Alimento
Italian bistro with extensive wine list.
Driving down Silverlake Blvd has the aesthetic of something out of hipster heaven. As you pass the dog park, the walking trail, and the multi-colored stacked homes, little hole in the wall restaurants and boutiques start to line the street. Thai food, oyster places, coffee shops and a personal recent discovery, a sleek and stylish small hole in the wall Italian restaurant, Alimento.
I’ve driven down Silverlake Blvd more times than I can count, and never once did I notice this hidden Italian food gem. Sometimes I think that’s what makes a spot extra special. It’s as if only the locals know about it. Hearing that the owner and chef is a local to LA makes it even more special. While studying abroad in Italy for architecture, chef and owner Zach Pollack found himself so spellbound by the food culture, it changed the trajectory of his career straight to the kitchen. The passion that changed his career course also led him back to Italy to work in wide ranging kitchens all across the country. After two years of cooking and eating the country’s best, Pollack found himself back in his native land, now equipped to bring Italian food to Los Angeles. After a several-year long stint working in other LA restaurants, Pollack took all that knowledge and experience and opened his own Italian restaurant in Silverlake, Alimento
Carefully sourced ingredients from local artisans and growers feature prominently among the menu's selection of small plates, pastas, and large platters designed for sharing. The chicken liver crostone, pictured above, is something out of HEAVEN. The perfect pairing of sweet and salty. The food is complemented by an eclectic wine list showcasing lesser-known varietals and hard-to-find wines from small producers (many of which are organic and/or biodynamic), and by a rotating selection of microbrews from the U.S. and Italy
Reservations are needed, as the space is small and it fills up fast, especially with the current outdoor dining restrictions. Valet is offered, though there is plenty of street parking, depending on what night you go. The prices are reasonable but this a spot you'll want to go all out on and try as much as you can, so budget accordingly and enjoy a little window into the best kind of Italian food LA has to offer.