Aromas of sautéing garlic and fresh-picked basil waft through the dining room of the newest Drago family restaurant in Beverly Hills – Via Alloro. Appropriately named, Via Alloro represents the street the brothers and chefs Giacomino and Tanino Drago grew up on in Sicily and ‘alloro’ in Italian means bay leaf.
Los Angeles has been the home of the Drago family restaurants for twenty years and continues to be a dining staple. Giacomino and Tanino Drago own eight restaurants collectively, including notable Tanino in Westwood and Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills. Via Alloro is their latest venture that opened January 2009 and with the largest patio seating in the area, it is a place to see and been seen. Their other restaurants are Panzanella in Sherman Oaks, Piccolo Paradiso in Beverly Hills, il Buco Ristorante, Celestino in Pasadena, and Shu Sushi in Bel Air.
The Drago brothers - Giacomino and Tanino Drago - with fan Andy Garcia
Italian cuisine for the Drago brothers, from Sicily, is a generational birthright as they continue to preserve authentic recipes handed down through the ages of the Drago family. Giacomino and Tanino are part of a incredible culinary family. Their parents still live in the house that they were born and raised in with six other siblings.
Via Alloro’s Menu
Via Alloro’s menu reflects this heritage by featuring traditional Italian cuisine and yet also highlights the Drago brothers’ creative flair. For example, a swordfish Carpaccio or a zucchini blossom stuffed with fresh ricotta and mozzarella is a perfect way to start the meal. Their entrees range from homemade pasta dishes to stone oven pizzas.
Beautiful private dining room at Via Alloro
Veal Milanese or a Branzino with capers, olives and Sicilian oregano are wonderful choices for the meat or fish lover. And leave room for dessert as their Cannoli Via Alloro, or warm Chocolate Tarte are the finishing touches to a well-crafted meal.
Enomatic
Enomatics machines are all the rage in Los Angeles for experimenting in wines by one’s own curiosity and desire. Via Alloro features an Enomatic, featuring 16 bottles to choose from, allowing you to try a selection of wines by the ounce. Try a few before you decide on what bottle to order to pair with your meal.
Sports Fans
The Drago brother’s appreciate sports fans whether you’re cheering for the Lakers, the Dodgers or the Kings. Via Alloro’s lounge offers 7 flat screen TVs that you can watch sports all the time from basketball, baseball, ice hockey, football, soccer and maybe a little tennis. You can enjoy all of Via Alloro’s menu favorites in the lounge as well.
Private Parties
For your next celebratory occasion, Via Alloro, with their spacious private dining rooms, is the perfect place to make your guests feel honored and appreciated. Choose from a key location inside the restaurant or choose to have you party in the private patio outside. The Via Alloro staff will help you design the menu according to your wishes and budget. For details, contact them at 310-275-2900.
Private Patio at Via Alloro
Lunch Specials
Want to impress a business client or meet a friend for a luxurious lunch date? Via Alloro offers an affordable first class lunch experience Monday – Friday, three-course menu for $29.95.
Giacomino Drago Biography
Giacomino Drago is the youngest of eight children, the family grew and made almost everything they ate. From pressing olives to making olive oil, to making fresh cheeses, to watching his father make wine from their own vineyards and he carries this made-from-scratch tradition in the kitchen of Via Alloro.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GInTBW_1qDE[/youtube]Tanino Drago Biography
The thirty year old chef and owner of his namesake Tanino Ristorante and Bar has created a true gem of a place to celebrate Italian cooking, eating and passion for life. Reminiscent of his childhood days in the small town of Galati, Tanino Ristorante and Bar is flavored with the sights, tastes and smells that allow each guest to enjoy a little of Tanino’s rich background.
The beautiful bar at Via Alloro.
Via Alloro for All Occasions
Whether you need a romantic spot for a date, an impressive power lunch or a private dining room to have a party at, with the Drago brothers at the helm of Via Alloro, your every desire will be granted in the Sicilian way of warm hospitality and authentic Italian cuisine.
Via Alloro
301 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.275.2900
[email protected]
www.viaalloro.com
Via Alloro outdoor dining.
