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Zach's Cafe in Studio City: LA's best kept secret
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Nestled behind a small parking lot is a white restaurant with green shutters which would remind one of a misplaced Bed and Breakfast establishment right off of Ventura Blvd.
There is plenty of patio space with white plastic tables and umbrellas for shade. Knowing the cuisine was Italian, I found the outside decore baffling. As I am led by the hostess to a cute little section to right of the intial entry way, I notice the beautiful murals which help to create a great a setting of sitting in an Italian market place.
Matt, the owner decides that today we are going to do a tasting menu. He sends out some of the dishes which he believes best reflects Zach's Cafe. We start with a cream of broccoli soup. Sometimes you get a cream of broccoli from a place that is too thin but at Zach's Cafe it is creamy, hearty and filled with broccoli bits. It brims with flavor. Along with our soup, piping hot rolls are brought to us. Mozzarella cheese is cooked into the rolls. The delicious rolls taste like they just came out of your grandma's oven, nice and moist. Then we try one of the best sellers on the catering menu, the Adam's Baby Greens Salad. Salad lovers, run don't walk to this restaurant because the salad is absolutely deliciously. My dining companion could not get enough of the salad which consists of apples, green onions& spicy walnuts tossed with homemade sweet vinaigrette dressing . The walnuts are spiced and candied at the restaurant.
The main course dishes are chicken parmigiana, a seafood pasta dish which is not yet on the menu and our favorite, the goat cheese and mushroom lasagna. The first two dishes are very good standard comfort food but the goat cheese & mushroom lasagana is a briliant combination of garlic scallions, shallots, a touch of marsala wine, Mozzarela, white Cheddar & Romano cheeses, topped with a wonderful goat cheese cream sauce. This gets an "A" for Originality. We could not get enough of this dish. The goat cheese & mushroom lasagna could push Zach's into a year end run to be among the top ten Comfort Food Restaurants in LA.
Considering that the meatless dish of the Goat Cheese and Mushroom Lasagna is one of the best on the menu, vegetarians still have a lot more to look forward to including a Vegetarian lasagna with eggplant, black olives, onions, creamed spinach, mushrooms & zucchini, layered with four Italian cheeses and topped with marinara sauce. Meat lovers, there are two other lasagna dishes on the menu with beef and pork options.
As for dessert, we are blown away by the classic Italian favorite of Tiramisu. The dessert is made with mascarpone cheese layered between brandy and espresso soaked lady fingers, topped with powdered chocolate, cinnamon and sweet cream. I also have an amazing cup of cappuccino with dessert. My guest will attest that I was taken aback by presentation of the beverage. My frosted saucer was drizzed with powered sugar and cocoa powder. On a cold winters night stop by Zach's Cafe and order this drink which comes with a rock candy stirring stick.
There is a reason that I have been saying the name of this restaurant over and over, Zach's Cafe gets my nomination for one of best restaurants in Los Angeles for Comfort Food. The general decor will not knock you off your feet. The meals are not served on dishes mom's china cabinet but the food is incredibly delightful, no wonder it has been open over 17 years. The menu price average around $16 for large portions. They have recently begun half sizes. Catering is also available.
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