Tag Archives: Los Angeles Seafood Restaurants

What the Fork?

Little Fork Maple Eggs
I feel as if I’m channeling my inner-Don Draper as I down cocktails and feast on Clams Casino in the Mid-Century Modern digs of Littlefork, a great new restaurant that opened last month in Hollywood. Although its name sounds like a small town in Utah or the moniker bestowed upon some unfortunate child in Indian Guides, “Littlefork” actually refers to the diminutive three-pronged cocktail fork used to eat shellfish. It’s part of the restaurant’s theme; innovative and fun dishes inspired by the Atlantic Northeast, especially Boston and Montreal.

Chef Jason Travi’s menu consists of mostly small plates, with a strong emphasis on seafood. The aforementioned Clams Casino with Cracker Stuffing and Bacon is an absolute must-have, as is the Smoked Meats Poutine with Curds and Gravy. The Portuguese Mussels with Linguica, Beer and Chickpeas is one of the best mussel dishes I have ever eaten. I also recommend the Maple Eggs with Crispy Bacon (pictured above), the Clam Cakes with House Tartar Sauce, and the Apple Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts with Sage and Crispy Chicken Skin.

I’m hoping eventually they’ll be adding some version of fried whole-belly Ipswich clams to the menu, as well as my favorite New England dessert, Indian pudding with molasses and cornmeal. Until that happens, I recommend ending your meal with Littlefork’s Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Fluff, although I’m pretty sure that’s not something Don Draper would eat. You’ll be channeling your inner-Sally Draper at that point.

Littlefork is located at 1600 Wilcox Ave., Hollywood. UPDATE: GOOD THINGS DON’T LAST FOREVER. LITTLEFORK IS CLOSED.

Pickles

Pickled Vegetables (the amuse bouche)


Kettle Corn with Montreal steak spice and maple syrup

Kettle Corn with Montreal Steak Spice and Maple Syrup


Crispy Oyster Sliders with Tartar Sauce and Pickled Hot Pepper

Crispy Oyster Sliders with Tartar Sauce and Pickled Hot Pepper


Smoked Meats Poutine with curds and gravy

Smoked Meats Poutine with Curds and Gravy


Clams Casino with cracker stuffing and bacon

Clams Casino with Cracker Stuffing and Bacon


Portuguese Mussels with linguica, beer and chickpeas

Portuguese Mussels with Linguica, Beer and Chickpeas


Clam Cakes with house tartar sauce

Clam Cakes with House Tartar Sauce


Brisket with three mustards

Brisket with Three Mustards


Apple Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts with sage and crispy chicken skin

Apple Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts with Sage and Crispy Chicken Skin


Whoopie Pies with marshmallow fluff

Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Fluff


Buttermilk Maple Pie with whipped cream and candied orange zest

Buttermilk Maple Pie with Whipped Cream and Candied Orange Zest


Apple Cider Donuts with apple butter and salted caramel

Apple Cider Donuts with Apple Butter and Salted Caramel


Cocktails

Cocktails


Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modernish



Littlefork on Urbanspoon

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Filed under Hollywood

Welcome to the Gun Show


Son of a Gun is one of the hottest joints in town. Launched last year by chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Son of a Gun is the seafood version of their amazing meat-centric restaurant Animal. Like Animal, Son of a Gun is situated in a small, cozy space and serves pricy little plates of creative genius. The atmosphere is casual and fun. The walls are strewn with nautical tchotchkes and the bar turns out luscious libations such as Tiki-Cones (alcoholic snow cones) and Dark & Stormies made with housemade ginger beer. Dinner reservations at Son of a Gun are difficult to get on short notice, but walk-ins are accommodated at a very long communal table in the center of the restaurant.

The menu, which changes daily, features around 35 different small plates, almost all of which are meant for sharing. Surprisingly, one of the most popular items at this seafood eatery is a fried chicken sandwich. It’s incredibly delicious and is prepared with an unruly mass of spicy bread & butter pickle slaw and “Rooster” aioli. Other sandwiches that are definite must-haves are the Lobster Roll with Celery and Lemon Aioli and the Shrimp Toast Sandwich with Herbs and Sriracha Mayo. I also highly recommend Benton’s Country Ham Hush Puppies with Honey Butter, which looks at first glance like falafel balls with hummus. If you want something healthier and equally delicious, get the Amberjack Crudo with Galbi Vinaigrette and Pink Lady, as well as the Raw Gloucester Scallop with Yuzo Kosho Viniagrette and Wood Sorrel. The desserts are less impressive, but each time I get to that point at Son of a Gun, I’m usually too stuffed to care.

Son of a Gun is located at 8370 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles (Mid-City).

Lobster Roll with Celery and Lemon Aioli


Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spicy B&B Pickle Slaw and Rooster Aioli


Shrimp Toast Sandwich with Herbs and Sriracha Mayo


Benton's Country Ham Hush Puppies with Honey Butter


Octopus Confit Salad with Mirepoix and Chili

Raw Gloucester Scallop with Yuzu Kosho Vinaigrette and Wood Sorrel


Amberjack Crudo with Galbi Vinaigrette and Pink Lady


Monkfish in Pho Fumet with Herbs, Lime and Bok Choy


Frozen Lime Yogurt with Graham Crumble and Toasted Meringue


The big communal table



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Son of a Gun Restaurant on Urbanspoon

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Filed under Mid-City