Established twenty-three years ago by three Sicilian brothers by the name of Drago, Il Pastaio has become a highly renowned spot to eat, at the center of Beverly Hills, California. It definitely lives up to its expectations. Giacomino Drago, the chef, has been mastering the art of cooking for years. He grew up in Sicily, on a large piece of land where his family grew all different kinds of ingredients for meals. His family owned a neighborhood authentic Italian neighborhood restaurant. Drago would stand by his mother in her kitchen, helping to prepare meals for their family and customers. He worked with his mother until he was sixteen years old. Then he moved to California to work at his brother’s acclaimed restaurant, Celestino, in Los Angeles. After working there for four years, Giacomino felt he had enough experience to open up a restaurant of his own. He first opened Il Pastaio, followed by the opening of a few other Italian restaurants in the area. Drago also has ventured into the Japanese food industry. He has now opened up two Japanese sushi restaurants in Los Angeles.
As soon as Il Pastaio was first opened, it quickly began to gain recognition. Shortly after the opening, the Los Angeles Magazine placed Il Pastaio in the category “Top Ten New Restaurants.” Over a short period of time, Drago’s first restaurant became an instant success. Il Pastaio has been reviewed by the most prominent restaurant critics in the world. Zagat wrote, “An “elite clientele” comes in “droves” to this “vibrant” Drago Brother Italian that’s “Beverly Hills at its most Beverly Hillsish”with a “see-and-be-seen” crowd tucking into “exquisite” “homemade pastas” and other “fabulous” fare on the patio; indeed, it’s “on the expensive side”, but after a few visits the “staff knows you by name” and the “jam-packed” setting means “you might actually rub elbows with an A-lister.”
With increasing popularity, Il Pastaio became recognized throughout Los Angeles for its delectable pastas. As one can interpret with the name ,the chefs are experts in cooking all different kinds of pastas. An elaborate pasta menu includes the simple Cacio Pepe, lathered in pecorino siciliano cheese with fresh black pepper sauce and pappardelle made from housemade wide green fettuccine with a venison ragu topped with shaved white truffles. Their pasta is freshly made everyday. The versatility of their dishes gives customers a plethora of options to choose from. The menu offers a wide range of meals from artistic appetizers to marvelous meats to palatable pastas.
Aside from its one-of-a-kind cuisine, this restaurant is known for much more. Its large frontage on the corner of Canon Drive makes Il Pastaio easy to find when driving by because of the large crowd always around the restaurant. Its location, which also gives the restaurant patrons a front row seat to a luxury car show, makes the atmosphere exciting. The combination of excellent food and prime location has attracted residents and tourists all over Los Angeles to dine at Il Pastaio. With the rise in interest from foodies near and far, the sicilian-style eatery caught the attention of many well known figures, and has become a hotspot for celebrities in Beverly Hills. To complement the magnificent cuisine, the intimate environment is perfectly lighted. With the attraction of the upper class, the atmosphere becomes one which is great for people watching. Most customers are well dressed and well groomed making the restaurant an attractive area to see luxurious people. Il Pastaio has often been included on websites in their “top celebrity appearances” columns. Trip Advisor also deemed Il Pastaio a “celebrity hotspot”. Dining at Il Pastaio offers the chance to rub shoulders with Hollywood’s A-listers. Frequent diners consist of the Hadid family, Ellen Degeneres, and Sylvester Stallone. With numerous celebrity sightings and paparazzi, Il Pastaio will ensure a very “Beverly Hills” type experience.
Il Pastaio is considered one of the top restaurants in all of Southern California. Its quality of food, ambience, and service makes the restaurant belong to an elite group. According to Yelp, Il Pastaio is rated a solid four stars on over a thousand reviews. With all the extraordinary advantages that Il Pastaio offers, one can see that it is of select restaurants boasting high quality in all areas. The restaurant offers a dining experience to remember.
