THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED La Maschera Ristorante & Enoteca

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED La Maschera Ristorante & Enoteca Restaurant Review:

Chef Adnen Marouani and Sean Jemai, former partners at Amori Trattoria in Hermosa Beach, have moved up the freeway to lively Old Pasadena, with this seductive Moorish-influenced ristorante. With its rich mocha-colored walls, ornate ironwork, banquettes topped with cushy throw pillows and rustic wooden tables, La Maschera doesn’t look like your typical trattoria and its menu is not entirely predictable. Begin with an assortment of olives---spanning the Mediterranean from Italy to the owners’ native Tunisia---or appetizers like zucchini-wrapped scallops with mango-lime salsa or beef carpaccio drizzled with mustard dressing. Among pastas, you may consider an outstanding roasted chicken ravioli with a chunky, robust Trapanese sauce (tomatoes, garlic, walnuts, breadcrumbs, basil and capers); or opt for wild mushroom gnocchi with tiger shrimp and sage in a Pinot Grigio sauce. The pizzas---with an ultra-thin, crispy crust more reminiscent of Napoli than Pasadena---genuinely impress us, and generously portioned main courses include grilled salmon with a Dijon-balsamic dressing and filet mignon with Cabernet-pink peppercorn sauce. In the sexy lounge-enoteca, dominated by a long candlelit bar, there’s an intriguing menu of small plates to accompany a praiseworthy wine list showcasing both Italy and California.