Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi Awards

Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi Restaurant Review:

Movie stars and Malibu surfers rub shoulders at this family-operated restaurant in the Santa Monica Canyon. With its rich wood and white linen-topped tables, this ristorante has the feeling of a hideaway from another place and time. The kitchen’s simple, rustic dishes include a lightly fried soft shell crab, agnolotti stuffed with sweet corn in a truffle sauce, spaghetti with bottarga, and langoustines devoid of any fussy embellishment. Truffles and a Fontina cream sauce contribute to the beef carpaccio, and the seasonal branzino, flown in from Italy, is grilled and served with lemon juice and olive oil, just like on the Amalfi Coast. Equally satisfying is the tagliata, New York steak seared rare with baby artichokes. Butterscotch pudding is a rich blend of salty and sweet to conclude a meal. The wine list includes bottles from throughout Italy, including some worthy of celebrating a major movie contract.