The holidays are upon us and RivaBella (9201 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069; 310.278.2060) is one WeHo place where you can impress your date, minus any stuffy pretension. You’ll drop a pretty penny, but the indulgent Tuscan fare and indoor-outdoor dining space with hearth fireplace and canopied white lights make the evening worth the splurge. From crudo to paste, pesce to carne, the menu is expansive, and I’ve narrowed it down to five that make for a perfectly-full dinner. The cocktails err classic, so I suggest starting with an old faithful, then enlisting your server to recommend an “interesting” red to accompany this line-up.
1) I skipped salad and went straight for the Roasted Octopus antipasti (see #4 as to why). My experience with octopus, other than fried calamari, has been anticlimactic, and I was intrigued by the accompaniments of Taggiasca olive, potato, salsa verde, and cilantro. The octopus was wonderfully chewy — far from rubbery — and the rest was tomatoey tart, while also hearty. ($22)
2) A sucker for fat, yet plush pappardelle pasta, the Pappardelle is divine in a flavorful lamb ragu, with peaches and pistachios. You heard right. Who knew lamb and peaches meld so well, especially for those with a curious sweet tooth. ($24)
3) The Porcini Risotto is rich, and ideal for sharing and leftovers (to make the decadence last longer). And it’s fancy: it’s mixed table-side, cooked inside a 24-month aged wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano. ($32, with truffles $52)
4) I was on the fence about the Grilled Veal Chop, but it was promised to not be gamy. It looks like a giant, plump pork chop, and is served under a party of wild arugula and heirloom baby tomatoes. Traditional Milanese style is available, but the lighter, indeed less gamy flavor of this grilled hunk of meat was more suitable for a cool LA night. ($48)
5) Another table-side show, the Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, blew the ho-hum of vanilla ice cream away for me; I’ve always said vanilla ice cream is “not worth the calories,” but when it’s smoking and you get to choose from toppings like chocolate pearls, fresh strawberries, and salted caramel & Nutella sauce, it becomes the most mod ice cream sundae you’ve ever had. ($15)
