Glorious & Grand, Terroni Shares Its Italian Vision Dtown

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Behold, the bold and the beautiful beast that is Terroni on Spring, the long awaited Downtown effort from founder/owner Cosi Mammoliti and LA partners Max Stefanelli, Shereen Arazm, and Vince Mammoliti, opening tomorrow. After an extensive buildout in a gorgeous 6,000 square foot two-floor building, originally a City National Bank built in 1924, team Terroni is ready with baskets of fresh pasta made daily waiting in that glass walk-in.

A burgundy red leather ceiling, a suspended sculpture modeling the Autodromo Nazionale Monza (where the Formula One Italian Grand Prix takes place north of Milan), and a chandelier relocated from Stefanelli's grandmother's house in Bologna, Italy, make Terroni feel like home, albeit a rather sizable and majestic place to lodge.
While Terroni Downtown's Italian menu is basically the same as served at the Beverly Boulevard restaurant, the bar program here is new, with a focus on specialty cocktails (reworked classics) and a generally expanded drink program conceived by Arazm and bar manager Kim Velez. In addition to the regular Terroni menu, patrons will also have the option to order oysters, which are absent from the standard dinner menu. Though management is still working out a few last details, Terroni's zinc-topped bar will likely serve until 2 a.m., Thursday through Saturday, and possibly until 1 a.m. during the week. But that depends on neighborhood needs, so exact times are still to be decided.

Also new to Downtown is the addition of Saturday and Sunday brunch, to take place starting this coming weekend at 10 a.m. And, in fact, brunch will roll out in about two weeks at the Beverly Boulevard location, too. Who can say no to Pan Dolce (Scandinavian pancakes with Nutella and jam) and Spaghetti alla Carbonara (spaghetti with egg yolk, cream, pepper, guanciale, and Parmesan)?

Fashioned by Ralph Giannone of Giannone Petricone Associates (same guy behind all Terroni designs), Terroni is broken down into a front bar behind which sits the main dining room and open kitchen. And actually, just off to the right of the bar is a small DJ booth where DJs will spin nightly. No Pandora or Gravy here.

Past the main dining room is a second smaller space that could serve as a private dining room with a long communal table, plus additional seating choices and that red leather ceiling. Climb stairs to the restaurant's second floor where one will find another private dining area and a glassed-in wine room.

Oh, and hey, that adjacent high-end wine bar and retail shop is still forthcoming in about six months. It's going to serve Terroni's menu with European wines (as compared to Terroni's wine list which is strictly Italian) and will connect to the restaurant via a passageway.

Team Terroni has successfully expanded its hip, design-forward Italian restaurant brand, while embracing the restaurant's new hood and the history that comes with it. Terroni opens tomorrow at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner. Brunch follows this weekend.
·All Terroni Coverage [~ELA~]