THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Ristorante al Mare

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Ristorante al Mare Restaurant Review:

If Ristorante al Mare feels like a tourist trap due to its location, right at the entrance of the Santa Monica Pier, and its very dull décor, it does not when it comes to the cuisine. Executive chef Giacomo Pettinari, Italian, of course, oversees a very pleasant menu of Italian fare and takes quite good care of what comes out of the kitchen. The evening we went we got to try a long list of dishes and were never disappointed. We started with the bruschetta al pomodoro; fried and baked eggplant Parmigiana with mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan and basil; salmon carpaccio; and calamari fritti. Then came the lasagna Bolognese and must-have house squid ink spaghetti with calamari, shrimp, mussels, clams and spicy marinara. There are ten choices for pizzas, some soups and salads. Since you’re by the ocean, why not try the branzino prepared Sicilian-style, or the tasty cioppino? If you insist on selecting meat, we recommend the oven-braised beef short ribs served with green peas purée and garlic-thyme sautéed vegetables. Chocolate lovers will indulge in the “Cioccolato,” defined on the menu as “6 different chocolate shapes, textures and forms.” Traditional Italian desserts include tiramisu, and panna cotta all’ Amarena, a Hawaiian vanilla pod custard with Italian baby black cherry “Amarene Agrimontana.” You can also come for a draft beer at the bar or a specialty cocktail. The building has three levels, so the higher you go, the better the view.