Hot New Restaurant -- Aventine

The Quick Pitch: Veterans of the flashiest moments of Hollywood’s neighborhood revival – JT Torregiani (Beso), Sylvain Bitton (Les Deux) and Gian-Paolo Veronese (the dance club AV, which bowed last year immediately next door) – have opened this rather restrained Italian restaurant in the middle of Cahuenga Boulevard’s infamous nightlife corridor. Amidst a homey décor of red brick and rough wood, plates filled with black truffle salumi, black lava salt-studded burrata and mozzarella-stuffed meatballs burst forth from the kitchen as reasonably modulated indie rock swells from the speakers. Bigger dishes range from thin-crust pizzas (pancetta, prosciutto) and pastas (gnocchi, agnolotti) to stomach-lining standbys (branzino, ossobucco).  

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The Insider’s Dish: In the summer, the owners plan to host indoor-outdoor soirees from the main dining room back through the rear patio and out on to the alley area beyond.

The Must-Order Item: Grilled lamb chops with kumquat confit.

The Industry Neighbors: Shine America, ID PR and World of Wonder.

1607 N. Cahuenga Blvd., L.A., 323.500.0969, aventinehollywood.com