Pomodoro Trattoria

Recently, I've become quite the fan of potato dumplings, also known in Italian as gnocchi.  While all of us like to dibble and dabble in pasta, rarely do we have the pleasure of choosing from a variety of homemade gnocchi topped in mouth-watering sauces.  Pomodoro Trattoria on 1393 Westwood Blvd is the one Italian restaurant I have visited in the Westside that provides me with the opportunity to do just that.  Although the establishment is small, the great attention to detail towards the food and the service separates this Italian restaurant from the millions of others throughout the city.  In addition, they have priced the menu fairly!  What more could you ask for?  Great food at even better prices!

Although I cannot speak on behalf of the entire menu, here are some of the items I would like to rave about:

GNOCCHI AL POMODORO (10.75)Fresh tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and olive oil.

GNOCCHI ALL’ARRABBIATA (10.75)
Spicy tomato sauce, garlic and fresh parsley

POLLO FIORENTINA (13.50)Breast of chicken sautéed with shallots, marsala wine and a touch of cream topped with fresh spinach and mozzarella cheese.

In addition to the entrées, the bread was amazing!  Its so fresh, you can manage to demolish through the basket yourself.  I also recommend the tiramisu if you have room for dessert :-) Visit their website for the complete list of meals at: http://www.pomodorowestwood.com/index.html

My only concerns about this restaurant is the size and parking.  Due to its small nature, the wait time can be exceedingly long if you come in during peak hours.  Furthermore, this restaurant does not have a parking lot.  We all know parking in Westwood sucks.

Despite that, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND POMODORO TRATTORIA for a good Italian meal! 

Coupa Cafe

Although most of us are familiar with Mexican food, how many of us have tried Venezuelan comida?  Well, Coupa Cafe located on 419 North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills is the perfect spot to do so! Known as one of the only Venezuelan restaurants in town, Coupa Cafe is an ideal get-together spot.  The restaurant is quite spacious and welcoming, providing indoor and outdoor seating.  Although I went for brunch, Coupa Cafe also doubles as a wine bar, making it a great place for dinner!  Here's the splurge on all of the wonderful things I tasted:

Beverages
Orange Juice ($4): fresh squeezed and sweet (so rare!)
Coffee($2): strong (pretty good)
Abuela Hot Chocolate ($3.75): liquid milk chocolate (a must have, seriously)

Appetizer

Beef and Cheese Empanaditas ($9): very delicious...the sauces make an excellent compliment

Entrées

Perico ($11): scrambled eggs, sauteed tomatoes, onions, peppers, arepa and a side of 

fruit.  It was good, but I thought the other food tasted much better!

Pabellon ($19): shredded beef, black beans, rice, sweet fried plantains, arepitas, nata, queso blanco.  It tasted great!  Its comparable to ropa vieja at Versailles Cuban Restaurant

Overall, I found the hot chocolate to be outstanding as well as the empanadas.  The entrées were good, but given the price of the food I prefer Versailles.  The food is also prepared fresh, so the wait time can be long if their busy.  However, everything is high quality and the ambiance is very mellow making it worth your while.  I'll definitely write a more comprehensive review once I try more of their food! Check out their menu at : http://www.coupacafe.com/index.html

(FYI - An arepa is a dish made of ground corn dough or cooked corn flour, popular in Colombia and Venezuela.) 

Tacos Sinaloa in Highland Park

Right when you think you can't find better tacos in Los Angeles, you come across someone who promises they have found the best tacos in town.  Now, I'm a fan of Tito's Tacos and King's Taco, but Tacos Sinaloa located on the corner of Avenue 55 & Figueroa Street in Highland Park had the BEST ever!  I highly recommend the VAMPIROS tacos which are loaded on a crispy tortilla with carne asada, onions, garlic and cheese.  Not only are the tacos delicious, but their sauces add all the spice necessary to heighten your senses.  Its sort of shady coming from a taco truck in the hood, but I promise you these tacos are worth it!