Mozza no Mezza !*

*(Mozza is not average!)

www.mozza-la.com
6602 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 297-0100

You, our faithful reader, know that The Duo is always reviewing the newest hot spot. Even though there has been so much written about one of our favorite LA haunt’s, Pizzeria Mozza, we’re here to bring you news hotter than a wood-burning pizza oven: within a few short weeks, you will no longer have to stand in line to munch on the crackling crust to die for. Finally you’ll be able to get this extraordinary pizza to take home at, “Mozza2Go”, which is opening right next door the Osteria.

As you probably know, there is no accommodation at the present venue to provide for take out food. So this is great news for everyone wanting to sabotage his or her diets. In addition to obtaining a quick fix for your pizza habit, the new space will also serve as a private cooking school for you alone with the master of all things pizza, or for up to thirty of your most intimate friends.

The restaurant décor itself is nothing mesmerizing, but it serves as the tableau for an extraordinary selection of palette-pleasing pizzas and much, much more. It’s a simple, large room with high ceilings and a long bar stretching along two of the sidewalls. It’s dark ruby walls, wood floors, wood tables and simple hanging lights provide a din over which you’ll have to speak loudly, or simply replace the conversation with stuffing your face.

The Dining Duo has never walked out of Mozza hungry or dissatisfied. We would venture to say this is the best pizza that we have ever sunk our perfectly bleached teeth into. We owe this to the genius chefs Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery fame, and Mario Batali of Del Posto in NYC and B & B Ristoranti in Las Vegas. Between the La Brea Bakery incomparable dough and the simple but perennially fresh fare and spices (all from farmers’ markets), the taste sensations of everything we order is superb.

Our favorite is the house made Fennel Sausage, peppered with red onions and scallions at $15. Our modus operandi is to always order an appetizer and two pizzas. We highly recommend the Fried Squash Blossoms oozing with fresh ricotta ($8), which are lightly fried and served piping hot so the cheese melts in your mouth as the flavors devour your taste buds. Scott is not a meat eater but savors the sauce of the Meatballs al Forno ($12). In that dish, there are three balls (the oddity of such not lost on us) that are spiced just right and served with, once again that fabulous La Brea bread, and accompanied by lots of marinara sauce. We are both corn eaters and the Corn al forno ($8) is a corn on the cob sensation that is served golden brown in spots, which we love. There are three pieces that arrive piping hot at your table by very friendly runners. Speaking of friendly, Pilar, our waitress was nice, pretty and spoke with a slight lisp that was either from eating hot pizza sauce, or hailing from Spain.

If it’s the season (only a couple of months a year), try the Ramps, guanciale with English Peas and panna pizza ($18), a leek and scallion combination, albeit overly salty, is an opportunity to try something unique and usually unavailable. All of this good cookin’ can be accompanied by a wine list that is extremely unique, composed of 50 wines under $50. Chris Miller, the wine director, will suggest something perfect for your wine palette.

The desserts looked yummy, but who ever has room after stuffing yourself full of everything and anything on the menu. Of note is the caramel copetta with marshmallow sauce and salted Spanish Peanuts ($9). Then waddle back to your car (park on the street and avoid the expensive valet parking) and wish that you were Karen Carpenter.

The Dining Duo’s Note: There are no food pictures for this piece because we were asked by the staff not to use a camera in the restaurant.