Today Sher goes gaga over Farmshop in the Brentwood Country Mart, yet only bestows the eatery with two and a half stars. She loves the food, the space, the service, and the wine, but feels a bit stifled by the family-style set menu:
Formerly Thomas Keller's right-hand man, Cerciello and his team are turning out some wonderful country cooking in the city. The ingredients are impeccable, the execution skilled. Service is crisp and assured, and servers know a great deal about the food. Ask any question about a dish, they know the answer. Wine service under Michel Darmon, another veteran of Keller restaurants, is excellent too, and his list holds some delightful, well-priced finds.
...I tried to go a few more times after that September visit, but whenever I logged on to Farmshop's site in the morning to see that evening's menu, it was beef. Or more beef. Or roasted chicken. The beef always sounded similar to what I'd already had. And how exciting could roasted chicken be?SIV is relieved once the restaurant adds a la carte menu items, yet despite the flawless food, she still wonders whether Farmshop will survive. [LAT]
Elina Shatkin steps in for The Goldster today and names her top five favorite restaurants along the Kosher Corridor. She says the stretch of Pico between Beverly and La Cienega "is in the middle of a restaurant renaissance, and you don't have to keep kosher to enjoy the spoils." The recommendations: MexiKosher, Shawarma Palace, Kabab Mahaleh, Jeff's Gourmet Kosher Sausage Factory, and Komodo. [LAW]
The Elsewhere: DET tries City Tavern, e*star LA drinks at Sage, gastronomy picks Son of a Gun, kevinEats at A-Frame, LA and OC Foodventures dines at American Farmhouse Tavern, OCR discusses Mexi Casa, and Refined Palate visits Bouchon.