Be aware that the home baked bread only comes with certain dishes, otherwise breadsticks are brought to the table (supposedly true to form to certain eateries in Italy).  There are two locations in So. Cal. – Newport Beach on Coast Highway and LA. on Highland Ave.

Insalata calabrese made with fresh mozzarella cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, pesto, sprigs of basil and Italian Olive oil.

Fried potatoes, ceci -chickpeas (garbanzos) and sage.  A masterful trio that pleased everyone at the table.

Mussels al forno with salsa Calabrese.  This was not perfection. Mussels baked in the oven are a tricky feat and the sauce was not anything authentically Italian in my book.  I thought the dish looked sloppy but you be the judge.  Taste wise, not impressed.  The bread was fought over though.

Pizza alla Benno: Speck (a type of ham), pineapple, jalapeño, mozzarella and tomato.  I did not order this and would never personally eat pineapple and ham on a pizza but the crust was good, the sauce decent.Chocolate tartufo, olive oil, gelato and sea salt.  I preferred my homemade trio of ice cream  flavors:  peanut butter, giandula (chocolate/hazelnut) and coconut.  Sorry, no picture of my trio.

For the prices, this restaurant is a little overrated.  You are paying for the notoriety and privilege of eating at Nancy Silverton’s (La Brea Bakery), Joe Bastianich’s (Master Chef and son of Lidia – PBS matron of Italian cookery) and Chef Mario Battali’s (Food TV network star and restauranteur extraordinaire) conception.

I still recommend this restaurant because the food is freshly homemade and the burrata cheese and bread alone are worth the price of admission.  No pictures of the bread or cheese because we swarmed over it like locusts.

Next time, I would like to go for a romantic – just the two of us, not Friday family night out splurge.

The picture I use for the header on my website is from Pizzeria Mozza.  It’s the Arucula, (Arugula), funghi,(mushroom) and Piave cheese salad.  It was abundant and fresh, but nothing new.

The gelati and sorbetti are your best bet for dessert.  Other flavors on the menu, besides what I mentioned above, include tangerine, pear, olive oil, pistachio, banana, mint chocolate chip and vanilla.  The other desserts on the menu were a bit pretentious albeit interesting. Maybe next time.

Lunch/Dinner Prices:       Appetizers, $12       Salads, $13 – 16        Pizza, $11 – 21     Dessert, $10 – 12