Appetite Stimulus Menu at Katana

Walking into the bar area at Katana, one experiences an overwhelming sensation of Hollywood trendiness. The concrete walls with recesses for candles, the piles of bricks, the low lighting, the funky world music, the model gorgeous hostesses and bar tenders. It's just the sort of atmosphere in which you expect to find Lindsay Lohan dancing on tables as paparazzi jostle you in their quest for the money shot. However, the clientele at Katana is surprisingly low key. When the hubby and I went on a Sunday night, we found a lot of families and almost touristy looking couples. So while the hostess may be in stilettos, you can certainly come in your keds.

After waiting for about ten minutes (with a reservation) we were escorted back to the surprisingly empty dining area. What were we waiting for? The room is a study in what Americans think "Asian Decor" looks like: Lots of dark wood with embroidered silk cushions and small smooth pebbles where you can rest your chopsticks. A fun place for a date night.

We had come for their Appetite Stimulus Menu - Four courses for $35 dollars. I'll review them in the order they came (which was the opposite of what they were supposed to be, except for dessert). However, our very sweet waitress did warn us that the first course does take a while, and I had fun eating it all tapas style.


First came the sushi (you could also choose a chicken teriyaki entree). A confession: While I enjoy sushi, I don't feel overly qualified to review it. To me it either tastes fishy (which is a very bad thing) or it doesn't. This didn't. The fish tasted fresh and had a nice texture, but it was all pretty basic stuff. A nice simple plate of tuna, yellow tail, salmon, shrimp, spicy tuna, and a California roll.


Then came the Robata or skewers, which Katana is apparently known for. I can't tell you about the salmon with pesto as I hate cooked fish. (I did take one intrepid bite - just for you dear reader - before reassuring myself that I do indeed despise the stuff). The chicken meatballs with teriyaki sauce was steaming hot, moist and tender. However, the teriyaki was quite light and lacked the deep flavor I was expecting. Luckily, all robata are served with three dipping sauces: ponzu, spicy mustard, and ginger. These flavorful concoctions did wonders to elevate the chicken. Finally, we also had cherry tomatoes wrapped in bacon. Now, there is a soft spot in my heart for all things encased in bacon, but these didn't blow me out of the water. The bacon was so thin it simply added a complex note to the steaming tomato juices bursting in your mouth. While I would have liked a little more meat, it did balance the acidity of the tomato beautifully and was quite a tasty morsel.


Finally, the supposed "first course" of Chicken Gyoza arrived (there were two other options offered which I don't recall). The wrapping was light and pliant, and the filling seemed to be made of the exact same ingredients as the chicken meatball robata. So, once again, this dish benefited greatly from the use of the dipping sauces.


We ended with the rich Chocolate Volcano. This tiny cake packed a deep chocolate flavor. Served piping hot with vanilla ice cream, the molten center was divine when used to smother the accompanying berries. Definitely my favorite course of the night!

While the food at Katana was good, it certainly wasn't anything special. If you're looking for a trendy atmosphere, this might be the place to go. Personally, I think you'd do better to spend your $35 on the Farmer's Market Menu at Josie. I give this two and a half belt notches.

Katana's Appetite Stimulus Menu is available all night Sunday-Thursday.
8439 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
323-650-8585
www.katanarobata.com/katana

A Somewhat Weak Power Hour at Morton's

There's something about Morton's that just oozes class. From the bowtied waitstaff to the white linen tablecloths to the cart of lusciously marbled steaks and impossibly large vegetables, this is a place of timeless elegance. So when I heard they offer a "Power Hour" with $5 bar bites, I grabbed my girlfriends and headed out for an upscale evening at a downscale price.

The bar area is beautiful, all dark wood polished to a high shine with a large mirrored wall displaying countless varieties of spirits. We were pleased to see that we could sit on benches a around high table in the bar area, rather then being forced to line up at the actual bar itself. I particularly enjoyed the playful lamp on our table. The base consists of an adorable metal sleeping pig, a Morton's signature that I have always loved.


We began with the Petite Fillet Mignon Sandwiches. In my former life as a non deal diner, I have tried the actual Fillet Mignon at Morton's and found it to be delicious: perfectly tender and simply packed with flavor. So, needless to say, I had high hopes for it's baby sibling. Sadly, these tidbits are clearly the red headed stepchildren of this meaty family. (Not that I don't love red heads - and step children;) While I'm sure they use all the same steak, the strips found in the sandwich are clearly the trimmings that don't live up to the Morton's standard. They were much fattier, and not in a marbled sort of way, more in a chewy, my teeth can't break this down sort of way. I would almost venture to say gristly. The soft white buns were huge, dwarfing the little slivers of meat, and doused with a healthy dose of Mayo. Certainly a filling plate for five bucks, but not what I've come to expect from Morton's. If I went again, I would try the three prime cheeseburgers instead.


