I've been to my share of celebrity hotspots in LA, like Catch or Boa Steakhouse, and was expecting Giorgio Baldi to have similar crowds, some extravagant decorations, and the perfect sign for an Instagram shot.
But Giorgio Baldi is not that kind of place, even though it's been popular with celebrities since it opened in 1990.
"We don't promote that environment. People think we do, but we don't," Baldi told The Times. "I've sat people — big people — at really crappy tables, but I'm like, 'OK, I don't know who you are! Whatever.'"
You can barely see Giorgio Baldi's front sign, which is just a subtle "gb" written above the door. And while the backyard is bustling and bright, the dining room is small and shrouded in dim lighting. Its main decoration is the turquoise walls, and there's a sizzling soundtrack of meat hitting hot pans in the open kitchen.