Scarpetta (Beverly Hills, CA) [5]

Scarpetta
Montage Beverly Hills
225 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Dining date: 4/2/16

Having dined here just a month ago, I made a quick return to Scarpetta to eat here one last time – on its last day in LA. I dined at the chef’s counter during the restaurant’s opening night in 2010; on this night, it was only fitting to dine here one last time.

Similar to past visits, we had a tasting menu built to enjoy some old favorites, as well as some new ones.

Raw Yellowtail olio di zenzero & pickled red onion
Big Eye Tuna Crudo santa barbara sea urchin and crispy sunchokes

I’ve had this duo of raw preparations many times and was glad to have it once more. Flavors were clean and bright.

A5 Wagyu Carpaccio brussels sprouts, rye crisps

Thin, rich slices of fatty wagyu were paired up with plenty of bright acid, slivers of Brussels sprouts and some crisped rye. Really nice.

Seared Sea Scallop smoked butter bean purée, guanciale, baby leeks & crispy breadcrumbs

Scallops had a great sear, sweet and flavorful with a little bit of greens.

Creamy Polenta fricassée of truffled mushrooms

The polenta is always a treat, creamy and smooth with upfront earthy flavors from shaved black truffles. Beautiful.

Spaghetti tomato & basil

Always a favorite.

Bucatini maine lobster, calabrian chili, burrata, toasted breadcrumbs

This was my first time having the bucatini. Spicier than I expected, the al dente pasta was tossed with chunks of sweet lobster and creamy burrata. Toasted breadcrumbs added some pleasant crunch to each bite.

Uova da Raviolo duck egg, ramps, ricotta & brown butter

The raviolo exploded with its yolk-ricotta filling; ramps and morels provided much more depth to this savory luscious dish.

Apple Glazed Berkshire Pork Chop celery root purée, housemade sauerkraut, & finger noodles

Pork chop was cooked perfectly, accompanied by the sweet puree and some acid from the sauerkraut.

Banana Napoleon walnut filo, brown butter toffee sauce & caramelized banana gelato

Cheesecake strawberries, rhubarb, fennel pistachio ice cream

Our duo of desserts were both strong. The banana napoleon was the favorite, crispy with creamy whipped banana. The fennel pistachio ice cream that came alongside the cheesecake was also very good.

Scarpetta will be missed. The closest location of the restaurant is now at Las Vegas’ Cosmopolitan Hotel. As for the space, it is going to be turned into an all-day dining concept from chef Geoffrey Zakarian. The remodel is expected to be swift with an opening in just a couple of months.