Rushing from Downtown LA to Mid City LA isn’t a difficult drive on average day. However, when the drive is after work, getting from one side of town to the other becomes a little challenging. As an Angeleno who is almost allergic to traffic, a drive such as that must result in something exceptional. Lucky for myself and my friend Ajay who came along for the journey, it did. We were heading to Bianconi for a media dinner that would showcase the menu of the new restaurant to us and a few other area social media influencers. I was excited for the diner because the Italian restaurant is the latest opening under restaurateur, Fabrizio Bianconi, who is also the owner of Via Veneto. Since I had such a delicious dinner at Via Veneto (the company can be disregarded), I was ready to see how his latest concept would fare. Walking into the restaurant it was beautifully seductive. Bianconi was dark yet well-lit enough so you could still see your friends and the plates in front of you. The restaurant was sectioned into multiple spaces that each carried its own energy: a casual lounge area with comfortable couches to a private dining area with an inviting fireplace.

Taking a seat with the others attending the dinner, Ajay and I were in great company with food friends I hadn’t seen in a while. Sitting in their lounge area, we were with Los Angeles Foodie Girl, Eat with Hop, Dude Let’s Eat, Ev’s Eats, and Noms and Beyond. As we all began to catch up, the waiter came by to take our drink orders. I started with the Sweet Valentine ($16). Yes, it’s an expensive drink, but it’s an expensive restaurant so that was understood early on. Cost aside, the cocktail was gorgeous. It took raspberry liqueur, prosecco, lemonade, and Chase Elderflower all swimming around a set of flowers. The signature cocktail was light, sweet, bubbly, and easy to drink. It didn’t taste heavy with liquor, but still carried the same excitement as if it did. I loved the beautiful design of the drink and how colorful it looked. I’m pretty sure ordered two of these.

The second cocktail of the night was Ana’s Aviation ($14). The cocktail had the perfect amount of Plymouth Gin alongside lavender syrup, Violette syrup, and lime juice. I loved that the gin wasn’t a prominent taste in this drink. Instead it combined nicely with the sour lime juice to create a pleasant balance. Add to that, the lavender and Violette offered a calming accent that made the drink incredibly relaxing!

Of all the plates served that night, there were three that were clear winner for mes.

The first plate was the Gnocchi Al Patanegra ($24). The housemade potato gnocchi took slowly cooked ragout  Spanish iberico de belota pork . The cooked dough of the gnocchi was so soft and thick and it almost melted with each bite. The small bits of pork were juicy and the ragout served as a nice sauce to the entire plate.

The second was the Ravioli ($28). Out of the kitchen came a plate of three raviolis: lobster, pumpkin, and asparagus. A plate that was reminiscent of my dinner at Via Veneto, this one was just as rich in flavor as the one I had before.  I loved how the restaurant served a selection of different types of raviolis as it gave us all the chance to find a favorite. While some enjoyed the light and healthy taste of the asparagus and others fell for the heartiness of the lobster, I found myself focused on the pumpkin. Sure, I’m a pumpkin spice latte fan the minute fall comes around, but in spite of my bias the ravioli is delicious. Of course I enjoyed the asparagus and the lobster like everyone else, but the smooth and gentle spice both inside and outside of the pumpkin was a taste that I couldn’t resist!

The final dish for the evening was a showstopper: The Tomahawk ($90)! The wood grilled 34oz steak was an eye catcher. To get us excited about it, they brought out the uncooked steak for us to see. The deep red color of the heavy meat got me and a few others drooling. As the waiter took it away, we patiently waited for it to cook. In just a matter of minutes, the cooked steak arrived just as it had before. Except this time, the grilled exterior was no longer a deep red but a brown.  It didn’t take long for them to slice it and the meat still had the dark color. The taste of the meat was incredible! It was full of flavor, juicy, and succulent. Two slices of it after all the other food was more than enough. This could easily be the only dish I had and I would have been thoroughly satisfied!

My dinner at Bianconi was incredible. The moment I walked in it felt like I was in a restaurant that was designed with relaxing seduction in mind. Even more, from the cocktails to the entrees I was presented with drinks and dishes that were executed so well that they carried a taste I was more than excited to have. This restaurant is such a lovely addition to West 3^rd Street and I will gladly drive from any part of Los Angeles just to have another dinner at Bianconi again.

Want to see more plates from the evening? Of course you do! To see all the other dishes that we loved that night, check out the photos below!

Follow Them.
Address: 8338 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: (323) 879-9777
Hours: Daily – 6:00pm to 1:00am
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.