WESTWOOD, Calif. — It’s easy for a Bostonian to lose himself in Westwood Village. After all, it looks like a combination of Newbury Street and Tremont Street, complete with shopping, moviegoing and eating.
Tanino, on Westwood Boulevard, is a beautifully designed Italian restaurant and top-shelf bar. It’s perfect for dinner for two, dinner for the family or in this case, a quick escape while my co-worker goes shopping for a new outfit across the street.
I recommend a nice Italian drink like lemoncello or espresso with sambocca. I had a Scotch, but that’s because I was in a Scotch mood. And they have a very good selection of Scotch, Irish Whisley, Bourbon and much more.
Tanino doesn’t miss in the food department either. The Burrata caprese salad ($13.50), was an excellent mixture of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, basil and olive oil — one of my top 10 favorite dishes, and they didn’t disappoint.
I’d also recommend the lombatina di vitello ($36), a 16-ounce veal chop with raosted potatoes and sauteed spinach.
There are also more than an dozen pasta dishes including four-cheese gnocchi ($17) and three kinds of risotto.
I was impressed with the old country feel of the restaurant, it’s knowledgeable and attentive staff and most of all its deep variety of fresh food.
I sat at the bar and made chit-chat with a new, veal-ordering friend and the bartender, both also from Boston. I came away from Tanino with a great experience that will bear repeating on future trips westward.
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