Bar Toscana’s patio now up and running
By Dolores Quintana
Bar Toscana is Toscana Restaurant’s sister restaurant and bar located next door to Toscana in Brentwood. Their website states that “Bar Toscana’s Executive Chef Justino Quirino curated a simple yet elegant menu which includes small plates, or stuzzichini, pinsa, pastas, meat, seafood, and desserts.
Cocktails are hand-crafted and the wine list is largely Italian-focused. At once relaxed and stylish, this neighborhood lounge is ideally fashioned for unique cocktails, intimate dinners, and sparkling conversation.”
Executive Chef Justino Quirino is a native of Oaxaca, Mexico who has been part of the hospitality industry in Los Angeles for two decades. The menu is very classic Italian with Piatti, Italian first course dishes, Pinsa or hand-pushed dough in the Roman style with a very light crust, pasta dishes, Secondi or entree meals and Dolci or dessert which is a specially made dessert of the day, every day.
Bar Toscana also has a special menu of original cocktails which include the Empress Jubilee or gin, yuzu puree, St. Germain, prosecco, Mexico Picante or tequila Blanco, mezcal, jalapeno, cucumber, the Flying Fig or vodka, fig marmalade, Amaro Cinpatrazzo, cinnamon among a total of 11 different cocktail creations.
There is a classic Aperol Spritz on the cocktail menu and Head Bartender Miguel Hernandes’ has created four variations on the classic cocktail including the Milano Spritz: grapefruit and cranberry juice, Campari, Fernet, Prosecco and simple syrup, the Sorrento Spritz: Italicus, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Limoncello, Lemon Juice and Prosecco, the Capri Spritz: Aperol, Pavan, Tequila, Orange juice, Grenadine, Prosecco, the Sicilian Spritz: Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, Campari, Blood Orange Juice, and Lime Juice.
