FRENCH FRIES and CURRY:
EAST MEETS WEST
ZenChi Cafe
11334 Moorpark
Studio City, CA 91604
818 760 3890
Hours: Tues.-Sun. for dinner, Tues.-Fri. for lunch
Stay tuned for Sunday brunch (we loved their Easter brunch menu)
Cuisine: California-Asian
Must Try: Chilean Sea Bass
Star Rating: 2.25
Average Cost: Entrees $12 to $28 (dinner)
“The balance is Zen, while the energy is chi,” says Nick Cavanaugh, the hunky proprietor of the new little gem just off the corner of Tujunga and Moorpark in Studio City.
Drawing from the Cirque de Soleil style environment of the floating gardens outside of Bangkok, Nick has indeed brought a feeling of both chi and Zen to his new pan-Asian restaurant. The outside of the restaurant is as appealing as the inside, and when greeted by gentle signs stating “No Cell Phones, Or Cigarettes”, you know you have a few hours’ respite from the crazy world just outside the doors.
Formerly the Studio City Grill, the owner personally removed eleven tons of debris and replaced the new open and tranquil space with dark green slate walls, troweled and acid-washed concrete floors. He graced his space with African wood mahogany tables (that he had made himself) and the rushing sounds of water that swirls around a giant 100+ year-old wooden Buddha. This man of many talents designed the entire restaurant, built most of it by hand, and created the menu to go with it as well.
Nick Cavanaugh is as much a presence and part of the restaurant as the décor and menu. A celebrity fitness trainer (and did we say big hunk?) who has worked in Los Angeles for almost twenty years from his private studio in Toluca Lake, he has had his own column in Shape Magazine International, where the Cavanaugh Nutritional Lifestyle was first published. He has traveled with celebrities throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the USA as their fitness trainer, nutritionist, and cook, all of which he draws from as he now creates his first restaurant owned and operated by him (formerly, he managed a myriad of restaurants, including the famous Scandia on Sunset Boulevard).
The menu is eclectic and diverse, and is more appropriately described as “California-Asian bistro.” With East meeting West, there are taste treats that range from Thai pork spareribs to Angus beef burgers. Although the service was slightly off with our entrees coming about five minutes apart from each other, it was more than made up for with the friendly service of Dawn, our gorgeous waitress from Ohio (and of course, an actress).
The starters were intriguing, and we particularly liked the Thai pork spareribs, which came in a very tasty and lively barbecue sauce, and consisted of three pieces ($8). The Indonesian crab cakes were also interesting and were served in a creamy ginger sauce, which also substituted as a fabulous dressing for the ample salad served with it ($9). The Dining Duo also enjoyed the black tiger shrimp satays, which were smothered in a mango-peanut sauce and delivered up a Southeast Asian flair ($10).
Of course, Michael is crazy about burgers and couldn’t resist the Zen Chi Angus beef burger, which consisted of one-half pound of seasoned ground Angus, served with lettuce, avocado, caramelized onions, tomato, and crowned with bleu cheese, and all for $16. Nick will be the first to tell you that the burger is accompanied by a slice of bread rather than a bun in order to create the right proportions of bread and burger and not outweigh the meat itself. Michael felt that it was perfectly prepared and delivered, and enjoyed eating the burger. Scott selected the ZenChi Chilean sea bass, which of course in today’s renewed sea bass market is authentic Chilean sea bass, seared and set atop sushi rice, a mandarin glaze, and crowned with a mango chutney. The mango chutney was a marvelous combination of flavors that added not only to the fish, but also made the accompanying sticky rice and vegetable garnish that much tastier ($27). It was also served in an aesthetically pleasing round dish, and stacked in a beautiful presentation, laced with a few wisps of lemongrass.
There are a variety of sides, but we particularly suggest the ZenChi curry sweet potato fries, which were delicious, fattening, and an excellent example of how Nick has again mixed both East and West with great success ($6). The dessert selection varies on each day, but with a selection of mango mousse, chocolate raspberry roll, and guava custard, there is something to please everyone. We particularly liked the mango mousse that was garnished with strawberries and blueberries, and a smearing of chocolate on the plate as it stayed within the California-Asian palate of flavors offered by this sweet new restaurant.
The drink and wine list is ample, and we found the prices reasonable, with the range of white wines by the glass from $7-$10, and reds by the glass from $7-$12.
If you’re in the mood for something new and different, and want some nice neighborhood hospitality, ZenChi offers a peaceful getaway far from the madding crowds.
Take a quick retreat from Ventura Boulevard by strolling into Yen Sushi and Sake Bar for some surprisingly delicious dishes. The small storefront restaurant is sleekly stylish and simply appointed, with wood floors, concrete-toweled walls, and a dozen heavy wood tables and chairs (which prove to be a tad bit uncomfortable on the backside). Thick bamboo pieces grace the entryway, after which the focal point of the restaurant is the sushi bar. As you walk in the door, a transformation begins and the friendly sushi chefs and wait-staff greet you immediately (all in Japanese, though we later found out they are predominantly from Korea).
