The past two years of blogging has opened the door for people to ask me for restaurant recommendations. The question comes my way as frequently as someone asks, “How are you doing?” The minute someone knows what I do, I can see the words form in their mind before they ask, “Where can I eat in (insert city name here)”. I usually respond with a few questions to figure out the person’s preferences and will list a few of my favorites accordingly. When a friend asked “What’s a good restaurant in Whittier?” I was almost speechless. “Um, is Whittier still a city in California?” I mumbled foolishly. It is of course, however, I haven’t spent much time in the area exploring their food since I left a previous job close by. Even then, the Whittier wasn’t flowing with great eateries like you would find in central Los Angeles. Just as the question was asked of me, I was invited to Ravello Bar & Grill to explore their menu and their restaurant. With a hope of finding a great spot to recommend to others, my friend Gian and I were seated in the restaurant to see what it was all about.

I was a tad skeptical, but after I saw the lovely layout and design of Ravello, I could see the restaurant was starting to grow on me. Upon entering, it was clear that they wanted to uphold an elegant appearance. The tables set with wine glasses, white tablecloths, and comfortable seats gave off an aurora of style. In contrast, they managed to maintain their stylishness while having a bar surrounded by big screen TVs. Even though a baseball game was playing, it didn’t feel like the typical bar that comes to mind. Instead, Ravello somehow exudes a casual yet sophisticated appeal that welcomes everyone regardless of their attire.

As ready as we were to dive into Italian food, we started with drinks. I explained to our waitress, Eva, that I was looking for something sweet but was captivated by the description of the Posta Aerea ($13). The cocktail took Skyy Pear, lime, honey, prosecco, and mint. She made a perfect suggestion of increasing the amount of honey. When she brought the cocktail to the table and I got try it, I quickly realized how much I adored it! From the sweetness of the extra honey to the light and refreshing citrus of the lime, I ended up finishing it faster than I expected. Gian, on the other hand, went with the Sidecar ($15). His drink wasn’t sweet at all in comparison to mine. It was made of combier d’orange, Hennessey, lemon, and had a sugar rim. Although it looked like it would easy based on the bright color alone, it was dry and strong. Perfect for the person who loves a stiff drink.

It wouldn’t be dinner if it didn’t start out with bread, right? At Ravello, we were given a basket with a selection of breads to go with various sauces. Butter balls, olive tapenade, and a balsamic olive oil were just a few that would cover our bread. But as nice and soft the bread was it, it became a complete afterthought once our true appetizers were placed before us.

The first appetizer that really showcased the new restaurant in Whittier was the Tuna Crudo ($16). Bright pink cuts of tuna sat alongside a cucumber salad, pickled ginger, soy and wasabi. The slices of tuna were incredibly fresh and absorbed the soy sauce and wasabi like they were created solely to be put together. As pretty as this plate was, it was gone quickly! I didn’t realize just how much I enjoyed this plate, but I would soon find out that I wouldn’t love it as much as I would love the second appetizer.

That appetizer was the Grilled Shrimp in Prosciutto & Basil ($12). On a beautifully colored plate were jumbo shrimp wrapped in prosciutto that sat atop of a mascarpone polenta and a garlic vermintino beurre blanc. The flavors that erupted from the shrimp that were nicely sealed by the prosciutto were delicious. There was an even balance of the saltiness that came from the meat which easily spread onto the lightly seasoned seafood. Each bite of the shrimp came with a juicy burst once you bite through it that felt like we were exploring new tastes that had yet to be discovered. That only increased as I tried the polenta. It had a delightful spread of a creamy and gritty texture that still managed to uphold a gentle taste.

To set the stage for the entrees, Eva suggested Ravello’s Ravioli of the Day ($20). The plate took ravioli with crimini, roasted butternut squash, mushrooms, and covered it in a brandy cream sauce. Reminiscing on this plate excites my taste buds like it did the moment I first tried it. I loved how the soft pink shells were filled with an incredibly smooth squash that soaked up the brandy cream. It was the kind of plate that could stop a table conversation just so you could enjoy what you were eating to the fullest. Ultimately, it was the type of plate that the next time a person asks me where to eat in LA or where to eat in Whittier that I will suggest Ravello.

While the ravioli could have easily served as the sole entrée for the dinner, which honestly it should have, Gian and I each ordered an entrée. In our defense, Eva suggested the ravioli and we didn’t have the heart to say no. That’s a lie, we were too in love with the way she described it that “yes” was the only thing we said. Since the ravioli was gone, Gian ordered the Penne with Spicy Italian Sausage ($21). Seared spicy links, a fontina and Parmesan cheese, and pecorino made up his plate. I didn’t take more than a single bite of his pasta as my own entree was sitting in front of me. However, in that single bite I loved how spicy the sausage was. The small rounds of the meat were peppery and covered in a creamy cheese that made me want to go for seconds. I did, but with the second fork I stopped myself. I couldn’t be that greedy.

Or could I?

I wasn’t. Mainly because my order of the Colorado Lamb Chops ($38) was waiting for me. The lamb chops was such a great decision. The beautifully grilled cuts of lamb were cooked medium rare and were drizzled with a Pinot noir thyme jus. Not to be plated alone, the lamb chops came with a helping of garlic-mashed potatoes and an eggplant ratatouille. The lamb chomps were incredibly succulent and tender and came off the bone with little effort. The fluffy mashed potatoes were the exact side that I could ask for. This became another dish that if I was asked where was a great place to eat in LA that I would sing Ravello like Whoopi Goldberg sang about Jesus in Sister Act. You could cue “I Will Follow Him” and each word would be directed to Ravello.

Whoops, don’t take that the wrong way Jesus.

To end what was a fabulous Italian dinner, we had dessert. We split the Pumpkin Crustada ($8). That’s not true, Gian really didn’t have any of it because he was full at this point. Without the same concern, I eager took my fork to the plate of pumpkin cake that was covered in candied pecans, a brown sugar crumble, and smeared with salted caramel. The dessert was incredibly rich with moments of saltiness that arrived from the caramel. It quickly became a dessert that was too decadent to finish after the entirety of the plates that preceded it. It took everything in me to put my fork down and to throw in the towel. Accepting defeat is never easy, especially when it tastes too good.

Dinner at Ravello was more than I expected to be found in Whittier. Within the cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and the dessert were levels of flavor that are hard to come by. The chef has created such delicious plates that will turn the restaurant into a place that I would eagerly recommend when asked where to dine in Los Angeles. The staff (Eva especially) instilled a wonderful atmosphere that made it easy to get to know them all and made me never want to leave. I’m so thankful that I got to experience this type of dinner and that it is sitting in a city that I (clearly) underestimated. Ravello has entered Whittier and I hope it takes over the restaurant scene like a storm.

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Address: 6746 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: (562) 945-8723
Hours: Monday to Thursday – 11:00am to 11:00pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00am to 12:00am, and Sunday 11:00am to 10:00pm
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