LAReview
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Alimento
Included In
Since 2014, when it opened and was promptly declared as one of the city's best Italian restaurants, Alimento has relaxed a little. They chopped half the menu and stepped back from their official duties as The Darling Of Silver Lake, paving the way for new Eastside spots like Bar Restaurant, Kenbey, and Ceviche Project. And it really works for them. Nothing about current-day Alimento is flashy, like a single peal earring or slice-of-life film, which is kind of the point. In fact, if it weren’t for the glowing “A” above the door, you might miss it completely.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
photo credit: Jakob Layman
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Corkscrew-shaped fusilli are tossed in smoked butter, coated in fennel pollen, and served with clams, a whole-heartedly Silver Lake-ian dish that could warrant an eye roll, if not for its deliciousness. The radiatori has, and always will be, a classic—a thick, weighty pasta topped with braised pork and a mildly spicy red sauce that's heavy enough to use as a blanket. Its chunky noodles resemble old-fashioned radiators, scientifically designed to trap as much sweet and salty sugo between their edges as possible. We love to eat it on rainy days, or whenever we look at our apartment’s 1940s style heater and yearn to understand it, even a little.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
photo credit: Jakob Layman
photo credit: Jakob Layman
photo credit: Jakob Layman
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Chicken liver mousse arrives artfully plated in a pastel pink smear, served with grilled bread and jam in a way that looks like a renaissance painting. The radicchio caesar salad is crunchy and bitter, and comes with a thin white dressing that’s rich with parmesan. Also, please get the chicken Milanese. People at your table might need some convincing, but trust us, this fried chicken sandwich is one of the best things on the menu. It’s sloppy and messy like a high-profile celebrity divorce, and topped in a refreshing pepperoncini slaw.
At its core, Alimento is a neighborhood pasta spot—a place to meet up with friends and commiserate over tortellini, infused with just the right amount of romance for date night. Although, be warned: despite the cozy atmosphere, you will spend cash. Even if you just drop in for a few glasses of wine and a snack, be prepared to drop over $50 a person. It's secretly formal dining, dressed up as something casual (in a way that really works), but just make sure you know the price tag.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Chicken Liver Crostone
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Chicken Milanese Sandwich
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Escolar Crudo
Radicchio Salad
Fusilli
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Radiatori
Tortellini In Brodo
photo credit: Benji Dell