Category Archives: Italian

Bollini’s Pizzeria Napolitana

*East LA, Italian, Local Eats July 31, 2012 Leave a comment
2315 S Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754

(323) 722-7600

 
 
 
My bro had raved about this place ever since he’s first tried it, saying that it was one of the best thin crust pizzas that he’s had.  So finally, one day, since I was in the area, I went to see what the fuss was all about.
 
Bollini’s is located in Monterey Park — yep, a little out of place amongst all the Asian restaurants.  But don’t be fooled.  Bollini’s serves up some pretty authentic Italian food.  Be warned, street parking is limited, and it is cash only (although there’s a small ATM inside the restaurant).  Here’s what we ordered:
 
 
Instead of the usual bread at Italian restaurants, Bollini’s serves up pizza crust tossed in garlic pesto oil.  Mmmmm…
 
 
Arugala Salad – arugala greens with fresh corn, smoked bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, goat cheese and red wine vinaigrette.  Light and refreshing!  $9
 
 
Seafood cioppino – shrimp, mussels and clams in a tomato and white wine stock garnished with fresh herb and lemon.  Lots of chopped clams!  The soup had a little bit of a kick to it, and not as thick as some cioppinos I’ve had.  If only there was bread to dip the sauce in!  $12
 
 
This is a large 16″ pizza.  At Bollini’s you have the option of to build your own pizza, or select from a list of 20 combo pizzas.  We chose 2 from the list, and they are able to do half-and-half.  Half of our pizza is the fungi e tartufi (garlic and mushrooms) and half was the porco (sweet fennel sausage, 3 pepper sausage, bacon and tomatoes).  Both were really good.  The crust is thin yet is able to hold up the toppings.  Both of the sauces were flavorful, and the toppings were fresh.  Yum!  The pizza is pretty big – between the 3 of us, we couldn’t finish it. $16
 
 
Next time I go, I’ll venture onto the pasta and main courses!
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Tin Roof Bistro

*South Bay, American, Fusion, Italian August 24, 2011 Leave a comment

3500 N Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

(310) 546-6180

tinroofbistro.com

http://www.yelp.com/biz/tin-roof-bistro-manhattan-beach

 

A lot of my friends have August and September birthdays.  One of my friends chose this place for her b-day dinner.  I didn’t even know it was so close to me — it’s located in the same plaza as the Manhattan Village Mall.

Tin Roof Bistro is a pretty cozy place, with an extensive menu that has something for almost everyone.  There’s the regular menu plus daily specials.  Also, there’s a long wine menu as well.  Of course, some of us yelped before going to the restaurant, so we’d know what to order.  😉

Food is pretty good, although I think the pizzas are probably the highlights, besides the innovative appetizers.  Give it a try if you’re in the area.

 

Haystack fries – shoestring fries, garlic, homemade blue cheese dressing, dash of spicy sauce.  Yum!  6.00

 

Indian-spiced spinach dip – fresh spinach, cheese, curried cream, woodfire flatbread. This was highly recommended on Yelp and the Yelpers are right! 12.00

 

Soup of the day:  cream of mushroom.  I could taste the mushrooms.  Very good!  Make sure you tell the waiter/waitress which size you’d like.  They didn’t ask me and out came a big bowl, which I could barely finish…  cup 3.50  / Bowl 6.50

 

Fig and Pig pizza – this was brilliant!  Perfect blend of sweet and savory. Smoked bacon, figs, garlic, mozzarella, blue cheeses, balsamic syrup 13.50

 

Cobb salad – lots of chicken!  Romaine, tender chicken morsels, bacon, black grapes, walnuts, celery, crispy shallots, avocado and a combo of herbed vinaigrette & homemade blue cheese dressing 12.50

 

Lamb bolognese with pappardelle – homemade pasta, sauteed spinach, shaved parmesan, 12-hour sauce.  You can taste the richness of the sauce! 21.00

Eatalian Cafe

*South Bay, Italian, Local Eats July 27, 2011 1 Comment
15500 S Broadway St
Gardena, CA 90248

(310) 532-8880

http://www.yelp.com/biz/eatalian-cafe-gardena

www.eataliancafe.com

 

Ever since I saw all of the great reviews on Yelp about this place, I’ve wanted to try it.  Everyone raves how authentically Italian it is and the fact that the restaurant makes its own cheese just adds to the allure. It’s easy to miss the restaurant, since it blends in with the industrial neighborhood.  The restaurant itself looks like it was converted from a warehouse, so it’s very airy and spacious inside.  There’s the open kitchen, the cheese making section, the gelato section, the coffee bar, etc.  Good place for gatherings.  And the food is great!

 

Outside the restaurant – the banners will help you find it!

 

Street side of the restaurant.  No, this isn’t the entrance.  The entrance is around to the side.

 

Inside the restaurant: cheese-making section

 

The extensive menu covers 2 sides!  Lots of pizza, pasta and salad choices.

 

The bread’s usually a good indication of the restaurant’s food.  And we were off to a good start!

 

Caprese: FRESH mozzarella with tomato and basil.  Drizzle with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar and it’s so tasty!  $12.95

 

Tagliatelle con Funghi: tagliatelle with porcini and fresh mushroom –  it’s one of their homemade fresh pastas.  Yummy!  $12.25

 

Tortelli di Zucca: butternut squash ravioli. The butternut squash filling is really sweet, almost like a dessert!  $12.75

 

Pizza of the day:  white pizza with shrimp, artichoke, cherry tomatoes in pesto sauce, on thin crust.  Almost like the ones I had in Italy.  $12.95

 

Finish off the meal with a selection from the gelato bar!  Pick out your flavors and take it back to your table.

 

Mango and yogurt frutti di bosco (berries yogurt).  1 scoop (1-2 flavors).  The gelato is pretty good.  $3.20