Before you even walk through the doors of Ugo in Culver City, there’s something undeniably Italian about the place. Maybe it’s a combination of things: the exterior decor, the font used for the signage, the staff, the general vibe – we can’t put our finger on it. But Italy is pouring out of the doors.
“Ugo was established in 2002 with a commitment to serve wholesome Italian food in a warm and welcoming environment,” they say online. “We source the freshest Italian tomatoes for our VPN certified Neapolitan pizza, acquire the best flour for our fresh pasta and procure the sweetest fruits to use in our handmade gelato. You can be assured all our dishes are served with the highest quality of natural ingredients and flavors.”
There are now three locations in the region, and they claim that the quality runs through them all.
“Whether you visit Ugo Culver City, Ugo Café, or Ugo Trattoria located on Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica, you’ll find friendly staff and a comfortable space designed with Italian touches of dark wood, and travertine marble,” they say. “Look forward to relaxing with your friends and family while enjoying our signature dishes. We look forward to seeing you soon!”
They’re understandably proud of their VPN certified Neapolitan pizza, and we’re going to have to try that another time. We were hankering for a salad though, so we opted for the Insalata Spinaci. That’s baby spinach, fresh pears, caramelized pecans, red onions, and homemade gorgonzola dressing.
On paper, it’s not a thrilling salad. In fact, it could be decidedly dull in lesser hands. But these aren’t lesser hands, and the balance of the ingredients is absolutely spot on. The baby spinach is lively and buoyant, while the cheekiness of the sliced pairs is a welcome surprise which sits comfortably next to the tart and sweet red onion.
The caramelized pecans are the scene-stealer. Crunchy and sweet, but tempered with a toasted flavor, they bring the whole salad to life. The gorgonzola dressing is the cherry on the cake – strong and smokey, it ties it all together.
We weren’t all about the healthy though, choosing a Creme Brulee from behind the glass where the desserts were lined up like naughty temptations. The mix of custardy set creme and the crisp caramel was fabulous, and worthy of a return visit all by itself.
But truly, everything looked amazing.
Ugo is located at 3865 Cardiff Ave., Culver City 90232. Contact 310-204-1222 or visit cafeugo.com.
