From the outset of our stay in Beverly Hills, my brother-in-law planned our Aloha Dinner or farewell dinner at one of his favorite Italian restaurants where he was a longtime diner. I had not heard of Piccolo Paradiso or seen any advertisements for it, but I have always trusted my brother-in-law's tastes in food. Also, the flavors of traditional Italian cuisine are among my top likes, as is his. I looked forward even more since he raved about two entrees and their fresh, house-made kinds of pasta.
We parked in the Beverly South Parking structure along South Beverly Boulevard, walked past Pascal on Beverly at the corner of Charleville Street, and caught sight of Piccolo Paradiso's red awning and white tented sidewalk dining area. Thankfully, my brother-in-law made dinner reservations for indoor dining because it was a chilly and rainy night. The hostess recognized and warmly greeted my brother-in-law while escorting us to a table inside. The interior featured vintage posters of a classic Sicilian film, Piccolo Paradiso, from which this restaurant draws its name, and several gorgeous Murano glass art pieces. The white linen-topped tables with "candle" lighting looked elegant yet comfortable.
Meanwhile, our server, Gaetano, approached our table to take our cocktail and appetizer requests and cited their truffle special menu. Gaetano was smiley, friendly, and professionally efficient. He provided us with menu descriptions, which helped us to solidify our choices, which my brother-in-law had already suggested we try.
FOOD:
- Calamari Fritti: crispy fried calamari served with arrabbiata and tartar sauce. We were impressed by the crisp, golden, and barely noticeable light coating, which revealed tender squid rings and legs. $20.95 (missing photo)
- Insalate Piccolo Paradiso: arugula, fresh mozzarella, tomato, hearts of palm, and shaved Parmesan. We requested to share the salad, and we're glad we did. The generous portion was perfect to share between me and my husband. A very light and fresh-tasting dressing balanced this salad's spicy arugula. $20.95 (missing photo)
- Carbonara: Linguine, guanciale, eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, and pepper. It's not our dish. I didn't try it, but it sure looked tasty. $28.95
- Linguine con Aragosta e Granchio: Linguine, lobster, crab meat, lightly spicy tomato sauce. My husband was shocked by the considerable pasta portion size and the amount of shellfish in this entree. The tangy tomato sauce lifted the seafood's delicate flavor $34.95
- Braciola di Vitello: Grilled rack of veal, rosemary sauce, mashed potato, and vegetables. When my entree was delivered, my body convulsed with the meat sweats. The perfectly grilled veal chop was delicately flavored, sweet (as veal should be), and tender. The rosemary sauce was also lightly flavored while adding a hint of more seasoning to the meat. $52.95
- Cannoli alla Siciliana: Homemade Sicilian cannoli with ricotta and candied fruit. The famous line from The Godfather, "Take the gun. Leave the cannoli." came to mind when these delectable, crisp, and light-fried tubes were delivered to our table. Its ricotta filling, a Sicilian culinary staple, was lightly sweet and airy, yet dense, light, stiff, whipped heavy cream. The use of candied fruits reflects one of the Arab flavor and technique influences in Sicilian baking. $12.75
- Tartufo: Chocolate semifreddo. My chocoholic traits were cued when I saw the word "chocolate." The semifreddo, or frozen dessert similar to ice cream, was rich milk chocolate with a vanilla center enrobed in dark chocolate or cocoa powder. The cocoa powder balanced the sweeter milk chocolate. $12.75
We were happy to have been introduced to Piccolo Paradiso by my brother-in-law as we found the ambiance, flavors, value and service top-notch. We'll return for sure. read more