Sausage sensations

Whether you like yours hot or mild, made with chicken or pork, in a sandwich or straight up, there’s a sausage for you.

Sabatino’s Lido Shipyard

Sausage Co.

As the name suggests, the specialty at this casual Italian spot is sausage, either mild or spicy pork. The best way to sample it is the sizzling sausage platter, delivered on a hot skillet. You can also get homemade sausage ravioli, a sausage sandwich at lunchtime and, on weekends, eggs scrambled with sausage.

* Sausage platter, $17.95. 251 Shipyard Way, Newport Beach, (949) 723-0621.

Simon’s Cafe

Among the tasty dishes Simon Elmaleh serves at his sweet, cheery 3-year-old cafe is merguez sausage, which he makes with beef and lamb as well as paprika, cayenne and black pepper for a good dose of heat. Get half a dozen with a heap of skinny fries, or try them diced over penne with tomato sauce.

* Merguez and fries, $13.95. 4515 Sepulveda Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 783-6698.

Jody Maroni’s

Jody Maroni, considered by many to be Los Angeles’ sausage king, started his business on the Venice boardwalk. And it’s where we think his sausages taste best. We’re partial to the chicken varieties, such as the Cajun-style chicken andouille. The sausages are charbroiled, tucked into soft onion rolls and smothered with grilled onions and peppers.

* Sausage sandwich, $4.59. 2011 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, (310) 822-5639.

Il Moro

Here’s a hearty starter: Chef Davide Ghizzoni makes his own pork sausage with garlic, cloves, anise, nutmeg and cinnamon, among other seasonings. Then he stews the sausages for a couple of hours with white wine, olive oil, tomatoes and onions. Before service, he slices the sausage into bite-size pieces and ladles the stew over soft, mild polenta.

* Sausage stew, $15. 11400 W. Olympic Blvd., West L.A., (310) 575-3530.

Opus

Chef Josef Centeno recently introduced the “baco,” short for “global taco,” at the bar Tuesday nights at this stylish mid-city eatery. He calls it a cross between a flatbread, flour tortilla and naan. Among the variations is one with mini pork meatballs and chorizo. Though served open face, the idea is to fold it up and eat it taco-style.

* Baco, $8. 3760 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., (213) 738-1600.

-- Leslee Komaiko