(Photo by Brett Callwood)
Located on the supremely walkable Culver Boulevard, the section that also features Meet In Paris and Cafe Vida, Nardò is wonderfully convenient. That little street is, in fact, like a culinary Vegas Strip. You walk from one culinary vacation destination to the next, and all of the establishments offer the highest quality food.
“Nardò tells the story of family, culinary tradition, and the sea,” they say online. “Founded by award-winning restaurateur Gianni Chiloiro, Nardò combines authentic Italian cuisine with innovative dishes and a modern atmosphere. Located just minutes from the beach, Nardò’s oceanside location features a stunning interior with a full-service bar, imported wood-fired oven, and an in-house pasta station.”
That family tradition shines through when walking into Nardò. The staff is extremely friendly, and they seem personally invested in you having a great meal. If you’re ordering out, they’ll ensure that your food is packaged in such a way that it’ll retain its integrity when you arrive home. It’s the sort of care and attention that you won’t find everywhere, but these guys genuinely care.
“The name Nardò comes from Gianni’s mother’s maiden name,” they say. “His mother was an incredible cook and the inspiration behind Gianni’s culinary passion. As a young boy, Gianni would spend hours cooking with his mother, learning how to prepare seafood and make homemade pastas and pizza. Decades later, Gianni has decided to celebrate his mother by naming his latest restaurant Nardò.”
That all tracks. Any time spent in Nardò is pleasurable; warm and welcoming and, if dining outdoors, it does feel very Mediterranean. With a French restaurant just next door, how could it not?
We opted for the Eggs Benedict: toast with spinach, two poached eggs, slices of ham, and a bechamel white sauce, served with rosemary roast potatoes. The potatoes were perfectly cooked–crisp and still with the skins, with the right amount of rosemary sprigs to flavor the spuds but not overpower.
The toast had a nice crunch and stood up well to the juices from the spinach, the white sauce, and the egg yolk. The combination of flavors is delicate, and well-executed. The white sauce is a little bland and under-seasoned, but that’s a small gripe.
Ultimately, this was a tremendous meal at a wonderful establishment. The summer California weather helped, but we had a stunning Sunday afternoon at Nardò.
Nardò is located at 9725 Culver Blvd., Culver City 90232. Contact 310-425-8605 and visit nardoitalian.com.