Tirovino Wine Bar

We used our groupon. The deal was phenomenal but the bill was a little weird in the end. As a frequent grouponer I know tax and gratuity don’t apply. Yet here if you got one be ready cause they tax you on what your bill should be, not the groupon price you paid. That’s fine, but what disappointed me was after they showed us a our larger bill for taxes they then taxed us on our tax. That was really weird. We brought enough cash for tax and tip but it ended up costing us an extra ten bucks. Not a problem, just an obnoxious end to our wonderful meal. My guy is from Italy and was happy that the menu was accurate and the dishes as well as toppings really did reflect traditional Italian food. This is what he will always recommend as a good Italian restaurant in LA.
Btw the busser (Asian) and bartender (Italian) made such a great team effort! We really appreciated them clearing the table and refilling the water before we even noticed. They did a wonderful job of anticipating our needs. Now, if only the heavy taxing was made clear early in the evening it would’ve been a perfect night.
(We dined here quite a few months ago, but slow to finish the post)

i came here with my groupon. not as good the second time around.
the complimentary bread and accompanying sauce are not good.
the calamari was fine.
my house wine was average.
the burrata pizza is still BOMB. will come back just for that! my friend got the half chicken and liked it.
they have a $ 15 credit card minimum which probably won’t be an issue unless you’re using some kind of deal. i had come here a few weeks ago to use my groupon and remembered to bring cash that day but they were randomly closed early on a sunday. wamp wamp. and of course, i forgot to bring cash this time. pretty annoying to have to run over to an ATM on la brea to get cash, but i guess they’re just cutting costs.

Wild boar… hm… (imagines eating Pumba from Lion King)

Starting off with the venue, very intimate, I love the wine bottles on the wall, and all the Italian movie posters. I reserved a table for two, it’s kind of weird how a place needs to take reservations on a Friday considering there’s barely anyone else there. So thankfully we had a groupon that gave us an appetizer, and 2 entrees and 2 wines. The wines they gave us were a white and red, I preferred the white wine.
We had the pescatora, which consists of shrimp, scallops, fish, in tomato. The pescatora was pretty good. The tomato sauce was very rich and you can taste the seafood. We also had the spaghetti with crab and pappardelle with boar. The spaghetti didn’t have that much crab, but the noodles were flavored very well and you can taste the grab in every bite. However, the pappardelle was very dry, and for some reason wild boar tastes like beef jerky.
The bill came out to $ 70, not including tip! (thank god I used a groupon). Luckily I read all the reviews and made sure I brought cash because that would suck walking to an atm in the area. There is valet parking for $ 6, but you can usually find a free spot in the neighborhood. Overall, beautiful venue, the food was okay, but $ 70 is way too overpriced for the quality of food we got.

Came here to Tirovino for a Birthday Party. Note to people planning a birthday party, plan somewhere else. This place isn’t big enough if you have a lot of friends.
It is a nice spot, long and narrow… similar to being in NYC. I had the House Cab all night, which made me a very happy girl.
Everyone was pleasant and the service was great. There was a menu written on the wall, by the bathroom. Not sure who thought that out.
After awhile this place got so loud I couldn’t hear my date, hope he didn’t propose…

NOTE: This is a review of the food, not the wine!
This place is decent, but a bit pricey for what you get. After reading all of the 4 and 5 star reviews on Unilocal,I was expecting something that would blow me away — like a huge summer superhero blockbuster, or an understated but hauntingly beautiful indie film. Instead, I got a romantic comedy about how Jennifer Aniston is looking for love in all of the wrong places, and finally learns that it was right in front of her all along. Nice, enjoyable, but forgettable.
I came here several months ago with a Groupon. We got two glasses of wine, two appetizers, and two entrees. The wine was pleasant, but unremarkable. I had an appetizer with lots of seafood in some kind of tomato sauce. The sauce was nice, but some of it didn’t have a good texture — the calamari was so chewy that I actually didn’t finish it all, which is pretty unusual for a seafood-​lover like me. I had the wild boar pappardelle for my entrée. And it was good. But not good enough for me to return, especially not without a Groupon.

