Taste

Taste is on Melrose near La Cienega. It is slightly hidden by trees and a patio, but don't miss it! It is worth a stop for a casual, upscale dinner. The food was delicious and the atmospher restaurant had a comfortable yet chic atmosphere. It was casual enough for jeans, candle-lit and comfortable. Although we had a reservation, we didn't need it at 5:30 as the place was nearly empty. Probably later in the evening, after people get out of work it is a little busier.

We ordered two appetizers--Calamari and Ahi Tuna Tartare. The tartare was good--but a little salty, it had a nice mint flavor. The calamari was very light and not oily at all. The dipping sauce had a light mustard taste though--completely different than expected from the description. I wish I could have also tried the beet salad which looked amazing on another diner's table.

For dinner I had the salmon on a bed of creamy mushroom risotto. The risotto was delicious, I think I was drawn to the mushrooms that were mini portobello and shitake and had a great texture unlike the regular button mushrooms that you have on pizza. My fellow diner had the braised shortribs (which is meat off the bone in a stew over some kind of pasta) and it was also delicious. The meals were plentiful and I took the leftovers home so that we could save a little room for dessert.

For dessert we shared a piece of the lightest flourless chocolate cake I have ever had. But, another interesting thing about the dessert menu was that it had a whole menu of Hot Chocolate flavors! My fellow diner got the mint hot chocolate and she loved it. Just enough mint for flavor but not too much to overpower the chocolate. I would go back there just for the hot chocolate.

I also really liked the carvings in the bathroom. They were these wooden pictures with carvings in them and they looked like pictures exactly--not like sculptures.

I recommend Taste for a special occasion as it is a little pricy. The food was delicious and still tasted great the next day, the dessert list is excellent and the hot chocolate menu is fun and unusual.





Taste
8454 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Map