The Beverly Center is currently undergoing a major renovation. As part of the makeover was the grand opening of Cal Mare, a flashy Italian restaurant. I recently learned that they have a happy hour and I invited a friend of mine to check it out.
At the bar in Cal Mare
Cal Mare plays homage to the coasts of Italy and Southern California. Cal, short for California, represents their sensibility, and Mare means “sea” in Italian. Calmare, “to soothe” in Italian, evokes the vibrant seaside elegance of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, but also features a nod to the contemporary Southern California setting – “sun-drenched soulfulness with style.”
The interior is stunning and beautifully designed. Once you enter, you instantly forget that you are inside of a shopping mall. The seats and booths are in two shades of blue reflecting the restaurant’s coastal theme. Beautiful tile framed an open-air kitchen and a picturesque bar is topped with a white trellis and flowering vines.
Woodfire Duck Nduja Pizza
Instead of ordering the pizza of the day, my friend surprised me by selecting the duck nduja pizza. Our bartender and server, Krista confirmed that our choice was a good one. It was thin and woodfired, just the way I like the crust. They topped the crust with fior di latte which is fresh mozzarella made from a cow versus a buffalo and fresh marjoram. This was tasty, though not filling.
Amberjack Crudo – extremely fresh!
I have never seen crudo on a menu listed as “Crudo of the Day”. Of course, that meant that I had to try it! Pacific Amberjack was the fish for the crudo that day and it was beautifully presented. Best of all, it was sashimi grade quality. I kicked myself afterward for not ordering another serving.
Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower was both fried and pickled and then tossed in Sicilian chiles. The Fried Cauliflower dish was then topped with guanciale, finger limes and topped with sea urchin. The finger limes are known to be the caviar of the citrus world and their pearl-like shape nicely added to the presentation. The dish had umami qualities, sweet, salty, sour and fruit elements making quite delicious and quite unique. It is one of their more popular dishes.
Pulled Mozzarella with prosciutto
Simply named “Mozzarella”, it was a generous amount of fresh pulled mozzarella topped with sea salt, black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. I selected the optional prosciutto, but what I thought that the fresh bread that accompanied it really elevated the flavor profiles.
My friend started out with their happy hour white wine selection – a Trebbiano d’Abruzzo from Cirelli. This was an organic white wine that was crisp and light in nature. He enjoyed it quite a bit.
The Negroni quickly put me in the mood
My first beverage was an Italian aperitif, a Negroni. I’m not certain of its ingredients, but the base was gin and it included Compari and Alessio vermouth. The drink was smooth and set the tone for the evening.
Almaro Montenegro
We also enjoyed an Almaro Montenegro, a syrupy bitter that tastes like vanilla and orange peel. I was both blown away by the taste and my friend ordered one and, he too, enjoyed this drink immensely.
Happy Hour is daily from 4 – 6 pm. Their Happy Hour prices are very reasonable and it is an excellent opportunity to taste their food.
After seeing their dinner menu, I’m interested in returning during the dinner hour. I’m curious about their mozzarella topped with caviar! The menu has plenty of seafood dishes, woodfire pizza, and grilled meat. If you love pasta, their pasta is made in-house.
Cal Mare, 8500 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048
michaelmina.net/restaurants/southern-california/calmare