By Michael Hepworth
Los Angeles,CA(Spiritsman)5/23/13/– The Larchmont Restaurant is a new addition to the Larchmont Village dining scene, and this is a restaurant that may have some legs. Opened in March by a trio of European restaurant veterans, the almost minimalist restaurant used to be a bungalow on the Paramount Studios lot, and now can seat up to a 100 diners in a classy but casual setting. Build out was only five weeks, and they have cleverly created a beach bungalow feel. The menu is compact but well thought out, and since opening, only one of the items has been changed, the butternut squash soup replaced by the Spring Pea Soup ($9).
I tried a selection of their appetizers which including a local favorite these days, a finely chopped Kale Salad ($13) w/pistachios, apples, faro, citrus and parmigiano reggiano. Kale has become a staple of most Los Angeles restaurants lately, and this version by Chef Cody Diegel is one of the better ones tried recently. Other appetizers checked out were the excellent Braised Pork Belly ($16) with sweet onions, and oyster mushrooms in a sherry reduction. Mussels a la cagouille with sizzling butter ($17) were a good choice too, and were not swimming in a sea of white sauce, and a non-menu item I really appreciated was the soft shell crabs.
Main courses run to a choice of just seven so it was an easy decision to go for the Moroccan braised lamb shoulder ($26) with couscous, chermoula and fried almonds. The lamb just fell easily from the bone thanks to a 4 ½ hour preparation according to chef, and other entrée items include Pan seared halibut, Duck confit w/lentils, Anson Mills polenta gratin, and a form of pasta called Strozzepretti.
You might also want to check out the place for lunch since the burger served with crispy fries has been creating a bit of a buzz amongst the locals. The wine list consists of about 50% French, 25% Italian and 25% Californian, and the cocktail menu has been created by Nathan Oliver of Harvard & Stone. Tried the Gin Cucumber Soda cocktail($12) with yuzu, lime & ginger beer, and next time will go for the Larchmont cocktail with Aqua Vit, aperol, lemon and mint.
Since one of the partners Robert Kass comes from a Hollywood family-his father ran Apple Records for a while and is stepmother is a legendary British actress, celebrities have been spotted at the Larchmont. Names include Mick Fleetwood, Dr.Phil, Natalie Imbruglia, Heather Graham, John C.Reilly, Virginia Madsen, Joaquin Phoenix and Vince Vaughn to name just a few. Mathew Cape is equally as passionate about the restaurant as Kass, and brings his love for Italian food into the overall mix of this fine addition to the local dining scene.
The Larchmont-
5750 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
323-464-4277
Valet Parking-$6
Open for lunch 11 am to 3 pm Monday-Friday
Dinner 6 pm to 11 pm Monday-Saturday
Los Angeles, California, Larchmont Village, – The Los Angeles Larchmont Village neighborhood is about to welcome a new addition into its culinary medley – The Larchmont. Located on Melrose, between Vine and Larchmont, this two-story craftsmen style structure will offer the locale a new staple of Californian farm-to-table fare featuring a refined palate.
Although this is the trio’s first endeavor as a team, each has vivid preceding ventures in the restaurant industry. Partners Robert Kass (The Living Room, The Kass Bah, Santo Coyote, Luce, The Saint), Spoon Singh (Venice Ale House, Austin Ale House, Bar Hayama, Kona Brewery) and Mathew Cape (Vinolio) have chosen Chef Cody Diegel (Magnolia, Caulfield’s) as executive chef and consulting Chef Don Gragg (Chez Panisse, Gramercy Tavern) to co-design the unique menu.
The Larchmont team seeks to deliver an iconic dining experience for both local Angelinos and visitors alike. After a complete revamp of the existing space, The Larchmont debuts with a new light and breezy, clean and sophisticated beach bungalow feel. “We really want guests to feel at home at The Larchmont,” says founder Mathew Cape. “The area is comprised of so many great neighborhoods and businesses and we are very much looking forward to serving our guests.”
The menu offers bold statements such as the kale salad with pistachios, farro, blood oranges and grana; yellowtail Jack crudo with shaved fennel, ginger and chilis; braised pork belly with sweet onions, king oysters mushrooms and sherry; black cod with artichoke and fennel berigoule, picholine olive and Meyer lemon relish; chicken “under a brick” with roast Jerusalem artichokes, braised greens and salsa verde; Anson Mills polenta gratin with wild mushroom ragout and Grana Padano; Moroccan braised lamb shoulder with couscous, charmoula and fried almonds, amongst many other mouth watering items.
Steve Livigni and Nathan Alexander are consulting on cocktail menus and the bar.
The Larchmont opens for business on March 11, 2013 and is located at 5750 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California 90038. Reservations can be made by calling (323) 464-4277. Open Monday – Friday, 11am – 11pm and Saturday for dinner, 6pm – 11am.
Weekend brunch service and Sunday dinner coming soon.
For more information visit The Larchmont on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thelarchmont and www.twitter.com/thelarchmont @thelarchmont
Small Plates
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Spring pea soup with creme fraiche and olio verde 9
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Kale salad with pistachios, squash, farro, blood oranges and grana 12
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Shaved white asparagus with endives, toasted hazelnuts, lemon and white truffle oil 12
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Larchmont caesar salad with little gem lettuce and torn croutons 12
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Duck rillette with grilled bread, frisée salad and pickled onions 14
Large Plates
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Mussels a la cagouille with sizzling butter and frites 15
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California grass fed burger with buttered onions, kaltbach, oven-dried tomato 15
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Roast Mary’s chicken on grilled bread with picholine olive, Meyer lemon relish and rocket 14
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Olive oil poached tuna niçoise with shaved fennel, heirloom potato and sauce gribiche 18
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Pacific wild salmon with quinoa, fava beans, roasted beets and salsa verde 17
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Strozzepretti with chanterelles, chard and bread crumbs 18
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Niman ranch steak frites with béarnaise butter and rocket 20
Sides
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Simple garden lettuces 6
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Braised greens with garlic, chili and sherry 7
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House cut frites 5
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House-cured olives 5
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Crispy brussel sprouts with gremolata and parmigiano reggiano 8
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
http://twitter.com/MrSpiritsman
http://spiritsman.blogspot.com
