Los Angeles Master Thread

[coralsnake]

Bingo.
I've been there when it was shockingly poor and I've been there when it was the best meal of my life.
It's better more often than it's worse, but consistent it's definitely not.

I was there once and that was my experience.

[caliheat]

In LA now and I'd like to make a point for the record. I thought the Tierra Sur experience overall was overrated.

1) Although not an excuse, the focaccia is not baked in-house, probably La Brea bakery.
2) Homemade sausage tends not to have the same taste as packaged, due to lack of nitrites and over-seasoning. There are other flavors besides Fennel to consider in sausage.
3) Serving mushrooms with stems is meant to add texture contrast with each bite.
4) Seemingly odd food pairings are meant to open your palette to different flavor combinations.
5) Over cooked lamb has no excuses.
Hope you get a chance to go back and have a better experience.

[Yehoshua]

1) Although not an excuse, the focaccia is not baked in-house, probably La Brea bakery.

It may be La Brea Bakery, but they still bake it in-house (as most places that sell kosher La Brea Bakery do). This wouldn't obviously have anything to do with the taste, just the texture.

[Mountain Man]

1) Although not an excuse, the focaccia is not baked in-house, probably La Brea bakery.
2) Homemade sausage tends not to have the same taste as packaged, due to lack of nitrites and over-seasoning. There are other flavors besides Fennel to consider in sausage.
3) Serving mushrooms with stems is meant to add texture contrast with each bite.
4) Seemingly odd food pairings are meant to open your palette to different flavor combinations.
5) Over cooked lamb has no excuses.
Hope you get a chance to go back and have a better experience.

To their defense, they did offer to replace the lamb but I was embarrassed to send it back as I was having a nice evening out with DW. I didn't want to make a scene but felt that reporting feedback here might be helpful to other DDFers.

As for the mushrooms, many times fried mushroom will have the stems trimmed as the lower parts can be very woody.

Regarding the sausage. It was good but lacked any real flavor notes. I guess I felt they just played it too safe. I was really hoping to experiment and get some contrasting flavors; something memorable. I would've ordered the charcuterie board but DW nixed that.

Also, I forgot to mention but you have to be careful when tipping. They add a service charge to the meal in the tab when using living social coupons and then ask for a tip on top of that.

[Dan]

Why would replacing a dish ruin a date night?

[Mountain Man]

Why would replacing a dish ruin a date night?

Yes/No. In the past it has and hasn't. My wife already had her food and was content. Waiting for the meal to be recooked would've taken a while and I preferred not having to wait. There's a cost to everything and I preferred to let this one go. Medium rare is something they should've caught though. If I recall correctly the lamb chop was cut in half.

The guy behind me also had his steak overcooked and he did send it back. But it sounded like they were used to eating at higher end restaurants. I'm from Denver and don't get that luxury very often so I guess I'm uninitiated.

[Yehoshua]

Yes/No. In the past it has and hasn't. My wife already had her food and was content. Waiting for the meal to be recooked would've taken a while and I preferred not having to wait. There's a cost to everything and I preferred to let this one go. Medium rare is something they should've caught though. If I recall correctly the lamb chop was cut in half.

The guy behind me also had his steak overcooked and he did send it back. But it sounded like they were used to eating at higher end restaurants. I'm from Denver and don't get that luxury very often so I guess I'm uninitiated.

Yet you seem to be quite the foodie. I don't think that's an excuse not to send it back, although your first one about waiting seems valid to me.

[westman812]

Yes/No. In the past it has and hasn't. My wife already had her food and was content. Waiting for the meal to be recooked would've taken a while and I preferred not having to wait. There's a cost to everything and I preferred to let this one go. Medium rare is something they should've caught though. If I recall correctly the lamb chop was cut in half.

The guy behind me also had his steak overcooked and he did send it back. But it sounded like they were used to eating at higher end restaurants. I'm from Denver and don't get that luxury very often so I guess I'm uninitiated.

