What You'll Get
Vintage Ferraris ran on a high-octane mixture of tomato sauce and parmesan, a savory blend that eventually turned petty car thieves into bona-fide pasta barons. Get a baron's share of this desirable concoction with today's deal: for $30, you get $60 worth of seasonal Italian fare and drinks at Drago Ristorante in Santa Monica.
Drago Ristorante has been serving up Chef Celestino Drago's fresh, seasonal Italian fare to hopelessly lost Bari-bound tourists and Los Angeles locals alike for almost 20 years. After pursuing the focused menu, start with an order of the crispy fried calamari and zucchini ($13) before kicking the shins of whoever is across the table, signaling the conclusion of the antipasti phase. Rich risottos, such as the seafood and squid-ink risotto ($17), and well-portioned pastas, such as the roasted-pheasant pappardelle under a morel-mushroom sauce ($18), offer satisfying sustenance, and protein-rich main courses promise to please. The roasted rabbit is served over a black-olive sauce ($28), whereas the grilled Dover sole, with caper berries and sun-dried tomatoes ($38), slams seafood on the table like a pirate poker player with a pile of clams and an ace up his sleeve.
The casually elegant eatery boasts a relaxed yet upscale atmosphere and is an ideal place to flip through the extensive, 24-page wine list at your leisure for a long, lingering weekday lunch or big-deal business dinner. Reservations are necessary, so call ahead to reserve a table.
Reviews
Drago Ristorante was named one of the best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles by Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly in 2007. The restaurant also showcases some of its press on the reviews section of its website. Yelpers give Drago Ristorante a 3.5-star average, and Citysearchers give it a four-star average.
- What this is is a gastronomical paradise where game meats are cooked, chopped, broiled, seared and paired up with unusual sauces and pastas that make for some amazingly spectacular flavor combinations. – Steven L., Yelp
- Authentic, tasty food with a low-key, dressy ambiance. – Nancy Y., Yelp
- …if you prefer authentic Italian cuisine and good service, this is your place. – chiwhi, Citysearch
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Sep 26, 2010. Amount paid never expires. Limit 2 per person. Limit 1 per table, 2 per table of 5 or more. Reservation required. Dine-in only. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.