Novecento by Jenny Werth, Socal.com

Chef Giampiero Guglielminetti & Marino

I am going to share an Italian secret with you:  NOVECENTO.  Finally, I have encountered a family-style Italian restaurant with a rustic charm, fantastic menu and friendly service the way only enthusiastic Italian chefs know how to offer.  Gone are the pretenses, expensive menus and oh-so average meals that you find in so many other Italian eateries.  Novecento is a simple, yet charming trattoria in Culver City that's decorated with fountains on the wall, brick accents and wooden tables situated inside an intimate dining room with an open kitchen in the back.  

Executive chef and co-owner, Giampiero Guglielminetti and Angela Vianello have been serving meals to many regular customers for ten years now.  Giampiero has been dabbling in the world of chefs most of his life, he's from a small town in Northern Italy, Gireggio, where he first started cooking in a friend's restaurant at age ten.  Years later he is still serving the finest of fresh and true Italian meals to us lucky Los Angelenos.  To help him in the kitchen is his friend and chef, Marino (everyone is on a first name basis in the restaurant), who has also been with the restaurant since it opened.  

"It's like a family restaurant, we take care of our customers, I like to keep it simple with a small town feel... all our products are bought daily and are very fresh," said Giampiero.

The Pollo al Limone e Capperi (two breasts of chicken sauteed with capers, fresh lemon juice and brown veal sauce) and homemade Gnocchi de Patate (potato dumplings with a choice of pesto, marinara or bolognese sauce) were delightful and certainly fresh.  Giampiero ensures the dining experience is personal as he delivers most meals to the customers himself with a bright smile and a friendly "prego."  My chicken came with a generous side of vegetables and mouth watering flavor.     However, Giampiero's favorite dish is the Ravioli della Nonna which is homemade pasta filled with ricotta, spinach and onion flamed in vodka and marinara with a touch of cream....yum!   I ended my evening with a tiramisu that was simply sinful with cream that had just been whipped.  Wine, you ask?  Well, of course, there was a wine list with a great supply of grapes to complement each meal.  And don't forget to ask about the daily specials.  
Novecento is open Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner.  Saturday it's open for dinner only, Sundays are closed (Giampiero is in church).  It's located at 3837 Main Street in Culver City.  310-842-3838.