Petrossian Paris Restaurant & Boutique

"You are an artist, a philosopher, a daydreamer. Your friends have told you before you seem to have been born in the wrong era, and they’re right. You want to live a life of passion and vigor, filled with good wine, great coffee, and world-class food. Bon voyage, you belong in Paris!" - BuzzFeed Travel Quiz

Although my subconscious yearns for a midnight stroll along the Seine river in Paris, I must escape my thoughts for a moment and accept that I am in the Paris of the West.  Los Angeles, which is equally known for its entertainment, cuisine and fashion culture, is home to Petrossian - a restaurant which can rival even the finest French haute cuisine.  Known best for their assorted varieties of caviar, I went to Petrossian to embark on a three course journey through Parisian delicacies.  

While I sampled all of the dishes, please note the prix fixe menu provided during restaurant week encompassed three dishes: appetizer, entree and dessert.  

Prix Fixe $45.00

Caviar Salad

butter lettuce, shaved egg, shallots, lemon, dill, crème fraîche

comments: slighty salty; appetizing to stronger palettes

Cauliflower Soup

white truffle oil, brioche, leeks

comments: creamy and savory; wonderful alternative to onion soup

Mediterranean Sea Bass

artichokes, leeks, celery, capers, caviar

comments: small portion; celery should be replaced with a starch

Wild Mushrooms Tagliatelle

chestnut, rosemary, parmesan

comments: pasta is made fresh and cooked al dente;

variety of mushrooms makes for an excellent dish

Persimmon Cake

carrot, ginger, pistachios, pecan, basil

comments: reminiscent of carrot cake;

airs on the side of dry

Chocolate

milk chocolate, white chocolate, coffee

comments: for the chocolate lovers at heart

The service in addition to the high quality food made for a 5 star experience.  If you have time, use your time to peruse the boutique shops along Robertson Blvd. for a fulfilling experience of your midnight in Paris.

JiRaffe

One of the aspects that bothers me most about French restaurants is the fact that because its European, that somehow justifies charging American food goers sky high prices.  While I'm willing to pay more for farm fresh and innovative cuisine, I find it insulting that pretentious restaurants such as JiRaffe charge exuberant prices for their food.  The truth of the matter is the food was excellent...but does that warrant breaking the bank?

Roasted Pear Salad ($15)

My evening began with a sampling of a roasted pear salad and onion soup (not pictured here).  The salad was constructed with organic red and green leaf lettuces, hazelnuts, fourme d’ambert cheese and sherry hazelnut vinaigrette. I found the salad to be a tad  salty; however, it was very exquisite appetizer.  If the restaurant decreased the price to $10, I would order it again.

Angus Filet of Beef ($32)

For the main course, my partner enjoyed a steak topped with a cinnamon nutmeg butter, sauteed baby spinach, crispy pancetta, red flame grapes and madeira beef jus.  Again, it was delicious, but it did not measure to a top notch steak like Morton's or Ruth Chris. Charging $27 for this filet would have been much more appropriate.

Almond-Crusted Rainbow Trout ($26)

I savored an almond-crusted rainbow trout with sweet white corn, roasted red peppers, spinach, roasted cremini mushrooms, capers, and lemon-brown butter sauce.  I felt that this was the best dish we ate during our dinner given its taste, presentation and creativity.  I would order this dish again for $22.

Chocolate Truffle Cake ($10)

The most appropriately priced dish was the chocolate truffle cake with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate raspberry sauce.  The Eiffel tower wafer was an elegant touch to this savory morsel.

I would love to dine in this intimate restaurant again, but until I see the prices decrease, I will save my money for proper steakhouses.  For an average of $58 per person, I would suggest you do the same.