Artisanal Cocktails Debut at Locanda Del Lago May 18, 2009

Farmers' Market-Driven Artisanal Cocktails
Debut At Lago

Popular Santa Monica Restaurant Also
Expands Happy Hour to Seven Days a Week
and All Evening Tuesdays Featuring
$3 Beers, $4 House Wines,
Half-Price Appetizers and Pizzas and Other Great Values

"Recession Relief" Dining Room Offers Include
"BYOB Mondays," "Wine ½ Off Wednesdays"
and ongoing daily "Stimulus Package" Featuring
Three-Course Dinner ($29) and Two-Course Lunch ($15)

Lago, celebrated for its imaginative Italian cuisine spotlighting seasonal
flavors and the freshest local ingredients, debuts an Artisanal Cocktail
Menu featuring mixed drinks crafted from produce from the Santa Monica
Farmers' Market and organic liquors. The popular Santa Monica restaurant
also expands its Happy Hour to seven days a week (and all evening Tuesdays)
with $3 beers, $4 house wines, half-price dishes and other great deals.
Additionally, Lago's "Recession Relief" dining room offers include "BYOB
Mondays" (no corkage),"Wine ½-Off Wednesdays" and an ongoing "Stimulus
Package" with a three-course dinner ($29) and two-course lunch ($15).

The distinctive ARTISANAL COCKTAIL MENU makes use of freshly squeezed and
just-picked ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, located right
outside Lago's front door, and top-shelf organic liquors. These marvelously
tasty mixed drinks, $12 on the rocks and $28 for a one-liter carafe, are
currently Lago's famous MOJITO (Mint, Lime, Papagayo Rum and Sugar Cane),
MEYER LIMONATA (Meyer Lemon, Açaí Berry Veev Liqueur, Prosecco), MARKET
MARGARITA (Oro Blanco Grapefruit, Tangelo, Lime, 4 Copas Tequila) and MAI
TAI BAZAAR (Navel Orange, Lime, Oro Blanco Grapefruit, Pineapple, Rum), as
well as an array of martini-style choices ($14) including SAGE MIST (Sage,
Square One Cucumber Vodka, Prosecco), ORANGE BASIL (Navel Orange, Basil,
Crop Vodka), MINT BERRY (Strawberry, Mint, Açaí Berry Veev Liqueur) and
Lago's signature Caprese (Cherry Tomato, Basil, Crop Tomato Vodka,
Balsamic).

According to Megan Sheehy, Lago's general manager and wine director, "We're
not surprised that this menu is already so popular, but it took a day or two
to get used to maintaining enough fresh ingredients to meet the demand."

Lago's HAPPY HOUR features $3 beers, including imported and domestic, and
specialty cocktails
and martinis for $8 (regularly priced $ 12 to $14 ) Premium wines,
including a nice selection from Italy and California, are $8, and house red,
white and sparkling wines are $4. The half-price menu selections include
appetizers, greens, salads, soups, pizzas and sandwiches ranging from $3.50
to $8.00. Happy hour prices for beverages and food are available throughout
the restaurant and bar from 4 to 7 pm Monday thru Friday; in the bar only
from 4 to 7 pm Saturdays and Sundays; and Tuesday extended all evening until
closing in the bar only.

Capping Lago's new offerings is RECESSION RELIEF, beginning with "BYOB
Mondays!" featuring no corkage charge when you bring in your own bottle of
wine; "Wine ½ Off Wednesdays!" offering half-off selected bottled wines from
Lago's award-winning wine list, and the ongoing "Stimulus Package!" one of
Lago's best and most popular values, a three-course dinner ($29) daily and a
two-course lunch ($15) weekdays, both comprised of several delectable
choices found on Lago's regular menus with no reduction in portions, only
prices.

Lago maintains a unique identity in L.A. by spotlighting the cuisine of
Bellagio on Lake Como in Northern Italy. This upscale Italian eatery, with
its warm, inviting interior, expansive windows and a sidewalk patio
overlooking the colorful Third Street Promenade, has been attracting
foodies, celebrities, locals and travelers for more than 18 years. Lago is
dedicated to providing the ultimate restaurant experience with exceptional
cuisine coupled with meticulous, friendly service. The kitchen offers the
most flavorful ingredients available in conjunction with traditional and
innovative recipes, and the menus feature produce and other foods from the
Santa Monica Farmers' Market. Every Wednesday and Saturday, Chef Roberto
Maggioni seeks the freshest, organic, most flavorsome selections available
from Windsor Farms, Harry's Berries, Weiser Farms, Garcia Farms, Coleman
Farms, JJ Loned Daughter Ranch, and Lilly's Eggs, while Scarborough Farms
delivers fresh organic goods on non-market days. All pastas, focaccia
bread, desserts and gelato are made fresh daily at the restaurant. The wine
list has received an "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator magazine
every year since 1995 and features nearly 400 selections from Italy and
California including verticals, half bottles and large format bottles.

Reservations are suggested but not required. Valet parking is available
during dinner, and all major credit cards are accepted.

Lago is located at 231 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica. (310) 451-3525.
www.LagoSantaMonica.com

Official Website: http://www.LagoSantaMonica.com