Next came the Blue Cheese French Fries. While you can't go wrong with pungent blue cheese, a touch of heat, and fried anything, this dish was less then impressive. While I appreciate their generosity with the cheese, the fries themselves were large and almost mushy. I like thick cut fries as much as the next girl, but they're supposed to have a nice crispy outside to contrast with the fluffy interior. Alas, this dish could have been so much better.


Our final choice was the Chicken Goujonettes, which is basically a fancy name for chicken fingers. Now this is the sort of thing you would expect to find on a $5 menu, and they did it well. The chicken was moist with a nice, crunchy bread crumb coating. It was served with a tangy yet smooth mustard/mayo sauce. Simple, cheap, and delicious, this gets my stamp of approval!


Finally came the sweet stuff, Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake (Full price at $9). This has always been one of my favorite desserts on the planet and it did not disappoint. Luscious fudgy goodness melting out of a moist, cake like exterior is basically my definition of Heaven. The raspberries add a touch of tartness to offset the decadent richness of the cake. Be warned, it takes about twenty minutes to make, but when you're in the company of good friends and anticipating heaven, who could complain about that?

Overall, if you're looking for a fabulous atmosphere with friendly service that won't break the bank, this is definitely one to check out. The three of us were completely stuffed by the end. However, if you're looking for flavor that blows you away, this might not be the place to find it. Save your pennies and mosey on over to the full service dining room instead.

I give this two and a half out of five belt notches.

Morton's Power Hour is 4:30-6:30 and 9-close every day in the bar. You can check out the full Power Hour menu here:.
3400 W. Olive Ave.
Burbank, CA 91505
818-238-0424
(This is a nationwide chain, check the website for other locations)

J. Betski's $20 Menu - Rich food at Pauper Prices!

Last week, I found myself in Raleigh, NC for a business trip. Being completely unfamiliar with the area, I turned to the chowhound.com community for some advice, and they did not disappoint! Of all the tempting deals proposed, I settled on the $20 menu at J.Betski's for two reasons. 1. $20 for two people sounds like quite the deal and 2. I've never eaten in a German/Polish restaurant.

The decor at J. Betski's feels like a light and airy take on an old German monastery. There is the requisite dark wood paneling, amber stained glass, and beer steins lining the bar. Even the cutlery had intricate scroll work on the handles, an unexpected touch of class not normally found in today's restaurants. The walls are decorated with delicate wrought iron frames, a modern suggestion of the old monastery windows. And then there's the light! One entire wall is made of windows which leads to their outdoor patio. When we arrived at 7:30pm, the place was still awash in sunlight, giving it a bright, welcoming feeling.

After the waitress took our drink orders (they have a number of specialty cocktails that use flavors such as elderberry), my coworker and I settled down to the business of figuring out the food. The $20 deal includes one appetizer and two "pub" plates. The pub plates menu seems to be made up of what I would call German/Polish comfort food, while the regular menu has a more elegant and refined take on the classics. Bring on the comfort!

The first bit of comfort was the bread, a dense and tangy rye served with whipped butter. The dark bread had a nice solid crust with a soft and chewy interior. Heavenly.


Then came the Beef and Spinach Pierogies with Caraway Cream. The al dente dough was wrapped around a filling so moist and flavorful it simply oozed deliciousness with every bite. Buttery crumbs on top gave the dish a nice crunch, while the cream helped to smooth everything together. The tang from the caraway contrasted beautifully with the richness of the filling. A lovely little dish.


Then came the entrees. We ordered the Honey Braised Pork with Braised Cabbage, but they had run out of that so we got Short Ribs instead. This was probably the most disappointing plate. While the short ribs did fall right off the bone, they were a little dry and didn't pack the flavorful punch I've come to expect from ribs. The Braised cabbage was a nice addition, the moistness helping to balance out the drier meat. I wonder if the regular Honey Braised Pork would have been better.


