A D.
Yelp
So, this will be one of the most detailed reviews I have ever written, allow me to take you on this journey. I promise, it is a good one.
This location was chosen by myself and my friend for two main reasons.
1. It was down the street from the show we were seeing that evening.
2. It is a rare place that carries peppadew peppers, a favorite of mine.
The evening in question was cold, very rainy and found the streets quieter than a normal evening within the city. The show had just let out and many people had rushed to their cars in the hopes of avoiding the rain and to attempt to fight through the inevitable traffic. Having gotten a hotel two blocks away though, we were prepared and enjoyed the lack of needing to scurry.
It took us a moment to realize where the restaurant was, as the inside was much darker than we would have imagined, but upon entering, it almost felt otherworldly. The reduction of fluorescent overhead lights had been replaced with both soft small bulbs and a purple glow that lent itself to music playing, a genuine record player that was initially on the Beatles, then moved into a haunting Tom Waits record.
We ordered, having been tempted by the vodka sauce, and added the aformentioned peppers, roasted chicken, and goat cheese, as well as garlic cheese sticks with their pesto ranch and two drinks.
For a brief bit, I had wondered if I was actually in a dimension outside of my own, as all the elements seemed to suggest that it would not be implausible to find a coven of vampires might enter and ascend to the bar upstairs. The vibe we got was "Speakeasy" and given the bar upstairs and some of their more unusual drinks that were on menu display, I think we were in the right direction.
The food, I can easily say, is some of the best we ever had. The garlic cheese bread is certainly a punch in the face for those who are not accustomed to a HEAVY hand of raw fresh garlic, but if you are fine with it coming out of your skin the next day, I fully recommend. The pizza was demolished by us both in no time, flavorful and delicious. My ONLY complaint is I wish they had been more generous with the peppers.
Before we departed, we caught sight of a dessert menu and a curious item known as Grandma's Cake, an Italian lemon and almond custard that sounded luxurious. We hightailed it back to our hotel and consumed it immediately, and found regret to only have purchased one and not potentially a whole pie.
Our sleep was peaceful and the amazement of this restaurant's existance made us wonder if it truly had been a dream of some sort or just a very new and refreshing gem right in the middle of Hollywood and lo and behold, it still stands in the morning light.
Thank you for reading this, and I genuinely hope you go and taste their food. If you can get lucky to go on a rainy night and feel the world warp as we did, definitely do not miss out on dessert. It is well worth and we will be back again.