Koast

"The first time we ate at Koast, a few things crossed our mind. One was the KOST 103.5 jingle. The other was how much this fancy seafood spot on Melrose from the Kali team commits to its ocean theme. There are two water features at the entrance, including a vertigo-inducing tiny river flowing underneath the glass walkway. The menu reads like the seafood edition of Around The World at Epcot: tuna tostadas, seared halibut lounging in a cioppino-esque broth, and a particularly excellent plate of crudo sprinkled with vadouvan and crispy onions. Though more casual than fine-dining Kali, Koast is still a pretty buttoned-up spot and it’s telling that the best dishes here are the ones that have a little fun, like Maryland crab dip with fried crackers and a gooey lobster manicotti baked in a casserole dish. On a recent Thursday night, the music was turned so low every table conversed in a hushed whisper. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Koast will never be mistaken for a breezy oyster bar with 2-for-1 beer specials, but the seafood is good. And given its Hancock Park-adjacent location, there’s always room for another nice dinner spot with the promise of well-cooked fish and someone to take your suit jacket. video credit: Brant Cox Food Rundown photo credit: Brant Cox Bluefin Crudo The best dish at Koast and proof that a great crudo can still stop us in our tracks. Thick cuts of tuna come daintily rolled, bathed in a tiny pool of brown butter, and topped with crispy onions and curry spice. The first time we ate this dish our arm instinctively shot up in the air to wave the server down—we needed another one. photo credit: Brant Cox Maryland Style Baked Crab Dip Compared to Koast’s highly composed raw dishes, this bubbling crock of baked crab dip feels like somebody let a frat kid into the Met Gala. And that’s a compliment. This is the kind of decadent, mayo-filled dip that wouldn’t last 20 minutes at a tailgate. It goes even faster at Koast. photo credit: Brant Cox Little Gem Salad Based on presentation, this salad is a 10. Unfortunately, the chive vinaigrette gets a bit lost in the weeds (er, leaves), so it’s mostly a pretty pile of lettuce on a plate. photo credit: Brant Cox Cheeseburger Following the grand tradition of seafood spots like Connie & Ted’s and Dudley Market, Koast also has a burger. Unlike those places, however, you can skip this one. The patty is thin and a touch dry, and the heavy helping of lettuce and thick potato bun make up about 70% of each bite. photo credit: Brant Cox Grilled Prawns This is a fantastic plate of butter grilled prawns, but admittedly it’s something you can find on a lot of menus around town. If you’re forced to choose, stick with Koast’s more unique dishes (see below). photo credit: Brant Cox Lobster Baked Manicotti Golden-brown manicotti served in a big casserole dish? This is another dish that stands out amongst the more typical fine dining dishes. It’s Dan Tana’s-level red sauce comfort and a must-order." - Brant Cox