My last minute idea of dinner at Grace didn't quite work out, but Pastis was in the area so I dropped by. There was no way in hell I was going to wait until 9:30pm for a table at Grace.
Mimosa is a few blocks away too so you know they'll try to outdo the competition.
Well...at least I hope they'd try. Good chefs at Pastis are constantly getting plucked away by bigger restaurants, so I guess it's hard to be consistent.
Appetizers
Warm Goat Cheese and Artichoke TartGOOD. Flaky crust, sweet filling and very mild goat cheese makes this a star on the menu. The salad is impressive as well. The basil infused olive oil and a light drizzle of vinaigrette totally makes the salad.
Steamed MusselsI tried my hand at making these over winter break, and while they turned out really really well, these mussels made my culinary accomplishment seem like a child's work. I'd put the mussels at Pastis on the same level as Mimosa's. "Broth" is a bit lighter here, though, and more apparent taste from white wine.
Seared Foie GrasHow predictable that I'd order foie gras. At Pastis, they sandwich it between two slices of caramelized pears and place is on the zigzag of some really good sauce. I completely forgot to ask for a copy of the menu so it's kinda hard for me to ID it. Toasted raisin brioche is not to be missed. Mop up the sauce with it! I'd say this is one must-order item.
Entrees
Oven Roasted CodMy first reaction was: "Wow that is a dinky piece of cod...." After I got over it, I really enjoyed the crispy skin and that deliciously fatty flesh. Portion size in comparison to other entrees still ticks me off a bit though.
I don't know how I screwed up the shot...
Roasted Duck BreastMedium rare. Kinda tough to pull off without a lot of experience. Undercook it and the meat becomes almost rubbery. Overcook it, and Roger will be even more unhappy. Pastis did a pretty good job here, though it was a tad on the rare side. Regardless, I'd still declare this a winner on their menu. The entree comes with two amazing pieces of duck confit/mushroom/basil ravioli that really should be offered on the entree menu. I don't want to say that it steals the duck breast's thunder, but it is really pushing it. Order this.
Sauteed SkateSkate is one fugly fish that looks equally fugly on a plate but the meat is soft n sweet. I really like the texture too--a weird combination of soft, springy, and stringy. The dish itself is rather rich, but lemon capers help balance things out a bit with some acidity. This is another must-order item.
Desserts
Peach Almond TartI very much enjoyed this dessert. The top layer consists of caramelized fruit, which I'm sure you can imagine, is quite effin' good. As you can notice, the edge of the tart's crust is slightly burnt. While I personally kinda like my crust like this, some people probably don't. It's probably a fluke. Unlike most restaurant desserts, this one was not overly sweet, which again wins it major points. The vanilla ice cream really puts it over the top, though. I've never had such good vanilla before. Scoop some into your mouth and your tastebuds will scream "VANILLA" on the top of their lungs.
Pastis Choclate ProfiterollesLooks like fried baby drumsticks, but they are actually puffs with a rich dark chocolate filling. I wish Pastis would give more than five though.
Assorted Sorbets (mango, lime, raspberry)Good restaurant with good food and cute servers. I can't decide which restaurant I like better: Mimosa or Pastis. Kinda (barely) leaning toward Mimosa, though because of the availability of daily prix-fixe specials and overall experience. Both are great places for a date, too! Not like that matters to me, but maybe you guys (and gals) would benefit from it :D
Stay tuned for a writeup of Grace.
Also, Will has a new seaonsal dessert platter as well as a VDay event! RSVP FAST since there aren't many tables left.
Pastis
8114 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323.655-8822
