The Divine Dish

Dinner at Culina, Beverly Hills

Posted on Jun 25, 2013 under Archives | No Comment

Located in the heart of Beverly Hills in the Four Seasons Hotel, the modern Culina offers guests the option of dining at the authentic crudo bar, inside in the urban rustic spacious dining room or outside on the garden patio. The al fresco dining area features beige and yellow low chairs and comfy banquettes amidst a living wall of succulents and a modern fire and water fountain.

I recently visited with my friend Travis for a story on outdoor dining.  Here is what we sampled:

We started off with a nice mix of table olives.  The crudo bar is a unique feature at Culina, offering wide variety of fresh seafood.  We sampled the tonno, mackeral and kampachi.

Next came a nice set of arancini balls with truffle, wild mushrooms and fontina cheese.

Travis sampled the special octopus salad which was tender and perfectly prepared.

I stuck to trying the two salads, the culina caesar with tuscan kale, romaine, olives, parmigiano reggiano and a lemon anchovy vinaigrette and the rustica with kale, sundried tomatoes, garbanzo beans, artichokes, pine nuts and prosciutto.

We loved the pastas which included my fave, a bucatini alla carbonara with guanciale, pepper, egg and thyme and also a nice tortellone di ricotta with ricotta, egg yolk, lemon, crab, butter and basil.

We also sampled a nice proscuitto burrata pizza with heirloom tomatoes, arugula and rosemary oil on a whole wheat crust and a main course of branzino with tomatoes, capers and lemon.

Desserts included a warm chocolate cake with amaretto sauce and a trio of pistachio, fig and coconut ice creams.

Culina is a perfect location for a romantic date on the outside patio, to meet up after work for drinks and appetizers at the crudo bar, or for a relaxing Italian meal.  Located in the Four Seasons Beverly Hills at 300 S. Doheny Drive, reservations recommended at 310/860-4000.