Florence Osteria & Piano Bar - Review - West Hollywood - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"There’s nothing novel about a restaurant with a patio, at least in LA. But at Florence Osteria, the patio is the restaurant, and everything else is just an entryway to get there. Walk past the small bar and dining room and you’ll arrive on a lantern-lit terrace with plush booths and an olive tree decorated with twinkly fairy lights. It makes sense that this spot comes from the owner behind L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (a branch of the Naples pizzeria with a cameo in Eat, Pray, Love) because Florence Osteria could also double as a movie set, with the patio serving as a romantic backdrop for dates twirling handmade pasta and drinking wine while being serenaded by a piano player. The food is just as flashy as the setting: buttery grilled meats, bubbling-hot dishes layered with cheese, and a $50 handmade pasta dish showered with fresh-shaved truffle tableside. It’s definitely a splurge, but if you’re here, you’re signing up for a big, showy night out anyway. Order a bottle of wine and a spread of pasta for the table (they’re the best things on the menu), and appreciate that you’ll be hanging out under a massive tree for a while. Food Rundown Gnocco Fritto A fun dish in theory, but it tastes like something from a catering tray at an office party. The dough is stiff, making it tricky to eat with the soft cheese, and tearing apart slices of prosciutto gets messy quickly. photo credit: Cathy Park Parmigiana Di Melanzane This isn’t one of those dense, brick-like eggplant parms. The layers are wonderfully silky and soft—we just wish there were more stracciatella. photo credit: Cathy Park Fettucine Al Tartufo Sure, this pasta is small and expensive, but it’s also really good. The handmade fettuccine clings to every bite of the sauce, and the tableside truffle shower is a fun over-the-top touch (that you’re clearly paying for). photo credit: Cathy Park Linguine Aglio E Olio A light pasta that’s lemony and garlicky without either flavor overpowering. If you’re sharing this, you might need to negotiate how to split up the very small amount of shrimp though. photo credit: Cathy Park Patate Gateau This side dish arrives like a bubbling pot of soup, but it’s something much better—a bowl of molten mashed potatoes with a glorious cheese pull that stretches across the table. photo credit: Cathy Park Branzino A crisp-skinned branzino that comes with a steak knife—not that you’ll need it. The filet is soft and moist, and the little pile of herb relish on top adds a bright kick. Go easy on the lemon squeeze though, or it’ll drown out the fish. photo credit: Cathy Park Ricotta Cheesecake Much fluffier than your standard cheesecake, with sweet caramelized pears on top to balance the tartness. Too bad the entire $16 dessert is gone in two and a half bites. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park