Parking: First 3 Hours Free (no validation required) at Westfield Century City underground lot
Daily, 4-8pm, 51% off drinks; $5 select appetizers – in bar & lounge only
I’m a sucker for any lounge where the soundtrack consists of the vocal stylings of Frank Sinatra, Dean-o, Peggy Lee, and all the gang. The music sets the vibe for a swank, relaxing time – and it’s all the better when it’s at a swank, relaxing Happy Hour spot like Toscanova.
It was a happy occurrence that JG & I got to go on a little Happy Hour Tour at the Century City mall. After not-wonderful service at Rock Sugar’s Happy Hour, we were very excited by our mob-boss treatment at Toscanova. Okay, that’s going a little far, but it was kinda night & day from Rock Sugar. For starters (literally), our server quickly brought us a complimentary appetizer plate with tomato bruschetta on crusty bread, homemade pickles, and small slices of cheese pizza.
We took a couple minutes to decide on our 51% Happy Hour selections – so named for the 51% off drink sales, including all wines and the regularly $12-priced specialty cocktails, ordered in the bar & lounge area. We ended up going for the Happy Hour priced $4.50 glasses of CK Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc and the Stone Cellars Chardonnay (for JG & I respectively).
And for our continuing Happy Hour bites, we had the run of a $5 appetizer menu with options like Calamari Fritte e Zucchini (fried calamari and zucchini served with arrabiata sauce), Involtini di Asparagi con Carpaccio di Manzo (asparagus wrapped in beef carpaccio topped with truffle cheese fondue), we elected for the Spiedini di Gamberi (shrimp skewers) and the Involtini di Melanzana e Ricotta (rolled eggplant with ricotta). The shrimp were perfect, toasted and warmed and buttery and lemon-y, and the ricotta eggplant, well, it tasted like dessert!
Besides the good food and service and awesome soundtrack, JG & I also liked how even though the bar area wasn’t totally packed, it was still pretty busy and there was a good sense of hustling and bustling by all the staff.
Bravo! Toscanova, well done!
--JB
Rating: 4.5 Martinis
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