VILLA BLANCA

9601 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills (310) 859-7600

 

Glorious in its opaque white beauty, Villa Blanca, located in Beverly Hills’ prime shopping zip code, is our vote for the perfect date restaurant. Not too noisy or dark, this refreshing new restaurant is a comfortable and convivial option for those in search of an elegant evening without the fuss. Everyone from the valet to our charming hostess, Pilar and the attentive staff seems to have been coached in how to make you feel truly special. The welcoming villa, with its modern baroque design, intoxicating flower arrangements, and open-air feel is the brainchild of Lisa Vanderpump-Todd and Ken Todd whose Sur in West Hollywood is already popular with the hip crowd.

 

Chef Francis Dimitrius, a rare Southern California native, attended the California School of Culinary Arts and stinted at bastions like Matsuhisa and Koi. Here, the executive chef regales patrons with an attractive Mediterranean, Asian and European-influenced menu but shows tremendous restraint in his execution. Appetizers include Lobster Crisps – miniature tacos with a generous portion of sweet lobster and accented with guacamole – and the Crispy Rice & Spicy Tuna – pan-fried rice cakes topped with harissa aioli-kissed Ahi tuna and jalapeno. While both could use more heat, the combination of textures is balanced and suits anyone resistant to spicy fare. Perfect for summer, the Belgian Salad matches the bitterness of the endive with the sweetness of Asian pears and the pungency of Pointe Reyes blue cheese. A martini menu with an emphasis on vodka produced an addictive Lychee martini, a customized Espresso martini and, to the credit of the bartender, an impressive, impromptu Gin-basil gimlet.

 

Entrees continue to reap large portions. The grilled Australian lamb chops with sweet and spicy mint sauce and the most delicious soy-glazed haricot verts are cooked to perfection. The seafood paella is abundant with langoustines, calamari, tiger prawns, mussels, clams and chorizo over saffron risotto. But they’ve definitely saved the best for last and this comes in the form of a sinful sticky toffee pudding that reminds and then successfully overcomes any calorie-concerns.