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EPICUREAN’S PARADISE
Lounge Vibes: Murano
A foodie’s paradise? Quite possibly. Murano Restaurant
Bar & Lounge is a genuinely fantastic dining/lounging
experience. Finally, a restaurant in L.A. that might actually
have it all.
Murano is located on Melrose, in the heart of West Hollywood’s
art and design district. Co-owned by nightlife entrepreneurs
Sandy Sachs and Robin Gans, Murano shines with white interiors,
leather seating, and a classic-white linen table setting.
The décor is sophisticated, the lighting gradually
dims throughout the evening, and the music play list appropriately
sets the mood—creating a casual atmosphere in the early
hours and a livelier, jazzier setting at night.
The Lounge boasts a full bar featuring seasonal cocktails
(including the signature Cubano Murano) and a thoughtfully
edited list of wines. The cocktails—as the bartender
had warned—had a kick to them and were bursting with
goodness. I tried the Ginger Cosmo (just to be healthy, wink)
and it was delicious. The Murano Verde also looked appetizing,
but I never made it that far. I was suspiciously merry
before we were seated at the table.
After meeting Sandy and Robin (who are just as hip and cool
as the restaurant itself), we began the extensive tasting
menu—all dishes fabulously presented. A chorus of enthusiastic
waiters delivered the food (cute ones at that) and the service
was consistently good throughout the evening. Executive Chef
Kristi Ritchey offers a seasonal menu of Italian cuisine
infused with French inspiration. Ritchey takes care to make
many of the pastas on the menu by hand. Favorites were the
risotto fries and the hand-rolled cannelloni—pretty
rich but perfect when served as a winter food in January.
It’s important to note, Murano’s menu changes
every season. The ahi tuna on wonton crisps is to die for
and the baby arugula salad with fresh pears, candied almonds,
and goat cheese is heavenly.
For those with a sweet tooth, try Murano’s signature
desert dish: “Zeppole” (delicious little homemade
cinnamon-sugar donuts served with apple cider sauce and whipped
honey mascarpone). Wine connoisseur Bobi Adle carefully explained
every course of food and wine, what should follow what, and
an informative explanation of the seasonal selection piled
on the plate in front of you. As far as wine goes, the Boutari
Moschofilero from Greece really did it for me and perfectly
accompanied the arugula salad.
For those just wanting to lounge at Murano, happy hour is
offered Tuesday through Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guests can
enjoy three artisan cheeses (not available on the regular
dinner menu) paired with three wine selections for just $13.
The restaurant also serves Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m.
Vital Info
Murano
9010 Melrose Ave.
310-246-9118
www.murano9010.com
Cuisine Italian/French fusion
The Scene Hip, chic, sophisticated
Must Try Hand-rolled cannelloni
and the ahi tuna on toast
HOT PLATES
86 Restaurant & Lounge: Tucked into the basement
of an apartment complex is not where one expects to find
the latest Hollywood hot spot. But that’s exactly where
Rudolph Valentino’s former speakeasy is located—beneath
the Hillcrest Apartments. Named after the term for exiting
quickly through the back during a Prohibition police raid,
86 is the perfect marriage of old Hollywood glamour and new
Hollywood chic. Even the crowd is dangerously sexy while
sipping on classic cocktails and dining from a menu straight
out of a bygone era—they even serve lobster thermador!
As an added bonus, patrons can enjoy jazz music until midnight.
6533 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. 323/871-8634 CONTINENTAL $$$
Nirvana: If the Kama Sutra could be translated into a dining
experience, it would look, taste, and feel something like
Nirvana. On a quiet strip of Wilshire Boulevard, Nirvana
delivers the goods: sumptuous dishes from all over India
prepared by renowned Chef Ramanuj Sahai; sensuous, canopied
tabled “beds” and libidinous murals; koi swimming
languorously below a Siddartha-head fountain. Indulge in
the crab tikki Malabar as “foreplay” for the
award-winning chicken tikka masala, or the mind-blowing tandoori
lobster. 8689 WILSHIRE BLVD. 310/657-5040 INDIAN $$$
Taste: Brunch is a whole new game in Los Angeles these days.
Even better, it’s no longer an expensive endeavor if
you are a bit of a gourmand. Taste on Melrose, a casual elegant
restaurant serving up a buzz-worthy eclectic lunch and dinner,
has a brunch that will knock your socks off yet leave you
with enough money to pay rent. If you are an eggs Benedict
fiend, do not miss the crab cake Benedict. Equally divine
is the cremini mushroom & spinach lasagne. Tucked into
what is literally a house, the atmosphere is stylishly laid
back in that iconic California way. 8454 MELROSE AVE. 323/852-6888
CALIFORNIA CUISINE $$
Comme Ca: The buzz around Comme Ca ranges from the Prohibition-era
cocktail menu straight out of the infamous Milk & Honey
modern speakeasy in NYC to the little slice of Paris found
on the menu. It’s a busy brasserie that is only just
settling in from the usual new restaurant kinks. It’s
loud and trendy. For Americans used to space while dining,
the seating area is a bit cramped but this is not a romantic
little café. It’s a celebration of food, drink,
and life. A Rumble cocktail along with the mushroom risotto
is a marvelous way to get into the spirit of things. Entrée
highlights include goat cheese ravioli and steak frites.
8479 Melrose Ave. 323/782-1178 French $$$
Tangier: If you’ve long fantasized about an exotic,
romantic spot where Jazz and other music enchants the night
amidst the star-studded shadows, look no further than Tangier.
Every inch of the venue is simply gorgeous. The menu has
a few inventive moments such as a Spanish shrimp cocktail
and wild mushroom pasta (which is a mushroom lusting soul’s
prayer answered). The miso glazed black cod is a favorite
among regulars (and for good reason). If dinner sounds too
heavy and you’d like something more intimate or casual,
check out the lounge. A variety of musical acts—from
traditional jazz to rock—grace the stage where you
can also order small plates. 2138 HILLHURST AVE. 323/660-1033
CALIFORNIA CUISINE $$$
The Bistro at the Chamberlain West Hollywood: One of L.A.’s
best-kept dining secrets, The Bistro, serves up the city’s
most inspired tasting menu. Tucked into a sweet little corner
of the hotel, The Bistro is the culinary playground for Chef
de Cuisine Peter Gobin, whose French technique combined with
a passion for local ingredients results in some killer cuisine.
If you get the tasting menu (wine pairings are incredible,
especially the Gewürztraminer) be prepared to indulge
in some rich and deftly prepared meats and seafood: scallops
with orange sauce, duck alongside a burnished strip of pork
belly, and a divine New York strip. The chocolate orange
pot de crème is inspirational, so save room for dessert.
100 WESTMOUNT DR. 310/657-7400 NEW AMERICAN CUISINE. $$$
WHERE TO EAT
Hokusai
Presented by the owners of Matsuhisa and Sushi Roku is an
elegant experience that has sushi lovers buzzing with delight—Hokusai.
Set in a cool, deco environment that meshes Gotham city aesthetics
with hits of Asian influence. Hokusai is an energetic lunch
spot full of industry professionals that transitions into
a sensual, relaxed evening experience that doesn’t
suffer from crowds. The seafood is incredibly fresh. The
menu offers old favorites and takes flights of culinary fancies
(chilled lobster with truffle oil) that vary in execution.
They are even rumored to go off menu for special occasions.
The only caveat is that Hokusai is not a cheap experience,
but is worth every penny. 8400 WILSHIRE BLVD. 323/782-9717
JAPANESE $$$$ —VICTORIA LANE
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