Tucked away on West Haley Street, Mosto Crudo, the Italian-Spanish-Santa Barbaran tapas bar, is one of the best-kept secrets for downtown gourmands. It’s now also serving a mouthwatering lunch menu Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, featuring a wide selection of inventive vegan options as well as many favorites like fresh burrata and imported charcuterie to please all palates.
“This is just another way of making food,” Tiziano Fioretti — the passionate executive chef who hails from Rome and owns the restaurant with Alejandra Garcia — explained of their vegan options, which sing of refinement and don’t compromise on taste. “All of the salad, sandwiches, and toasts come from my Italian food inspiration. Fresh, local ingredients help us keep up with high-quality food.”
The vegan Caesar salad topped with corn and avocado won’t have you missing those anchovies one bit. The vegan burger features a juicy portobello mushroom topped with tomato, arugula, cashew brie, red onion, and vegan mayo nestled between an ethereal sourdough bun. The bread is from Basque-style Etxea Bakery in Los Angeles, with gluten-free options supplied by neighboring prodigies at Oat Bakery. Their dishes let the natural flavors of fresh ingredients take center stage and are enhanced with imported delicacies such as Sicilian olive oil.