My favorite dish of the evening was the Chicken Stew with Mushrooms, Cognac, and Spaetzle. This dish was utter creamy richness without tasting too heavy. There was definitely some bacon hiding in the mix for extra an salty indulgence, in addition to the soft, earthy mushrooms, the moist flavorful chicken, and the buttered spaetzle cooked to perfection. Each bite was an explosion of utter comfort and happiness. If I lived in Raleigh, this would be a great place to go any time I felt even slightly down, as no one can be sad with this much homey goodness on their plate.


We ended with the Blueberry Cheese Strudel for an additional $6.75. The cheese was the sweet kind normally found in danishes, wrapped around tangy blueberries in their own syrup. The pastry crust rolled around it was heavier then I would have expected, and while the dish was certainly tasty, I think a lighter crust would have elevated it to another level. Not that we didn't finish every bite of it;)

Overall we had a delicious meal for an even tastier price at J.Betski's. I think we could even have split all the food three ways as I was stilled tremendously full until lunch the next day. Four belt notches.

J.Betski's offers their $20 menu all night Monday-Thursday.
10 W. Franklin St. Suite 120
Raleigh, NC 27604
919-833-7999

Happy Hour at Cafe Rodeo - No Thrills in Beverly Hills

Walking down Rodeo drive past all the designer clothing stores, one can't help but feel posh.  (Even if one happens to be wearing a T shirt and is feeling smug for having found free street parking.)  So I was excited for my Friday night date with P at Cafe Rodeo in Hotel Luxe.

The outdoor patio was bustling with people when I arrived at 6:45, but I had requested indoor seating (given that I normally freeze whenever I'm outside unless it's 100 degrees.)   So I walked down a perfumed hall curtained in white and arrived at the actual Cafe.  It was smaller then expected and, as there was no hostess, I had to just grab a passing waiter to tell him I had a reservation (wanted to make sure I got credit on my opentable.com account!).  

The interior can't quite make up it's mind as to the look it's going for.  The large skylight, creamy neutral palette, and aerodynamic silverware suggest something airy and modern, but the uptempo continental music, the servers all in black, and the recessed lighting seemed to suggest they are going for more of a loungey feel.  The crowd was mostly in their late thirties and forties.  If I had to guess...I'd say 80% tourists.  Hmmm...not a good sign.  

We began with what was listed on the menu as $7 Pork Tacos.  However, our server informed us that they were out of pork, so instead they brought us Braised Beef Tacos.  The meat was tender, moist, and full of flavor.  The natural sweetness of braised beef was accented by the bits of pineapple, cut with a fiery chipotle sauce.  Add to this the crisp bite of the iceberg lettuce and you get one textured and complex mouthful!  This was by far the best thing we had all night, it's a shame it's not on their regular menu.   

Next I dived into their $3.60 Fried Chicken Skewers.  For that price, how could you go wrong?  Well, I wouldn't say they went wrong - but they certainly didn't go right.  The chicken itself was moist and tasty, but the coating was bland and lacked the crunch I expect from "fried" chicken.  And forget about the sauces.  We might as well have gone to McDonalds for the BBQ sauce and grabbed some little packets from our Chinese Takeout place for the Duck Sauce.  Nothing exciting there.    
My least favorite of the night was the $9 Filet Mignon Sliders with Blue Cheese and Grilled Onions.  I expect Filet Mignon to be melt in your mouth tender, but these little nubbins were filled with sinew and fat (and not the marbled, tasty kind, more the clumpy, hard to chew kind).  The dusting of blue cheese and three or four strands of onion were barely present enough to give much flavor.  The "buns" were little circles cut out of English Muffins that were not toasted.  They pretty much just served to remind you how small and sad the whole dish was.

We also got the $3.60 Parmesan Fries.  While I do wish they had been dusted with a little more parm, they were piping hot, crunchy on the outside, and soft of the inside.  Plus, they were presented in a sweet little pot.  

Having found the food adequate but not at all special, P and I decided to skip dessert, since we imagined it wouldn't be anything special.  After waiting forever for the over worked waiter to pick up the check, we headed off in search of tastier desserts.  Sadly, we forgot that it's Beverly Hills and most places are closed by eight.  Foiled Again!  Overall, I give this 2 belt notches out of five - not worth your time.    But, should you still wish to go..

