The Craving: Brilliant Bruschetta

What do tomatoes, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and cheese have in common? When put on top of tasty bread, yummy bruschetta is the result. Here are five places to feed that craving.

1) Rush Street

Bruschetta is only as good as its toppings, so proves the heirloom tomato and grilled asparagus bruschetta. Four thinly sliced pieces of baguette bread came out piled high with mozzarella, tomatoes and a hint of basil. A mini-lunch on its own, it's tough to imagine actually ordering a main course.

Price for unbeatable bruschetta: $10

Rush Street, 9546 Washington Blvd.; 310-837-9546

2) Brunello Trattoria

Something about homemade bread brings back childhood memories. Warm and topped with fresh tomatoes and sprinkled with garlic, basil and extra virgin olive oil, the slight snap with each bite made for an addicting, how-your-Italian mom-made-it bruschetta.

Price for unbeatable bruschetta: $9.50

Brunello Trattoria, 6001 Washington Blvd.; 310-280-3856

3) Novecento Pasta & Grill

Fancily named, the bruschetta montebianco was slightly different than the other bruschettas I'd had. With grilled garlic bread topped with diced tomato, there was an extra peppery kick to the mix of basil and extra virgin olive oil. The warm, oozing goat cheese on top was the icing on the cake, so to speak.

Price for unbeatable bruschetta: $8.95

Novecento Pasta & Grill, 3837 Main St.; 310-842-3838

4) Ugo Italian Cafe

Talk about a walk on the wild side: the bruschetta was based with a toasted Italian country bread, a nice thinner and softer departure from the stiff bruschetta offered from competitors. Topped with chopped roma tomatoes, basil, and touched with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, the mix was well done, and the bread barely held all of the oil–which was a good thing when it came to the taste.

Price for unbeatable bruschetta: $5.50

Ugo Italian Cafe, 3865 Cardiff Ave.; 310-204-1222

5) Bottlerock

Happy Hours at BottleRock, held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, gives foodies a great chance to try bruschetta on the cheap. A list of $4 bar snacks include heirloom tomato bruschetta and a variety of finger foods. Impressed by the quality of the crunchy baguette bread and the slightly spicy tomatoes, it was easy to forget that the food was from a bar menu.

Price for unbeatable bruschetta: $4 

Bottlerock, 3847 Main St.; 310-836-9463