The Arista has enough atmosphere alone to give reason to check it out - it's bright red crystal chandeliers and modern art give it a funky Hawthorne vibe, not to mention it's patio full of flowers and old lanterns that makes it hard to remember you're on bustling Hawthorne.
And then the food is in a whole other league of its own: The Cippino is definitely a must-have dish at Arista, perfectly merging fresh tiger prawns, mussels, clams, crab and swordfish with a smoky tomato clam broth.
The Arista has great small plates, too, and they're definitely NOT ""small!"" Things like the Lamb Burger (a gyros turned into a burger!), Monte Cristo (insane is the only word to describe it) and the Grilled Pork and Apple Sandwich are my favorites. And I've never found a price that's so low for such a good meal ($5 for small plates!!!).
The staff is very knowledgeable - we loved our waitress!
We have started going here regularly and there are usually food and drink specials and the menu changes often - I always look forward to what I will discover the next time I go. Definitely try this place out, I'm positive it will be a new favorite!
Pros: Great food, cool atmosphere
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