I read many positive reviews about this restaurant and thought I would see if it lived up to the hype. The day of my meal I made a reservation that I had to change it twice because I was late... once for traffic, and once because I was ticketed two blocks away for no front license plate on my car. So needless to say I was not in a good mood to begin with. \r
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Upon arriving to the restaurant I was pleased to find valet parking for only $6 and that I could pick the car up AFTER my Concert (11:30pm). They also have a free shuttle that services theaters in the area (Staples Center is walking distance). So my mood began to improve.\r
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We got in the restaurant, were immediately seated and pampered by our waitress. The fresh baked bread is more than the hype can describe (they bring several varieties!). Great wine list and knowledgeable staff. I was torn between several dishes and the waitress made the perfect recommendation for what I told her I was in the mood for (got lobster filled ravioli and shrimp). Dish was simple, great flavors, portion size was perfect (not like some places that provide huge portions of average tasting food to trick you into thinking you are satisfied) ... good since I ate so much bread. I often find that even good Italian restaurants will hide seafood that is not fresh under overly rich and overly complex sauces... not the case here.\r
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To top it off, they felt so bad about my ticket they provided me a great desert - the flour-less chocolate cake.\r
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Amazing service, food, staff. Lives up to the service I have received in 5 star restaurants in Australia, Europe and throughout the US. Oh, ambiance is great too!
Pros: Food, Service, Staff, Ambience, Parking, Location to venues.
Cons: Too far from my house! Open in OC
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