Ugo: A winning restaurant in downtown Culver City

October 21, 8:46 AMCulver City Restaurant ExaminerMary McGrath

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Delicious figs-photo by Mary McGrath

It’s not often that you can visit a place and encounter three distinct personalities under one roof. Such is the case with Ugo, a restaurant which has expanded to dominate the corner of Culver and Cardiff in downtown Culver City.

General Manger, Serafina Costanza, who has worked with Ugo’s properties for five years, has helped mold this place into a real find. Having come through the ranks as a server, and many other positions, it’s obvious that she knows the nuances that go into running a successful operation.

We visited Ugo when they first opened their café three years ago, and enjoyed this casual Italian place quite a bit. But with their expansion, visitors can now enjoy a multitude of offerings.

Start at Ugo’s Italian Bar, where you can sample libations from their enomatic machine, a wine-dispensing device giving you a one-ounce pour at varying price points. It’s easy to use. Load up your card like one would add minutes onto a phone card, dispense the liquid, and then swirl away. As you can see, a few of the fellows we met were in fine form enjoying the libations. “It’s sort of like Disneyland for adults,” one of them quipped, quoting his mother who enjoyed this experience at Ugo during one of her recent visits. This was a perfect description.

At the bar, you can also enjoy a number of small bites. We started with the Medjool dates stuffed with Gorgonzola dolce, bacon and rosemary. It was not a difficult task, the smooth orbs sliding down with little difficulty. They were even sweet enough to suffice as a dessert. Complimenting the dates was the Burrata y Pomadoro, adding a nice acidic kick with the tomatoes, coupled with the soft cheese. By the way, their Happy Hour goes from 4-7 p.m for those of you wanting to enjoy the generous offerings and modest prices on drinks.

Time to move onto the next station. Sated, we meandered into the café to indulge in a few main courses. Ugo’s café has a sunny disposition, unlike the bar, which is warm, earthy and embodies the fall and winter colors. The café will wake you up, setting the stage for another column of flavor.

Two entrees were in order tonight. For spicy enthusiasts, there’s the Rigatoni alla Sorrentina, the ridged pasta made with eggplant and mozzarella, churned with a very hot tomato sauce. Call the fire department on this one. It packs a punch.

I favored Ugo’s signature dish, the Spaghettini d’ Amalfi, much tamer in comparison to the rigatoni, prepared with chopped shrimp and capers in a white wine and light pink sauce. Both entrees are very large, and easy enough to split, if you’re so inclined. We lapped this one up like a couple of hungry sows.

Around the corner is Ugo’s Italian Bar, for a more casual dining experience. Inside, you’ll see a train of desserts, including their gelato. I’m a sucker for gelato, having gone to Venice twice, and the two flavors we enjoyed knocked me out. This season, Ugo features a pumpkin pie gelato, which sent me into a frenzy, along with their pistachio, which can do no wrong. If I squint, I’m sure I can see the canals in Venice.

Halloween is only moments away, and why not celebrate at Ugo’s annual Halloween Party, taking place in their wine bar. There, you can eat, drink and be Mary, or whatever character tickles your fancy.

Ugo: An Italian Cafe
cafeugo.com

3865 Cardiff Ave
Culver City, CA 90232-2613
(310) 204-1222