Ceci's Gastronomia

Ceci's Gastronomia - Review - Silver Lake - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Ceci’s looks like the set of a spring shoot for a lemon seltzer brand, with bright yellow umbrellas, a whitewashed cottage exterior, and a cutesy, hand-painted sign. Even though this Italian cafe sits on a hectic stretch of Sunset Boulevard surrounded by strip malls and beauty salons, it still has the charm of a country picnic, just recreated on a sunny sidewalk. There are coffee drinks and pastries up front, but Ceci's most deserves your attention as a lunch destination. The tin-tray pastas look like something you’d heat up in a hotel microwave— they’re passable if you’re craving something warm and cheesy—but the focaccia sandwiches should be your first order. They’re built on thin, crunchy bread with a nice ratio of meat and veggies, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Hit the refrigerated dessert case, too—even pretend picnics should end with tiramisu. Food Rundown Suppli Basically an arancini cosplaying as a mozzarella stick. Crunchy, gooey, and gone in three bites (but great while it lasts). Lasagna Al Pesto This one’s a toss-up. It has a strong basil flavor and a nicely browned top, but it’s swimming in oil, and the presentation in a small tin tray makes it look more like a Lean Cuisine than an $18 pasta dish. photo credit: Cathy Park Crudo & Ricotta If you’re here for lunch, this is the move. The focaccia crackles like pan pizza crust when you bite in, then gives way to thin sheets of prosciutto and slippery tomato slices. The drizzle of olive oil soaks into the bread nicely, and the lemony ricotta shines through. photo credit: Cathy Park Custard Bomboloni Not a must-order, but a decent vegan donut. You’ll have to work through a fair amount of dryish dough (and sugar coating that gets everywhere) before you hit the vanilla custard in the center. Once you do, it improves by miles. photo credit: Cathy Park Tiramisu The small cup doesn’t look like much, but it holds a phenomenal tiramisu that you’ll want to inhale. It’s mostly delicate cream with a couple of espresso-soaked ladyfingers that dissolve in your mouth as easily as the cream does. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park