13 Feb The Church Key

How many times do you go to a restaurant so hungry that you can’t wait to order and then fill up on the bread basket while waiting for that first dish to come? Well, Church Key on Sunset Blvd. remedies that. While looking at the menu, carts roam around the room with small plates that you can select and enjoy immediately. Yep, just like Dim Sum but instead of the ladies pushing carts around without a smile on their face, the servers at Church Key are friendly. Some are even dressed up like 1970s flight attendants. And, just like at dim sum, they stamp your card as you receive your dishes to keep track of what you ordered. From the carts: Salt and Vinegar Brown Butter Popcorn Sesame California Roll Falafel Croquettes Hamachi Crispy Chicken Wings From the kitchen:   Brussel Sprouts “Ceasar Salad”, Tomato Raisins, Sunflower Seeds, Parmesan Cheese ($13) Ahi tuna tartare, greek yogurt, pomegranate, cucumber, papadam ($16) Hand Rolled Cavatelli Pasta, “Truffled” Alfredo, Cauliflower, Castlemagno Cheese ($16)   Brioche Donuts, Brown Butter Glaze, Cinnamon Caramel with a Purple Potato Milkshake ($9) When it comes to imbibing, check out the drinks, created by Devon Espinosa. As it was a rare rainy night in Los Angeles, I opted for the Fashioned Chai  (applejack brandy, Buffalo Trace bourbon, chai syrup, orange peel, $11) because I can never say no to a drink made with applejack brandy. Another drink we ordered was the Shut The Funk Up (Russian Standard Vodka, Lime, Orange, Orgeat, Soda Water – $11). And, of course we couldn’t miss out on the “Pan Am Flight Attendant” when she came around with her cart to make liquid nitrogen cocktail otter pops. Next time the canned cocktails are on my list to try. But until then, we are Dim Dun!   The Church Key 8730 W Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 (310) 422-0073