 The trio behind Pizzeria Mozza---Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich---strikes again with this larger spot right next door, on the corner of Melrose and Highland Avenues. The grey and black toned décor creates a New York atmosphere, even if some patrons wear shorts and hide their identities under baseball caps---an outfit you’d rarely find in the Big Apple. The action here splits between the mozzarella bar and the cocktail bar, the former offering a half-page of dishes composed of variations of the soft white cheese (mozzarella, burrata, fiore de latte), the latter enhanced by a collection of illuminated bottles. Have your mozzarella seasoned with caramelized shallots, basil, caperberry relish or mint pesto and accompanied by a variety of ingredients such as braised artichokes, prosciutto di Parma, leeks, bacon or celery. Antipasti options include grilled octopus, crispy pigs’ trotters and braised artichoke with a lightly cooked egg yolk. Continue in the Italian vein with nearly a dozen pasta choices, or sample snapper, Santa Barbara prawns, pan-roasted wild salmon, grilled quail, lamb or roasted pork, or a 24-ounce, porcini-rubbed, bone-in rib eye. Desserts are simple: torta della nonna, olive oil cake with olive oil gelato, and several homemade gelatos and sorbetti. The all-Italian wine list provides a wide array of selections from many regions and in many styles.
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Osteria Mozza Restaurant is one of our 2012
| Top 10 LA Special Occasion Restaurants
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Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area. Also, check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.
