Piatti -- La Jolla, CA

Piatti is a quaint gem tucked away on a small commercial street in La Jolla Shores, not too far away from the beach. Part of a small chain, this particular branch (the only one in Southern California) has a warm and intimate ambience full of charm. Sharing the same neighborhood as sandwich joints and kayak shops, it nonetheless exudes an air of sophistication and class, perfect for a romantic dinner or special meal with friends. Aside from the main dining area, Piatti also has a boisterous bar area as well as an outdoor patio complete with heaters for those chilly La Jolla evenings.

The busy dining area with open kitchen

As is customary for Italian restaurants, they start you out with some warm bread and vinegar dip....but that's where the general similarities end. The dip at Piatti is a flavorful balsamic vinegar/olive oil/parsley/chili/garlic mix.....the explosive flavor provides a welcome twist to the usual dip one would see in other Italian places. All I can say is....amazing!

Fresh warm bread with the most incredible dip ever!

Piatti seems to be well-known for their pasta dishes, and indeed they live up to their reputation. The linguini pescatora came out piping hot, with well-textured strands of linguini doused in a tasty white wine tomato sauce and accompanied with generous amounts of notably fresh shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari and fish. The rolled pasta was equally delicious, stuffed with ricotta cheese, spinach and wild mushrooms in a porcini mushroom cream sauce. Without exaggeration, each bite leaves you craving more!

Linguini Pescatora ($19.95)

Rolled pasta ($15.50)

I've also heard rave reviews about their antipasti and secondi items, although that will call for another visit! Aside from a variety of savory items, Piatti also offers a tantalizing dolci or dessert selection. Although their tiramisu seems to be the most prominent item, the other selections promise to satisfy any sweet tooth. The cioccolata was perfectly executed; a not-too-sweet chocolate silk cake with a pecan and walnut crust that went quite well with the raspberry sauce. 

Cioccolata ($6.95)

As with any popular Italian restaurant, reservations are a must. Although it's better to dress up a bit, Piatti is by no means a pretentious place that one might expect. It's perfect for a special night out with friends, family or a significant other, having a good time over quality food and wine. La vita e bella indeed!

Piatti Ristorante & Bar

2182 Avenida De La Playa

La Jolla, CA 92037

Map

858 454 1589  

Mon-Thurs 11:30AM-10:00PM

Fri 11:30AM-11:00PM

Sat 10:00AM-11:00PM

Sun 10:00AM-10:00PM

piatti.com/lajolla/