Please The Palate |

Nyesha Arrington’s Leona Venice Is Like Dining at a Friend’s House

Going to Leona is like going to a friend's house for dinner. The Venice Beach restaurant by Chef Nyesha Arrington is warm and inviting and feels like home.

Located on Washington Boulevard, the space is high-ceilinged with long leather banquettes. There is a long bar with stools that face the open kitchen. And the patio, which is along Washington Boulevard, is cosy and intimate.

From the moment we walked up to the hostess stand, I felt welcome. The hosts greet everyone with smiles and there is a sense of familiarity between them and the guests. We took our seat on the patio and started to review the menu. Serving progressive California cuisine, we were intrigued by the menu. Utilizing Central Valley produce and coastal seafood, there are international influences ranging from Asian to Mediterranean. Luckily I was with another "foodie" friend which means that we have a tendency to over-order, and over-eat. But that is why we have so much fun.

22 February, 2016

SMALL KINGDOMS: Inside Stephane Bombet’s LA Restaurant Empire

This post originally appeared on FoodableTV.com Restaurants in Los Angeles have been opening at an alarming rate. One of the people responsible for this is Stephane Bombet. Since 2010, Bombet has...

12 January, 2016

Añejo Cantina & Grill Is Spicing Up Ventura Blvd.

I was told that this restaurant had table-side guacamole on the menu and I was anxious to try this. This is another of the new restaurants to open along Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. Located on the second floor of a building, Añejo Cantina & Grill is an upscale Mexican restaurant that opened this past summer and is offering authentic Mexican cuisine to valley dwellers. It is a big place with a big menu. With 11,000 square feet, space is not an issue. There is the indoor dining room where live music can be heard (or danced to), a large outdoor patio with a fire pit as well as private event space. The best seats in the house are on the outdoor patio that overlooks Ventura Boulevard. Even on a cool night, the patio is warm with the table-side heaters and blankets the restaurant is happy to provide. Once settled in, get ready to eat because the portions are big. The danger at any Mexican restaurant is filling up on chips and salsa. So, we did not waste any time and ordered the tableside guacamole. I just love the the taste of fresh avocado mashed with tomatoes, onions, cilantro and fresh lime.

21 December, 2015