see and be seen Archives | A Travel Foodie's Journey

June 19, 2023 in Local Eats

Ann’s Wine Bar at the Hollywood Bowl

Reservations at Ann’s Wine Bar had eluded me in our prior visits to the Hollywood Bowl. I somehow missed the window to reserve prior to the event and by the time I figured it out, either they were fully booked or the available times were during the show. By some miracle, I happened to check Open Table five weeks prior to the concert and booked the first available reservation seating. On the day of the event, we arrived at the gate 30 minutes before our reservation. I found out after waiting a bit that the gates were opening at 6 p.m. but nobody would be allowed in prior to that time except the VIP for the separate party next to the entrance. Once we were allowed to enter, we were about 15 minutes late for our reservation and shockingly, upon our arrival, many people were already seated. Luckily, our reservation wasn’t given away or cancelled, and we were seated immediately.

Unbeknownst to me, the entire venue was beer and wine only so I opted for a chilled sauvignon blanc which was actually quite lovely. There was a short wait for starters and sides, but once they were ready, they arrived one right after the other.

The salad was served slightly chilled. The lettuce was fresh and crisp. The grapefruit added a bit of tartness while the avocado gave it a bit of creaminess. The sugar snap peas were added a burst of pop and flavor.

Next up was my husband’s favorite dish. The potatoes were buttery and had a mix of mealiness and silkiness.

Third on the list was the farro which had a nice blend of sweetness from the raisin but also had a bit of heat.

There was an extended delay between the starters and the main entrees so I opted to get in line for the tour merchandise which probably took about 30 minutes to reach the front. As I was walking back up to the restaurant, the entrees were finally served.

The fried chicken was served piping hot at 7:13 pm. It was crispy, savory from the BBQ sauce with a slight tomato creaminess from the dipping sauce.

The sea bass smelled smoky and was lovely and flaky served on a bed of cool julienned strips of carrots, zucchini and beets adding a contrast of texture.

Reserving one of the first seating times was definitely the right way to go because parties lingered at their tables, and we definitely would have missed the opening act of the concert. All in all, despite the staggered service, we had a great experience and would definitely return as the quality of the food was exemplary.

May 17, 2019 in Local Eats

Marvelous Meal at Margot

For those in the know, this is not a write-up about a spinoff of the fantastically hilariously funny and witty Amazon series though just like the series it has a throwback, classic feel where you feel the lead character would fit right in with her chic outfits and witty charm. Rather, it is a celebration of a beautiful vibrant restaurant on the outskirts of downtown Culver City which manages to capture the mood and the vibe of the hippest, most popular restaurants and bars of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood with its retro vibe and its 180 view of the city’s skyline.

Margot is where you go to see and be seen. It’s where pretty people eat and drink. Everything about it screams “notice me” but in that subtle nondescript Culver City way. There are people of all ages who come to eat and imbibe, all fashionably dressed but in a subtle, refined and understated manner. Nobody is looking to stand out too much but there are a few with their bare midriffs and teeny shorts who are the exception.

The interior design of the restaurant, its outdoor patio and its indoor and outdoor bars is a nod to the years of yesteryear, evident in their choice of nostalgic Moroccan inspired patterns for table tiles, and retro rustic lighting and furnishings.

It was quite packed when we arrived. Luckily, we had made reservations on Resy and were whisked to the last indoor half booth/table before the outdoor patio. It gave us ample opportunity to people watch.

Our server was fabulous. She was attentive as one would expect at a top notch venue. Our food came out in batches. First to arrive were the asparagus a la plancha and charred broccoli. Of all of our orders, the asparagus was likely the weakest offering as it didn’t offer as much diversity in texture or flavor. It was served with ajo blanco, Marconi almonds and grapes. Perhaps the goal was to have a more subtle subdued flavor and if that was the case, then the dish was a success. The broccoli however was quite exceptional. It had a slightly smoky taste and mixed with the tzatziki sauce and feta, it had a creamy aftertaste. The pastas came next and were the stars of the evening. We ordered the cappelini with truffle and the tagliarini with seafood sausage. Both were spectacular in their different but complementary ways. The truffle, well it goes without saying, that it was light but powerful and decadent. The pasta with seafood sausage made from shrimp was surprisingly robust, had a bit more tomato base and definitely stood toe to toe with the truffle pasta.

The main entrees of whole grilled sea bream and American wagyu zabuton with fingerling potatoes were definitely quite good as would be expected. The fish was amazingly tender, subtly covered in tarragon aioli and salsa verde. The steak was exceptionally juicy and cooked perfectly medium rare and the accompanying fingerling potatoes had a nice crisp toasted outer layer which had a dipping sauce combo of horseradish cream and paprika butter.

For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu tres leches. It had a strong coffee flavor with a creamy filling and tasted quite light on the tongue. It was the perfect way to end a perfect evening.

Margot is definitely someplace I would spend all my special moments as it’s close to home and has a bit of class and a sexy vibe beckoning you in to partake in the beauty that is the Mah-velous Margot.

Margot 8820 Washington Blvd., Suite 301

Culver City, CA 90232

https://www.margot.la

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Ann’s Wine Bar at the Hollywood Bowl

Grace Gambin