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Table Crashing: Hollywood Power Players at Angelini Osteria

Where: 7313 Beverly Blvd [map], Los Angeles, ca, United States, 90036
April 21, 2008 at 5:04 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Confession: We first heard about Angelini Osteria on Giada's Weekend Getaways on the Food Network about a year ago. Then it popped up again on our radar when it hit the Best 75 Restaurants in Los Angeles list at number 17.

So we decided to make an early reservation at 6:30 pm on a Friday night. The restaurant is on a unassuming block of Beverly Boulevard just east of Fairfax Avenue and close to The Grove shopping center.

We got a table towards the back but it turned out to be the second best table in the house. Why's that? Because it was next to the best table in the house and guess who showed up for a 7 pm reservation? Big-time movie producer Brian Grazer and Paramount honcho Sumner Redstone. They were dining with two ladies and didn't do much of interest. Except Grazer carries around a Volcom backpack. Weird.

But on to the menu.

Chef Gino Angelini has been called the "best Italian chef in LA." by the LA Times and is also the chef/proprietor behind the new restaurant La Terza. While the paper has downgraded Angelini Osteria to one-and-a-half stars, we still think this place is very much worth going to. And not just for the Hollywood power players.

We started off with the Affetati Misti, a collection of meat and burrata that is out of this world. It's a tad too much meat for two people as an appetizer but the burrata was heavenly.

For our main course we chose the pumpkin tortelli which wasn't as large as we had hoped but still sumptious--and not too strong on the pumpkin flavor either. Yet we had plate envy of our dining partner who ordered the Veal Shank Agnolotti (above) which featured bite-sized bits of veal in little pasta purses. Seriously, it melts in your mouth. For dessert, we went Euro and had some pecorino with figs and honey.

What we liked best about Angelini Osteria was how light everything was. After dinner, we could easily get up out of our seats and walk to the valet!

The place also has a rotating schedule of specials from day-to-day which doesn't quite make them specials but people do look forward to the veal shank on Friday nights.

The staff was extremely friendly yet not overly attentive, which we tend to like. The manager even came to our table and chatted with us at the end. This is while the Redstone-Grazer pow-wow was going down. And Chef Angelini was there himself, no doubt cooking for the patrons at the best table.

The only downsides? The place is rather tiny and tables are close together, much like it's done in NYC. The wine is also outrageously priced.

Insider Tips: Valet is $5 in front of Angelini Osteria and $4.50 around the corner. But try to snag a meter spot on Beverly Boulevard if you can: They're free from 6 pm on. Also, if you want quick Italian food without a date, the restaurant has a small bar in the back.

Related Stories:
· Angelini Osteria [Official Site]
· Week In Reviews: Angelini Osteria [Eater LA]
· Table Crashing coverage [Jaunted]

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