BRUNCH AT TERRA AT EATALY L.A.
THIS WOOD BURNING ITALIAN GRILL GETS BRUNCH RIGHT

While no one in their right mind would say no to a trip to Italy, it’s not easy or affordable to just get away. Well welcome, to Eataly L.A. where the food, wine, drinks and market are as authentic as possible.

Eataly is an Italian market and food court with locations in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas and Los Angeles at Westfield Century City. It’s a place to buy fine Italian pasta, sauces, cheeses, meats, breads, wines, spirits and beer, among other tasty treats. Also at Eataly L.A. is the lovely Terra—a rooftop bar and restaurant that offers a stunning setting to enjoy cuisine hot off the wood burning Italian grill.

My weekend visit to Terra for brunch left me with one burning question—what was better, the Bloody Mary or Gin & Tonic?

You can’t ask for a better brunch setting in town than at Terra as the Century City rooftop view is stunning. And the mood just screams day drinking.

And with a Bloody Mary bar situated by the rooftop entrance, well, a lovely Bloody Mary is not hard to get. This first rate Bloody starts with a fine Pomodoro mix of freshly chopped polpa, cherry tomatoes, San Marzano tomatoes, and charred soffritto. You choose your spirit (vodka, tequila, mezcal, tomato-based gin (an excellent choice); salt (smoked sea salt, lemon infused salt, celery and smoked paprika salt); skewer (smoked moarella and cherry tomato or Mortadella and giardiniera); and garnish (artichokes, zucchini, onion, olives, herbs, pesto).

Not to be outdone, the G&T menu offered the fantastic G&T No. 4 cocktail made with Astral Pacific Gin, East Imperial Yuzu Tonic, grapefruit, ginger and Thai basil. Simply excellent. Day drinking should always be this good.

So, with an excellent libation in hand, it was time to eat. Our brunch consisted of Crostone di Gamberi alla Californiana—avocado toast with wood fired local spicy prawns, crispy chickpeas, fine herbs and lemon, along with the Frittata Classica with organic eggs, robiola cheese, coal-roasted peperonata, and kale.

The avocado toast with prawns was so tasty, and the frittata was a fine, guilt-free, healthy option.
And they both paired well with our cocktails.

For sides, you can’t go wrong with the Wood Grilled Hash with Yukon gold potato, caramelized onions, and piquillo peppers, along with the bacon and the house-made chicken sausage.

And eating at Terra at Eataly just felt wrong with a pasta dish so we opted for the Pappardelle con Ragu Alla Bolognese—handcut pappardelle with ragu Bolognese. Delicious.

Afterwards, it was all about taking in the stellar rooftop sites while enjoying a first-rate G&T. It doesn’t really get any better. It’s no trip to Italy but I thoroughly enjoyed my time away at Eataly. It just felt so good to get away.

Terra at Eataly L.A. is located at the Westfield Century City, located at 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. Brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am to 3:30pm.

Story By; Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: Terra at Eataly L.A.