Divine Divino: The Boss is in the House

(Gerry Furth-Sides) I can think of restaurants that have good service when an owner is not on site, but I can’t think of a restaurant with an owner on site that is anything short of perfection, with old school hospitality. One of our new favorites is neighborhood mainstay, Divino in Barrington Court in Brentwood.

We were introduced to Divino by whirlwind international event producer, Orly Segal (seen here with Goran) by way of a media mailing list– press release.

I can think of restaurants that have good service when an owner is not on site, but I can’t think of a restaurant with an owner on site that is anything short of perfection. Old school hospitality reigns. The service is extraordinary. Just as you realize you are missing a knife, you look up and it is right there.

And expect the unexpected Divino: like being an astonished guest of the “100-point” afternoon regulars.  Sam Plotkin, shown here opening the wine explains: “the atmosphere and the food Goran prides @divino is the 100 points no matter what the wine.”

Chef-owner Goran on this day departs to the kitchen and brings back an offering of Charcuterie; salmon on a bed of leeks; tender beef with veggies on polenta; homemade pappardelle with a Bolognese sauce.

The cuisine is just as genuine, heartfelt Italian. As exuberant Milic tells it, he is from Montenegro, almost directly across the water from Pulia, Italy.  So a love of fish is naturally one of the shared traditions of coastal Italy and Montenegro on the Adriatic coast. 

The traditional dishes of Montenegro’s heartland region has a distinctly Italian flavor. Stuffed capsicums (Peppers), meatballs, Italian-style bread, cheese, soups, and stews have become traditions. 

Rustic, white tablecloth DIVINO RESTAURANT to us feels like an old-school, European ski resort lodge, perfect for a formal or casual occasion. The front door opens right into the first dining room in a soaring space with a loft and oversize skylight. Photographs rim the main dining room too, in the words of the “remind guests of our European roots.”

The cozy, intimate size “Library Room” has walls lined with wine, a corner hutch, wall of wine and an overview of the open kitchen. Off to the side, the tucked away “Castle Nuovo” room with dramatic velvet drapes and mounted photographs, is set up and ready for a private party or business occasion.

DIVINO RESTAURANT, 11714 Barrington Ct., Los Angeles, CA 90049. Hours: Monday-Sunday, noon to 2:30 pm and 5:30PM to 10:00pm. To contact the restaurant please phone (310) 472-0886 or email: info@divinobrentwood.com