Cafe Rodeo has Happy Hour Monday-Saturday from 4-7:30pm.  They are located in Hotel Luxe at:

360 N. Rodeo Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

310-273-0300

www.luxehotelrodeodrive.com

Happy Hour at Wilshire Restaurant

Saturday night I made plans to meet up with my friend C for dinner. Having just learned that she would have to pay way more in taxes then originally planned, she was in need of some good food at some even better prices. So, we decided to try out the happy hour at Wilshire Restaurant. (A big HURRAY for places that have happy hour menus on the weekends!)We left behind the bright Santa Monica sunshine for the dimly lit bar. A brick wall covered in tea lights, dark leather furniture, and a wood paneled ceiling gave the place an intimate, trendy vibe. We scorned the comfy couches in favor of the bar stools, reasoning that it would be easier to eat that way. The bar area was half empty, mostly consisting of a crowd in their mid thirties to mid forties. (Then again, it was about 6:30 pm - that all may change after 9).

The happy hour menu was full of delectable sounding dishes, all between $8-$16 dollars. For a restaurant where just an appetizer will run you between $13-$20, this struck us as a pretty good deal. I would describe the cuisine as classic American all dressed up for a fancy night on the town. We decided to get two smaller plates and one larger and split everything.

C's call was the $8 Pizza with Burrata, Oak Roasted Tomato, Basil and Chili Flakes. The chili flakes packed a definite punch which contrasted nicely with the smooth burrata. The crust was thin and crispy and the whole pie was absolutely littered with fresh basil. (Yay - I love when chefs are generous with the fresh herbs!) I can't honestly say the tomatoes tasted particularly oak-y to me, but it was certainly a very flavorful pizza and I enjoyed every bite.
I have enjoyed a love of artichokes dating back to when my mom used to make them for us as kids. I thought that anything you could eat with your hands and dunk in butter had to be a great thing. So I was excited to try Wilshire's $8 Grilled Artichoke with Meyer Lemon Yogurt. Sadly, this did not live up to my childhood memories. The artichoke was served room temperature, and I wonder how long it sat around in the back waiting for the other dishes to be prepared. The meyer lemon yogurt was a great idea that didn't live up to it's potential. The tang of the yogurt contrasted nicely with the creamy artichoke heart, but I could barely detect any lemon in there. I may have to have a go at this in my own kitchen, because (now that I no longer have my teenage metabolism) it might be a good idea to start dunking artichokes in yogurt rather then butter.
The bartender told us his favorite dish was the $13 Chimay Ale Marinated Skirt Steak with Fries, so, of course, we had to give it a try. Let me take this opportunity to say: bartenders are incredibly wise people! The dish was far and away my favorite of the three. What a brilliant preparation of a not so spectacular cut of meat. Although the bartender neglected to ask us how we would like it prepared, it still emerged a perfect medium rare, surprisingly tender on the inside with a nice char on the outside. The ale did wonders, giving each bite a rich and meaty burst. And the fries, oh the fries!! Served beneath the steak, they had an opportunity to soak up all the delicious drippings. Paired with just a little salt and fried parsley, they rendered ketchup obsolete and became the sort of delectable little bites you keep eating long after you are full. Mmmm....now I'm starting to crave them....Huh? Oh...yes...right...back to meal!

A word from your blogger here - I adore dessert. I may actually be addicted to it. No meal feels complete without dessert (this includes lunch and sometimes even breakfast). Not a day goes by without my consuming at least one sweet treat...generally many. But, I am definitely a bit of a dessert snob - I will not be happy with candy bars from 7-11 or chocolate chip cookies from a package. So, when dining out, I am always eager to see what sugary visions the pastry chef has concocted. Therefore, although desserts are seldom found on Happy Hour menus, I will still be reviewing them:)
From the many tempting treats, C and I decided to go for the $10 Roasted Apple Fritter with Caramel Sauce and Cinnamon Ice Cream. WOW!! Although LA has a doughnut store on just about every corner, there is still something very special about apple fritters served raging hot just out of the fryer. The smell of dough and cinnamon wafted over us as the plate was set down, and all thoughts of taxes or heavy life decisions immediately vanished. First I tried all the elements separately. The fritter was crusty and crunchy on the outside, with the apples inside practically melting in your mouth. The whipped cream was heavy and fresh, the caramel sauce almost liquor like, and the cinnamon ice cream as flavorful as one could wish for. Taken all together in one spoonful it was heaven. The cinnamon ice cream brought out the spice on the fritters and the whipped cream wrapped it all up in a creamy hug. Amazing - go and try these fritters!!

All in all, I would give this Happy Hour three and a half out of five belt notches. Definitely worth trying!

Happy Hour is served Monday-Saturday from 5-7pm. (They even give you a ten minute warning before it ends which I thought was very kind of them - and they have their happy hour menu available online!)

Wilshire Restaurant is located at:
2454 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-586-1707
www.wilshirerestaurant.com