Thursday, September 11, 2008

Caffe Carrera




I've driven past this restaurant numerous times, but never realized it was there. After a recommendation from a friend, we decided to check it out. In an unassuming location, on La Cienega, with a small parking lot in the back, this place turned out to be a hidden gem.


The manager was outside smoking when we arrived. He greeted us with a smile and opened the door for us. How's that for service? We were seated at an intimate corner table and perused the menu. The linguine with proscuitto, mushrooms and a dash of cream caught my eye immediately. S got the pappardelle special with mushrooms and white truffle oil. Of course, no meal is complete without an alocholic beverage. Last night's choice - Proscesso. Light, sparkling and refreshing.


We started off with warm bread freshly baked from the oven. It was more like hot bread, but warm sounds better. The waiter came by with freshly minced garlic topped off with olive oil. Yum yum yum. So delicious!


My minestrone soup was tasty and packed with veggies- broccoli, carrots, beans, and hearty broth. Did I mention that the portions here are ginormous? They are. Perfect for sharing if you are so inclined.


OMG. When my entree arrived, I drooled. It looked scrumptious and tasted even better. The pasta was perfectly cooked, mushrooms and proscuitto were perfectly balanced and not overpowered with cream. The pappardelle tasted expensive with all the truffle oil, and at $21, it was quite a deal.


Due to the huge portions, we were unable to finish our food, so they packed it up for us. I thought it was cute when they labeld it "his" and "hers" on the top of the to go containers. Charming.


Highly recommended for authentic Italian food. La cena era deliziosa!


Caffe Carrera

235 S La Cienega Blvd

Beverly Hills, CA 90211


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