Il Moro Ristorante, Los Angeles

Il Moro's Italian Restaurant and Wine Gastro Bar features a magical combination of excellent cuisine by the two gentlemen from Bologna; Executive Chef Davide Ghizzoni and Chef Davide Marchetti. The finest appetizers, soups, salads, homemade pasta, seafood, veal and steaks are served up by the most talented Italian waiters anywhere.

Opened in Los Angeles in 1994 and named for Othello, Shakespeare’s Moor of Venice, Il Moro Restaurant has earned its place among the annual roll call of Contemporary Restaurant Classics. The entrance of Il Moro presents a luxurious space, with polished walls of brass gleaming in the distance. Darkened wood floors set off the elegant visuals of furnishings wrapped in chocolate leather. Surrounding the room are hundred upon hundreds of wine bottles, meticulously maintained behind protective walls of glass. The brushed stone of the bar extends in a large semi-circle, offering easy service to the entire entrance area.

During the morning hours, guests arrive to sample classic Italian breakfast pastries and sandwiches, compliments of Pastry Chef Davide Marchetti, along with a complete selection of freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.

Now owners Gaetano Foiani and Elio De Santo have recently completed an
indoor remodeling that envisions a renewed fashionable style of Italian dining.
Jeff Daniels designed the décor, the dramatic, sweeping architectural details
of the dining room provide an extraordinary canvas for the works of Italian
artist Patrizia Martiradonna. The artist brilliantly depicts her work as offering
rustic, colorful abstracts that reveal reflections of life in flux, an appropriate
analogy to the fresh perspective taken by the restaurant.

Il Moro’s owner Gaetano Foiani offers the largest selection of Italian wines in Los Angeles, and is the proud to have assembled a wine menu of approximately 50 wines by the glass and more than 150 by the bottle. Mr. Foiani’s objective is to unearth and showcase rate gems from lesser-known boutique vineyards of Italy, France, and California. Il Moro offers Wine Happy Hour from Monday through Friday, 5:00pm until 7:00pm, as well as Sommelier led tasting events every Tuesday night.

Caipirinha Gregg Marx

At the bar, we tried the famous Caipirinha, a Brazilian drink, made
with love, and with the authentic Pitu cachaca. Don’t miss this one.

On Friday’s you can also enjoy at the bar the amazing musical entertainment performed by talented singer Gregg Marx and The John Sawoski Trio.

Il Moro offers an environment as enticing as their entrees. Adjacent to the
gorgeous and luxurious Dining Room, diners can enjoy al fresco dining on
the Patio, which features comfortable atmosphere. Smoking is permitted
in the Patio's open atmosphere.

Shakespeare Stout Fried Calamari

As the dinner hour approaches, Executive Chef David Ghizzoni brings the term
“gastro Bar” to life, filling the entire bar space with a veritable smorgasbord
of antipasti such as polenta, calamari, this one the best in town.

The cuisine of Il Moro offers the classical regional presentations of Italy’s Bologna/Emilia Romagna region. Chef Davide Ghizzoni presents the food of his family, his home, and his culture. Many of the items listed on his current menu are prepared exactly the same manner that his grandmother was taught to prepare them decades ago, with Chef Davide going so far as to source and import the exact ingredients required. Regional cooking? Authentic? “I only cook what I know,” states the chef. “It is what we do best. It is our life and our passion.”

Polenta Fresca Jumbo Sea Scallops

Our dinner was without a doubt, simply spectacular, and we were truly pleased with every single dish that we tasted. We started with samples of delicious “antipasti” such as Salsiccia Caserccia in Umido con Polenta Fresca; a house made Italian style pork sausage stew with braised onions and tomato sauce, served with soft polenta, if you love Calamari, you simply can’t miss this one, it is the best in town, also the Capesante Ubriache al Porto, was to die for; a Jumbo sea scallops wrapped in zucchini flamed in a hearty Port sauce, topped with crispy leeks, and our last was the spicy Tartar di Tonno in Spuma Di Avocado; diced fresh Ahi Tuna mixed with finely chopped black olives, sun-dried tomatoes and shallots, dressed with a light lemon dressing. Served with avocado mousse and hot crostini bread. Simply heaven, I just can’t describe the freshness and the taste of these appetizers selection, but they were absolutely fantastic.

