Lago, Baldwin Park - Closed

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant on Friday. I started with Lumache for $8 and finished with Grilled Pork Loin with White Beans for $20. The Lumache (I believe that is an area in Italy) consisted of snails and assorted mushrooms in a red wine, cream, etc sauce. It was superb. The sauce was savory and sweet. The snails were a tad overcooked. To be honest the snails could go. The mushrooms were enough to make the dish. It had a plasticene piece of foccacia in the center. That could go as well. The main course didn't work. The taste of char from the grill overpowered/ruined the balance of the dish. A dish that was too bland to compete with the starter. The pork was all over the place. Some pieces were cooked ok, some were overcooked. I don't think it was a quality loin either. It seemed to have that plumped/watered up mouth feel you get with agro-products. The beans were mostly tasteless and dry. There was some heat on them, but, it didn't really gel with the compote on the pork. I would roast the pork and add some heat to the compote. The portion was large. That may be because the place can probably seat 200 and there were maybe 6 people dining (36 if you count two tables of ten in the back area). It's a shame because they have spent money on the place. It's a tad generic-modern, but, what isn't nowadays. The place has really high ceilings (although you are forced to stare at the exposed duct work). It has serpentined booths in the middle of the room (half face the exposed kitchen). The front has a bar area. The tables are liberally spaced. They have a large exterior patio area that faces a lake. The decor is modern. The service was great (after a small wait at the hostess table). The clientele was natty but not formal. The main courses were reasonably priced. the apps and wine were a little high (that's how I know this was an Italian restaurant). I suppose the have desserts, but, you are fat enough America. I would recommend it. The most curious thing about the place is that it can break even without a lunch service. I must have really been in on a slow day.