Ella is set inside a boutique hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills.
It has a tropical vibe giving it the quintessential Los Angeles experience.
We met a couple of girlfriends who had previously eaten at the establishment for a holiday party several years prior.
We started off with the sourdough focaccia which was quite generous in size. It had a nice light crisp shell with a warm doughy middle and was served with a small bowl of black truffle butter and elderflower honey.
One of our friends ordered the little gem salad which was served with a top layer of breadcrumbs and a heavy pour of buttermilk dressing.
She seemed to enjoy it so it seemed like a winner. Her next dish, the grilled broccolini, was perfectly cooked, crisp but not overdone lightly seasoned.
My husband ordered the bolognese which was nice and al dente.
We also shared a spicy pepperoni pizza which was good but was doused with oil.
Two of us ordered the burger and fries which was just the perfect California burger. The ground beef was lightly seasoned and smoky but still perfectly moist and the fries were exceptionally crispy and salty.
After dinner we headed up to the quieter rooftop bar to have our nightcap. It had a lovely view of the city and was just a great place to decompress from the week.
All in all, Ella was a lovely experience. The only downside during our dinner was the erratic service. Our waiter had a penchant for disappearing for long periods of time but the food was good and it had a nice vibe.
In searching for a local waterside restaurant, I came upon Beachside’s revamped menu. It had been a few years since we had dined at this particular locale, and I noticed that the menu had a few unique offerings which seemed to embody SoCal vibes.
We ordered a few starters to whet our appetite.
The Asiago cheese bread was served with a side of ricotta and herbs as well as a small serving of aioli. The bread was surprisingly light and airy but had a crispy outer layer. The creamy ricotta and garlic aioli were nice subtle compliments to the bread.
The butternut squash bisque was simply presented with some sliced apples in the middle and a few sprigs of arugula for some garnish. The bisque was drizzled with a bit of curry oil giving it a hint of Indian essence. Surprisingly, the bisque was quite sweet which I think would have been better as a more savory starter.
As a direct contrast, the flavors of the brussel sprouts packed a punch and were quite complex. They were tangy with a hint of sweetness possibly from a bit of tamarind combined with a small serving of sambal. As a result, the sprouts had an earthy smoky flavor and some crunch from the peanuts interspersed onto the dish.
Of the three starters, the sprouts were my favorite and frankly the best sprouts I’ve ever tasted in a city which offers some version of the same dish at most upscale restaurants. What made this rendition stand out was the Asian inspired dressing which set it apart from the rest.
The entrees and side dishes were promptly served shortly thereafter.
The loch duarte salmon was quite unique. The entree’s name alone would pique one’s interest, but what made the dish different was the quinoa risotto on which the mildly seasoned tender salmon was nestled. The hybrid grains had a unique nutty and earthy flavor and combined with the light flaky fish, the pairing had a contrasting subtle complexity of textures.
Our other entree was the Mongolian short rib which appeared to be the brussel sprouts’ Asian cousin as it had a similar tangy sauce albeit sans sambal. The two large generous servings of short rib were incredibly moist and tender and were adorned by cucumber spirals and shaved radish slices elevating the appearance of the dish.
The fries I ordered to compliment my short rib were perfectly crisp, lightly salted and had a strong but not overpowering truffle flavor.
The grilled broccoli paled in comparison to the fries, having no distinct flavor, as it was served with a light citrus and creamy dressing.
To finish off the meal, we ordered the cocoa dulce de leche mousse. When we asked our server Brian about this particular dessert and what he thought of it, he became incredibly giddy and excited as it was apparently his favorite. On our first bite, we understood the gravity of the situation. This was a decadent divine dessert. The cocoa powdered exterior covered a thin chocolate shell which sheltered a very dense, rich chocolate middle. The bottom layer consisted of crushed chocolate melded together giving the multilayered dessert a hint of bitterness and crunch.
We found the ambiance at Beachside to be a relaxed upscale beach vibe. It’s a great place to get together with friends, go on a date or just hang out by the fire pit while sipping on a few cocktails. We will definitely be back to this waterside gem!