Great deal with the Groupon!
We started with the Pescatora seafood soup of calamari, clams, shrimp and cod in a garlic tomato wine broth. The broth was great dipping for the bread. This appetizer was loaded with seafood.
Entrees:
Pappardelle, with braised wild boar.
Crab pasta in a spicy tomato sauce.
Both were equally very delicious and full of flavor. Because they were two very different dishes, we didn’t have tastings of similar dishes which was perfect. They weren’t cheap with the amount of crab so we really enjoyed that.
Our waitress was really nice but like others have mentioned about the $ 10 minimum credit card just so you order more is something they should do away with since it doesn’t leave a good impression after a nice meal. Walking few blocks to an ATM in heels since the gas station’s ATM was «closed» was not fun. So that would be my only complaint of this place. I would’ve ordered a dessert but nothing sounded tempting.
I may come again for their pasta dishes however Piccolo Paradisso in Beverly Hills, Vincenti in Brentwood and Via Veneto in Santa Monica are still top on my list.

Delicious!!! I love love love Italian and everything we ordered here was mouth-​wateringly good.
We started with the arancini risotto balls — SO cheesy and crispy, perfection! As well as the parmigiana eggplant stack — my favorite Italian appetizer. It was just as I like it, cheesy melty goodness. Also perfection!
For the entrees, my friend had the burrata filled ravioli, which she said was really good (looked good too). And I had the pappardelle with braised wild boar. The meat was so tender, but the sauce was a tad bit on the salty side.
For dessert we shared the amaretto cookies with marscapone, their version of tiramisu but maybe a little crunchier. It was heavenly~!
They also have delicious wine, which the manager helped me pick out with a few sample tastings. The service was very attentive and very friendly. The interior was beautifully decorated with modern-​luxe furnishings and a very romantic vibe. I love this place! :) I will definitely come back for some more of those arancini & yummy wines!
*Tip: There’s plenty of parking across the street around the school area.

Food was good, not amazing, but good. I think my favorite part was the ambiance, there was an older Italian movie playing on the projector outside which we were watching while we ate. It had no sound and there was louder foreign music playing (all pretty upbeat). The ambiance was dark and cozy, the décor was old Italian glam with some random old Hollywood.
We got a Groupon so had dinner for two with one appetizer (small plate) and wine.
Things to note:
— Sparkling water costs $ 6 a bottle. I don’t mind but just be warned that the price is not noted we they ask if you would like some.
— Park with the valet, if you want street parking look on the streets to the South. Parking to the north is pretty much only permit or the odd meter.
— TIP for the full amount, not the amount you are paying after the Groupon.
— You pay tax on the FULL amount of the meal when you paid with a Groupon.
I’d say it was an interesting experience. I enjoyed it and did think the food concepts had some fun twists on the normal Italian entrees. I figure if you are going to spend about $ 50 per person (between drinks, dessert, appetizers and main course… and sparkling water) that you should be wowed. I wasn’t wowed but I did enjoy the overall experience.
Between the parking and the price I probably won’t be back but I don’t make the trek to Hollywood so often. If in the area and in the mood for a unique location and some decent Italian food — I say go for it.

Got there around 7 with reservation and seated right away. Once we were seated didn’t have to wait long for our water and bread. The seats can be kind of cramped but wasn’t that bad. Throughout the night the servers were polite and attentive. The food we ordered came out hot and was excellent.
One thing I didn’t like was the parking, the only way you can park was to valet for $ 6. Sigh…

Great ambiance, not too crowded, dimmed lights. Definitely HIT! However, the food was a bit of a MISS.
Pescatora — best dish of the night. I thought it had enough seafood for the price and the soup was delicious for dipping. Only dish I will get again will get again.
Pizza Bianca — generous portion of prosciutto, but crust was forgettable.
Gnocchi — I think it’s just white button mushrooms. I was hoping for fancy mushrooms. Probably my favorite pasta dish of the night.
Tagliolini — very lemony. reminded me of a fettuccine alfredo.
Ravioli — salty.

