The story
At Pasta|Bar in Encino, the tasting menu is the only option—and that is exactly the point. This Michelin one-star restaurant, located at 16101 Ventura Boulevard in Van Nuys, offers a single, $245 per person tasting menu that changes with the seasons and the chef’s imagination. The experience begins in a well-appointed front bar, where drinks and a snack set the stage for what follows.
The cooking here is rooted in a philosophy of “from scratch” preparation, drawing on the flavors of California and the culinary techniques of Italy and beyond. The result is an eclectic, contemporary American cuisine that travels well beyond traditional borders. Expect dishes like a raviolo filled with king crab, fermented pineapple, and macadamia nuts, or cavatelli with Iberico pork, chile pasilla mixe, and earthy mole. Australian lamb loin is paired with a merguez sausage made from its own belly meat, matched with cherries, cipollini, and a dusky rose-hued pasta filled with braised lamb neck. Desserts are equally inventive, such as a bone marrow custard topped with blackberry granita and crisp meringue.
The Michelin Guide describes the concept as “one for the books,” noting the engaging staff and the host of hyper-local, delectable items. Reservations are released on the first of each month for the following month, and parties of five or more should contact the restaurant directly. Whether you are a pasta devotee or simply curious about what modern American-Italian cooking can be, Pasta|Bar delivers an adventurous, memorable dinner.
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