Allegria restaurant offers an authentic and scrumptious, though pricey, taste that will take you back to your traveling days in Rome and Venice.
By Sarah Pye
Living Editor
If there’s one secret to dining at Malibu’s intimate Italian eatery Allegria, it is certainly this: “Eat early.”
Dinner is served promptly at 5 p.m., and even mid-week, the place fills up fast. But be among the first to arrive and your food will be on the table before you can say “ratatouille.”
Even for those diners who end up waiting, the atmosphere is pleasant. In fact, the dining room is so intimate that it wouldn’t be surprising to see the guy at the next table get down on one knee. The low lighting, soft rise and fall of voices and twinkling white lights all contribute to the mood.
Authentic Italian fare is on the menu, and the choices are plentiful. With both a standing menu and a lengthy list of seasonal specials, the toughest part of the meal might be deciding what to order.
The pizza selection is both as extensive and impressive as you might find in a back-alley bistro in Rome. With thin crusts crispy and straight from the oven, the taste is just like the real thing, as well.
The Diavola is classically appetizing, with mozzarella, spicy salami and tomato. Or, for a more adventurous selection, go with the Tonno Cipolla, with tomato, mozzarella, cured tuna and red onions.
The pasta selection far surpasses the standard spaghetti and meatballs fare, as well. Try one of the tortellini dishes — Allegria offers the small pastas stuffed with pumpkin, lobster or asparagus. The gnocchi is also excellent and served with the diner’s choice of one of four sauces.
Hearty eaters have a choice between chicken, pork, lamb, veal, steak or shrimp dishes. The Salsiccia Con Rappini, grilled chicken sausage over vegetables, also sounds intriguing.
Those who want to see the place by the light of day have the option of lunch from 11:30 until 2:30 on the weekdays (or continuously through from 11:30 until dinner on Sunday). The lunch menu is largely unaltered from what is offered at dinner, though midday diners might opt for lighter options from the Antipasti or Insalate menus.
Panini sandwiches are offered at lunch, with grilled chicken, portabello or fish served on homemade focaccia bread.
For other light lunch fare, the very traditional Prosciutto e Melone (salt cured ham with cantaloupe) or the Insalate Mista of baby greens might hit the spot.
But don’t forget your wallet — both lunch and dinner pasta and pizza dishes run from $10 to $16, with meat dishes in the $15 to $20 range.
But for a good meal and a pleasant atmosphere, Allegria is well worth the expense.
Allegria is located across from La Salsa on 22821 Pacific Coast Hwy. For more information visit their Web site, www.allegriamalibu.com.
November 13, 2003
