08 Aug Summer is Here and Napa Valley Grille has a special menu to celebrate it!

Just as the summer started, Napa Valley Grille in Westwood Village reopened after a major renovation. And now that summer is underway, Napa Valley Grille is offering a special three course pre-fixe summer menu that will be available until the first of September. The theme of the summer menu is grilling. But the menu is not a bunch of grilled meats and vegetables. Various ingredients are grilled, resulting in charring which brings out different flavor profiles. For the first course, there is a choice between Summer Corn Soup and Grilled Octopus. The Summer Corn Soup with grilled baby corn, sesame crackers, blue croutons and micro cilantro tastes liked the corn is fresh off the grill. The char flavor of the corn is dominant and the soup is rather light but could have used a little more seasoning. The Grilled Octopus with charred cauliflower, sourdough croutons, heirloom tomatoes, red beets and squid ink pesto is tender and full of flavor. I liked the balance between the sweetness from the tomatoes and beets with the charred cauliflower and earthiness of the pesto. For a main course, there is a choice between a 10oz Ribeye, Roasted Cornish Hen or Petrale Sole. My companion and I both selected the Petrale Sole with hazelnut herb crust, hand-cut pasta, Brussels sprouts, micro cilantro and hazelnut sauce. While Petrale Sole is a light, rather flavorless fish, the hazelnut herb crust added texture and flavor. The fresh pasta is rich with creamy, nutty notes. For dessert, the options are classic summer desserts, although neither incorporate grilling or char. Strawberry Shortcake with Italian meringue and macerated strawberries Key Lime Pie with candied zest and sweet whipped cream While this menu is only available until September, some of the proteins may find themselves on future menus. For example, if the octopus or the Petrale Sole are popular, then perhaps they will be found with a different preparation on the main menu. In the meantime, the three course pre-fixe menu is $55 plus tax. Once the summer menu ends, perhaps we will see a fall menu or other seasonal menus in the future. Napa Valley Grille 1100 Glendon Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024