May 2018

Rossoblu – Los Angeles (Downtown)

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

I had such a fantastic dinner with my friend Diana when Rossoblu first opened that I was eager to return with The Astronomer for a recent night out. We consider ourselves big fans of Chef Steve Samson’s Italian cooking and were excited to get a taste without having to trek across the city. Downtown truly keeps getting better and better.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

Whereas Sotto is deeply focused on southern Italian fare, Rossoblu is inspired by the foods of the Emilia-Romagna Region in Northern Italy. The dining room was fantastically energetic on a Thursday night.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

With the work week nearly over, cocktails were in order. I sipped a traditional negroni on the rocks ($14) with Carpano Antica and Campari.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

Never one to resist the combination of berries and fresh herbs, The Astronomer ordered the Casanova Cup ($14) with lemon, blackberries, basil, grappa, Angostura bitters, and New Amsterdam vodka.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

And for good measure, I also had a glass of the Poderi Colla 2015 Barbera D’Alba ($17) that was as “soulful” as the drinks menu described.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

The Astronomer and I ordered plenty of food to pair with our adult beverages. The “Salumi” ($25) plank included all that is good in the world

From the house-made head cheese and whipped dry-aged beef tallow to the imported mortadella and prosciutto di Parma (aged 30 months), every morsel was absolutely exquisite. Served on the side were crescentine fritte, a kind of light and airy fried bread, and a creamy dish of stracchino cheese.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

I insisted on a single grilled West Coast oyster ($4) loaded with brown butter, sage, Parmigiano Reggiano, lemon, and breadcrumbs. While I usually prefer my oysters fresh, the accouterments here really added something special.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

Next up was the “Marinated Big Eye Tuna” ($16) with heirloom beans, charred frisée, and fried onions. The pairing of raw fish and beans was a first for me, and while the flavors married well enough, I found the combination of textures challenging.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

Moving on to the highly-anticipated pasta portion of our feast, we started with the “Tortellini in Brodo” ($22). From the delicately stuffed parcels to the rich and homey broth, it’s hard to say which element of this seemingly simple dish delighted us more.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

My favorite noodle from both visits was the “Maltagliati” ($24), wide egg noodles with mushrooms (porcini and pioppini), dandelion greens, and sage. Even The Astronomer, a mushroom-loather through and through, could rally behind this most excellent bowl of pasta.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

Also quite delicious was the “Papperdelle” ($22) wrapped in a broccoli-tinged sausage ragu with ricotta cheese.

Rossoblu - Los Angeles (Downtown)

And finally, with our health in mind, a most virtuous side of “Blistered Snap Peas” ($14) with ricotta, mint, and pecorino.

Rossoblu is a really lovely place to spend the evening eating, drinking, and merry-making. The Astronomer and I highly recommend it.

Rossoblu
1124 San Julian Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213-749-1099

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