Al Bacio Quietly Throws in the Towel Along the Sunset Strip

The perennially moody Sunset Strip dining scene managed to slough off one of its under-performing options a few weeks back, as Al Bacio quietly closed its doors for good, without so much as a whisper.

The casual-ish Italian destination never quite seemed to be able to shake the ghosts that came with the place, thanks to former occupant Osteria Drago, and Il Sole before that. Some customers managed to slide down from the Hills to enjoy plates of handmade pasta or a few glasses of wine, but mostly the polished space suffered from low foot traffic and abysmal parking.

The restaurant was led by Venice-born chef Christian Simionato, who spent time prior to Al Bacio at the ritzy Newport Resort at Pelican Hill. What’s next for the space is anyone’s guess, but it’s hard to find the perfect blend of glamour, price, parking, and cuisine along that run of Sunset Boulevard. After all, what chance do any of us have when longtime local spots like Le Clafoutis can’t survive?