THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Osteria Bigoli

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Osteria Bigoli Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: After the success story of Pane e Vino in Montecito and Los Angeles, chef Claudio Marchesan has now “retired” to this shoe-box restaurant on the famed Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Don’t think you can just walk in and get a table, though, as the place is always packed by neighbors who are in the know about this hidden gem. Perhaps it's not really accurate to say Marchesan has retired, since after having a long, and delicious, dinner, we can tell you that he is mastering his old-world Italian cuisine quite well --- not that easy to do when many Angelenos like it new and edgy. It’s a nice feeling to be seated at one of the wood tables along the brick wall or at the small bar: you feel secure and relaxed indulging in his comfort food.

Likes: All the dishes are tasty.
Dislikes: Small, so it can be hard to get a table.

About the food & drinks: Start with the homemade burrata served with pesto, grape tomatoes, garlic crostini and prosciutto or the grilled octopus. The raspberry vinaigrette makes a winner of the arugula and roasted beet salad with goat cheese, candied walnuts and sweet onions. We also like the Caesar salad made with little gem lettuce. As the restaurant is named after a Venetian pasta, you can expect quite a long selection here. Order what you feel like that evening as they are all good, though we recommend the pappardelle with braised short ribs; the “silk handkerchiefs,” which are thin pasta squares topped with Genovese almond-basil pesto; or the homemade bigoli with slow-cooked wild boar ragù,shiitake mushrooms and sprinkles of Pecorino cheese. The pesce del giornio was a branzino, which was baked with white wine and garlic instead of grilled like we see so often. It made us think we were having dinner by the Mediterranean. The quickly grilled lamb chops will melt in your mouth. Side dishes include roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and balsamic vinegar. If you ask Marchesan, he will bring you his homemade tripe. Finish with a light tiramisu or the heavier bread pudding with Chantilly sauce. There is a short wine list with mostly Italian offerings at affordable prices.