Inside the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, you will find Scarpetta. Celebrity Chef Scott Conant, known for appearances on Bravo�s Top Chef, and as a judge on Chopped, amongst other appearances; Conant has developed a modern Italian menu for Scarpetta, using fresh, seasonal produce with authentic and rustic flavour combinations.
The service was simply faultless throughout our visit. As we arrived, we were greeted with a smile, and shown attentively to our table on Scarpetta�s beautiful patio area. We were lucky enough with the weather to thoroughly enjoy watching the sunset during the evening. It�s a very beautiful spot indeed.
We began our experience with two beautiful cocktails from Scarpetta�s excellent cocktail menu. We thoroughly enjoyed the simplistic, yet well-balanced Portofino, which saw gin blended with lime, Maldon salt, cucumber, and mint - a very refreshing blend indeed. The second cocktail we chose was named Amore, and consisted of a fruity mix of rum with blackberries, Cointreau and lime. They were both simply delicious.
�The staff at Scarpetta really are a credit to the restaurant, and our evening was enhanced notably by their attentiveness.�
We spent a while perusing the menu and making our choices. The patio at Scarpetta holds that special atmosphere where time almost stands still as you enjoy the moment, and completely detach from the stresses of everyday life. Our waiter explained the menu in great detail and offered us their recommendations, and eventually we made our choices.
To start, we ordered the big eye tuna crudo with tomato water vinaigrette, cucumbers, basil, and sea beans; as well as the caramelised figs and prosciutto, with goat�s cheese, arugula, and pistachios. The tuna was a real highlight, with such fresh flavours, and the fig dish did not disappoint either - with the sharpness of the perfectly ripe goat�s cheese cutting through the sweetness of the figs perfectly. We we�re expecting big things from our main courses�
For our entrees, we thoroughly enjoyed the homemade spaghetti with tomato and basil - simply, but wonderfully executed, and bursting with flavour. We also sampled the slow roasted Scottish salmon with fava bean puree, preserved lemon, and artichokes. As a side dish, we ordered the Brussels sprouts, which were also beautiful.
We were very impressed by the quality of the ingredients. You must not be fooled by the perceived simplicity of the dishes on the menu at Scarpetta. Evidently, a lot of good thought and excellent knowledge has gone into developing each dish, and Conant has accomplished big things when it comes to bringing out the maximum flavour possible from each ingredient and dish component. We were very impressed indeed.
We would thoroughly recommend Scarpetta to anyone - it�s a great find for excellent food and brilliant service. The staff at Scarpetta really are a credit to the restaurant, and our evening was enhanced notably by their attentiveness. If you�re looking to be properly looked after, then Scarpetta is the place for you. We can�t wait to return and sample some more of Conant�s delightful dishes.
The Bill: �67 per head
