BLT Steak and the Avalanche
BLT Steak 8720 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood 90069
Btwn N Sherbourne Dr & Sunset Plaza Dr
Food: A+
Service: A+
Value: Bring your wallet, but its worth every penny.
Bistro Laurent Tourondel -
First things first: This is not a standard review. We had the luxury of being at BLT with a friend of a friend of the chef. This is going to skew the selections, but in the interest of full disclosure, you should always bring a friend of the chef wherever you go. This resulted in an avalance of edible delights that defies description.
Having said that -
BLT greets you like a traditional, upscale, NY steakhouse. Bright, modern, with hip touches, like the giant chalkboard listing specials of the day, wines, and cheeses available. The slaughterhouse chart on the back of the menu, showing you where cuts of beef originate, and the dark tables matched with suede banquettes for lounging and dining.
To Start - Large wine list, busy busy bar (with matching scene of young and old, hip and not so much, and those seeking to see or be scene.
Our party started with cocktails and some wines. None of which disappointed.
A crock of chicken liver pate arrived, to whet your pallatte. Note, I say yours - because I personally don't care for it, but those who had it said it was delicious. Thick cut sourdough accompanied it. Also on the house, for all, gruyere popovers. Yes... that's right. These are a meal in themselves. I highly recommend them. Get extras. Hide them in your jacket. Sell them on ebay. They're that good.
Now, there's so much that we ordered (and that which we didn't, that just arrived on its own, compliments of the chef) that I must suspend some of the regular prose, and list off what delicious items tempted our indulgence:
Appetizers:
Caesar Salad - Large. Great dressing. Cheese for days. This alone could have been lunch.
Tuna Tartare - Arrives in a cube of tasty goodness. Served on ice, with a side of crisps. This on its own could be a meal (especially after the popovers).
Hamachi with coriander vinagrette. Fresh. Spicy. Delicious. Rivals any that you would get in the best sushi places around town.
Others - We didn't get it but honestly, any place where BACON is its own appetizer, is my kind of place. Yes, bacon. Just bacon. Double cut, smoked bacon. .... next time.... We also enjoyed a charcuterie platter and a lovely buratta and tomato salad.
Mains:
Ok, again, we didn't ORDER all of this... it just arrived. I've included sides here, although they could be their own discussion. I should mention that many of the sides are small. This lets you get a number of them, to share (or, so you don't pass out at the table). But, don't be surprised that many items are several spoonfuls or so...
Seven Pepper Crusted Bone In Dry Aged Ribeye. Served with clove of roasted garlic and a bone of marrow. Yes... it was just a giant (22oz) steak, deliciously prepared. Two of us SPLIT this.
Bone In Ribeye - 22oz. Served in the same way as above. Delicious.
Beef Shortribs - This comes in its own metal crock, falling off the bone with a sweet and savory reduction and crust. It might make you weep.
Baked Fried and Sauteed Hash Browns. No - that's all one dish. The result is a pan of potatoes that has a golden crust, soft and melting interior and just right for crunching your way through.
Onion Ring Tower - Just what it sounds like. Light, almost tempura-style batter.
Grilled Asparagus - Just in case you were feeling healthy.
Stuffed Mushroom Caps - yep. Topped with cheese, in case the healthy-factor needed to be offset.
Hen of the Woods mushrooms - Not to everyone's taste, but prepared with a glorious garlic and butter reduction.
Creamed Spinach - Standard Steakhouse fare. Prepared well.
Then, there was dessert - Don't ask why. I'm just telling you that it happened.
We opted to NOT go for the cheese selection. I asked. They had very nice cheese, but hey - you could also get the Chocolate Malted Ice Cream Brownie cake, the flourless chocolate cake, the espresso brownies, the Crepe Souffle with passionfruit sause, or the peanut butter mousse cake.
We wept. With joy... but still... wept.
Again, not light on the wallet, but you'll want for nothing upon departing.
1 Comments:
Seriously...how did any of you leave that place in an upright position? I would assume that you needed to be wheeled out on a service cart of some sort. That place sounds phenomenal!
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