Ciao Trattoria

Parking: Valet
Live Performances, Delivery, Catering, Take Out Upscale, Bar Scene Bistro Moderately noisy Private Parties Banquets

Tucked into downtown's Fine Arts Building -- one of L.A.'s great architectural treasures -- this is a very respectable destination for standard trattoria fare. But unlike most L.A. trattorias, Ciao boasts an environment that wouldn't look out of place in a chic Milanese shopping district. With its richly carved barrel-vaulted ceiling, a generous use of mahogany and unique terra cotta accents, the restaurant is a visual delight and serves as an ideal prelude to the theater or symphony (and will get you out on time).

Starters include insalata Caprese with a quality buffalo mozzarella, beef carpaccio and a crunchy calamari fritti. For entrées, the extensive menu offers predictable but tasty pastas, gnocchi, veal Marsala and Mediterranean-style salmon. The restaurant caters events in the adjoining cathedral-like Romanesque lobby, which boasts a graceful burbling fountain, colorfully tiled arches and ornate terra cotta figurines -- a truly striking venue for any cocktail party or reception.

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