For some reason, I rarely go to this Japanese French/Italian restaurant at on Sawtelle. The impression this time is quite different from my last visit years ago.
Two appertizers: Crispy Wonton Spicy Tuna Tartare. avocado, ginger chips (the ginger is a nice touch) and Japanese Hamachi Sashimi, Cilantro Sauce, Crispy Yam, Sesame Oil Organic Tomori and Green Onion (multi-textural and flavors, very good!)
Pan-Sautee Duck: tender, perfectly cooked and well seasoned, delicous. I got the Kobe Style Beef Meat Loaf. This is basically the luxury version of the common Japanese western food item ‘Hamburg Steak.’ The beef are incredibly flavorful, fluffy texture and moist…very good!
Mille Feuille. The pastry was a bit cold and stale, the cream taste a bit generic as well.
We enjoyed both our appetizers and entrees a lot, that’s why I scratched my head why I don’t come here more often. It’s also rather empty on a weekend night. Personally I think they suffered from a little bit of an identity crisis: the menu is a little bit of Californian/Fusion but it also some slightly upscale version of yoshoku (Japanese Western style food), while there’s also pricey French/Italian dishes. It’s located in the ‘Westside Little Tokyo’ where people (usually younger) came here for Japanese flair eatery.
The chef is Japanese? The portion is definitely American though! How much is the course?
Yeah the chef (owner, waiter) are Japanese, the portion is definitely American-adjusted. It’s right next to a yoshoku restaurant, and the crowd for that area are generally younger. Initially I thought it was also a yoshoku place they have stuff like hamburg steak, plum sauce pasta…etc. The entree ranged from $20-30ish…it’s on the $$ side. That’s why I feel it has an identity crissis: does it want to be an mid range Italian/fusion restaurant? or maybe both that and a yoshoku place.
I love their blue crab pasta and avocado crab salad. Their calamri is also quite yummy. Lunch prices are better value, plus you can add a soup or salad for just a buck.. For dinner the prices just can’t compete with the other eateries nearby.