It’s no secret that Melrose Avenue just isn’t what it used to be. A lot of the indie shops have been bought out by trendy, over-​priced boutiques and the restaurants are slowly disappearing. It’s somewhat sad when the hottest corner on Melrose is occupied by Starbucks and Urban Outfitters. Instead of appealing to the culture-​conscious residents of the area, it’s slowly turning more and more «Times Square-​sy». However, some of the spark still remains and it’s nice to see new places opening up that remind me of the funky Melrose from when I first ventured to LA.
Tirovino Wine Bar is a great example of a «Los Angeles» restaurant. Classy and upscale while still holding true to the West Coast casual lifestyle. To put it another way, if this place where in Manhattan most of the patrons would be wearing blazers. Instead, jeans and a polo is perfectly fine.
After trekking around the flea market down the street, my friend and I came down to Tirovino for brunch. When we first got there the place was completely empty. I actually had to ask the hostess to make sure they were open. Usually an empty restaurant on the weekend is a red flag, especially in this area, but nevertheless we still wanted to eat there.
We took the table at the front with the window that overlooks the street. It was a sunny day with a slight breeze so it was perfect. Plus, the people watching on Melrose is some of the most entertaining in the city.
While looking over the menu we both stuck to the breakfast section. I’d heard the plates were small so we decided on getting a few dishes and just sharing everything. The first thing that caught my eye was the black cream truffle scrambled eggs (with house made toast). Along with that we got the homemade roasted ham «focaccia» (with gruyère cheese) and the Italian sausage patties (with poached eggs hollaindese sauce).
The eggs were really amazing with just the right amount of truffles. I hate it when the truffles are barely even noticeable, but these were great. The ham focaccia was also nice but the real highlight was the shoestring style fries that came with it. My friend and I were actually fighting over who cheated and had more than their half. The sausage patties were definitely my favorite dish, though. The egg was cooked perfectly and there was just the right amount of hollaindese sauce. The sausage was juicy and and lean with a perfect amount of seasoning.
Somehow we were able to finish almost everything on our plates except for some of the eggs. We weren’t going home anytime soon so we couldn’t take them with us. Aww. Both of us felt bad for wasting them because they were so good.
Surprisingly, we still looked at the dessert menu before we called it quits. Everything sounded so good but we decided we just didn’t have any more room. We were completely stuffed. Whoever it was that told me the servings were small is crazy.
By the time we were leaving most of the restaurant had filled up and the place was a lot more lively than when we arrived. Maybe we just caught it when the morning rush was over, but I’m sure the word will get out and they’ll have plenty of customers in the future. Until my next visit I’ll sure be dreaming of that delicious hollaindese sauce.

Came here on a weeknight and it was surpisingly full. This was around 8pm and all of the people were eating dinner, not just drinking wine. It is a very cute setting with great décor. The location is off the main part of Melrose, but this is not to be missed. The service was great and so friendly.
Where the minus stars comes in is for the food. I had the tuna tartare which was great! But the mussels lacked boldness and my main, which was the crab spaghetti was the same. The sauces just need a little more kick to them and this place would be top notch! The apple crêpe was excellent.
If you get the chance, you should come by and give it a try yourself.

It could be the food… or the wine… or the swoon-​worthy accents, but I love this place and cannot wait to come back!
I came here for a special date with the boyfriend and I could not have had a better experience!
I loved the ambiance and simple unpretentious décor. The restaurant is romantically lit with a theme that is modern but inviting. Even the outdoor seating with plush throw pillows and cushion-​y chairs looked warm and cozy.
The owner was warm and welcoming and our server was even kinder. I’m no wine buff, and our server was totally accommodating and helpful in suggesting wines I might like.
The food was very good. I didn’t care too much for the small plates we tried, but I loved my sole milanese and the boyfriend was very happy with his wild boar papardelle. The garlic sunchokes were a clear winner that night too! The food tastes like authentic, home cooked fare. It’s comfort food without being overwhelming, which strikes a nice balance.
The items are little more expensive than what I’m used to, but it’s reasonable for the area.
Definitely try this place for a special occasion.
Or to learn some Italian at the bar ;)

