07 Jul Happy Anniversary Soleto Trattoria & Pizza Bar

The first time I went to Soleto Trattoria & Pizza Bar was for a friend’s rehearsal dinner last year. With one of the largest patios in downtown LA, it is an ideal spot for a gathering of friends. And with a large oval bar that dominates the dining rooms, along with a pizza bar, Soleto is a great spot for lunch, happy hour and dinner, whether you are with one friend or a large group. So, I went for lunch last month and then a couple weeks later, after finishing an event across the street, I went back for dinner to try more items from the menu. Located in the heart of the financial district in downtown LA, Soleto is celebrating its third anniversary this month. With a menu inspired by Southern Italian dishes, the menu has been updated and offers dishes that are appealing to both the foodie and those with who just want good food. Tuscan Kale Salad with cranberries, apples, hazelnuts and balsamic-citrus vinaigrette is crisp and fresh and well dressed. I loved the mix of tart, sweet and nutty. Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with bacon, frisee, poached egg and mustard vinaigrette Charred Cauliflower with grana padano, Italian parsley, sultanas, fried capers, almonds Warm Goat Cheese Dip with charred broccolini and garlic crostini – this dish is deceiving as it looks and sounds rich but is actually rather light and won’t weigh you down if you eat the entire thing. If you still have an appetite after all of the shared plates and salads, the pizza bar is the next stop! With an exhibition Pizza Bar along the back wall, you can watch your pizza being made in the large 800-degree wood-burning oven. Order one of the pizzas on the menu or design your own pizza! Margherita Burrata pizza with tomato sauce, burrata and basil Arugula, walnuts and garlic cream pizza with smoked mozzarella and black pepper ricotta And if that’s not enough, there are pastas and meats as well. Roasted Mushroom Rigatoni with baby spinach, garlic & shallots, cracked black pepper ricotta Braised Short Rib with candied beets, lemon garlic gremolata And of course, there is dessert. Sticky Toffee Pudding toffee caramel sauce and vanilla gelato Affogato Supreme cappuccino gelato, gianduja gelato, chantilly cream and espresso Soleto Trattoria & Pizza Bar 801 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017 213-622-3255