Marinated beets.
Racion features a French and Spanish-inspired Californian tapas menu that is accessibly divided into four segments, with each section featuring a diverse selection of incrementally larger-portioned items. The rich array of tastes and textures are woven into a seamless experience.
Croquetta.
Caramelized calamari.
Lamb meatballs.
Seared arctic char.
Duck sausage stuffed squid.
Fried oysters.
Roasted vegetables.
Squid ink pasta.
Bottle of sake & yogurt sake cocktail.
From 5-8pm daily, Downtown LA’s Arashi hosts one of the more reasonable happy hours around. With 300 ml bottles of sake for as little as $10, soju cocktails and sushi rolls for under $10, and a robata-yaki list under $3.00 per piece, the prices are sure to please. With such attractions and an adjacent parking structure, it was disappointing to feel so empty for a Friday night.
Tuna and scallion roll.
While the food might not blow you away for being particularly unique or extraordinary, there’s undeniable thought and quality that goes into each plate and presentation, as well as certain value. And some items, such as the Chilean sea bass off the robata-yaki menu, did impress. The soy glaze brought out a rich sea bass flavor on a piece of fish that was grilled to a pleasant char on its edges and retained a fleshy consistency.
Of note were the scallop, king crab, and yellowtail belly.
From left to right: scallop roll, king crab roll, yellowtail belly.
Perhaps the only thing I could have done without was the giblets on a skewer.
After working diligently to complete 250+ restaurant reviews, it was nice to kick back and enjoy a precisely-made old fashioned (my drink of choice). Definitely one of the best I’ve had in LA.
While I wasn’t exactly prolific before my two month hiatus from The86Board, I’m back and eager to put forth a refreshed perspective after working on the 2013 Zagat LA guide. The project required sifting through thousands of shoddy guest comments to string together brilliant fragments and adjectives that form pithy reviews encapsulating an accurate portrayal of cuisine, ambiance, service, clientele, location, and decor. Somewhere between 100-120 reviews, I developed prejudices. I ostensibly loathed for days about the number of presumptuous pizza places around town claiming to be “New York” style. I realized there are more ho-hum burger joints than any metropolis needs. And lastly, with each hipster-driven gastropub that appeared one after another, much to my disdain, I swore I wouldn’t patronize another so long as I shall live in hopes they die a slow and painful death from lack of support.
And then a funny thing happened…
I found King’s Row in Pasadena.
The set-up is different. You stand in line, order from a menu posted on a chalkboard, then do your best to hunt down a table. We got lucky and scored a four-top on the patio. It was a beautiful evening; ideal for dining al fresco. Food runners/bussers run the food to your table. You wait for your drinks at the bar, by the way. It doesn’t quite feel fluid, but because it wasn’t crazy busy our service experience only suffered slightly with the chief complaint being that the plates arrived at staggered times.
Portobello fries with pesto aioli. Crispy on the outside and thick cuts of shrooms on the inside make for an addicting intro.
While I couldn’t differentiate the ingredients used (Peking style marinade with hoisin, ginger, sesame), the overall execution of the duck sliders exceeded expectations in taste and quality. The fries are crispy thick cuts and well-seasoned.
The tandoori chicken pizza could have easily been an over-the-top attempt at Italian-Indian fusion, but turned out to be an artisan production with tender, medium-spiced tandoori chicken complemented by feta, red onion, and cilantro on a crust that’s just thick enough to support the toppings without appearing too bread-y.
Pulled pork sandwich. I didn’t try it, but it seemed to be loved.
Amuse bouche of seared ahi tuna.
Chef Cristian Alvarez deserves his due for running the kitchen at The Dining Room and producing consistent, top-notch New American fare. He has an extraordinary knack and feel for ingredients and it shows in his cooking. What makes him an exemplary chef, aside from his culinary skills, is his humility and passive confidence in knowing that what he plates has his heart and passion.
Thank you, to The Dining Room, for yet another incredible experience. Without a doubt, the intimate space, team of personalities (Jose is an obvious choice, but you’re included too Zach!), and of course the food (which is, without a doubt, THE BEST on the Beach).
I wish you continued success!
King crab salad with butter lettuce, grilled corn, fava beans, & mustard vinaigrette.
You converted me to a pig-eating monster with this crispy confit pork belly with carrot puree, roasted cauliflowers and brussel sprouts, & soy demi-glace.
