Obica Mozzarella Bar Pizza E Cucina Opens In Santa Monica

Obica Mozzarella Bar Pizza e Cucina, a global restaurant chain featuring contemporary Italian cuisine, has opened a new location in Santa Monica.

Located in the former Hostaria del Picoolo space on Broadway, Obica has a modern décor with a long narrow entry and bar area with small tabletops and bar seats leading to a larger airy indoor dining area. Diners can also enjoy the beautiful garden patio with long banquettes for lunch or dinner.

The focus of the menu is on fresh mozzarella di bufala which is delivered to Obica twice a week from cheesemakers in Campania, Italy. Guests can choose from delicate, smoked or creamy bufala as well as black truffle burrata. Appetizers also include a huge variety of small plates of prosciutto, salami, speck and roasted vegetables. Salads include a caprese, burrata with beets, tuna and artichokes, chicken and octopus with black rice.

Pizzas are prepared with a blend of organic white and wheat flour and include tomato and mozzarella, prosciutto, anchovy and capers, burrata and sausage and porcini mushrooms. Pastas include lasagna, shrimp risotto, pesto pasta and pappardelle with duck ragu. Other main dishes include an Angus ribeye, chicken breast stuffed with black truffle and branzino with white beans.

Desserts include a flourless chocolate cake and a passion fruit panna cotta.