Animal

Dining Companions: Noel N and Ben R .

Date: 5-8-09

I love Animal. Love Animal. Love love love.

I first wanted to visit the restaurant after seeing the cooking show about the two owners, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. Two Dudes Catering on Food Network was an awesome show following the two Floridian chefs as they catered parties from the small to large.

Last night's dinner at Animal was my ninth or tenth time eating there. The menu changes daily with a number of rotating items that pop up on the menu frequently. The chefs strive to maintain a menu with seasonal and local ingredients utilizing the best of the season. The minimalist decor and neighborhood feel create an atmosphere that accents the food. No art on the wall to detract from the food which is the star of the show.

Often, I get two appetizers just to try multiple things. Here are a few menu highlights:

-flat iron steak (rotating accompaniments)

-branzino with artichokes, garlic, and ramps

-polenta with bolognese (appetizer)

-pork belly with kimchi (a spicy slaw with peanuts and cabbage and carrots)

(There are often other pork belly variations if the kimchi one is not on the menu)

-burrata cheese with crostini

-fried hominy with lime (deep fried individual corn kernals, great to share, heavy for one person)

-chicken liver toast (one piece, perfect for one person) appetizer

-foie gras on a biscuit with maple sausage gravy (one of their signature dishes, $22 for an appetizer but totally worth it)

-blood orange and olive salad appetizer

-balsamic pork rib entree with salad on the side (wow. it falls off the bone, it has an amazing sauce, and it's a huuuuuge portion)

The only thing I've tried that I didn't love was the poutine. Poutine is essentially french fries with cheese and short rib gravy. It's a canadian classic, and as a Degrassi fan I have always wanted to try this dish. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but it was a large portion and it's very heavy. This is a definitely something to share with others if you order it. I wouldn't order this over something else.

I haven't tried the veal oscar (with crab) yet but it looks amazing. I'm also thinking about the quail fry and the fried chicken livers.

The back of the menu is full of beers and wines to choose from. The list is carefully crafted and selected. We all enjoyed our wine. Noel and I had prosecco (a white sparkling wine similar to champagne but Italian).

And now for the dessert. The bacon chocolate crunch bar is two "slices" of what vaguely resembles slices of bacon but it mostly chocolate with a hint of bacon lying on a bed of anglaise sauce. This is the signature dessert that is always on the menu. Otherwise the desserts change. The tres leches dulce de leche cake is good, not great. The chocolate pudding is delicious. it comes baked in a small glass jar (you may recognize from the yogurt that originally comes in it) with cream on top. It's small but it's rich so it satisfies. The pudding is thick and chocolatey. Delish.

Another thing that adds to the experience is the staff. Everyone I've met there has been helpful, knowledgable, and excited about the food. I really appreciate the service from the waiters to the busboy to the hostess. The food, the decor, the people...all of this blends together to create the ultimate neighborhood dining experience.

Mmmmm. Foie gras, pork belly, and pudding. Heaven.

435 N. Fairfax Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90036

www.animalrestaurant.com

7-12-09 Update: We had the foie gras and maple sausage gravy again. My friend Stephanie H. wanted to order another. So did I. We also had lamb chops with beets, garbanzo beans, and peas and a yogurt sauce. Maybe the sumac was a bit heavy, but it was perfectly cooked. We also had a pork shoulder and porcini agnolotti dish with a sage sauce. Mmmmm. The beet salad with onions, feta, kalamata olives, and tomatoes was perfect. A nice vegetarian dish to cut the richness of our other dishes.