13 Aug Yours Truly: A Neighborhood Restaurant on Abbot Kinney

Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach is a busy street filled with vegan, organic, natural hipster-driven businesses. But, tucked info a storefront between a mystic bookstore and custom jewelry boutique, Yours Truly is truly a neighborhood restaurant, or as their website states, “an earnest neighborhood restaurant.” Located in the former Salt Air space, Yours Truly serves a “modern California” menu inspired by Chef Vartan Abgaryan’s roots as a native Angeleno, Armenian-American and classically-trained chef. The space has a casual beachy feel with whitewashed brick, fresh greenery, light wood tables with white chairs and bright orange banquettes.  Prior to Yours Truly, Chef Abgaryan was at Cliff’s Edge in Silver Lake and then at 71Above in downtown LA. I have enjoyed his food at both previous locations and Yours Truly was no exception. At Yours Truly, modern California is exemplified by a menu that blends Middle Eastern, Japanese, Italian and Mexican flavors in creative, delicious plates. Avocado Hummus is smooth blend of avocados, tahini and garlic topped with salsa macha, peanuts and lime and served with warm za’atar flatbread. Heirloom Tomatoes are thinly sliced and served with plums, a smooth feta cream, pickled pearl onions, basil, grains of paradise and olive oil. This colorful plate is so fresh and the sweet tartness of the plums with the pickled onions and sweet tomatoes make for a perfect summer salad. Zucchini Blossoms are tempura battered and filled with yuzu kosho, bagna cauda, lime and house made ricotta. Fingerling Potatoes are like no others you have had. Inspired by Italian cacio e pepe, instead of pasta, the fingerling potatoes are delicate and gnocchi-like. Cooked in olive oil, they are served with an egg yolk, black peppercorn, Pecorino and Parmesan. Smooth and creamy, this is an extraordinary dish. Kanpachi is served with rhubarb, daikon, verjus, lime, green tea, basil and mint. The broth is tart, sour and fresh. BBQ Octopus is sweet and savory with lots of flavor. Meaty and crispy octopus is served with peach bbq, lebni, mustard seeds, watercress, aleppo pepper and lemon. Mussels & Clams are in a broth of poblano, coconut, cilantro and lime and served with a green garlic baguette. I loved the freshness of the coconut broth with a hint of heat and especially loved the grapes that add sweetness. Light and fresh and yet so much flavor, Lemon Curd with creme fraiche, elederflower marinated strawberries, poppy seed crumble, strawberry granita, herbs and flowers make for a perfect summer dessert. Chef Abgaryan’s modern California menu is full of flavor and creativity and Yours Truly is a welcome gem on Abbot Kinney. Yours Truly 1616 Abbot Kinney, Los Angeles, CA.