557534 Mon Sep 15 10:36:37 -0700 2008 3 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4036316 What's the best (or quirkiest) tasting menu you've had here? Looking to try something new... Thanks. Mon Sep 15 10:36:37 -0700 2008 58578 sushi202 1 4036495 Quirkiest might not be the best way to describe it, but for a different angle on tasting menus I would suggest Restaurant 561. http://561restaurant.com/ Mon Sep 15 11:28:18 -0700 2008 4036316 11583 ipsedixit 1 4036512 I've really enjoyed the "art" of the tasting menu at SONA. So many random things that I would never had thought of putting together worked out great. EX: Fois gras (how do you spell it), aspic, and creame fraiche parfait as a dessert. It was amazing..along with everyhting else we had. 2x I've also really enjoyed HATFIELDS (a few fun quirky things) and of course BASHAN. Their amuses are always a delight! Mon Sep 15 11:35:18 -0700 2008 4036316 93485 tatertotsrock 1 4036805 Considering your Chow-name, you might have tried izakaya food and may have enjoyed it. A much more highly stylized version of "small plates" experience where terms like quality, focus and skill are tied to relevance, immediacy and intimacy. You may have considered either kappo or koryori-ya style cuisine as well, which can be similar to if not exactly like a tasting menu, particularly if the place offers kaiseki. You have? You want it? Well, (here we go again:)) check out this monster post from Exilekiss... http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/557338 Mon Sep 15 13:02:09 -0700 2008 4036316 64003 bulavinaka