Frommer's Review
In a sea of mediocre restaurants along Santa Monica's Third Street Shopping Promenade is this corner trattoria that reminds you why Italians are the world's best cooks. Locanda del Lago (Trattoria of the Lake) is the only restaurant in Los Angeles that specializes in cuisine from Northern Italy's Lombardy region. Both the co-owner and executive chef were born in Milan, worked in Bellagio, and share a passion for food that hasn't waned since this warm, friendly restaurant opened more than 14 years ago. I dined there with my chef friend recently, and we both agreed that the house-made whole-wheat pappardelle tossed in a duck ragout was the best pasta dish we've ever had. (Unfortunately it's not on the regular menu, but I'm lobbying for it.) On sunny days there's no better place in L.A. to people-watch than at the trattoria's outdoor patio, savoring a glass of chianti while tucking into the house specialty -- osso buco alla Milanese, a veal shank slow-cooked in white wine and vegetables, topped with traditional gremolata (a parsley, garlic, and lemon zest mixture) and served with saffron risotto. Other outstanding dishes include the butternut squash risotto with seared scallops, and tagliatelle Lago, house-made tagliolini tossed with pink trout and escarole in a thyme-infused white-wine sauce. After a hard day's shopping there's no better place on the Promenade to relax than Lago.
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