{"id":1888,"date":"2017-03-14T14:12:07","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T21:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1888"},"modified":"2017-03-14T14:12:07","modified_gmt":"2017-03-14T21:12:07","slug":"restaurant-review-drago-ristorante-los-angeles-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1888","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Review; Drago Ristorante, Los Angeles, CA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lets see …. I’ve done reviews of Airport restaurants (P.F. Chang’s<\/a>), restaurants on barques (Moshulu<\/a>), and restaurants in casinos (Red Oak<\/a>) and train stations (Traxx<\/a>).\u00a0 Steakhouses, Italian, Chinese, Seafood, and lounges that don’t even serve food.\u00a0 So clearly I have no fear of venturing off the beaten path, so to speak.\u00a0 What’s next?\u00a0 How about a museum cafe?\u00a0 That’s sound different, right?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The other weekend I found myself at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles where they had a Ferrari special going on.\u00a0\u00a0 No, not to buy, but to see.\u00a0 Actually, it was the free “Enzo Ferrari Birthday Cruise-In” and it was indeed impressive.\u00a0 Finishing an exhaustive review of these fine cars I went looking for some refreshment and a place to sit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Having been through many museums in my life across several continents, I had in mind a crowded cafe with a long line of people waiting, tray in hand, to proceed through a serve yourself counter displaying the usual assortment of packaged sandwiches, sodas, fruit plates, quick (& queasy) deserts, and expensive beers or wines.\u00a0 If I was lucky there might be a short order cook taking orders for burgers, dogs, and fries.\u00a0\u00a0 But I was parched and resigned to my fate.<\/p>\n

But no!\u00a0 Not here.\u00a0\u00a0 Here there is Drago Ristorante, a full on sit-down take-my-order restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0 The only semblance to my preconceived notions was a bit of a line at the hostess station.\u00a0 I quickly bypassed that and headed directly to the bar.\u00a0\u00a0 Yes a real bar.\u00a0\u00a0 With real liquor, a nice selection of wine, and beer on tap.<\/p>\n

The food that I tried was very good.\u00a0 And there were items on the menu that I didn’t try that really caught my eye.\u00a0 Such as “Gnocchi di Patate al Nero di Seppie” and “Spaghetti a I Frutti di Mare”, to give you a quick sampling.\u00a0\u00a0 I certainly look forward to trying additional items in the future.\u00a0 And this really makes Drago a bit different, and special.<\/p>\n

If I was in the neighborhood for any reason and was hungry and looking for a place to eat. \u00a0 I would have no issue with heading over to the Petersen Museum just to eat at Drago. \u00a0 Whether or not I was going to enter the Museum, which, by the way is truly impressive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Finally, yes, the Martini was really very good!\u00a0\u00a0 Very much in keeping with the concept that this is a full on restaurant and not a inexpensive museum soda bar.\u00a0 It was nicely mixed with the right amount of Vermouth for my ‘dry’ preference.\u00a0 The stem was well chilled and the Martini well shaken.\u00a0 The bartender was professional and courteous and the serving ample.<\/p>\n

Overall Drago gets one stem.\u00a0 \"Martini<\/a><\/p>\n

I would make a trek to Drago for the food, ambiance, and Martini.\u00a0 But not for the Martini alone.<\/p>\n

Now for Gin Selection:\u00a0 Sadly, Drago only gets a C-
\nTheir selection includes Tanqueray, Tanqueray 10, Bombay Sapphire, and Beefeater.\u00a0 That’s it.\u00a0 At the moment.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 In my conversations with the GM there I believe that this selection will expand in the future, I do hope so.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ll provide an updated review when, and if, I witness this improvement.<\/p>\n

For more information: \u00a0 \u00a0 www.dragoristorante.com<\/a><\/p>\n

If you like what you\u2019ve read, please subscribe.\u00a0 If not, please post a comment telling us how and why you disagree.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you’re curious about what one vs. two stems means,
\nI refer you to the following:
\n*****\u00a0\u00a0 Rating Definitions<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 ****<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lets see …. I’ve done reviews of Airport restaurants (P.F. Chang’s), restaurants on barques (Moshulu), and restaurants in casinos (Red Oak) and train stations (Traxx).\u00a0 Steakhouses, Italian, Chinese, Seafood, and lounges that don’t even serve food.\u00a0 So clearly I have … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[37,12],"tags":[129,130,13],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2282,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=2282","url_meta":{"origin":1888,"position":0},"title":"Bar Review: Orange Hill Restaurant, Orange, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"February 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Opening in 1958, Orange Hill Restaurant is a bit off the beaten track in the residential city of Orange, in the county of Orange, California.\u00a0 There is nothing exceptionally noteworthy about the restaurant, certainly not a Michelin starred restaurant; it is not world renown, or even nationally renown, for it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Orange-Hill-4-300x276.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1293,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1293","url_meta":{"origin":1888,"position":1},"title":"Bar Review: Joe’s, Fullerton, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"January 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever had that hankering for a good old rattlesnake sausage to go with your Martini?\u00a0 Yes?\u00a0 Well I have the place for you; Joe's No Limits Bar & Grill in Fullerton. If you follow my blog you know that I favor Steakhouses and Seafood Restaurants.\u00a0 Joe's doesn't quite\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Rattlesnake.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":414,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=414","url_meta":{"origin":1888,"position":2},"title":"Bar Review Suggestions?","author":"wlmoon58","date":"May 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you have a favorite Restaurant or Bar for which you would like a Martini review?\u00a0 Something elegant or a 'hole in the wall'?\u00a0\u00a0 Oceanfront view or a dive bar?\u00a0 Let me know and I'll make every effort possible to visit and report. As most of my readers have probably\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2103,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=2103","url_meta":{"origin":1888,"position":3},"title":"Bar Review: Vast, Oklahoma City, OK","author":"wlmoon58","date":"July 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Not long ago I was in Oklahoma City.\u00a0 I only rarely get to this part of the country and I was eager to check out some of the local Martini options.\u00a0 As one might expect from this part of the US there were several recommended Steakhouses but one stood out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shakennotstirred.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/VAST-View-1-06-21-17-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1133,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1133","url_meta":{"origin":1888,"position":4},"title":"Bar Review: Kendall’s Brasserie & Bar, Los Angeles, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"December 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I think I have a new favorite Martini Bar! Not long ago I was in Downtown Los Angeles looking for a place to stop in and quench my thirst.\u00a0 I wasn't really looking for a high end restaurant, more of a neighborhood bar.\u00a0\u00a0 However, I did end up at a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Restaurant"","block_context":{"text":"Restaurant","link":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1595,"url":"http:\/\/shakennotstirred.us\/?p=1595","url_meta":{"origin":1888,"position":5},"title":"Bar Review: Traxx, Los Angeles, CA","author":"wlmoon58","date":"July 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"On a recent visit to downtown Los Angeles I found my way into a little bar called Traxx and was pleasantly surprised with the service, decor, and most importantly, the Marini. 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