Chicken Piccata
Before grilled breasts and rotisserie chickens, there was the glorious, bright-tasting chicken piccata, a simple, classic Italian preparation of chicken breasts sauteed in lemon and butter with an optional splash of white wine and a scattering of capers. Prices are for dinner entrees.
* Vitello: The classic chicken piccata comes with soup or salad, spaghetti or zucchini--and live opera by often excellent singers. Chicken piccata has never sounded so good. (Chicken piccata, $13.95.) Vitello, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, (818) 769-0905.
* Dan Tana’s: It’s not on the menu, but who orders off the menu anyway? Of course the kitchen will make you chicken piccata if you ask, and a delicious version it is. Served with a side of pasta. (Chicken piccata, $19.) Dan Tana’s, 9071 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 275-9444.
* Marino: This old-school Italian restaurant serves a classic chicken piccata--a tender, buttery, lemony breast with capers and a side of mixed vegetables. (Chicken piccata, $14.50.) Marino, 6001 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 466-8812.
* Guido’s and Guido’s Malibu: For a dark, cozy Italian restaurant with red booths and thick atmosphere, try Guido’s in Santa Monica. The Malibu spinoff is in a shopping center, but both serve a capers-optional chicken piccata with roasted potatoes and some mixed vegetables. (Chicken piccata: $16.50 in Santa Monica, $15.95 in Malibu.) Guido’s, 11980 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 820-6649; Guido’s Malibu, 3874 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, (310) 456-1979.
* Alejo’s: If you go to either of these popular, reasonably priced Italian cafes at the prime dinner hours, be prepared to stand in line for a plate of the garlicky chicken piccata, a breast cooked with butter, lemon and molto garlic, with capers on request. Served with a side of spaghetti al pomodoro. (Chicken piccata, $8.95.) Alejo’s, 4002 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey, (310) 822-0095; 8343 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester, (310) 670-6677.
* La Pergola: La Pergola’s garden is popping, which means fresh-cut flowers on the table and fresh fava beans and chard alongside your chicken piccata, a skinless, boneless breast sauteed in fresh lemon juice and butter (or olive oil, on request), with a white wine caper sauce. (Chicken piccata, $13.50.) La Pergola, 15005 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 905-8402.
* The Grill on the Alley: In this genteel, clubby power room, with a big juicy plate of chicken piccata before you, you’ll almost forget it’s 1999--at least until the bill comes. Made with lemon, butter and capers, this juicy piccata comes with a small tree of broccoli. (Chicken piccata, $19.95.) The Grill on the Alley, 9560 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills, (310) 276-0615.