Drago Centro - Los Angeles, California

Address: 525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Items Ordered (DineLA menu):

• tagliolini pasta, seafood ragout, spicy marinara
• buffalo mozarella, tomatoes, basil, balsamic crumble
• diver scallops, garlic risotto cake, watercress, zabayon
• sausage stuffed quail, shaved fennel, garlic aioli
• vanilla panna cotta, black mission figs, rosemary puff pastry
• chocolate and olive oil terrine, salted caramel gelato, almonds

I was unbelievably excited to finally try Drago Centro during DineLA last week. Last minute reservations on a Saturday night were easy to come by, the valet parking was free, and the restaurant decor was absolutely gorgeous. So many things going right for Drago already! The wine pairing during DineLA was $22 for all 3 courses, but they also have reasonably priced carafes of which I selected a lone Sangiovese. Probably my favorite dish of the evening was the seafood pasta. Seasoning was spot on, shrimps were bursty, and the calamari had a nice bite. Just from this pasta starter, I can tell their pasta dishes are probably the stars of the menu. The plating of the buffalo mozarella was so artistic, and I loved running the mozza/basil/tomato combo through the balsamic dots. As for the mains, the scallops were huge and plump, and the garlic risotto cake while deep fried managed to taste light and buttery at the same time. I did enjoy my crispy skinned quail, but stuffed with sausage, it was just a little too heavy for my tastebuds. It wasn't a badly executed dish, but having shared 3 plates of food by this time, my friend and I were already too stuffed to stuff ourselves with any sausage-stuffed quail. Miraculously though, my friend and I managed to find a 3rd stomach for dessert, and we were not disappointed. I wish I had a better picture of the panna cotta, because it was also beautifully plated. It's probably the best version of this dessert I've ever had. The rosemary crisps played really well against the sweet panna cotta. Unfortunately, the chocolate and olive oil terrine was a little mushy, and the salted caramel gelato had melted by the time the plate was delivered. I will let that slide though b/c it was DineLA weekend, and while our server was extremely busy, he still managed to be courteous the whole meal. I really loved the whole dining experience at Drago Centro, and I will surely return for a nice lunch, dinner, hot date, birthday, Wednesday, you name it.

--y

Mo-Chica - Los Angeles, California

Address: 514 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Items Ordered:

• Watermelon margarita - jalapeno infused espolon blanco, watermelon, lime juice, agave nectar
• Pan con Tuna - grilled bread, spicy tuna, cucumber jalapeno relish, yuzu mayo
• Anticucho de Pulpo -  grilled octopus, roasted potatoes, jalapeno sauce 
• Chicharron de Pollo - marinated crispy chicken, rocoto aioli
• Picarones - sweet potato & kabocha (squash) donuts

Who doesn't love the great food and drink options in downtown L.A.? I wish I could go there more often. After visiting San Antonio Winery for free tastings & hitting up Seven Grand's great happy hour whiskey cocktails, I walked across the street to find Mo-Chica with an open table for 2 to help me soak up the libations. Things were really going my way. To continue my drinking trend, I started with a watermelon margarita. It was great, not too sweet or sour or strong--just a nice refreshing drink. We weren't that hungry, and the small plates actually filled us up for the rest of the night. I loved every dish. The tuna was fresh tasting, moderately spicy, and I liked the squishy bread and mayo that it was served with. The grilled octopus had a nice smoky flavor, and was probably my favorite of the evening. The fried chicken tasted just like it's counterpart at Picca, and the meat was still juicy and steaming hot on the inside. The picarones had a nice texture, kind of like eating mochi, except that they tasted a little burnt--although they looked great when the dish arrived. I would definitely return to Mo-Chica, especially when the wait at Bottega Louie is bordering on ridiculous, and I need to combat my low blood sugar or alcohol addiction asap. I hope to make a return visit sooner than later!

--y