THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Obicà Mozzarella Bar, Pizza e Cucina

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Obicà Mozzarella Bar, Pizza e Cucina Restaurant Review:

There's traditional Italian, and then there's authentic Italian. The experience at Obicà Mozzarella Bar, Pizza e Cucina is authentic where it counts, from the lovely staff to the food. The ambiance of this Santa Monica location is modern, with concrete floors, sparse details and light wood furniture. The music flows from lounge to international. A covered patio with heaters and soft lighting is charming and comfortable, while a strip of counter seating allows guests to watch chefs up close. Close your eyes and allow the food to take your taste buds on a voyage around Italy. We're in Portofino after sampling from a small bowl of bright house-made pesto, a bit warmer than room temperature, with datterini tomatoes. A platter of salumi and fresh cheeses (bufala classica, bufala affumicata and burrata) served on a bed of mâche lettuce evokes Parma. A classic bufala, tomato and basil pizza comes to the table and we can almost feel the sun of Naples. Ravioli stuffed with ricotta di bufala and kale in sage butter sauce transport us to Modena. We're summoned to Venice by way of squid ink taglierini with Sardinian mullet roe, crab ragù, Santa Barbara sea urchin and teardrop tomatoes. The ingredients are so fresh that you can taste the sea. Finally, the torta di Capri (flourless chocolate and almond cake with fior di latte ice cream) and panna cotta with fresh passionfruit should not be missed. Breads and pizza dough are all house made with Italian brands, and all cheeses, with exception of the burrata, are flown in from Italy twice per week. Obicà is the real deal. Also located at Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 310-556-2452, and 8630 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-360-5983.