I'm Drawing a Blank -- want great upscale in SM or Venice for tonight!
So a good friend is dropping in from SF to take me out to dinner this evening. Last time she was here I took her to Fraiche in Culver City so it's her turn to treat to the tune of about $200, including wine.
I could steer us to JiRaffe, Wilshire, Joe's, Melisse, Josie, Rustic Canyon, but I'd like to try someplace I haven't been. I think Capo will be too high, I'm concerned Gjelina will be too loud (we do like to talk).
Any and all suggestions welcome!!
By NAspy
on Mar 10, 2010 11:02 AM
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The Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney.
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FIG might be another option. Their chicken liver parfait is one of my favorite dishes in town right now. I would be concerned that you might not get into Gjelina if you don't have a reservation at this point. Also agree that the Tasting Kitchen would be a very good option.
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Also agree with Fig and Tasting Kitchen but you might also consider Cache and Whist.
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Have you, by chance, tried the beef jerky at FIG? I would be very curious to hear your opinion. I tried it a couple of weeks ago and really loved it.
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I don't recall seeing it on the menu last time I was there but that might be because I was so intrigued to try the Nduja (which was interesting and good, though not quite what I expected--more like a pate than a sausage). Looking at the menu now, I also see that they now have Kurobuta and Cavalo Nero Meatballs listed right next to the chipotle jerky so I am tempted to try both! I also like the bacon wrapped bacon and the prawns with bacon-habanero marmalade. Have you tried those?
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No, but I definitely will!
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I finally made it back to Fig to try the jerky--I really liked the heat and the chew at first but I think it was a mistake on my part to take on as a whole order by myself as an appetizer; about midway through the (generous) bowl, it became more work than pleasure to continue. Definitely a better bet to share with friends over drinks (which, of course, is probably why listed under "Snacks"). It paired very nicely with the Union Jack IPA offered on tap, though. More successful as a course for one were the meatballs--the pork and the cabbage provided wonderful flavors, and were complemented with a terrific tomato sauce with good slivers of parmesan.
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Oh yes, I agree that it would be hard to enjoy as a whole bowl. Even between two of us, the one bowl was more than enough. I will definitely have to try those meatballs.
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If you sit out on the patio at Gjelina the noise level won't be a problem.
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Pisoni wine dinner at Tavern tonight. Hundred bucks a head -- kind of a steal. Like 6 wines. Good wine. Gary Pisoni will be there.
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Melisse.
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Thanks for the tips for the next time. Did manage to get a table at Gjelina for 8 PM (could the hottest thing in town finally be getting a bit more tepid?). LOUDLOUDLOUD and there's no place for a drink if you're early, so we had a great cocktail at the Tasting Kitchen down the street (which I will definitely try next time).
Back at Gjelina, had a great bottle of Sancerre, the roasted beet and burrata salad, the pizza margherita with proscuitto, and the crispy spanish mackerel. Everything was very good, but nothing WOW (better beet salad at JiRaffe and Fraiche, I was underwhelmed by the exotic pizza choices, and mackerel...eh) and desserts (butterscotch pot and something else) were also excellent. The pizza crust was almost cracker like, and I really thought the ratio of sauce to other toppings was perfect, so that was the winner dish in my book.
Interesting menu, but I felt crushed at the table and by the noise level. Place feels like a slightly higher quality Ford's Filling Station. Maybe I'm gettin old.
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Cache. Upscale, not too fussy, not too crowded (not too noisy) and you get more than a touch of haute cuisine for a more or less reasonable price.
Get this - the wood fired calamari and chorizo, the hamachi, the foie gras parfait and a flat bread. I like Gjelina a lot (I was there last week and ran into so many friend I felt like I'd owned the joint) but Cache is more serious about food.
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