Hey- We were actually there when you were(and was responsible for 2 of those silvercars lol). Tough to not have high expectations at this place, although I felt all the food was spot on, and we had many of the dishes you mentioned. I thought that the pairings of flavor were really unique and rich. It seemed pretty crowded especially with many living social goers. The tasting was rushed with us as well, but honestly, wine on an empty stomach and going specifically for the food, made us quickly forget that. Thought the service and ambiance were great though, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food(I loved my off menu sliders, and fried churros for desert). I guess if I were to really examine the food the way you did, I could probably find issues too but I never expect even close to perfection anymore.

[keepsmiling123]

I was there once and that was my experience.

+1, I still remember those awesome flavors...  A friend went a few months later and they too thought it was overhyped

[Mountain Man]

Yet you seem to be quite the foodie. I don't think that's an excuse not to send it back, although your first one about waiting seems valid to me.

I'm not claiming to be a foodie; there are enough of them here. Just trying to give some honest feedback.

Hey- We were actually there when you were(and was responsible for 2 of those silvercars lol). Tough to not have high expectations at this place, although I felt all the food was spot on, and we had many of the dishes you mentioned. I thought that the pairings of flavor were really unique and rich. It seemed pretty crowded especially with many living social goers. The tasting was rushed with us as well, but honestly, wine on an empty stomach and going specifically for the food, made us quickly forget that. Thought the service and ambiance were great though, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food(I loved my off menu sliders, and fried churros for desert). I guess if I were to really examine the food the way you did, I could probably find issues too but I never expect even close to perfection anymore.

Lol. Were you outside under the porch awning? I saw sliders after my meal and got a little jealous. You're right for not expecting perfection. If I came in with your mentality I would've left feeling much more satisfied with the meal. As I said it was a good experience; just not what I expected it would be (we basically had the whole day planned around dinner at Tierra Sur).

 

[Sam Finkelstein]

In LA now and I'd like to make a point for the record. I thought the Tierra Sur experience overall was overrated.
....

Thanks for the great review!

[thaber]

Great review.  Dan is correct,  they play with the menu a lot,  and they have been through several chefs.  For the most part it's good,  but the expectations are very high because of the reviews,  and the drive there in anticipation,  that anything short of perfection is more glaring than elsewhere.
I've been having this problem with overcooked steaks lately,  I came very close to sending one back in one of the local steakhouses,  and only didn't because I never have and was short on time.  I think that many frum looking people won't eat anything pink and they cater to that

[caliheat]

I think that many frum looking people won't eat anything pink and they cater to that

Although this is correct, overcooking any protein is a big no no.

You're right for not expecting perfection.

As far as perfection goes, it's almost impossible to receive, especially at a kosher restaurant.

[Yehoshua]

Although this is correct, overcooking any protein is a big no no.
As far as perfection goes, it's almost impossible to receive, especially at a kosher restaurant.

Why is kosher any different than non kosher to perfect?

[caliheat]

Why is kosher any different than non kosher to perfect?

My point was not that.
Clarification: perfection is nearly impossible, add to that the small number of high end restaurants [which are kosher] = less likely.

[Yehoshua]

My point was not that.
Clarification: perfection is nearly impossible, add to that the small number of high end restaurants [which are kosher] = less likely.

That makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying. To that point, no kosher restaurant has one any Michelin stars.

[caliheat]

To that point, no kosher restaurant has one any Michelin stars.

IMHO, that will never happen..

[CS1]

That makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying. To that point, no kosher restaurant has one any Michelin stars.

This Jewish chef won the "James Beard" award for best chef. He was the Citron and Rose chef:
http://www.jamesbeard.org/recipes/chefs/michael-solomonov

[Yehoshua]

This Jewish chef won the "James Beard" award for best chef. He was the Citron and Rose chef:
http://www.jamesbeard.org/recipes/chefs/michael-solomonov

I ate there when he was chef. Really good food.

[CS1]

I ate there when he was chef. Really good food.

yes, he's very good. did you meet him? great guy.