the grilled beef tagliata, with arugala, parmesan and balsamic vinegar and one was beef brasato with polenta and horseradish. Both were excellent. The tagliata was charred and sweet with the vinegar, perfect with the tartness of the greens. (And everything tastes better with parmesan cheese -- one day we'll be eating it on breakfast cereal!) The brasato was wonderfully stewy, the polenta was light. Our which-one-of these-is-not-like-the others friend had Grilled Whole Orata wrapped in radicchio with olio nuovo. He reported that it was great.
()
Support for LAist comes from
There was hardly room for dessert. But we made some anyway. We got two to share. One was the Rosemary Olive oil cakes with olive oil gelato and rosemary brittle. One of our friends wished that the olive oil gelato came in pints. The cakes were delicate and not too sweet. An interesting dessert -- flavors that you don't associate with dessert, but all the better for it. I ordered the cioccolato amaro with bourbon gelato. The gelato was basically vanilla, and the amaro was was deep and tasty, if not the revelation that the rosemary cakes were.
So, yeah, while Osteria Mozza can be kind of a pain in the ass, they're packing heat when it comes to food. We should have known that from the beginning -- while we waited at the bar, we saw two diners meekly approach the cheese bar. They got Nancy Silverton to sign their menus.
Osteria Mozza, 641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist