Review Of Animal Restaurant - Los Angeles - I Loved It! BUT Can Never Go Again

The Saddest Story You'll Ever Hear!

Four of us (total foodies!) ate at the Animal Restaurant last night and all agreed, it had exceptional food and service. It's the kind of place you order "Chinese -Style", as the menu is so varied and so good, you must try and share as much as you can.The Chefs do something ,that most American restaurants do not, THEY SEASON THEIR FOOD!
We had:

** baby kale, pecorino, lemon, smashed croutons

** pig ear, chili, lime, fried egg - thin strips deep fried - incredible! Just incredible!

** barbeque pork belly sandwiches, slaw - WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION! I could have eaten several orders!

** melted petit basque, chorizo, grilled bread - Good but our least favorite - The Chorizo was a bit tasteless.

** crispy rabbit legs, meyer lemon aioli, peas & their greens - The Best!!!

** foie gras loco moco, quail egg, spam, hamburger - Fantastic!
All said and done, it was a wonderful meal, an unforgettable meal and YET, and here is the big YET,The noise level was very intense. I could not hear my partner seated next to me, we were touching shoulders in fact. I could never hear my other diners across the small table the entire evening. I should have learned American Sign Language!
It was the most uncomfortable dining experience I have encountered in a long time. I could not wait to leave, it was so deafening, that when we left, we felt like having to take a valium to calm our senses.

I love the food! It is something I have been searching for a long time in Los Angeles and then finding it, sadly I can’t return.

Why, oh why, do American restaurant have to be designed to have a over powering noise level?
In France, this same kind of design in a restaurant would not have that noise level. Why? You ask. Well the French and Europeans speak at a low level. Any raised voices in a French restaurant and you’ll know who they are immediately……………..Americans!

I am sorry to report, it’s a fantastic restaurant food-wise!, but for ones dining pleasure, a distinct disaster.
You have been warned!

February 24, 2010
Chicken liver toast 3
crispy hominy, lime 5

blood orange, chili oil, castlevetrano, red onion 8

carrot salad, sunchoke chips, green goddess, avocado 8

baby kale, pecorino, lemon, smashed croutons 9

pig ear, chili, lime, fried egg 10

lettuce, beets, avocado, pita, feta, creamy sumac 10

barbeque pork belly sandwiches, slaw 10

grilled sardines, duck fat gremolata, pine nuts, raisins 10

rabbit loin, parsnip, pear mostarda, benton’s bacon 10

head cheese, cornbread, pickled fennel vinaigrette 10

baby broccoli, pancetta, parmesan, soft egg, bread crumbs 11

ricotta & goat cheese gnocchi, bologenese 12

melted petit basque, chorizo, grilled bread 12

sweetbreads, creamed spinach, capers, hen of the woods 14

duck confit, apple, pecans, dates, arugula 14

quail fry, grits, chard, slab bacon, maple jus 15

poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar 15

fluke, paige mandarins, raita, mint, pineapple 15

lamb loin tartar, fries, greens, toast 22
foie gras, biscuit, maple sausage gravy 22

skatewing, collards, rutabaga, grainy mustard 25

veal breast, polenta, savoy cabbage, prosciutto 25

flat iron, sunchoke hash, truffle parmesan fondue 25

crispy rabbit legs, meyer lemon aioli, peas & their greens 25

foie gras loco moco, quail egg, spam, hamburger 35

and much more!