Bought a Travelzoo voucher for TiroVino: dinner for two which includes 2 apps, 2 entrees, 1 shared dessert, and 2 glasses of house wine for $ 49. What a steal!
Came here recently to redeem the voucher with one of my best friends and had a great evening! The atmosphere is trendy and romantic. Perfect for a date or a girls’ night. Like other Unilocalers mentioned, they project a black and white movie on the wall – how unique!
Food ranged from good to fantastic:
Tartare of tuna on crispy rice, avocado, and lemon chives oil: A. Cute presentation, light and tasty.
Eggplant parmigianna: A+ Heartier appetizer and bursting with flavor!
Chitarra Carbonara sautéed with Italian pancetta, tossed with whipped eggs and parmigiano: B+. Tad too salty (the waiter warned me when I ordered it) but still delicious!
Pesce Milanese pan fried filet of sole with a lemon wedge: B. Sadly, my girlfriend’s entrée was nothing special. Moist, but an ordinary filet milanese.
Amaretto cookies soaked in espresso coffee covered with mascarpone cream: A+ Fabulous dessert! Very much like tiramisu (which I adore), but light on the espresso flavor and heavy on the amaretto almond. I devoured this.
One star knocked off for the slow service. Our waiter was a sweetheart, but clearly overworked and unable to keep up with all the tables he’s assigned to.
Free street parking on Detroit just around the corner until 8pm.
Grazie TiroVino!

My friends and I came here on a Sunday for a dineLA lunch. We made reservations, but arriving at this establishment, it wasn’t needed. There was only one party seated when we arrived, but others came later.
I ordered the aringhe as a starter, the tegame di poll as the entrée and crespelle for dessert. The portions were surprisingly large! The aringhe came with four pieces of toast topped with smoked herring, capers, shredded cucumbers and orange segments. The ingredients complemented each other well. The roasted chicken came in a cast iron pot! How cute! There were four pieces of chicken with diced onions and cubed potatoes. It was seasoned well and the chicken was fall-​off-​the-​bone tender! The apples in the crêpe were soft and sweet. What I thought was ice cream was actually semifreddo. I was really weirded out while eating it because it didn’t melt at all and I really thought it was ice cream, but just super creamy. Then I came home and read the menu again and found out it was semifreddo! So, for semifreddo, it was the right texture.
There was only one waiter the entire time and he was way overworked. He was running back and forth from the table to the kitchen to the bar trying to satisfy everyone. I kind of felt sorry for him.
Overall, a great lunch with large portions in a nice little restaurant!

***dineLA Review
Made it to Tirovino for their dineLA special $ 16 lunch, and got the prix fixe menu option:
Lesso — pot braised beef brisket with cabernet wine and mustard
Tegame di Poll — cast iron pan roasted half chicken with fingerling potatoe
Frittelle — Italian traditional fried honey dough dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar
I’ve been to restaurant week before and the portions at Tirovino are far larger than other places. They give full portion size as if I was ordering this without the special.
Lesso was underseasoned, but very tender. The Tegame was delish! It was really half a chicken, huge plate! Frittelle was my favorite– Soft, warm, and full of cinnamon.
We got their Bottomless mimosa for $ 13 too, well worth it! Highly recommended to get toasty at lunch.

Thoroughly enjoyed this place.
Had some starter that involved saffron rice balls with a filling and they were delicious.
I had chicken that came in a big dutch oven — the flavor was amazing delicious, very rustic and flavorful — and the portion was huge compared to what I was expecting.
Husband had pizza and the dessert that was similar to tiramisu but had an almond flavor. Both were VERY good. The pizza bianca had enough prosciutto on it to replicate an entire pig and was much larger than expected as well.
Nice ambiance, nice wines, meh service (anyplace with great servers knows to bring the bill promptly and return it promptly — it’s your one last chance to show people how quick and attentive the service is before they walk out the door, otherwise it leaves a bad impression!)

