In celebration of All Hallows' Eve tonight, I bring you the spookiest looking pizza you'll ever eat – you can bet your mortal life on it.
Hostaria del Piccolo – an Italian eatery with locations in Santa Monica & Venice – is the evil genius behind this dish. First off the dough is black, but from Squid Ink, not food coloring (that would be scarier). Then it's topped with bright flesh pink Seared Ahi Tuna, ghoulish white Mozzarella, and graveyard Microgreens.
In the spirit of Halloween, the restaurant is decorated with cobwebs, skeletons, and witches. Underneath it all, the design is modern with cool blue & silver tones, stone floors, and dark wood walls. And the staff nearly transports you to Italy, as they barely speak a lick of English. However, they can show you what to "mangia".
The Grubdown:
- forget Italy, this pizza whisks you away to Asia with umami, earthy, seaweed 'n celery salt, Tonno Nera Pizze Bianche with Squid Ink Dough, Fresh Tuna, Green Onions, Mozzarella & Pizzaiola Crudo Sauce $18
- simply beautiful recommendation from the waiter, perfectly cooked, surprisingly starchy pasta-water flavor, grainy 'n lightly acidic, Gluten Free Spaghetti with Lentils, Roasted Tomatoes, Arugula, Parmesan & Olive Oil $16
- one-note flavor, grill marks & Balsamic punch it up, would've enjoyed it more with a mushroom medley, Ricottina with Seared fresh Ricotta, Seasonal Enoki Mushrooms & Vincotto $10
- sharp cheesy bite to the nose, best with a charcoal back, Formaggi Pizze Bianche with fresh Mozzarella, Smoked Mozzarella, Ricotta, Goat Cheese & Gorgonzola $13
- Rosemary overpowers it, meat is tender, pasta is rustic, but coulda used more sauce, Tagliatelle with slow braised Beef Bolognese & Parmesan $17
Overall, I was really impressed with the diversity of the menu, the new & inventive dishes, and how light 'n fresh it all tasted.
Happy Halloween!
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