Locanda del Lago Serving Up Northern Italian Flair in Santa Monica for Over 20 Years.

                                           
In LA a restaurant lasting 10 years is quite the accomplishment seeing as 90 percent of restaurants fail in their first year. So a restaurant lasting for over 20 in a major city like Santa Monica must be doing something right.   Locanda del Lago is that spot resting on the popular and ever busy Third Street in DT Santa Monica.  So what does LDL have on their menu? Expect Northern Italian dishes. Currently they are running a Dine LA menu and that's below the photos if you want to see it. Heres a few of my favorite dishes.

The bone marrow risotto is my favorite thing here. Its a rich thick plate of risotto topped with a caramelized slab of bone marrow to mix into your rice or just eat by itself (it is basically meat butter so I wouldn't suggest it)

Strawberry panna cotta is a classic Italian dessert. Think of it as jello's sophisticated cousin. Smooth and creamy and finished with tart berries, this is a light satisfying dish.

The salt encrusted cod is a awesome sight. They encrust a fillet with rock salt. This crust cooks the fish much more precisely, think a clay oven built just for this fish. Done its juicy and flakey.


                                              231 Arizona Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90401

Seafood sampler

Bone marrow risotto 

Cheese crackers. 

Strawberry panna cotta 

Salt crusted cod 

cannolis 

Dinner Menu

Three-Course Tasting Menu…$50  ~  Wine Tasting Pairing…$22

To begin, choose from:

                        Vitello Tonnato        Roasted, Chilled & Sliced Veal, Genoa Tuna-Caper Aioli, Micro Rainbow Greens, Shaved Parmesan

                                                                Wine:  Pinot Grigio Collio, Borgo Conventi, ‘12

                       Burrata Caprese        Burrata Cheese, Farmers’ Market Organic Heirloom Tomato, Basil Oil

                                                                Wine:  Prosecco Brut, Valdo

                   Insalata di Spinaci        Market Spinach Salad, Hard-Boiled Egg, Crispy Parma Prosciutto,    Honey-Mustard Dressing

                                                                Wine:  Sauvignon Blanc, White Oak, ‘13

                Pappa al Pomodoro        Rustic Tuscan Heirloom Tomato Sauce, Toasted Bread,

                                                                Grilled Tiger Shrimp

                                                                Wine:  Pinot Grigio, Lagaria, ‘13

Followed by choice of:

                   Tagliolini di Farro,        Farro Tagliolini, Imported Dried “Missoltino” Lake Fish, Caper Berries,                                     

                                  Missoltino        Cherry Tomato Sauce                    

                                                                Wine:  Chianti Classico Riserva, Monsanto, ‘12

            Gnocchi al Formaggio        Housemade Spinach & Potato Gnocchi, Padano-Pecorino-Caprino-Ricotta Cheese Sauce, Pistachio

                                                                Wine:  Merlot, rutherford, ‘12

               Risotto aglia Agrumi        Risotto. Market Citrus Zest, Tiger Shrimp                             

                                                                Wine:  Rosé, Adorno, ‘13              

        Branzino allo Zafferano        White Seabass, Saffron Sauce, Baby Carrots, Caramelized Onion…add $3                     

                                                                Wine:  Chardonnay, Ferrari Carano, ‘12

          Pesce in Crosta di Sale        Salt Baked Wild Chilean Sea Bass (MSC Certified, Environmentally Sustainable), Sautéed Julienne Vegetables, Clown Potato…add $8

                                                                Wine:  Sauvignon Blanc, White oak, ‘13

                 Guancie di Agnello        Slow-Cooked Lamb Cheek, Summer Savory, Sautéed Zucchini…add $3

                                                                Wine:  Cabernet, Buehler Vineyards, ‘11

            Filetto di Bue, Porcini        All-Natural Creekstone Filet Mignon, Porcini Mushroom Sauce,      Sautéed Broccolini…add $8

                                                                Wine:  Super Tuscan, Lucente, ‘11

Finally, a sweet choice of:

                       Tortino di Cocco        Coconut Tart, Housemade Mango Gelato, Cherry - Caramel Sauce

                                      Tiramisú        Lady Fingers, Espresso, Mascarpone Cream, Cocoa, Cappuccino Sauce

                               Panna Cotta        Traditional Vanilla Custard, Strawberry Sauce, Almond Tuille

Wine:  Moscato d’Asti, Michele Chiarlo “Nivole,” ‘12