I have been to Fig many times over the past few years for work functions and parties held at their venue. The food was always exemplary and I expected the same from our outing for their Poolside Cinema events. Sadly, my recent experience was quite the opposite. Service was a bit slow which was understandable as I believe the pool area only had one server attending to all the customers. The alcoholic drinks were very meager in portion. What was worse than the light pour was the quality of the food.
To say that the $29 foraged mushroom pizza tasted like cardboard with arugula on it would be an understatement and kind.
I’m a french fry connoisseur but the $14 plate of supposed rosemary fries resulted in only 3 fries being eaten from the batch. It was as if potatoes were cut and fried but the kitchen forgot to season it.
The $28 rockfish was barely passable as the fish was tender but the fish, squash, eggplant and peppers had no distinguishing flavors.
The only saving grace was the $26 cacio e pepe. It’s as if it was cooked in a different kitchen than the prior three orders. The pasta was perfectly cooked, al dente. The cheese packed a punch of flavor and the black pepper added a bit of heat to the dish. If we were ever to return, we would likely order just that dish, which would satisfy the $25 minimum.
I honestly am appalled by what Fig was allowed to serve us. I asked the family who sat in front of us, and they thought everything they ate was horrible as well and they ordered other items from the menu. I cannot ever recommend Fig to my friends or even to my worst enemy. It’s a hard pass on their food and drinks on a go forward basis.
Fig Restaurant
101 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Many moons ago, the Manchester was the local Loyola Marymount haunt, the Fireside. It’s where fake ID’s were honored and where staggering drunkards whittled their time away. Since then, the location has been reinvented into a few other iterations, but it wasn’t until it morphed into The Manchester that I finally decided to return. Long gone are the dark, dank walls where I walked between for my 21st birthday and was nearly forced to drink a disgusting shot of Jagermeister. What emerged was a contemporary, dimly lit, very popular spot with the locals and millennials alike.
Fortunately, I was able to get a last minute dinner reservation on Resy on a Friday night. When we came in, the place was packed. We were a few minutes early so we had an opportunity to look around. The space is not that large, but it didn’t feel oppressive. It took a few minutes for our table to become available but once that freed up, we were taken care of the rest of the evening.
Fernando, one of the owners, had set us up with our cocktails before our table was ready, which arrived just as soon as we were being whisked to our table.
After reviewing the menu, we opted for the burger and fries to start and the chicken and salmon from the large entree menu. Our appetizer was quite savory.
The burger patty was slightly salty and the meat was fairly tender. The fries were crispy, per my request and the aioli dip hit the spot.
Our entrees also were quite good. The salmon was moist and flaky. The accompanying vegetables, the eggplant and baby bok choy, were lightly seasoned and perfectly cooked.
The chicken had a surprisingly crispy skin and moist, tender meat with a savory and a slightly crispy broccolini as its accompaniment.
We ended our meal with a very chocolatey pot de creme. It was quite creamy and could possibly cause one to stay up all night.
All in all, the food and service were quite good. Truth be told though, the prices were high for what we ordered. I’ve eaten at other restaurants like Prospect Gourmand on La Cienega or Lunetta All Day on Pico where comparable entrees are closer to the $18-$22 range so we felt the prices were a bit inflated. Other than that, the service, ambiance, vibe and the food were quite enjoyable. Though we would likely not return as there are better values for the experience, the Manchester would definitely be one to try.
The Manchester
8522 Lincoln Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
https://themanchester.la
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Ciro & Sal’s began its humble beginnings in 1953 in the quaint town of Provincetown, Massachusetts. What evolved into a local gathering place for artists and would-be chefs began as a humble sandwich shop co-owned and run by two local artists, Ciro Cozzi and Sal Del Deo. Sixty five years later, it still remains one of Cape Cod’s most beloved establishments where locals and visitors are welcome to indulge in deliciously decadent Italian dishes while sipping on wine and enjoying each other’s company.
