Best tasting menu in LA??

[tokyoastrogirl]

Need to pick a place for special occasion, but after searching these boards, I'm more confused than ever! What's the consensus on the Spago tasting menu? Anyone experienced it recently? We've already done the Providence one so would like to try something different. Should have good wine pairing as well, nothing in a "clubby" atmosphere (read: Apple).

Looking forward to your detailed recs!!

thanks.

TAG
http://tokyoastrogirl.blogspot.com/

[exilekiss]

Hi tokyoastrogirl,

I second ipsedixit's vote. Besides Providence, Spago and Valentino were pretty nice. I reviewed their Tasting Menu here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/541112

[david Haskell]

Tokyo,
really enjoyed your blog. Go to Valentino. The new chef is doing great. They have an amazing wine list and Paul is great at pairing food and wine. I'll go..LOL

[Servorg]

August 4, 2008 CH Spago tasting menu review with a link to online photos here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/545317

[ipsedixit]

For a tasting menu with a good wine pairing I would seriously consider both Valentino and Melisse.

[The Sauce]

The Dining Room - Langham Huntington Hotel
Providence
Sona
Melisse

[jkao1817]

The Langham dinning room is closed for remodeling.....

[sbritchky]

The Water Grill, if you don't mind slightly overdone fish leading up to luscious beef (far better than most cuts at Cut, e.g.) and desserts.

As a reference, elsewhere this year (and not too far away), I've really enjoyed the tasting menus at Stonehill Tavern (great fish AND beef from Michael Mina), Arterra (wonderful California-style from Bradley Ogden but just too noisy), and Rosemary's (upscale Southern-style in off-the-strip Vegas -- their dessert plates are almost as much food as the rest of the meal). The current hit with the see-and-be-seen crowd in Vegas, Joel Robuchon, serves an extremely expensive tasting menu of toy food and foams for plastic tongues.

-----
Water Grill
544 South Grand, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Rosemary's Restaurant
8125 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117

Stonehill Tavern
St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA 92629

Arterra Restaurant
11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon
3799 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV

[MaxCaviar]

Amen to the Stonehill recommendation! They are SPECTACULAR as to service, food and ambience. We always try to hit all the highest rated places in Orange County at least once, and this one was far beyond its peers.

[Diana]

ou've done the best already, but Spago is pretty dang spectacular.

Of course, many will aim you to Urasawa's omakase dinner. Very $$$, but word of mouth says worth every penny

[la tache burger]

Here's a link to my recent Sona post, had a great experience, look it over, hard not to be wooed, I think. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/550404

[kevin h]

If you're going to Spago, the consensus here seems to be that the tasting menu is quite good and a far better choice than going a la carte. See: http://www.kevineats.com/2007/04/spag...

Other solid choices than come to mind are Bastide, Ortolan, and Sona.

[lotta_cox]

I have never done the tasting menu at Spago, but have done several about town and in other cities. My personal fave in LA is Sona.