The calming environment immediately sets the tone for a delightful assortment of sushi, nouveau Katsu-ya style semi-cooked sushi and traditional Japanese items. If you toast the chefs with a cup of saki, they will get very creative with their offerings. Michael adores sushi, so he gravitated to the Spicy tuna roll ($5.50), yellowtail ($6) and freshwater eel ($4.50), both of which delivered on freshness and taste. Scott doesn’t like sushi at all (“unless it’s cooked”); however, that said, their specialty of the house, the crispy rice with spicy tuna ($9.50), proved to be absolutely out of this world and worth braving the world of slimy uncooked things.
Make sure to start your meal with their miso soup, which is always tasty, and the “yummy-yummy crispy tuna” (that’s their name, not ours) appetizer ($8.50), which was just that. We recommend following with the broiled salmon steak with teriyaki sauce entrée ($17), which comes with a side salad and a tasty sprinkling of sticky white rice. Also worth noting is the pan-roasted lobster tail ($25). Unfortunately, we discovered that the wine selection is very limited, so we recommend bringing your own selection and paying a minimal corkage fee, which appears to be negotiable as it was presented to us as somewhere between “$10 to $15” (we paid $8).
Most nights are quite busy, and at times waiting for a table is mandatory. Monday nights are much slower, but the tranquility is interrupted by a flat-screen television screaming Monday night football. If you can get past a bunch of sweaty men in tights pouncing on each other (which, don’t get us wrong, can be of fun), and wish to bring your own wine, this little find on Ventura Blvd. (near Coldwater) will lure you back for meal after meal.
The Scene: A yen for zen
Cuisine: Traditional Japanese and more
Must-try: Crispy rice with spicy tuna
Star rating: 2.5
Average cost: Entrées range from $15-$26
Yen Sushi and Sake Bar
12930 Ventura Blvd. #120
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 907-6400
Other locations in Century City and Belmont Shore, Long Beach
Risotto
12650 Ventura Bl
Studio City 91604
818 761 7600
11AM-10 PM, Sunday 5-10 PM
The Scene: Attractive neighborhood spot
Cuisine: Family Italian with a nouveau edge
Must Try: Any of the Risottos, of course
Star Rating: 2.50
Average Cost: Entrees $11 to $22
We go either way. That is, one of the best parts about living off Mulholland Drive is that we can go to the Valley or to the City to dine. A new addition to the Studio City Restaurant scene offers a reason to head to the valley. Risotto, owned and hosted by the affable and handsome Claudio Barbagiovanni (now that’s authentic Italian), replaces one of our old haunts, Spumoni, which we had frequented over one hundred times until we realized we had never been offered a complimentary anything. As our readers know by now, the Dining Duo insists on paying the bill before reviewing a restaurant, but one of our pet peeves is when a restaurateur does not reward you, the consistent customer, with a drink or desert from time to time.
The reincarnation is better than its predecessor in so many ways. Risotto sports a much needed face lift that now makes it a spotless and charming Italian bistro, boasting a gorgeous open stainless kitchen and homemade specialties from Claudio’s family. He was also a caterer for twenty plus years, and calls on that expertise to serve delightful homemade Italian dishes.
Make certain to start your meal with a soup of the day. We particularly enjoyed the Butternut Squash ($5) that was served piping hot and flavorful, yet without overbearing flavors. Claudio’s Caprese salad comprised of fresh vine-ripe tomatoes, mozzarella, home grown basil and virgin olive oil is quite reasonably priced at $7.50.
With a name like “Risotto”, that dish is the forte here and should not be passed up. Our favorite is actually the healthiest alternative on the menu, The Farfalle con Pollo, perfectly seasoned bow tie pasta with grilled chicken, sun dried tomatoes and fresh asparagus in a light tomato sauce, with the just the right amount of garlic and a bargain at $14. Also of note is the home made Capellini loaded with crabmeat, which one can order with a red or white sauce at $18. Michael enjoyed their Veal Picatta (Scott can’t stand killing those poor little lambs), seasoned with lemon and capers and served over Risotto Primavera ($20.50).
Don’t leave Risotto with out trying the homemade Ricotta Cheese Cake accompanied with fresh berries ($6), although one of the Dining Duo particularly liked the size of the cannoli; he shall remain anonymous.
It’s nice to come back to the neighborhood and be treated like family.
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Michael H. Epstein & Scott E. Schwimer take on the food & Hotel scene around the globe. Lovers of food, life & each other, who knows more about luxury hotels & the restaurant scene than two partners who eat out 21 meals a week for 28 years together? Look for them at the best restaurants & resorts on the planet. > More about the Dining Duo |
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