Chaya Brasserie- Our Best Overall Restaurant in LA (11/06)
Chaya Brasserie:
I have dined at many locations in Los Angeles, and Chaya Brasserie is the Top Rated restaurant in my opinion in this city, Chaya delivers in service, atmosphere and quality of food. This establishment remains consistent and crowded all the time. Sundays there is live jazz which accents the beautiful Asian artwork and decor. Surrounded by shiny mirrors around, impressive wood beams throughout and beautiful flowers and greenery in the middle, one can see why the setting is comfortable, romantic and welcoming. Our waiter Charles and staff were right on with excellent service and suggestions!
Onto the best part- The Food! There is an Asian flare to the cooking but the menu is very diverse. Starting with the warm fresh bread. You can usually tell if a restaurant is going to be good if the bread is really good. The appetizers are to die for and the sushi is about the best I have tasted, They have specialty sushi rolls such as the Dragon (Spicy tuna, cucumber, eel, avocado and sweet soy); Spicy Lobster roll with Wasabi soy; Banzai Roll which we had (Soft Shell Crab, cucumber with spicy ponzu and wasabi and the flash seared kobe beef roll which includes spicy shrimp, tempura asparagus, avocado, sweet eel sauce and balsamic reduction.
Cold appetizer suggestions are the fresh seaweed salad; Hawaiian tuna tarter which is delicious; fresh hama hama oysters which; Chinese duck and mango salad with veggie spring rolls and my favorite 2 – the melt in your mouth sashimi salad with what they have fresh that day with avocado, sweet ginger pickles and wasabi soy and the goat cheese with Portobello mushrooms with walnuts and red wine vinaigrette.
How about some hot appetizers which include lightly fried flavorful, crispy calamari; pan fried shrimp with spicy avocado goat cheese puree; escargot accompanied by chopped mushrooms; pan sautéed Hudson Valley Foie Gras! Any room left for the main course?
There are some pasta choices of lobster ravioli, spaghetti with Japanese eggplant and champagne-Parmesan risotto with pan seared scallops and black truffle coulis. My recommendations are the Miso marinated Sea Bass that is the best I have ever tasted from my associates plate and the Lobster & Beef Tenderloin Duet with mashed potatoes, garlic sauce, spinach and wild mushrooms. Other selections that sounded great were the Seared Blue Fin Tuna but we had our fill of tuna with the earlier sushi and the New Zealand Red Snapper with black truffle sauce. The meat is great as well with the Fillet Mignon in that same black truffle sauce; Roasted Venison with peppercorn sauce; The Rib Eye in a similar sauce with roasted potatoes and the Colorado Lamb Chops which were my second choice if I had anymore room to eat. The chefs go to no expense to enhance every dish with the freshest and most unique creations and styles as possible.
A prefix menu is also a choice, which includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert and the selections vary from time to time. There is an extensive wine list from fantastic bottles to specialty ones by the glass. Make sure to ask your server if there are any new wines being poured by the glass. I had the Duckhorn 2003 Merlot, which went great with my Beef. It was rare they had that by the glass so you never know. A full bar with specialty martinis and drinks are also available.
Lastly was the decadent choices for dessert- With quite a few touch choices, we ended up with the fallen chocolate cake which would have tasted just as good if it was standing up; the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding and the house specialty, “ Banana Banana Banana which includes warm banana tart, banana ice cream and a frozen chocolate covered banana.
This Fine Dining establishment is a must on your next visit to LA or if you live in the city, make it a regular occasion as there are so many great items to choose from.
More info at www.thechaya.com located on 8741 Alden right off of Robertson and the cross street is George Burns Blvd. next to Cedars Sinai Hospital . Phone # is