Simon LA at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles serves up Fine Dining and Trendy Atmosphere (6/07)

Simon LA is a trendy, hip hot spot located in the Sofitel Hotel on La Cienega Blvd right behind the Beverly Center in LA. It offers an eclectic mix of foods, an extensive wine and drink list in a club-like atmosphere. Chef Kerry Simon has created a menu for all tastes and a dessert list like no other.

 

The atmosphere is dark and trendy with gobo lighting reflecting the twig and branch theme throughout. Rock music and an open kitchen add to the bar like setting. This is a spot for young people to see and to be seen, not a romantic place for cozy conversations. The adjacent Stone Rose Lounge is a very popular place especially on the weekends.  You actually walk through it from the lobby to get to the restaurant.  We had a nice booth overlooking the kitchen and we were ready for a great dinner.

 

We started the meal with a few appetizers including the light, fresh and citrisy yellowtail carpaccio, the roasted young beet salad which was a cacophony of young beets surrounded by a touch of laurel chenel goat cheese and we also had the tasty heirloom tomato and burrata (melts in your mouth) cheese salad. The appetizer that knocked our socks off was the tuna dynamite. Like nothing either of us had ever experienced before, it is a mountain of lump crab, tuna and the most delicious red chili aioli. This amazing, unique dish is not to be missed.

 

After appetizers we enjoyed the ahi tuna entrée that was presented over wasabi mashed potatoes, roasted shiitake and baby bok choy. Each of these side dishes complimented the ahi that was cooked perfectly. We also tried the bamboo steamed fish that was presented in a small bamboo bowl. This healthy steamed halibut dish would have been rather plain if it was not for the soy/caramelized onion sauce presented on the side.

 

To get an idea of some of the side dishes we sampled the garlic mashed potatoes, the sautéed forest mushrooms, the sweet potato pancakes and the house favorite, the decadent macaroni and cheese gratin made with truffle oil.

 

The evening ended when we were presented with a most unique dessert menu. The following is just a sampling of the dessert selections: warm molten chocolate banana caramel pudding cake with a vanilla bean milkshake, a peanut butter fudge sundae served with chocolate covered peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a raw chocolate avocado pudding with tropical fruit and a strawberry rhubarb pie. Instead of picking one of these items we were presented with the Simon Junk Food Sampler described by the menu as “old favorites all grown up for the table”. This sweet tooth fantasy dessert includes: rice Krispie style treats, doughnut holes, snow balls, sorbet, chocolate chip cookies, a vanilla bean milkshake, “Hostess” style chocolate cupcakes, “Cracker-jack” style caramel corn and finally, a mound of pink cotton candy.

 

Other popular dishes at Simon LA are the colossal crab cake, blue fin tuna tartar and shellfish platter as appetizers. They also feature some special wood roasted pizzas, some creative pasta dishes, prime meats and specialties such as the tandoori wild pacific salmon, brazed short ribs, Thai red chicken curry and house meatloaf.

 

For more information on the restaurant, lounge and hotel, check out www.sofitella.com