There’s a beauty in the city of Hollywood that people don’t always see. It’s often goes unnoticed because of all the people trying to “make it” in the city of flashing lights. You’ve experienced it: the so-called writer handing out his screenplay on the sidewalk or the CVS cashier who breaks out into Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” during checkout. This isn’t American Idol, lady so please shut it. When you’re finally able to look past it all, you’ll see the beauty of what Hollywood has to offer: great attractions, shops, and restaurants. One restaurant in particular that maintains the authentic splendor of Hollywood, in spite of the city clutter, is Aventine Hollywood.

I was invited to check out the menu at this restaurant and was a tad skeptical at first. Since it sits on Cahuenga Boulevard (the headquarters for all things douchebag related), I assumed the space would reflect its surroundings. That the inner workings of the restaurant would be crude, loud, and obnoxious—pretty reminiscent of that one ex you wish you never dated. I was wrong. The space is alluring, inviting, and best of all transcendent! You walk inside from the loudness of guys hollering at girls and you’re taken into a restaurant that seems almost otherworldly. It was kind of like walking into the closest and stepping into Narnia. Hello there new world! There are giant multi-candle holders overflowing with wax, roses in tea pots, plants flowing from oversized vases, mirrors along the walls, and a breathtaking tree growing in the patio area! It’s as if Aventine brought the luxury of Rodeo Drive to the scenester boulevard of Hollywood.

Instead of ordering whatever I thought would be best, I let the waiter steer my foodie ship. He told me the best dishes and drinks of the restaurant, and I went for it. To start, I got the Aventine Cup ($13). It’s made of Nolet’s Gin, Pimm’s, Veev Acai Berry Spirit, and simple syrup. It was light, fresh, and balanced the fruity flavor against the gin. It’s such an easy drink that I didn’t realize how quickly I finished it and wanted another; move slowly, because the bartender doesn’t skimp on the gin and it’ll hit you quick!

To eat, I first had the salad, a Caprese ($15). It combines watercress salad, marinated wild mushrooms, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, Saba dressing, and the show stealing buffalo mozzarella. Unsure of how to take on the salad I dove into the oversized mozzarella the let the supporting characters of the plate follow. It was somewhat tangy and mild, smooth, and when topped on the leafy greens and dressing it was impeccable! After the first bite, it was impossible to leave anything on the plate.

The second course was the Ravioli Rossi ($21). Freshly made pasta shells were stuffed with short ribs, Swiss chard, and rice in a demi cream sauce. While the pasta appears small, its size is deceiving. The short rib filling was hearty, full of flavor, and cooked perfectly within the shells. Add to that, the sauce veered of the side of a thick and creamy gravy, instead of a traditional tomato flavoring. It was a dream!

The entertainment of the entire meal came with the Branzino ($32). It’s a European sea bass with roasted potatoes, vegetables, and oregano in a white wine citrus vinaigrette. Don’t think that the waiter will simply bring it to your table, smile, and leave. No my dear, it’s a show. Once the plate leaves the kitchen, the waiter sits it on top of a serving tray to debone it in seconds right before your eyes. Slicing the sea bass down the middle, he quickly removes the spine and any remaining bones, displaying it open for you to eat without interruption. How he managed to get each bone out in such a dimly lit room is beyond me. The bass itself was succulent, the vegetables were crisp, and my satisfaction was through the roof.

I loved this meal, I loved this trattoria, and I loved the staff. While the restaurant is in an area that can quickly be submerged with celebrities and tourist, Aventine preserves both comfort and lavishness inside its doors. Allow me to reiterate: the food is beautiful, charming, delectable. Altogether, it’s kind of hard to leave, but you have to. Seriously, I wanted to stay and relax within the décor but it would have been so awkward for the waiter to shoo me out. Like, “C’mon lady we’re closed already.”

That would have been embarrassing.

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Address: 1607 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 500-0969
Hours: Monday to Thursday – 6:00pm to 11:00pm, Friday to Saturday – 6:00pm to 2:00am, Closed on Sundays
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.