Ceci's Gastronomia
Italian restaurant · Silver Lake ·
Focaccia sandwiches, lasagna, tiramisu, espresso, bomboloni
Focaccia sandwiches, lasagna, tiramisu, espresso, bomboloni
"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 with bright yellow umbrellas and a whitewashed cottage exterior. There are coffee drinks and pastries up front, but Ceci's most deserves your attention as a lunch destination, especially for their stellar focaccia sandwiches. 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." - sylvio martins, brant cox, cathy park
"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
"Chef Francesco Lucatorto and partner Francesca Pistorio opened their Silver Lake restaurant following the success of Ceci’s Oven, a pandemic-era pop-up. The casual spot is best known for focaccia sandwiches, but don’t overlook its duo of lovely lasagnas that make for a hearty lunch or easy bake-at-home dinner. The pesto one is layered with bechamel and scratch-made noodles, while the ragu number features beef Bolognese. The rigatoni pasticciati made with beef Bolognese and bubbling caciocavallo and Parmesan cheeses tastes like a comforting Italian hug." - Matthew Kang
"This tiny all-day spot sells focaccia sandwiches, pasta, snacks, and more that are best enjoyed at one of the sidewalk tables with an espresso. Focaccia sandwich fillings include caponata, meatballs, and sometimes burrata. To make the most of a visit, opt for the lasagna with pesto, the suppli, and a sweet treat like the tiramisu or bomboloni. Ceci’s is now serving cheese-stuffed focaccia at night between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m." - Rebecca Roland
"This all-day cafe and focacceria feels like a slice of Italy but in Silver Lake with bright yellow outdoor tables, and a constant flow of customers sipping on an espresso between bites of bomboloni. Ceci’s specializes in focaccia sandwiches filled with meatballs, prosciutto, frittata, plus pastas like lasagna, cannelloni, and rigatoni. In the evening, the restaurant serves slabs of focaccia stuffed with stracchino cheese, pesto, prosciutto, mushrooms, and arugula. Save room for some tiramisu or a torta della nonna with custard cream, lemon, and toasted pine nuts." - Matthew Kang
