This is the kind of delightful, relatively undiscovered little place that reinvigorates even the most jaded restaurant critics. The petite restaurant couldn't be more different from the mass-oriented corporate creations located just up the hill at Universal's CityWalk. Its casually romantic dining room is filled with old wooden tables, some dressed with white linen, vintage French movie posters and lots of candles. As an intimate hideaway it excels, and the cramped kitchen produces food that equals the charming ambience. As the name implies, both Italy and France are represented on the menu. Although the restaurant's overriding personality is French, you'll find excellent risotto here, as well as alluring pastas. Starters are dominated by splendid salads, such as warm baby spinach with shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, onion-fennel marmalade and creamy goat cheese in sweet balsamic vinaigrette. Filet mignon is presented with a C?tes du Rh?ne reduction, roasted monkfish with lobster-curry sauce, and duck with sour cherry-orange sauce. Patient braising results in a homey lamb shank and a pear-pistachio tart makes a fine finale. --Gayot.com