THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Baldoria Bar + Kitchen Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Baldoria Bar + Kitchen Restaurant Review:

David King (Osteria Mozza) and Duke Gervais (Pizzeria Antica) partnered on Baldoria Bar + Kitchen. This casually elegant, sleek Little Tokyo spot offers a menu of modern small plates meant for sharing. Look for delectable Caribbean spiced confit duck wings jazzed up with tangy mango salsa, and pistachio-crusted grapes with Gorgonzola crema. Braised bacon arancini are satisfying savory bites, too. Given the restaurateurs’ pedigree, it’s not surprising that the pizza is arguably the best in the neighborhood. Haute toppings range from charred baby octopus to flat-iron steak with yuzu kosho; we also enjoyed the subtle nuances of the wild funghi conserva pie, with three kinds of mushrooms, Bloomsdale spinach, taleggio and gremolata. You may not want to share the fine salted caramel semifreddo. King’s cocktail program is unique --- he offers only batched, bottled and numbered cocktails, and invites local guest bartenders to contribute their creations. Once it’s sold out, it’s gone, which can sometimes be a disappointing experience. However, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the bar's sophisticated drinks, served beautifully, and frequently heightened by house-made bitters and nitro-muddled herbs. There’s a large, thoughtful craft beer selection (draft and bottled); a higher-end spirits list; and a short but quite compelling wine list with a focus on France, Italy and Spain.