SB foodie's Profile
La Bistecca?
Thanks Ric. The lobby idea was a turn-off to me, too. I was wondering why they'd serve caponata AND another sauce with a good steak! Going to Church and State instead. A bit far from the Ahmanson, but we'll make it!
South Bay Favorites (VERY LONG)
Tapa Meze - truly a nightmare. Granted we haven't returned since just after they opened. Was that because it took 45 minutes to serve 4 wine flights? Or because THE OWNER TOLD US HE WAS FIRING OUR SERVER. No apology, nothing comped, just that she'll be gone, please come back. BTW - the wine flights took so long because the owner insisted that they use an idiotic tree that holds glasses all on different angles, then didn't have the right fitted glasses, so they tipped and spilled, and the poor ditzy waitress was trying and trying to make it work (stupid, yes, but stupid hired stupid...), and the bartender was too busy chatting up the TWO - countem TWO barflys - so he couldn't pour our wine.
Yes, on to the food. Really mediocre. Nothing fresh, nothing special. EH! For tapas, spend the money, sit on the patio at Petros, and relax. Just don't go for dinner unless you like tight, loud spaces with minimal service.
Good Sushi on Westside tonight?
WOW - we love Kiriko and always have great service. Had omakase there last night - all fabulous, fresh, perfect fish, flavors that shined through all preparations. $230 for two, with a $50 bottle of sake.
Only flaw was that they tried to not let us take the rest of our sake to go. We were going to the theatre and didn't have time to finish it. They said they would not be responsible. We suggested they'd be responsible if we finished it there, then left and got injured, so they ultimately gave in. Still, we'd go back in a minute!
Nice, Lyon and Paris: 12/25-1/03
If you can get in and want to make an incredibly memorable detour, go south of Lyon to the Rhone, to Valence. There you'll find Maison Pic. Anne-Sophie Pic is an accomplished chef, only the third woman chef to achieve 3 Michelin stars. The food is fabulous, light, elegant, Asian influenced. The rooms are elegant yet comfortable, as is the service. Anne-Sophie is warm, charming, and an amazing talent!
Manhattan Beach / Highland Ave.
There are few solid options in the SB beach cities. I live in this culinary wasteland. Melba's is great. Very good fresh fish and seafood, good pastas, something to satisfy everyone. Open kitchen and charming Chef Melba make it fun! Our home away from home!
Brix @ 1601
Brix still doesn't cut it. My lunch experience today included a menu more limited than that on Brix own website, a server who didn't know the menu, and some really poor execution of dishes. The long version:
I really wanted to like Brix. It's a beautifully appointed room, but the menu just doesn't match. We went for lunch today and had a hard time making a selection. Not because there were so many choices, but because there are so few. Don't go by the website; half of the items are not on the lunch menu. For such an elegant space, the menu was comprised largely of run of the mill sandwiches and a couple of steaks. I had settled on the skirt steak with arugula, only to be informed that it was replaced by skirt steak with a fried egg and black beans. UGH! I was informed that I could not get the menu item, even though they had all the ingredients. SO - I ordered the corn ravioli with sweetbreads. Along came ravioli topped by cream sauce with a few kernels of corn and some deep fried chunks of.... ??? The waiter said bacon. I asked where the sweetbreads might be and he said they were inside the ravioli. SO - the raviolis were filled with.... the same cream sauce that was on the outside. After consulting with the kitchen, the waiter returned and proudly announced that the "bacon" was really sweetbreads. Deep fried sweetbreads.... I returned it, and ordered the other steak on the menu, requesting that the fries be substituted with roasted vegetables. The waiter informed me that there might be an upcharge; I informed him that I would not pay anything additional. They complied, ultimately. While the waiter apologized, I was appalled by his lack of knowledge of the menu. Furthermore, I would expect that my entree be comped for the inconvenience. All in all, a disappointment. I always look for new restaurants near home. Took a while to get to Brix because I hadn't heard many raves. Maybe dinner service is better; one more chance in a few months. Unfortunately, my husband will not return due to today's service.
Shhh...Melisse Chef in the South Bay!
I know the chef is from Avenue, which closed primarily for financial reasons. Couldn't draw clientele. Food was ok, not great. Maybe poorly managed as well. The only e-mail I ever received from Avenue in two years was the one informing me of their closure - no events, seasonal menus, nothing! Darren's in the same location is doing incredibly well. Can't get in on the weekend after six months.
As for Catalina, I was unimpressed with the food. Appetizers all served at wrong temperatures, flavors not fresh. Waiters not knowledgeable. The space remodel is great, but I won't go back. So he cooked at Melisse, maybe. He wasn't the chef.
Coccole in the same location struggled with service problems and a pace that Americans are not accustomed to - slow, relaxed, an evening spent with family and friends.
South Bay? I live there. I would be more than happy to support local restaurants. Meanwhile, we drive a Prius.....
