You gotta love how one California’s top chefs can transform a garage into a great Italian restaurant overlooking a beautiful garden and have the humor to name it “Il Garage“.   While doing a great job of designing the place, there is no intent to hide the fact that you are indeed in a garage.  The garage doors, tractor and of course the name itself speaks to that.

Il Garage

Il Garage

Il Garage is a great Italian restaurant complete with red checkered tablecloths. It’s the “secret” restaurant in the back of Park Avenue in Stanton. Should you decide to visit, just know that there isn’t an “Il Garage” sign that accompanies the one for Park Avenue at the front of the restaurant.

Leaf symbols next to dishes on the menu indicate an element from garden is represented.

I’m a big lover of Calamari and its nice to not always have it battered and fried.  Here it’s served with White Bean in Tomato Sauce.

Calamari with White Bean in Tomato Sauce

The rich creamy ooziness that is Polenta.  It’s topped with a tasty mushroom cream sauce.  This was devoured quite fast.

Polenta with Mushrooms

It seems that ricotta cheese is the standard these days for all lasagna.  In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had lasagna without it.  Probably when I was a little kid.  To my surprise, that’s how it’s served here.  I like it.

Lasagna Bolognese

Their Pasta with Scallops was very light.  It needed a bit more salt but other than that was delicious.

Pasta with Scallops

Yes, that's a tractor

Tags | Calamari, il garage, Italian, Lasagna, Polenta, Scallops, stanton