SCARFACE on the projector screen… now that’s a way to start a meal!
We had a TravelZoo voucher which entailed 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, shared dessert and 2 house wines.
We were quickly seated and water was promptly poured… fantastic beginning.
Our server was charming, handsome, non-​intrusive and well versed on the menu. I wish I caught his name, but he is tall, dark, handsome with visible tattoos– highly recommend him!
THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE! We dine all over LA and this was truly a special meal. Everything is homemade!
Appetizers:
Pescatora– outstanding seafood soup. The seafood is of such a high quality, cooked to perfection, perfectly seasoned
Lesso– very interesting dish. Meat was succulent, perfect purée of potato and fava bean. Only turnoff was the clove, but that’s a preference only.
Dinners:
Pappardelle– wild boar was cooked perfectly! Pasta is incredibly fresh and cooked correctly. FANTASTIC!
Gnocci– another perfectly made and prepared pasta. Great mushroom/​tomato sauce.
Dessert:
Crespelle– hand made. Warm, perfect ending to a wondrous meal.
I CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK!
This is the first place we are actually excited to go back to, without a coupon!

The ambiance is nice minus a baseball game while eating dinner. I liked the old movie on the projector in the front part of the restaurant and love the comfy vibe of that front room. The menu looked promising and the wine list is fantastic — with a nice array of Barbera and Nebbiolo wines by the glass. The service was excellent too. Our waitress always had her eye on our table but wasn’t intrusive.
Aside from our first dish, I felt like they used too much oil in the food — at least the dishes I ordered. We started with a beet salad which was beautifully prepared and they were not skimpy with the portion either. For an entrée, my husband chose the Sole and he was very pleased. I chose the basil pasta dish with lemon marscapone sauce and it wasn’t what I expected. I was thinking, angel hair with olive oil, lemon, lots of fresh basil and some marscapone laced throughout but what i got was more like a fettuccine Alfredo with a hunk of marscapone on top. I couldn’t even taste the lemon b/​c all i tasted was the fat content. It was much too heavy. The same goes for the side of sunchokes. They were dripping in oil. The beet dish was by far the best thing on the table. I left there feeling weighed down with oil.
I am giving this place 3 stars overall b/​c I think it has potential and I am sure other dishes are good. I just wish they used less oil in my dishes b/​c it masks the flavor of the food.

My lady and I went to Tirovino on 4÷9÷11 and we enjoyed ourselves. From the outside, it’s a very small restaurant that plays old films on its outside wall, similar to Della Terra on Beverly.
I started with the Allagash White Ale and my date had the Pinot Nero, Jermann. Both were great ‘lights’ for our appetizers and entrees. We had the Polipo marinated octopus on baked potatoes and fava beans to start. Other than being served lukewarm, it was good. I really enjoyed the flavor in the potatoes from the marinated octopus on top.
For our entrees, my lady ordered the Carciofo steamed and grilled artichokes with garlic hollandaise sauce. I took a bite and realized I’m not a grilled artichokes fan, but she absolutely loved it.
We split a pizza as well, topped with tomatoes, burrata cheese and fresh oregano. The pizza is fantastic here. I’m not even a big crust fan and I still enjoyed it.
I ordered the ravioli special with chicken and prosciutto filled ravioli and mushroom sauce. This was good but not great. The ravioli was slightly undercooked with a more than necessary chewiness to them. The mixture of chicken, prosciutto and mushrooms was strange but enjoyable.
Overall, we had a good time at Tirovino. We’ll be back, but most likely just for the pizza. Pizza chains like Pizza Fusion, who charge $ 15 for a pizza, don’t have s**t on Tirovino’s pizza that is only $ 9. The owner was great and very welcoming and for an upstart place on Melrose, Tirovino has some great potential to increase restaurant traffic once they take control of their menu and create more options for pizza and entrees in general.
Three and a half stars.