Word association time.
When we say “beach,” you say:
Oh. You said “bolognese.”
Odd, yet… eerily prescient.
Because today we’re discussing North Italia, an attractive new Italian spot from True Food Kitchen owner Sam Fox that hand makes its own pizza, pasta and meatballs. It’s taking reservations now for a May 30 opening in Santa Monica.
This might be the Westside’s answer to Bottega Louie. An eye-catching, perpetually buzzing cavern of modernity fueling dinner dates and friend lunches with wine and fresh strozzapreti and bacon-and-egg pizzas. Just significantly more laid-back, breezy and Pier-adjacent.
Though the inside is surely handsome, you’ll obviously want to catch some ocean breezes out on the patio. Consider the bar seats for easier access to the Sicilian margarita (blood orange liqueur, añejo and lime) and the Last Great Wine Thief with gin, grapefruit bitters, sauvignon blanc and clover honey.
You’ll need something to compliment that spicy pork-laden pizza coming your way, too. And a proper foil to your scamorza-stuffed arancini. And really, you must find a suitable companion for your red wine-glazed short ribs.
Like… red wine.