FIG Restaurant has been serving up California Cuisine inside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica for years. But some changes have taken place and now there is the NEW FIG Restaurant.
The space is still the same and the covered patio is flush with natural light. The decor now has a warmer feel to it with hanging plants adding life to the space. And there is a wood burning oven that has been added that you can see when you first walk into the restaurant.
At the helm of the new FIG Restaurant is the personable Chef Yousef Ghalaini. A native of Lebanon, Chef Ghalaini grew up in his grandfather's bakery where he first learned the art of the wood-burning oven. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and worked in Napa, Florida, Connecticut and New York before coming to FIG Restaurant at The Fairmont Miramar. At FIG Restaurant, Chef Ghalaini works with local farmers and fresh California ingredients to create his Mediterranean inspired menu that integrates the warm spices and legumes of Lebanese cuisine.
A few months ago, I was driving from Sonoma to Monterey when a friend called to see if I wanted to join him and some friends for dinner in San Francisco. He mentioned that it was a hard-to-get reservation and they had someone drop out last minute. I took a detour on my drive and went into the city to have dinner at Al's Place. Sadly, I came down with a 24-hour bug that same night and could not eat a single bite. I sat there at dinner, wishing but unable to eat and missing out on what Bon Appetit Magzine called "the country's best new restaurant" and a 2016 recipient of One Michelin Star.
Months later, on another trip to San Francisco, my friend was able to get a reservation so that I could actually try the food.
Al's Place is located in the Mission and is a simple, but bright, space with approximately 50 seats and an open kitchen in the back. The staff is young, friendly and very knowledgeable, both about the food and the wine.
When it comes to sushi, I am a purist. I was raised going to Nozawa, the "sushi nazi," where I was instructed when to use soy sauce and not offered "Americanized" rolls. It is always about the purity and freshness of the fish. That said, I am a fan of Asian fusion cuisine and I like other dishes beyond sushi. So, when I was invited to check out Slow Fish on Wilshire Blvd in the Miracle Mile, I went with an open mind.
SlowFish, with a second location in Huntington Beach, was founded by Korean entrepreneur John Lee and Executive Chef Sean An. Together, they focus on offering Asian fusion cuisine with a California twist.
The decor of SlowFish is not typical of an Asian restaurant. It has an art deco decor with high ceilings, dark red and black interior and chandeliers.