Ado Ristorante - Venice

For my birthday, Gourmet Pigs took me to the cutest place. Yes, the food was good too, but don't you just love restaurants converted from quaint little houses?

We were running a bit late and she tried to call to tell them, but couldn't get through. So when we showed up, we had to wait for a table. To make up for the inconvenience, the owner poured us complimentary prosecco while we waited. I love little touches like that.


The bread basket.


Tartara di tonno (Italian Ahi tuna tartar with blood oranges and caramelized balsamic), $16.


Quaglia con porcini e polenta alla griglia in salsa di marsala (Italian pan-fried quail legs and breast served on a bed of porcini mushrooms and grilled white polenta with a marsala wine demi-glace), $16. The tiny quail was so juicy and flavorful. I wish there was more of it.


Fegata d'oca con canape all uovo di quaglia (Italian seared foie gras served on a quail egg canape with caramelized pear), $16. Mmm. The foie gras was soo yummy too.


I chose pappardelle al coniglio, porcini e prugne (Italian homemade pappardelle served with rabbit ragu, porcini mushrooms, and dried prunes), $17. The pappardelle had that lovely soft-chewiness of homemade pasta.


Gourmet Pigs had tagliolini neri al granchio e aglio arrosto (Italian homemade black ink tagliolini with dungeness crab meat, diced tomatoes, and roasted garlic), $19. This was quite lovely too and the freshness of the crab contrasted with the deep taste of the squid ink pasta.


Ate everything on my plate.


The owner checked up on us and recognized Gourmet Pigs from before, and figured out that she was the one who wrote a nice post about Ado shortly after it opened.

So he gave us complimentary desserts.

Nice!


Ricotta cheesecake.


The chocolate semifreddo was my favorite.


And he poured us more wine, compliments of the house.


By now it was closing time and the restaurant was mostly empty. Cute space. Intimate. Candlelight. In case anyone needs romantic date place ideas.


As we said our good-byes, the owner, Paolo, kissed our cheeks in the way that European men do so suavely, but that I have yet to receive as smoothly. It still makes me smile every time though.


What a lovely birthday dinner it turned out to be. Can't complain about restaurants in quaint houses, candelight, yummy food, free wine and dessert, and debonair Italian men who kiss you on the cheek. ;)

Read Gourmet Pigs' previous visit to Ado Ristorante.

Other Italian restaurants:
Bollini's Pizzeria Napolitana - Monterey Park
Bulgarini Gelato Artigianale - Altadena
Charlie's Trio Cafe - Alhambra
Claro's Italian Market - San Gabriel
Claro's Italian Market - Upland
Mi Piace - Pasadena

Ado Ristorante
796 Main St.
Venice, CA 90291
310-399-9010
Monday to Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday 5:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m.

*****
1 year ago today, Bo Xao La Lot (Vietnamese Beef Sauteed with Wild Betel Leaves).
2 years ago today, a pantry staple -- tree/wood ear fungus/mushroom.