Lyla D.
Yelp
"Prohibition has made nothing but trouble." - Al Capone
Shhhh... I don't want to be called a "stoolie." Still, I can't hold back my appreciation to fellow West LA Yelper and family friend Doug S for arranging a low-key and retro dining experience at this hidden gem in the back of Vitello's Italian Restaurant at Studio City. It was a chilly and drizzling evening, so we parked in the lot (valet service) attached to Vitello's and entered the restaurant. The hostess gave us the lowdown on the House Rules while we waited to be escorted to the clandestine entrance to The Rendition Room.
At our precise reservation time, a smartly dressed man, Scott, came to stealthily escort us down a dark hallway towards the hidden doorway (bookcase) and restrooms. He spoke in a no-nonsense and low tone, and we observed that he was the "One Man Show" during our 90-minute stay. Scott was direct yet friendly. However, we understood why he didn't spend much time banter with all the customers after seating them and escorting them in. Scott took everyone's beverage and food orders while also serving as bartender. When the food orders were ready from the kitchen, he delivered and served the meals from memory!
Beverages and Food:
- New Old Fashioned: bourbon, black walnut bitters, orange oil, luxardo cherry, and rendition mist. My husband's choice, and he enjoyed this cocktail made with bourbon even though he said it was sweet. $18
- Doctor's Orders: Smokey single malt scotch, canton ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and honey. I tried this concoction because its description reminded me of my mother's homemade cold relief sans liquor. Woo! This cocktail is a perfect prescription to combat cold symptoms or none. $18
-Crispy Artisan Bread: served with truffle herb ricotta & hot honey. The short and plump loaf had a slightly hard exterior crust with a dense and chewy interior. The bread slices were an excellent canvas for the truffle herb ricotta. We reminded ourselves not to fill up on the bread since our meals hadn't been delivered yet. $8
-Calamari & Shrimp: flash-fried golden brown, lightly and perfectly breaded calamari and shrimp were served with ramekins of marinara and tartar sauce. We were impressed with their breading since we could differentiate the calamari rings from legs and shrimp. There wasn't any heavy batter to mask the seafood pieces. Each bite was a light, airy, crispy, and non-greasy morsel..$19
-Pesto Gnocchi ($26) + Salmon ($12): the gnocchi were soft, chewy, and plump, and their richness was lightened with an herbaceous and cheesy pesto. I requested salmon as my protein since the pesto would complement its flavor. The other choice offered was chicken, but I've been eating chicken frequently, that I'm about to sprout feathers! There were good-sized salmon chunks distributed through the pesto-cloaked pasta. It was a tasty, rich, and very satisfying meal, and I only ate half of the serving because I thought about having dessert.
-Chicken Decision: Choice of parmigiana, piccata, marsala, or Milanese. My husband chose the Milanese-style cutlet. The chicken breast cutlet was thicker than we're used to seeing for the Milanese style, but it was succulent, tender, and flavorful. This entree included a serving of spaghetti aglio e olio. I'm sure my husband enjoyed his entree, and he was hungry because he cleaned his plate. $32
-Classic Cannoli: Filled with creamy sweet mascarpone and chocolate chips, the thin crisp shell reminded me of the excellent cannolis from Boston's historic North End, Mike's Pastry. My sweet tooth was delighted with the cannoli even though I had my heart set on a slice of the Spumoni Cake. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn't have the Spumoni Cake available that evening. I shared the cannoli with my husband, who seemed to hog more than his half. $10
Our dining mates ordered the Carbonara and bone-in Pork Chop as their entrees and shared the sides of broccolini and sweet potato fries.
The Italian-American cuisine and speakeasy ambiance were alive and well under the watchful eyes of our bartender/server, Scott. Even as the speakeasy filled during our 90-minute dining limit, Scott kept everyone happy with full alcohol pours and delicious food.
We'd love to return with the possibility of catching live jazz or magic performances during dinner time, and we certainly won't worry about having to make quick escapes in case of a police raid.