Venice is a hotbed of great restaurants. Gjelina was not only recommended by a few different people but it also appeared at the top of every search I did. So of course I needed to make a stop during my trip to Cali. Pizza and thoughtfully prepared veggies are two of my favorite things.

Gjelina via TripAdvisor

My friend and I weren’t supper hungry for our reservation at Gjelina so we decided to share a few small bites. Everything on the vegetable menu sounded fabulous, but we started with the Grilled Russian Kale. The kale was charred to perfection and served with a tangy mint yogurt, shallots, and hazelnuts. The flavors were complex without being too overwhelming.

Grilled Russian Kale

We also ordered the Japanese Sweet Potato. The jalapeno yogurt was awesome and slowly built with each bite while the potatoes were super tender. I could not get enough.

Japanese Sweet Potato

For our pizza, we shared the Squash Blossom which was also topped with cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and burrata. The crust was thin with a slight chew to it and the toppings were perfect together. I’m drooling just thinking about this pizza. It’s easily one of the better pizza’s I’ve ever had.

Squash Blossom Pizza

We also wanted to finish the meal with something sweet so we ordered the Butterscotch Pot De Crème which was topped with crème fraiche and salted caramel. The saltiness cut most of the sweetness which was awesome. This was such a tasty dessert and it really hit satisfied my sweet tooth.

Butterscotch Pot De Crème

Gjelina is located at 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA

You can see where else my travels take me, here.

Be sure to subscribe for the rest of my California travel tips!

Drooling for more? Follow me on Facebook and Instagram.