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Chef Claud Beltran, long a fixture on the Pasadena dining scene, teamed with wine bar guru Mike Farwell (Vertical Wine Bistro) and Alex Gallego to create this intimate restaurant. The main room, with walls lined with posters honoring Paris’ legendary Willi’s Wine Bar, is primarily for wine tasting. Another small room accommodates overflow crowds or private events for which Beltran is particularly adept. Most of the dining area, however, is outdoors, on a charming, landscape-buffered patio with a burbling fountain. Beltran is an accomplished chef and his small plates with eclectic inspirations are consistently solid. Heirloom tomatoes might be paired with quality burrata cheese and a vibrant parsley pesto, and lamb chops appear with a picholine olive purée. The lively spirit of New Orleans appears with shrimp rémoulade and gumbo, while wild boar chile verde stew and seared foie gras with passion fruit sauce reinforce the versatility of the kitchen. The wine list, a global affair with 600-plus labels, is first-rate, with plenty of good bottles for bargain hunters and an international celebration of Pinot Noir. A wide selection of wines by the glass, including generously poured flights, suits the small plate format, and Noir always offers a notable selection of cheeses and charcuterie. For dessert, consider chocolate mousse, a cobbler or Cabernet sorbet with fresh fruit.
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