I love catching up with friends, especially if it is over a good meal. Since I have not had a chance to catch up with Kris, we decided to have dinner and she suggested Lazy Ox Canteen. Always open to new places and looking for an adventure, I happily agreed. So on a Friday night, we both ventured to Little Tokyo to Lazy Ox Canteen. Initially it was tricky finding the place, especially since it didn’t have a sign up whatsoever. However, we both managed to find the restaurant only to discover that there would be a three hour wait! However, we were both determined to try the place and put our names down for seating (outside seating and bar seating was available based on first come, first serve). After waiting for roughly an hour, tables finally opened up and we sat down, eager to try dishes on the menu and on the board.
There was such a variety both on the menu and on the blackboard inside that it was hard narrowing down our choices. On top of that, whenever I try a place with Kris, she always wants to try multiple things – usually too much for our own good – and I feel the exact same way. We justified ordering more than usual for two people by telling ourselves that the dishes were tapas style – smaller and meant to be shared. Off the menu we ended up ordering Salt Cod Brandade Fritters (with yuzu aioli), Charred Octopus (with pickled shallots, lima beans, and smoked paprika), and Hand-torn Egg Pasta (with sunny-side egg, brown butter, and fine herbs). From the blackboard, we ordered Lamb Cheek and the Ox Burger. The Charred Octopus came out first, which was an overall okay dish. It didn’t stand out and we were not thoroughly impressed by it. However, the Salt Cod Brandade Fritters came out next and they were delicious! Our waiter described them as corquette-like with butter and a chunk of fish. It was exactly that, but better. Part of me wished there were more than three pieces (And in the back of my head, I thought Taro would love this dish!). The Hand-torn Egg Pasta, Lamb Cheek, and Ox Burger followed and all three were flavorful and worth getting again. The lamb was very tender and reminded me of the beef cheek Taro ordered at The London. Lazy Ox Canteen is known for their burger and the burger did meet our expectations. I would definitely go back for the burger – and bring along Taro, my brother, and Vivian since they all love burgers.
Overall, Lazy Ox Canteen was a good experience and I enjoyed spending time with one of my best friends. You can’t ask for anything more – good company, good food and wine, and fun overall.
Lo and behold, after Kris and I went to Lazy Ox Canteen, she sent me an article from the Los Angeles Times reviewing the food there.
When Taro and I were watching Top Chef Masters, Michael Mina was one of the chefs competing on the show and made it to the final three. His Italian background, use of seasonal foods, and encounter with Hung Huynh (Season 3 winner, who was a bit too cocky when talking to Mina) caught our attention. So when we were driving home from Sprinkles and CB2 one afternoon, we passed by XIV and I pointed out that I wanted to try it since it is Michael Mina’s restaurants.
The perfect opportunity came up to book a reservation at XIV. On the 26th of January, it was my dad’s 59th birthday. I thought this would be a great opportunity for not only us to try the cuisine, but also include my parents, brother, and Vivian. My parents have never had a course menu and they rarely, if ever, go to that side of L.A. to dine and experience the restaurants and good eats available.
It was quite an experience; the restaurant was beautifully furnished and looked like a library. There were books on the shelves mixed in with wine glasses. Cow-hide sofa couches lavished with fur were carefully arranged with Philippe Starck pieces. It had an intimate feel, like my family had their own little corner in “the library,” but was also hip, modern, and swank. I am glad I was able to share this experience with my parents and it was fun discussing what we liked or didn’t enjoy as much in each dish.
I would recommend some of the dishes at XIV, but I think I would like to try one of Michael Mina’s other restaurants – maybe something more traditional and Italian. I am still glad that we were able to try it out, though, and despite it being very crowded, it was great to celebrate my dad’s birthday at a new place.
Happy birthday again, dad, and we hoped you enjoyed XIV!
Naan Bread with Yogurt Dip as a starter and Hamachi Sashimi:
I am not the biggest fan of beets (and my brother does not care for them whatsoever), but I thought the Heirloom Beets Salad – Burrata, Wild Arugula, Aged Balsamic, New Olive Oil – was pretty good. I thought the burrata, sprinkled with sea salt, was what stood out the most; that was also my mom’s favorite part.
Nantucket Bay Scallop Tempura – Cauliflower, Passion Fruit, Almonds – and Ricotta Strozzapreti – Sunchokes, Turnip Greens, Porcini, Pecorino. I was disappointed in the Ricotta Strozzapreti, especially since it was the only pasta dish we had, but the scallops were delicious!
Tai Snapper – Tapioca-Crusted, Broccoli Rabi, White Soy Vinaigrette – and Prime New York Steak. The tai snapper was well-cooked and crispy while a highlight with the new york steak was the side of creamed corn.
Kris told me that one of the notable dishes is the Maine Lobster Pot Pie. She had it with a tasting menu at another Michael Mina restaurant and fondly said that if she could celebrate her birthday, she would have a candle on top of the pot pie. Maine Lobster Pot Pie – Baby Winter Vegetables, Brandied Cream Sauce:
We were pretty stuffed by the 7th course and could not figure out what the next one could possibly be. My brother hoped that it would be the burger and when our waiter told us a burger and fries would be shortly coming out, there was a pumped fist in the air and a cheer. The Kobe Burger – Rosemary French Fries, Farmhouse Cheddar, “Secret Sauce” – and fries was definitely the favorite and that small, delicious bite would make me come back to XIV. To finish off the dining experience, we had to try the signature Root Beer Float and cookies. It was the perfect way to end the meal!
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