In our quest to grade the best DTLA Restaurants last summer, we came across Testa just east of Staples Center La Live on the corner of 11th and Hope. Upon first glance, we couldnât help but feel like we had stumbled upon something special. For us, after a day complete with two parking tickets and a missing credit card, we knew with Testa, our luck was about to change.
Surrounded by promise, Testa sits on the edge of South Park’s past, present and future. The past five years has turned the area into a networking oasis for neighbors who always manage to look and feel their best thanks to nearby health and fitness studios, beauty stores, cafes and a steady flow of affluent singles moving into the area.
itâs a great part of town for elbow rubs and perfect for wanderers ready for a party when the games let out. Testa invites all but caters wonderfully to those with romantic ambitions or anyone who can appreciate the experience of fine dining.
Yes, we can say, DTLAs Hope Street Village is coming along nicely. Skyscrapers and lofts to look up to alienate this part of DTLA separating it as would cliffs from the rest of world. In less than 3 years the area will be rid of the inconvenience of temporary parking woes and the dust of construction. Surely, Testa would have earned its doctorate by then.
At Testa, youâll have three multiple ambiance choices. A) a patio for those who prefer the open air. b). The main dining area for those who enjoy exposed sunlight, C) The bar for those who prefer well…Â the bar. d.) all of the above.
Testa patio thanks to comfortable patio furnishings and fire lamps, warms nicely in the winter and calls for more excitement most summer days and evenings. It was here we first enjoyed the CrackBerry! A mix of La Croix natural soda, vodka/raspberry puree, and lemon, with fresh raspberries and blackberries placed over a bed of crushed ice…. the Crackberry is not only refreshing and smart in its unique presentation, Itâs the correct answer to the final question of whether DTLA would ever adopt a cocktail served out of a cropped sofa can as one of its favorite mixes. The answer is yes, and The CrackBerry created by Bar leader, Yutaro, has graduated and made our DTLA Cocktail Of the Week twice in a row.
Having brunch at Testa this time means Watermelon Mimosas, soft shell crab, and avocado toast or that same toast served beneath a generous portion of Prosciutto. The plate shares its space with something also relatively new to downtown, a cloud egg. So, whatâs a cloud egg? More importantly, how is it made to look like the egg yolk is rising above a volcanic mountain of its own flambĂ©ed egg white only to flow down the sides after eruption by fork and why is dipping your avocado toast into is yellow lava so darn tasty?
Especially proud to tell mom and dad we got a chance to learn about Testaâs soft shell crab duo. Soft shell crab as you can imagine isnât found regularly in nearby eateries. At Testa, they are deep fried with a flavor worth studying as each bite allows the soft crab meat to find its way out of an equally soft crab shell into the history book of DTLA culinary mastery.
As with most topics, the menu is delightfully surprising. Filled with rare selections and brilliant combinations of seasonal items, Testa will always earn extra credit for taste and presentation.Â
Inside the main dining room, everything we tried was cooked to perfection and as pleasing to the eye as it was to the palate. We pledged our allegiance as we indulged each dish of delicate patterns and seasoned textures without missing a stitch.
Portions and prices are relevant contemporaries to other fine dining establishments in downtown and eastern exposure, before sundown, Illuminates each plate, allowing the best visual presentation for study.
Our research turned up all the reasons we needed to praise Testaâs magnificence.
Thank you Chef Moon.Â
There is much to take in at Testa, as popular music of the day keeps the mood festive.
The service is excellent and Testa has never failed to impress us with their warm welcome. Hostesses, waiters and waitresses always give us the feeling like they are happy in the workplace. That can only mean one thing. The owner, Kevin Kang, is most genuine, kind, and giving. A few other DTLA restaurants could take a lesson as you will read in upcoming issues. Happy staff. happy customer. Good grades!
The main dining area seats up to 50 people in perfect formation. Downtown may feel a sense of the familiar as the interior design, complete with comfortable booths, bars and handcrafted wooden tables and chairs, is designed by DTLA Patriot, Ricki Kline.
The publisher of Downtown Weekly interviewed Kline in 2013, at that time he had already been the dean of design at more than a few local hotspots thanks to his talents and signature ânature in the cityâ niche in DTLA hospitality.
As the sun went down the lights dimmed and the candles were lit. The restaurant started to fill again. The bar area especially, which starts inside the main dining room, facing an open kitchen, only to head off to its own complete bar area, perfect for meeting new people or having quiet conversations over signature cocktails.
The kitchen area also puts Chef Moon on the stage as he is left to perform a recital of culinary honesty in front of the entire student body.
The attention to detail at Testa can only be found in a certain number of restaurants weâve had the honor of patronizing. Testa, meaning âheadâ in Italian, started off with an Italian concept but quickly moved on into experimentation phase to become âheadâ of its class.
Itâs not all about perfect table settings and hardwood floors, although the sense of artistic detail fully permeates. The decor, the food, the beverage menu gives you just enough as to not appear sloppy in anyway, all the while allowing you to feel totally comfortable in its space. Itâs rare to find such a place, especially with excellent service and such a giving atmosphere. Happy one year anniversary and thank you Mr. Kang. Testa has passed every test with flying colors. Or should we say flying flavors? www.testadtla.com