Ahi Tuna Artichoke Salad

The best salad we ever had and that I could eat every single day is their famous Artichoke Salad, this is such a light delicious salad that Elio told us, some customers goes there almost everyday just to enjoy it. I would certainly do the same, if I could.

As a good Italian myself, I can’t have my meal without wine, and among all of their incredible selection of great wines, I tried the 02 Barolo – Damilano, Piemonte, the most fantastic wine to enjoy our superb meal.

Lobster and ShrimpTortelloni Risotto alla Marmellata

Our dinner’s entrée start coming and I can’t say which one was the best, since everything we had was truly delicious. The Tortelloni d’Aragosta in Colate di Zafferano; filled with lobster and shrimp, bathed in a creamy saffron sauce, nothing
can taste better than a home made pasta with lobster, this one is certainly an
amazing dish. As a good Italian, I could not miss the Risotto alla Marmellata
di Cipolle e Bocconcini d’Agnello, made with the authentic Italian rice Arborio, sautéed with onions marmalade, diced braised lamb and thyme. I loved this
dish, in my opinion this is the best comfort food you can have.

Pumpkin Tortelloni

Well, since Thanksgiving approaches, you can’t miss the Tortelloni Di Zucca con burro e salvia. The Tortellonis are filled with pumpkin, fruit mustard, nutmeg, crushed amaretto cookies and then sautéed with a veal and chicken Bolognese sauce flavored with a touch of cinnamon. This dish has been also a tradition at Il Moro where the Tortelloni is served in a Pumpkin, adding to great taste also an incredible
presentation. I could not ask for a better meal.

Lamb chops with artichokes hearts and served with a Porto wine reduction

Among an incredible selection of meats, and fishes we choose the Costiccine d’Agnello al Porto e Mandorle; Lamb chops grilled to perfection and served with Porto wine reduction, lamb sauce and gently dusted with blached slice almonds, served with fresh sautéed artichokes hearts. Another dish that I must say,
don’t miss it. The aroma of the meat along with the Porto wine, makes
it what I called; unforgettable.

As a good Italian, I just can’t miss the desserts from their own Pasticceria. The menu is certainly one of the best I’ve seen in such a long time. They offer about 11 choices of authentic Italian desserts and it is very hard to decide which one to choose from.

Chocolate tart with espresso parfait in Apricot sauce

We asked the chef to surprise us, so we were truly amazed by the 2 choices we got; if you are a choco lover like we, you should go for the Choccolatissimo Con Pairfait al Caffe, a chocolate tart with espresso parfait in apricot sauce, and the Bavarese Di Ricotta e Cioccolato in Crema Inglese e Profumo d’Arancio; a Silky smooth ricatta bavarese with chocolate quenelle in a orange vanilla sauce. Yes, were were in heaven.

Ricatta Bavarese with Chocolate Quenelle in a Orange Vanilla Sauce

Il Moro Ristoranti is simply a place where you will not only enjoy the ambiance, but the service and the food. This is a place that you can easily call home, because once you go there, you will always return. There is simply a feeling of family and the way they make you feel is like being at your own home, with your own family.

Friendly Italian Staff Davide Ghizzoni

I want to thank from the bottom of my heart Elio De Santo for allowing us to enjoy such an incredible dinner and for making us feel part of your own family. We will certainly return and bring our family next time to enjoy the most amazing and authentic Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.

Grazie Mille e arrivederci presto!

For map and location click Here!

For more information please visit their website at www.ilmoro.com

Today is: Friday, April 19, 2024