La Traviata Restaurant Menu

La Traviata Restaurant Restaurant Review:

In a dramatic, airy space fashioned after a 19th-century opera house, this restaurant was beloved for many years for its fancy Italian fare and live opera on weekends. Its revamp has updated it to bring an even greater vibrancy, with a hopping bar and lounge packed with regulars. Eclectic live music ranges from gypsy to pop rock, and a streamlined menu features high-end contemporary Cal-Italian fare. Chandeliers, flowing drapes, frescoes and large Italian paintings still lend a grand operatic atmosphere to romantic dinners or special occasions. Start with venison carpaccio with horseradish aïoli or phyllo-wrapped mushroom strudel. For mains, a hefty hunk of moist Chilean sea bass is glazed with miso, and tender filet mignon is nicely offset with a Cognac green peppercorn-mustard brandy sauce. For dessert, robust crème brûlée vies with a deep chocolate soufflé for attention. The wine list is short, select and extremely reasonable. Service is solid. For all its striking visuals and posh menu items, La Traviata’s greatest asset remains its ebullient owner, Mario Nasab. A consummate host, he greets every diner personally, sees to each small detail, and brings a profound warmth to his establishment that makes it a special place, indeed.