At first sight, one can immediately sense that the dining experience at Ciro’s and Sal’s will be unlike any other. It is located down an alley that could easily be mistaken for a charming crushed shell entrance to a Cape Cod home. The restaurant’s iconic sign hanging from a white wood post on Commercial street steers you down the alleyway where you notice vintage inspired marquee letters spelling out the restaurant’s name, illuminated against the white wooden gateway. Behind the gate is a lush garden oasis beckoning you to enter. Potted plants and flowers line your steps, as you walk up to the gazebo where guests can dine on a warm summer evening under the canopy of darkness.
Romantically lit by the moon and with strings of outdoor lights woven between the trees above. As you enter the front door of the restaurant you can already sense that this will not be your typical restaurant experience.
Walking into the wine cellar dining room, the interior is warmly lit with exposed wood beamed ceilings and brick walls. Aromas of roasted garlic and sautéed seafood flood the air. There are straw clad canisters of Chianti bottles hanging from the rafters and the beams interspersed throughout the restaurant. The fireplace illuminates the room, evoking a cozy vibe, signaling the guests to unwind, relax, and enjoy the feeling of coming home.
The heart of a restaurant is in its ability to tell its story through its food and drinks. Diners repeatedly give high marks to dishes like Ostriche Giannini (Wellfleet oysters baked with pesto and parmigiana), Bruschetta (roasted eggplant, tomatoes and mozzarella on homemade pesto bread) and Calamari (fresh and locally caught). Their pasta is cooked perfectly al dente with the Carbonara and the garlic infused Vongole Bianco ranked as favorites. The restaurant’s signature sauce is SUGO which is a thick basil seasoned Italian red sauce having a gravy-like consistency. It serves as the base for their traditional Italian dishes such as the Veal Parmigiana, Lasagna and for their simpler pasta offerings like the Salsiccia and Polpete. Their seafood selection is always top notch as the restaurant’s close proximity to the sea ensures the freshness of each dish. To round out the dining experience, Ciro & Sal’s wine selection provides options from the various regions of Italy along with a sprinkling of French, California and Argentina offerings.
A new addition to Ciro & Sal’s is the wine bar tucked away upstairs, above the hustle and bustle of the busy dining room. The dimmed pendant lights set against the dark wood gives the space warmth and depth, evoking a sense of intimacy, much like a secret hideaway. Here one can quietly enjoy a sampling of wine flights and antipasti while unwinding from their day.
The current owner, Larry Luster, built his life from the ground up at Ciro & Sal’s. In the 1960’s he visited Provincetown from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Larry was hired as a dishwasher and connected with Ciro who began mentoring him, giving him a job that year and every summer thereafter. He started his tenure in the kitchen, eventually working his way to the front of of the house, becoming a highly requested server. During the day, he worked as the prep chef, making all of the sauces and base stocks from scratch, as well as the preparation of the produce and the meat for the evening’s dinner service.
Larry makes it his mission to ensure the quality and integrity of each dish on the menu and oversees every detail in the kitchen with a watchful eye. He is hands- on with every operation, from dicing the vegetables for the minestrone, to breaking down a whole cow leg each week, as well as preparing the restaurant’s renowned dishes like Bolognese and Philomena from scratch. His son Caleb now serves as the head chef while his son Zach runs the front of the house, establishing rapport with the local community, building relationships with those who have visited the restaurant over the decades as well as customer who are just passing through town on their holiday.
Ciro & Sal’s is truly a gem in Provincetown, not just because of its longstanding history as being the mainstay of delicious northern Italian cuisine, but also because it gives back to those in need. Since 2014, for each party that dines at the restaurant, a box of pasta is donated to shelters and soup kitchens in the area. Under Ciro & Sal’s One Meal at a Time program, the restaurant donates twice a year to local organizations to help feed people in need and to also build awareness that not everybody has the means or access to a warm, nourishing meal.
Over the years, Ciro & Sal’s has thrived, with lines consistently out the door. Loyal customers have been journeying to the restaurant for decades, bringing their families together to experience old world Italy, continuing the tradition by introducing the younger generation to its charming evocative setting. Ciro & Sal’s has always been family run and owned, and the heart and soul of its family is what has helped this gem of a restaurant endure the test of time.
Ciro & Sal’s
4 Kiley Ct
Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-6444
Grace Gambin
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