Eater Inside: Bastide, a Photo Essay
Monday, September 17, 2007
All Bastide pictures for Eater by Alen Lin, 9/14/07
Perhaps it was opening day jitters, maybe a touch of anxiety over how his new concept will be percieved, but Joe Pytka finally relented to let us in for a look around Bastide. Few tables, checkered-carpet, glass-bead curtains. At closer inspection, it's somewhat stark with a touch of whimsy, if not a tiny bit incongruous. We're not sure what Mao standing on chairs has to do with anything, but it's fun to look at. Ditto the trees sprouting sculpted heads near the plant wall. Earlyreports of chef Walter Manzke's menu are even-handed, considering it's so early. Perhaps it's time to see for yourself.
Those black chairs don't inspire 'cozy courtyard'
The waiting area
Main dining room
From a different angle
The tree trunks are sprouting heads of some sort. Ah, whimsy.
Mao on a chair, wine labels dangling on the chandelier, no linens. Interesting.
Bastide Pytka, Manzke, seasonal, prix fixe only
8475 Melrose Place, WeHo, 323.651.5950 Tue-Sat 6pm-10pm
Hmm... the tree trunk picture looks kinda like an amateur Photoshop montage. I haven't yet figured out how I feel about this new setup. The main dining room feels almost like a bad MC Escher drawing (not quite strange but not quite normal). But I guess if the food is as good as the 'hounders are saying, I'd be willing to put my aesthetic differences aside.
All I know is if Walter Manzke is the Chef and his wife Margarita is doing pastries......there is no doubt in my mind how fabulous the food is going to be!!!
Going on the 28th and am very much looking forward to it.
Ate there last week. Food was terrific. All dishes were familiar, but done to perfection. Flavors were absolutely heightened in intensity. Potato Abalone Truffle course was exquisite. Of note: The talented sommelier, Caitlyn (I think that’s her name). She was charming, knowledgeable, and gave insight into all the pairings, making it a truly fine experience.
We ate there last night and the food was incredible. One of the best high end meals I have had in LA. The chef, Walter Manzke is super talented. His wife's pastry and bread were amazing. There were no flaws in our meal.
Those chairs are a lost hallmark of early last century. Mallet-Stevens chairs, and not more comfortable than they look...but such style! I had them in red for my dining room back in the day, paired with a simple parson table. Austere but kinda fab.
Those chairs are a lost hallmark of early last century. Mallet-Stevens chairs, and not more comfortable than they look...but such style! I had them in red for my dining room back in the day, paired with a simple parson table. Austere but kinda fab.
We had a mediocre meal there recently, though they were kind enough to comp the wine pairings as a welcome gesture to the restaurant. The food wasn't uninteresting, but the tasting took 3 hours and the seating is very uncomfortable. Not just the chairs, but also the sofas. First of all, you'll notice that the sofas have been placed on blocks - an unsuccessful attempt to fix a height problem. Second of all, the cushions are too firm and the sofas are too deep. My partners legs were falling asleep and he couldn't lean back. And I imagine many men and women are just too large for those chairs. Anyway - it's not a top level restaurant yet.
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