First Time at the New J Nichols in MDR

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Okay, I'll fess up...I thought I was going to hate it. Maybe this is the trick? Go in with low to nonexistent expectations? I actually liked it a lot.

So let me back up the truck a little bit and start with the remodel. I would term the look "Baby Hillstone Group" (Bandera, Houston's and R+D Kitchen) or maybe even closer to the Westside Tavern in the Westside Pavillion. Very clean look with lots of windows and comfortable booths. Even the booths for two, which we sat in, were roomy and comfortable.

Our waitress was pretty efficient (just a slight delay in coming around late in the meal when I was wanting to order dessert - but a minor bobble). The lighting is subdued without being dark and the noise level, despite being near capacity, was well within acceptable limits for my 1960's Janis Joplin and the Seeds high velocity hearing to deal with...

We both got sandwiches, very similar in style. My wife got their pastrami on rye and I tried their "ersatz Reuben (with coleslaw replacing the kraut), also on grilled rye (almost a duplicate of the "Ruebenesque" sandwich at R+D Kitchen on Montana). Very good rye and very good pastrami. They come with a cone of skinny fries. Also very good. I would give the sandwiches and the fries solid B+'s.

I also had the brownie sundae for dessert. A really lovely brownie, heated through and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and lots of toasted pecan halves and caramel sauce. Excellent. My wife wanted the bread pudding, but she had to settle for their "toffee cake" and wasn't as thrilled by her dessert (although I do note that she finished the entire thing without offering me even one teeny, tiny bit!)

With a coke and an ice tea, plus a coffee the total tab was $47, plus tip. This would be a very good date restaurant, but lots of families were there too. Folks dressed fairly nicely along with folks just strolling in wearing "Marina casual" (read sweats, t-shirts and deck shoes).

I did overhear one of the waitresses telling an adjacent table that they were planning on bringing some of the old Nichols favorites back to their menu, but I didn't hear which ones.

All in all a very nice meal in a lovely room. I think that this new concept will end up being a big hit over time.

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J Nichols
4375 Glencoe Ave, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

R+D Kitchen
1323 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Westside Tavern
10850 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

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We had a hankering for Pastrami at J Nichols so we cruised in last night and "no more Pastrami" - Damn! I did have their new "regular Ruben" which is corned beef, kraut and cheese on grilled rye. A little on the greasy side, but it was tasty. The corned beef was a little chopped up in some places so small bits kind of needed to be tucked back in or picked up off the plate. My wife tried the meatloaf which is grilled after being baked. Unfortunately the grilling on top of the baking leaves the loaf a bit on the dry side. My key lime pie was excellent. Still a "nice" restaurant in terms of going out for a date. But the food is still suspect and the removal of their very excellent Pastrami from the menu is going to make it problematic whether we go again anytime soon. It was a crying shame to not get my Pastrami fix last night...

[wienermobile]

The Pastrami Nosh sandwich at Plan Check will cure your pastrami fix (closer than a trip to Langer's and almost as good).
http://www.plancheckbar.com/

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Just waiting a bit to go hoping the crowd will die down...but we will definitely go and I will try the Pastrami nosh as my first pick. Thanks for the reminder.