Melograno, a new Italian restaurant in Hollywood owned by chef Alberto Lazzarino, is very much a grown-up restaurant, but one with a more relaxed ambience than, say, Valentino. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Sophia Kazakides pours champagne. The wine list is stronger on whites than reds, especially in the less-than-$50 category. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Ravioli al plin with a dab of delicious filling, usually a classic combination of finely minced roasted meats and Swiss chard and a bit of Parmigiano, sauced in either the meats juices or a little butter and sage. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
House-made saffron pappardelle with fennel, tomato, wild arugula and bites of lobster. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Tagliarini with braised hare sauced in a subtle, sweet-tart reduction of Barolo wine and pomegranate. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Bunet, a chocolate-amaretto sweet from Piedmont that’s halfway between a cake and a custard. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Chef Alberto Lazzarino, a native of Piedmont, has worked at Il Moro in West L.A., Cheebo in Hollywood and, most recently, Piccolo Ristorante in Venice. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
The restaurant’s name in Italian means pomegranate, an example of the unexpected but delicious flavors found within. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
