Alice Y.
Yelp
A new upscale Chinese restaurant which is a surprising find in the Home Depot parking lot. It took the place of an old diner that went out of business over the pandemic. From the current reviews, some people seem to complain about the price, forgetting that the portions are huge. Drinks are strong and 2x the volume of LA fine dining restaurants. Shareables are basically entree-sized, and if you order an entree then you need at least 3-4 people to be able to sample a variety of dishes. For $95 after tax and tip, I had two drinks and several shareables without dessert. It was probably around $75 for my friend who only had 1 drink.
INTERIOR
The outside of the building looks promising with its minimalist design. Inside is also classy, mostly black and white and gray with glass accents. Both indoor and outdoor patio seating is available, and there seemed to be a lounge situation near the restrooms. The restrooms were just okay; they matched the vibe of the place, but not the opulence.
SERVICE
Reservations were easy using Tock. I called the restaurant and was told that the $10 per person deposit counts towards your final bill. The Tock platform charged $1 for their server maintenance fees. However, my card was charged $21 and then refunded the entire amount.
We had no issues with service when we came at 6:15pm on a Saturday. It was relatively empty, but the dining room started filling up within the next hour. Our hostess was observant and proactive; our server Liz was energetic and funny. Everyone in front of house was Asian and at least bilingual. The representation! Drinks were the first thing to order and to come out. Overall, service was good but slightly less attentive with plate clearing and general check-ins to see if we need anything.
DRINKS ORDERED
- Foggy plum grove ($22 - vodka, plum wine, plum juice, lemon, hawthorn, smoke). The best drink we tried, in my opinion. I could taste all the components. The drink had a syrupy consistency. It was salty, sour, slightly sweet, slightly smoky, and slightly herbal from the dried Hawthorne.
- Ink ($19 - tequila, lime, coconut, charcoal). The drink was gorgeous and looked like marble. When stirred, it became an opaque gray color. Though it was good, it was unbalanced. The lime overtook the coconut milk, so it was more tart than sweet and creamy.
- Gin & Tonic Highball ($16 - gin, herbs, lime). Again, it was too forward with the lime, as you couldn't taste the gin. But it was very strong without tasting like alcohol, so the bartender knows what they're doing! The fizzy tonic was a pleasant touch.
SHAREABLES ORDERED
- Scallop Ceviche ($19 - 6 pcs). Just okay, though I am biased because I don't prefer ceviches. The texture of the scallop was tender and had a minimal fishy scent. Those who like ceviche will say it's bomb. Those who are just okay with ceviche will say it's good, but one-note in flavor (lime/acid). I ate the shallot, shaved gherkin, and microgreen separately, but the taste was mostly sour.
- Cheese Mapo Tofu ($19). Really good and a successful fusion dish. The roasted Sichuan peppercorn flavor came through. While the sauce was a tad salty after bubbling away in the hot vessel, it's not an issue once paired with the soft baguette. You can also ask for a refill once you run out of bread. The silken tofu broke into fine little pieces, which actually provided a nice texture. The only thing that would make this better would be more cheese, perhaps layered closer to the bottom, so that you get a more balanced distribution of ingredients. But I am a cheese fiend.
- Flaming Pork Jowl ($38). Amazing! Admittedly, I couldn't taste the peanut butter at all, and the alcohol/flames don't go on the pork - I think it just keeps the rocks warm. The pork itself was a little sweet, a little savory, not too fatty, tender, and sliced thin. The skin was finely scored and super crispy, a great texture!