Michael's Restaurant

As a native Angeleno, Michael's offers the best cuisine there is: Californian.  Using fresh and seasonal ingredients straight from the Santa Monica farmer's market, you could not ask for a better source for lunch.  That being said, Michael's tends is by no means a cheap eat given the quality of their food.  Luckily for me, I got this trio of dishes for $25 during DineLA restaurant week.  

"Chicken and Waffle Wings"

Half-Dozen, Chili Salt, Maple Syrup

When I say I know fried chicken, I mean it.  I could eat fried chicken everyday if it wasn't for such a thing called cholesterol.  I know that Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles have become an LA landmark, but for those of you have been there, its actually not the best fried chicken in town.  This is definitely the best modern interpretation of chicken and waffles around.  There, I said it. #juicy #crispy #sweetnspicy

Michael's Cobb Salad

Blue Cheese, Chicken Breast, Bacon, Tomatoes, Egg, Mustard Vinaigrette

To step away from carbohydrates for a moment, I dived into a cobb salad packed with farm fresh vegetables and meat.  It was one of the better cobb salads I have eaten, but does not beat out Clementine's in Century City. #farmfresh #healthy #delicious

Chocolate Espresso Tart

Creme Fraiche, Coffee Ice Cream

The course to wrap it all up was a sugary delight of chocolate espresso realness (I stole that word from #RuPaul).  It was really effing good apart from the creme fraiche bit.  #yum

Avoid the crowds and the sky high prices by dining at Michael's for lunch rather than dinner.  It's a short walk away from 3rd Street Promenade, which makes for the perfect meeting spot for a group of friends.  

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.

Rustic Canyon

Alas, I have stumbled across a restaurant where my review will be a bit harsh.  Rustic Canyon located on 1119 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica is not worth your time or money.  In one aspect, Rustic Canyon promotes the use of seasonal food and sustainable agriculture.  Although the dishes represent ideas that I believe in, I cannot justify a portion of gnochhi that is comparable to a can of cat food for $16.00.  In addition, the below-par burger was $18.00!!!  (Highly suggest Steingarten or The Counter instead).  For dessert, I ordered a caramel sundae for $10.00 that consisted of caramel ice cream, nuts and chocolate syrup.  Last time I checked, I could get the same melange of sweets at Yogurtland for $4.00.  I completely understand that sustainable food is more expensive; however, these dishes do not reflect the charged prices.  Many restaurants in the neighborhood, such as Fraiche and Primi Al Mercato, charge reasonable prices for market fresh food and one of a kind dishes. As a connoisseur of good food at affordable prices, Rustic Canyon is at the bottom of my list.

Riccota Gnocchi ($16.00)
pesto genovese, parmaggiano-reggiano

Rustic Canyon Burger ($18.00)
sharp cheddar, onion fondue, housemade pickles, herb remoulade, hand-cut french fries