With more than 20 different varieties on the menu, pasta is certainly king at Il Pastaio. So whether you're drawn to a classic like pheasant and mushroom ragu over spinach pappardelle ribbons, or a more outside-the-box option like spugnette don Lillo (sponge pasta with onion, peas, haricot vert, fava beans, spinach puree, and pecorino cheese—phew), rest assured that all pasta is handmade on the premises. And for the pasta-adverse (they do exist, right?), Il Pastaio offers other adventurous options such as the black squid ink risotto and the tagliata di bue, a Piedmontese filet mignon served with a potato tart, arugula, and a Worcestershire vinaigrette. Helmed by Chef Giacomino Drago, one half of the famed LA restaurateur Drago brothers (his brother, Celestino Drago is known for his next door restaurant Enoteca Drago among others), together they boast 12 local restaurants, all worth trying. Il Pastio has become a landmark with an always jam-packed patio on the corner of Canon Drive and Brighton Way. Book a reservation or come early—this place fills up fast and is pretty much busy during all hours.
