Dinner
Divino
Remembering an old LA Times article about the emergence of Italian restaurants along Barrington in Brentwood, I went in search of finding one for my friend’s birthday. However, among the multiple restaurants, which one would be best? I wanted to avoid the ones that were too expensive and yet still offered excellent service and cuisine. Lo and behold, I managed to find Divino.
Nestled in a mall near the corner of Sunset and Barrington, Divino offers a very quaint and unpretentious approach to fine dining. When first entering, one notices that there is a comforting feel to the restaurant. It is fancy and yet not fancy at the same time, which creates a pleasant atmosphere to relax and have a great dinner conversation. The wait staff is extremely friendly and very helpful. The manager and the waitress kept coming over and inquiring whether we needed anything. We even were given complimentary small morsels of delicious eggplant parmesan.
But all this would be remiss if the food were not up to the same standard. Luckily, it is. For bread, they offer a unique nan style bread in addition to the standard that one finds in Italian restaurants. I then had a spinach salad with tomatoes, goat cheese, pine nuts, and a lemon-infused dressing. All the ingredients were extremely fresh and for someone who loves green vegatables and cheese, in perfect proportion. The gnocchi was soft and fluffy, yet still had a great deal of substance. The mushroom sauce that I ordered was thick with flavor, but didn’t overpower the taste of the gnocchi. While, I didn’t get to try my friend’s spinach fettucine, it also looked very appetizing.
Given the quality of the food and the service, I was surpised to not find myself waiting an hour to get a table. So, before this place gets too popular as more people find it, I would suggest visiting Divino.
Tip: Parking is a hassle in this part of Brentwood. However, a few streets west of Barrington, you can find non-permit neighborhood parking if you don’t mind a short walk.
Divino
11714 Barrington Ct.
Brentwood, CA 90049
(310) 472-0886
By Jeff (see more of his posts).
Discussion
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I haven’t been to Divino, I almost always go to Pizzicotto around the corner on San Vicente (review to come). I’ll have to give Divino a shot, Pizzicotto is pretty small and fills up fast.