We celebrated our son’s birthday at Scarpetta Beverly Hills last week. This was our first try of the Scarpetta restaurants- the located in New York, Miami, Washington and Las Vegas. The brunch usually priced at 68$ was discounted down to $39 plus 20% service charge with a Travelzoo coupon. The usual non-alcoholic breakfast drinks like coffee, iced tea, grapefruit and orange juices are included with the brunch package. They also offer bottomless margaritas or mimosas for an additional 22$ per person.
Reservations for the restaurant (located inside the Montage Hotel on Canon Drive ) were not difficult to procur, and we were happy to be told that casual attire (including shorts) was acceptable for brunch time. We parked in the public parking next to the Montage Hotel but valet parking at the hotel for an additional $8 can be an option when the parking lot is full, or you are in a rush. When we arrived there was no wait to be seated, and the maitre D’ made aware of our request for a quiet table seated us in the main dining area away from the guitarist playing.
The decor of the restaurant is minimalist -open space dining areas with large windows that supply adequate natural light. The wooden tables set with personal placemats, and no tablecloths are placed with enough space to move about without feeling too crowded. There are two main seating areas accompanied with a heated outdoor courtyard area. For autistic temperature-sensitive diners, I would recommend the bottom or top floor away from the entrance or musician’s post.The Sunday buffet layout is actually set in the restaurant’s own kitchen space so you almost feel like you are in someone’s home instead of in a commercial kitchen. Equally unique is the fact is the separate room the desserts are set in , resembles a home dining room.
Their buffet layout organized by sections made it easier for our autistic son to be able to find everything easily. As you enter on your left, the salad stations include a mixed salad with truffle vinaigrette, zucchini with corn, marinated mushrooms, pearl onion, cauliflower and last (my personal favorite) quinoa. The pastas were next- most anticipated by my family members given Scarpetta’s reputation. And they did not disappoint! I had the spaghetti was al dente perfect accompanied by classic tomato and basil sauce. The agnolotti according to my husband equivalent in quality to ones he sampled in southern italian eateries. The neighboring carving station had porchetta with a mustard seed vinaigrette as well as leg of lamb served with a minted salsa.
To your right, different artisan breads that included Ciabatta, rosemary Focaccia and Stromboli along with pastries were artistically displayed. The signature croissants are indeed wonderful and my husband, and I felt guilty about taking a bite and leaving the rest on the plate. I would have liked to have tasted some other breads but there were no cutting tools, so I assume their main purpose was display! There were several types of thinly sliced meats that did not leave any lasting impression. As you move further down you reach the Seafood station which included shrimp, yellow tail crudo and smoked salmon with fennel and oranges. My son was quite disappointed to be told there were no oysters or crab claws that day, especially since the reviews he had read on Yelp all mentioned that.
For the less adventurous kids, still attached to traditional fast food ‘staples, a mini kid section featuring Mac’n'cheese, sliders, with the usual chicken tenders and fries combo was available.
The separate dessert Hall displayed an appetizing assortment of mini pleasures like their famous salted caramel Budino, fruit tartes, tea cakes, creme-brulee filled spoons, panna cotta cuplets, pistachio chocolate cannolis and freshly fried beignets. My favorites were the French orange macaroons that literally melted in your mouth.
Next to the bar area on the other side of the dining room, ‘The Beverly Hills Cheese Store’ showcased their best-selling cheeses and crackers. Both our kids loved the Pecorino, sharp blue cheese. Chevre and Gouda coupled with the apples and grapes.
Besides the ample buffet layout, brunch patrons are encouraged to try anything off the regular breakfast menu(included in the price) like polenta waffles, Nutella-Ricotta cheese French Toast and the quintessential eggs either poached or Benedict style. I was pleasantly surprised by the savory polenta waffle(that did not taste like polenta at all) coupled with compote fruit and their mascarpone butter . My son had two helpings of their egg Benedict and would have asked for a third had I not stepped in and stopped him.
The service was impeccable, which helped us enjoy our celebration to the fullest. Our designated server brought our coffees and accommodated our autistic gourmand with a house special hot chocolate with double foam. He checked on us multiple times during our lunch supplying additional silverware pieces and napkins we needed. Even more appreciated was his gesture to bring me a to-go cup for my remaining coffee after the bill had been paid.
This article is from Autistic Globetrotting - Autistic Globetrotting - Autism Travel Made Easy. Find more information to make traveling with those affected by autism EASY at Autistic Globetrotting.
