Truffle-upagus

Summer truffles are just a fraction of the price of the most sought-after truffles. So chefs can be liberal with them and diners can indulge without breaking the bank.

Il Grano

Forget pepperoni pie. At this sharp Italian dining room, there’s a white Neapolitan style pizza (meaning there’s a bit of heft and chew to the crust) made with a summer truffle sauce, asiago and fontina cheese, and plenty of shaved summer truffle.

* Pizza $17. 11359 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A., (310) 477-7886.

Minx Restaurant & Lounge

Chef Joseph Antonishek is serving up some interesting eats at this new Glendale glamour-puss. Steak tartare made with filet mignon and black summer truffles is served atop a beet and potato salad and crowned with a black tea marbled quail egg. And for Sunday brunch, there’s a twist on eggs benedict featuring polenta cakes, prosciutto and a truffle hollandaise.

* Steak tartare $11; eggs $14. 300 Harvey Drive, Glendale, (818) 242-9191.

Bridge

Diners at this 5-month-old see-and-be-seen Italian spot (from the Koi folks) can start with warm white asparagus spears served under a blanket of parmesan and a mess of nickel-size discs of aromatic summer truffle. There’s also homemade tagliolini: skinny, toothsome pasta ribbons in a simple butter sauce with -- more truffles.

* Asparagus $24; tagliolini $40. 755 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., (310) 659-3535.

Noe

A filet of Scottish salmon, slow poached in olive oil, is the star of one popular entree at Robert Gadsby’s downtown dining room in the Omni Hotel. It is served with potato gnocchi and sweet, al dente English peas with an onion soubise (a creamy onion sauce). A few gently cooked organic cherry tomatoes, some micro-celery and summer truffles come last.

* Salmon $27. 251 S. Olive St., downtown L.A., (213) 356-4100.

Melisse

Josiah Citrin uses truffles throughout the year at his sophisticated French boite. This season, there is a salad of mixed greens, shaved vegetables and an assortment of herbs in a summer truffle vinaigrette. Or start with sweet corn ravioli with shaved truffle and a brown butter froth. There’s also authentic Japanese Wagyu beef paired with potatoes baked with olive oil and summer truffles.

* Salad $15; ravioli $19; beef $55. 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 395-0881.

-- Leslee Komaiko