About
Italian Tradition, California Farming
IN THE VEIN OF A TRADITIONAL ITALIAN OSTERIA AS A CASUAL, LOCAL GATHERING PLACE FOR FOOD, FRIENDS AND WINE, OUR MENU REFLECTS A LESS COMPLICATED CLASSIC GRASS ROOTS APPROACH TO ITALIAN COUNTRY FOOD INSPIRED BY OUR BACK YARD HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
OUR CORE BELIEF: GREAT FOOD NEED NOT BE ELABORATE OR OVERWROUGHT, BUT RATHER FRESH, UNCOMPLICATED AND WELL EXECUTED IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE INGREDIENTS AND FIND THE JOY IN THEIR INNATE FLAVORS AND QUALITIES.
THE JOY OF EATING SEASONALLY, SIMPLY AND WELL AMONG GOOD COMPANY IS ONE SHARED BY ALL AT OSTERIA LA BUCA. IT IS WITH THIS SIMPLE THOUGHT IN MIND THAT WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US TO CELEBRATE AND HAVE A SEAT AT OUR TABLE.
Values
WE BELIEVE IN TRUE HOSPITALITY, HONESTY, AND INTEGRITY. EVERYTHING USED IN OUR RESTAURANT FROM FOOD TO SOAP TO OIL IS GOOD FOR HUMANS TO CONSUME AND HANDLE AND DOES NOT CONTAIN ANYTHING SYNTHETIC OR MODIFIED.
FROM OUR PRODUCE TO THE SOAPS USED TO WASH THE DISHES. ALL PRODUCE COMES DIRECT FROM OUR OWN PRIVATE FARM IN WEST LOS ANGELES AND REGIONAL FARMER'S MARKET.
ALL PASTA IS HAND MADE EVERY DAY IN OUR PASTA ROOM, AND WE MAKE MOST OF EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN IN HOUSE, AND IF WE CANNOT MAKE IT THEN WE FIND SOMEONE WHO SHARES OUR VALUES WHO CAN. EVERYTHING WE DO HAS OUR CORE VALUES IN MIND.
The Design - Brendan Ravenhill
THE DESIGN - RAVENHILL STUDIO
BRENDAN RAVENHILL FIRST DESIGNED OUR MELROSE LOCATION USING MATERIALS CHOSEN FOR THEIR INNATE ABILITY TO BECOME BETTER WITH THE PATINA OF USE, TOGETHER WITH A GESAMKUNTSWERK APPROACH (GERMAN FOR TOTAL WORK OF ART) WHERE EVERY PIECE OF FURNITURE AND LIGHTING WAS CUSTOM MADE FOR THE SPACE.
ON MELROSE, WEATHERED BARN-WOOD WRAPS THE MAIN SPACE. THE BAR TOP IS MADE OF WARM ZINC AND SERVES AS THE CENTERPIECE TO THE SPACE. CUSTOM WALNUT TABLES AND CHAIRS FILL THE DINING ROOM AND ARE ILLUMINATED BY AN ARRAY OF BRANCHING CHANDELIERS AND SIMPLE PENDANT LIGHTS.
MORE RECENTLY, RAVENHILL STUDIO DESIGNED OUR VALLEY LOCATION USING CURVES, CRAFT AND SHADOW PLAY TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE THAT FEELS OF THE PLACE BUT ALSO A PLACE APART.
ON VENTURA BOULEVARD, BOOTHS AND BANQUETTES HAVE SIMPLIFIED FORMS REMINISCENT OF CHURCH PEWS. KEY FEATURES LIKE THE BAR AND WAINSCOTING ARE SOFTENED BY A RADIUS EDGE THAT IS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE SPACE. THE REDUCED MATERIAL PALETTE CREATES A CALMING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH A CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND A HIGH LEVEL OF CRAFT.
BOTH SPACES FEATURE RAVENHILL STUDIO'S SIGNATURE LIGHTING, MADE IN THE U.S.A.
