28 Mar Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria

Lately, it seems with Los Angeles’ evolving culinary culture we are always on the hunt for the latest chef import and newly raved restaurant. And for good reason – LA is giving many other cities a run for their money on the foodie front. But every so often, right under our nose, is a local spot that has been there for years and is often overlooked. We came to find this true when we visited long time establishment Vivoli Café in West Hollywood, right off the Sunset Strip. Located in the shadow of Sundance Sunset Cinema, Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria has been at its West Hollywood location for eleven years. Not only are the chefs at Vivoli straight out of Italy; pasta, bread and pastries are all homemade in house. Their very own pastry chef Lorenzo won 2nd place for best dessert at the Casa Pacifica Food and Wine Festival. The best thing about this hidden gem is that they deliver – and are pretty speedy too! Our very filling lunch covered a broad range of items from the menu: Zuppa Di Verdure – Traditional mixed vegetable soup in a vegetable broth. This is a great light option for either an appetizer or a side. The broth is full of flavor and the soup if made fresh in house. Bruschetta – Homemade toasted foacaccia topped with savory tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and parmesan cheese. One of my favorite Italian starters- the best part about this brushcetta is the fresh foacaccia that is brushed with olive oil. Involtini Di Melanzane – Eggplant filled with mozzarella cheese, baked with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. Another tasty option for those who want to opt out of eating chicken parmesan and it’s loaded with ooey-gooey cheese! Insalata Di Campo, Pinoli e Parmigiano with Cod – Mixed greens, roasted pinenuts, shaved parmesan, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar dressing. Gnudi Toscani – Homemade spinach and ricotta dumplings in a butter and sage sauce with Parmesan cheese. Great to share for those who love rich and buttery dishes! Capesante e Gamberi – Large grilled scallops and shrimp finished with fresh lemon, white wine, rand garlic sauce. If you love seafood, I would suggest pairing this with a light appetizer and wine at dinner. Agnolotti Di Aragosta – Home-made ravioli filled with fresh lobster meat and finished in a brandy marinara and cream sauce. Dessert – A variety of home made pastries made by Pastry Chef Lorenzo. While there are larger portion options available, we love that they offer small bite size versions. Sometimes you just need a bite of dessert or you can’t decide what you want but with the bite size desserts, you don’t have to just pick one.       Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria 7994 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046 (323) 656-5050