This cast iron rib eye is a man’s meal! Rare ribeye with a hint of char, roasted Brussels sprouts, baby grape tomatoes, goat cheese, Papa rellena, & horseradish chimi-churri.
Borrowed from sister restaurant, OLA’s dessert menu, the chocolate bomb is semi-sweet chocolate mousse covered with chocolate gouache, hazelnut ice cream, toasted sesame seed twill. Fine way to finish a meal!
The Dining Room. 413 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL. 33139. (305) 397-8444
Bitter greens salad in a champagne vinaigrette.
One of the most exceptional Vegas dining experiences can be had at Charlie Palmer Steak Las Vegas at the Four Seasons… and for only $48++ per person.
On a Monday night at the end of March (yes, it’s been awhile since I’ve last written!), the restaurant was all ours. Service exceeded expectations in every facet from menu explanation to wine service (a seasoned sommelier walked us through the pairings for our meal) to maintaining the table (I have a soft spot for gold-plated crumbers). Each dish was executed with such precision that even the pictured salad blew us away.
The Chef’s Cut Menu is not advertised. In fact, if you don’t mention it by name to your server and press the issue a bit, they’ll probably steer you back towards the $$$$ regular menu. Stand your ground. There’s a three-course menu with wine pairings for the salad and entree available if you say the right words. It changes on a weekly basis, so you’re not going to get bored if Charlie Palmer’s becomes your reason for weekend trips to Sin City.
Colorado rack of lamb (off the bone) with tomatoes and mint jelly.
A triumphant end to the meal: Devil’s food cake with a texture more indicative of flour-less chocolate cake.
This favorite features crispy, pan sauteed trenne pasta with succulent braised prime rib eye, Tuscan black kale that doesn't wilt amidst the tomato stew-like sauce. Garnished with shaved Grana parmesan. ($16)
There’s a reason why Bottega Louie is the most reviewed LA restaurant on Yelp. It’s a trendy bar/ reasonably priced upscale Italian-inspired restaurant/ coffee & confectionery counter. Two days in a row for lunch brought similar results, and from the same table nonetheless. The food was above average to great, while service was lacking on both visits. For example, the first day our server couldn’t keep our water glasses replenished. The second day, our server didn’t bring any of their braided baguette and creamy butter. They are a polite staff and well-meaning, but that only goes so far when you’d like to place your order, get a refill on your beverage, and eventually pay the tab. Such little kinks won’t keep us away from dishes worth craving amidst an ambiance that’s bright, full of light, and an elegant throwback to fine Art Deco architecture.
Here are some of their selections:
A pleasant salad of crisp arugula, a few slivers of red onion, Reggiano parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and cracked pepper accompanies the pizza quite nicely. ($10)
The bocconcini salad ($10) is comprised of large, leafy arugula, yellow grape tomatoes, enough capers you better like them, a delicate offering of red onion, roasted red peppers you might wish there were more of, ample bocconcini that will fix a moist cheese craving, basil as fresh as if just picked from a garden, and a tasteful Reggiano herb vinaigrette.
Pizza margherita ($18). Pros: well-balanced (just right amount of sweet) sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, scent of olive oil on the crust. Cons: baked in the oven a little too long producing too crispy of a crust, thin on sauce & cheese.
Crisp batter-dipped and fried slices of portobello mushrooms, creating a spectacular set of fries ($10).
Come hungry, because this plate of BBQ chicken & shrimp fried rice is quite filling.
Thai is great. So is barbecue. Put them together and you get something that’s sweet, savory, and a meal fit for an athlete.
Chino Hills is chock full of Thai restaurants, however one stands out – Thai Original BBQ & Restaurant - for its use of man’s favorite kitchen tool: the grill.
While initially hunting for duck on the menu, I soon learned they don’t serve that particular fowl any longer (the Sharpie squiggles over the menu items tipped me off). The next best thing: how about the #1 dish on their signature menu? The BBQ chicken (kai yang) dinner ($8.95) is a half chicken grilled to a carnivorously decadent char over a fluffy shrimp fried rice with a side of a sweet, honey-based dipping sauce for the chicken.
The TV playing the Heat game was a welcome bonus.
Thai Original BBQ & Restaurant. 2911 Chino Ave. Rolling Hills Plaza. Chino Hills, CA 91709. (909) 590-1009
Combination soup ($8.95) with mixed veg, shrimp, chicken, & pork in a clear broth. Fit for at least 2 to 3 people. Bonus points for cool presentation.
