HANNA CHU & ANELA HOLCK
A&E Editor and Photo Editor
Since the weather is slowly getting warmer in Malibu, outdoor eating may appeal to your appetite as well as your summer wardrobe. (Guys, take note of this.) Near Howdy’s and the Coffee Bean hides another elegant eatery at Tra di Noi Express.
Don’t mistake this cheap date for the finer dining restaurant Tra di Noi without the express. That restaurant would not be a cheap date.
Tra di Noi Express is the same great food and service that comes with a smile either way, and it will save you a buck (or five).
Although the express side of this restaurant consists of two windows just across Coffee Bean, you will be pleased with what is inside this corner eatery.
The food is unlike the typical food ordered from an outdoor window, and the entire Colony’s outdoor plaza is an optional place to sit and get to know your date over some fine Italian cuisine.
The most apparent benefit about Tra di Noi Express is that it makes outdoor eating look classy. Even high maintenance girls will not turn their noses ups. There are picnic tables galore for your enjoyment nestled in bushes and flowers just by the playground to perfect the romantic setting.
While the foliage is beautiful, don’t be tempted to pick a flower for your date from the dining area. Dates always go smoother when you plan ahead. If you are serious about the date, think ahead and stop by Ralphs. This date is cheap, but flowers never hurt.
Perhaps the children nearby in the playground will even be an omen of a promising future. For those who are petrified of children, do not fear. All the small Malibu children are carefully guarded by their nannies and baby-sitters. If you pick a good table, the noise of the children shrieking will be at least 25 feet away.
Moving back to the order window, the menu is on either side of the window with many enticing options. There is a variety of pastas, pizzas, paninis and salad all priced around 10 bucks.
After a short wait of about 10 to, your meal is delivered out the other window.
For those with adventurous taste buds, the rigatoni, No. 36, is an excellent choice — pasta that has a slight kick with the blend of olives, sausage and peppers.
If you are a fan of the potato noodle, your taste buds will enjoy the gnocchi. However, if you are a fan of a nice-looking meal, this may not be your fix, as it may remind you of watered down dog food. Regardless, the extra sauce is great for dipping the small bag of bread that comes with most orders.
But really, any of the pastas are delicious and affordable, but unless you are a huge fan of salad, it is not recommended for a cheap date. The Caesar salad, which is basically a bowl of lettuce, costs $8.50 and tastes only slightly better than the Ceasar salad that you can get in the hexagon containers on campus.
The best part of eating at Tra di Noi Express is that you don’t feel like you’re being cheap because you’re surrounded by expensive stores like 99% Angel, Planet Blue and Nobu.
If you think your planned date is going to be perfectly executed, you might want to order spaghetti so that you can experience the “Lady and the Tramp” kiss we all dreamed of as kids.
04-06-2006
