For some reason, it has taken me foreverrrr to make it to Cecconi’s happy hour in West Hollywood. I wish I knew why, really, but it doesn’t matter now because Mrs. (that’s a very new suffix) @LoveHappyHour has officially made it there and she’s in love – with their happy hour, of course!
My girlfriend and I headed to Cecconi's on a Wednesday evening around 5:45 p.m. (happy hour ends at 7 p.m.) and good thing we made it there when we did, because the place was quickly filling up. The place looked the same as I remembered it from the last time I ate dinner there (years ago), and it seemed as upbeat as it ever was. Dried meats hung from above the always-bustling center bar and if you look just beyond the white marble countertops and busy bartenders, you’ll see a pleasant man wearing a floppy chef’s hat, smiling boldly and pulling a piping hot pizza from the wood fired pizza oven. My kind of place.
The hostess sat us at one of the few remaining tables when we arrived and I was crazy stoked to find out that their “4 to 7” menu, aka happy hour, featured an Aperol Spritz on it! I ordered one and my friend opted for a cold glass of happy hour Pinot Grigio while we chose some dishes to order. P.S., it’s rare when I find a happy hour menu in which every plate looks tempting to order. We were pleased to find that most of our options weren’t deep-fried and that the wine options (i.e. Mondavi, Hahn) weren’t “ghetto” just because the clock hadn’t struck seven yet.
When my Aperol Spritz arrived and I sipped it in, I had to pause a moment. I closed my eyes, sighed, and relaxed, suddenly having tranquil flashbacks to numerous Italian appertivo hours months ago. Oh joy, I could get used to this place. Moments later, the lounge area and bar was completely packed and our appetizers began to arrive. The first to hit the table was Avocado and Chickpea Dip, Crudites. It was vibrant, fresh, colorful and only $4! A small cutting board was placed in front of us with arugula, jumbo asparagus, watermelon radish, romanesco, carrots and a lively chick pea dip (lively from the red pepper flakes sprinkled on top). We dug it.
Next to arrive was the Burrata, Wild Arugula and Avocado. The comprised plate, once again, looked delicious and it was. The arugula was topped with a heaping scoop of dreamy burrata and joined with roasted beets, avocado and a drizzle balsamic reduction, plus some salted pistachios. You had us at burrata…
XXOO,
Maren
8764 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 432-2000
FIND WEST HOLLYWOOD HAPPY HOURS!