Mar 21

Culinary Connection

Milano's Bar and Grill
By Kathy Highcove

A quality restaurant is a needed component in a modern business park. Busy executives and office staff appreciate and patronize an upscale eatery where they can enjoy a salad or entree on a lunch hour or afternoon break.

Milano's Bar and Grill is a favorite breakfast, brunch, and luncheon restaurant for businesses in the Warner Park office buildings in Woodland Hills. Milano's proprietor, Blanca Izaguirre, gives the popular restaurant her undivided attention. "I'm always here, watching everything, checking with my chefs, chatting with my customers - sometimes 16 hours a day. I'm an experienced business woman who knows how to do my job and do it right!"

Milano's subtle street decor blends into the modern architecture of the Warner Center. Located at 21550 Oxnard St., Milano's long awning signals fine dining to passers-by. A patron motoring in to Milano's may choose validated parking in the nearby garage, or valet parking. Once parked, a quick stroll over a brick walkway and up a short flight of stairs leads patrons to Milano's front door. Diners are seated in a comfortable dining room or a shaded

patio during daytime hours.

Izaguirre bec-ame owner of Milano's two years ago. She has tried to improve in the kitchen, the me-nu, and adjusts Milano's hours to coordinate with the schedules of fellow tenants in the surrounding buildings.

"We added a breakfast menu mainly for the early birds at the new gym nearby," Izaguirre pointed out. "Starting March 21, we will offer breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11:00 a.m." Luncheon is 11:00 to 4:00 p.m. and dinner is served 4:00 to 10 p.m. Happy Hour happens Monday through Thursday, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Milano's features an in-house

jazz combo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and on those nights the

eatery closes at

2:00 a.m. Res-ervations are advised to guarantee a seat at this popular eatery, whatever the hour.

As the office park closes its doors, the dinner crowd gathers to peruse the menu. Milano's evening hours attract a mixture of local families and couples out on the town for a special meal. Many groups from the community find Milano's a perfect place to reserve for a bar mitzvah, a wedding reception, retirement parties, family reunions, any event that needs a restaurant experienced with serving a group.

Izaquirre's chef de cuisine is Luigi, an Italian chef from Florence, with extensive experience with many types of Italian and Mediterranean cuisines. Luigi enjoys preparing cioppino: fresh seafood of clams, mussels, oysters, salmon, crab, and fish in a wine sauce over spaghetti. His Special Signature Dishes are marked on the menu.

On a recent visit to Milano's, my companion and I each ordered soup: a cup of Italian minestrone and toasted pepper soup. The minestrone featured a traditional combination of vegetables in a tomato-based broth.

The roasted pepper was smooth, creamy with a slight tangy aftertaste. A basket of crusty bread and herb seasoned spread accompanied the thick soups.

Our next course was salad and the half-portion size promised a satisfying lunch for those who prefer lighter meals. Our entrees soon followed: Linguine Del Pescatore and an Italian Sausage Panini. The linguini was festooned with oysters, shrimp, mussels and salmon sections, all tossed with a light saffron butter sauce. The panini variation was a combined spicy Italian sausage with mushrooms, garlic and tomato sauce.

After the dishes were cleared, we sipped coffee and listened to soft jazz played by the small combo. The lights lowered, and the dining room took on the atmosphere of a European bistro. After a full meal, wine, and a taste of chocolate tart, we were appreciative that Blanca Izaguirre is on the job taking care of her business at Milano's Bar and Grill.

More info:

Antipasto: $7.95 to $13.95

Salad: $7.95 to $10.95

Pizza and Calzone: $9.95

Sandwiches: $8.95 to $9.25

Pasta: $8.95 to $17.95

Entrees: $ 12.95 to $20.95

Breakfast: 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Lunch: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Dinner: 4:00 to 10:00 p.m.

www.eatatmilanos.com

Phone: (818)340-8400