The Foundry On Melrose

foodieinlosangeles

Joined 5 years ago

9/3/2012 OMG! If I could give them a higher than a "5" star rating, I would definitely do so.

For the past year, I have developed severe food allergies, so that when I go out to eat I must hand the waiter my very long list of "no - nos" (gluten, dairy (except for eggs), sugar, white rice, corn, soy, salt, nightshade vegs (potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers), anything pickled, mushrooms, most fruits, anything cooked with peanut, soy, canola, corn, or cottonseed oil). Usually restaurants would give me something from their standard menus but leave out what the seasoning and sauces, meaning the end results are pretty bland and uninspiring.

I am amazed by Nick Russo's, Foundry's chef, solution: he took my list and made me a special appetizer and entree from scratch! He even went to the extent of going to the next door restaurant and borrowing some of their brown rice, so he could make the entree he had in mind. For the appetizer, Nick made me chopped up kale, mixed with lemon juice, and a poached egg. For the entree, Nick made me (at least what it looked/tasted like) brown rice mixed with grilled chopped up califlower and cabbage, with 5 generous pieces of seared ahi on top. For the entree, Nick let the natural tastes of the individual ingredients speak for themselves. The meal was delicious. Talk about being responsive to a patron's wishes -- I couldn't have been happier. It would be wonderful if all restaurants chefs were equally as creative and responsive.

I don't know Nick's culinary background, but he clearly has excellent credientials. I must give major cudos to Eric Greenspan, well known chef, and owner of Foundry, for collaborating with Nick, and that my family and I were lucky enough to have been there on an evening when Nick was presiding over the kitchen.

The rest of my family, who has no such dietary restrictions, were also very happy with all of their menu selections.

Lastly, there's an amazing drink called Tengo Tango (tequila, tangerine, cilantro and slivers of jalapeno) which was so excellent, my family had 2 rounds.

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Mike S.

Joined 1 year ago

New Year's Eve 2011. Check out my full review @ buenprovechola.blogspot

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imfabulous

Joined 3 years ago

so good....great experience. I went with hugh expectations, hearing the grilled cheese was infamous, and that it would be wonderful.

Before I went i previewed the menu, in order to anticipate just what I should order, so I was excited for the Peanut Butter Bread Pudding. When I did arrive, it was very early in the evening, not even 6:30pm, so they just opened, it wasnt yet packed.

I met a friend there on Friday after work, and I ordered the 'Black Eyed Sue - a martini with avocado and spice to it, a little skeptical, it was fabulous, the avocado wasn't overwhelming and the spice was perfect! I moved on to the 'Holla Atcha: vodka with jalapeno and meyer lemon' this was the one. When I had my friend try it, he felt the subtle hint of spice from the jalapeno, but was on board with the cocktail.

Moving on to food, we had the infamous grilled cheese, which was wonderful, a perfect balance of salty & sweet, along with the curry lobster salad, and a few others items to company our cocktails.

It was refreshing to see Chef Greenspan himself at the window expediting food himself, to make sure that everything left the kitchen as he likes it. Chef Greenspan, did in fact make a presence, greeting people as they came in, welcoming the guests, (before it got too busy), as well as standing outside as they entered the restaurant. He did visit the tables to say hello to the guests, which was great to see. Some chefs are in the kitchen and thats it unless you specifically ask to speak to them.

In closing, I was excited for the Peanut Butter Bread Pudding, when our server told me that the Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding with Peanut Butter Ice Cream was available instead, I was sad, but gave it a shot. It did just as well in my eyes. It wasn't too rich, you could taste all the flavors.

Overall it was a great experience, and I will put this on my list of places to frequent.

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Mar Yvette

Joined 6 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. Maybe it's the live music blasting out onto the sidewalk or maybe it's chef/owner Eric Greenspan's reputation (he's the former exec chef at Patina and "Next Iron Chef" contestant), but this art deco bistro knows how to bring in a steady flow and impressive mix of Melrose hipsters and gray-haired sophisticates. The front lounge and piano bar area is where crowds gather for fun evenings filled with live music and a few cocktails. Beyond the narrow dining hall and exposed kitchen is the "secret" garden patio, framed by arching trees and warmed lighting. Much like the loud and larger-than-life persona of Greenspan himself, the restaurant's staff offer both comedy and culinary expertise. The menu takes on both Southern grub and New American classics, so patrons can choose everything from short ribs, cheddar grits and greens to seared tuna with corn, roasted peppers and jicama to miso-glazed pork belly with eggplant, lotus root and long beans.

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magicmikela

Joined 5 years ago

HOLY F#%$@*! GRILLED CHEESE BATMAN. really, really enjoy this place every time. It's an awesome mix of fancy food in a fancy restaurant that's unpretentious, at somewhat affordable prices.

GENERALLY, WHY IT'S AWESOME:

-the service (at least in the back) is impeccable, every time

-the back patio is really, really nice and comforting

-they bring out little breads/awesomes between courses. always makes me happy. i guess free food in general makes me happy.

-live music

-grilled cheese night

-eric is awesome

FOOD THAT IS AWESOME:

-the grilled cheese is RIDICULOUS (Eric not only won the grilled cheese invitational last year, but he's starting his own grilled cheese restaurant next door to the foundry this summer)

-the short rib is RIDICULOUS. sorry, i really like using caps when something's important. but seriously, i've had it almost every time and it's freakin amazing.

-the burger was really, really good and it came with all of the fancy/cool ingredients on the side so you can sort of make according to your liking.

-GNOCCHI. PILLOWS OF AWESOME.

-deserts are on point

Food that isn't as awesome:

-unfortunately, the steak (every time) has been sub par. the sauce is really good, but the steak itself is not very tender.

GO.

Doesn't Recommend

Louise2009

Joined 4 years ago

Worst in LA. This place is terrible! Our reservation was at 9pm, we didn't leave till 12:45pm because the service was terrible. The waiters downright ignore you.

Too bad, the food is fantastic. This will be another chef that will lose out on good reviews because the place is the worst in LA.

We thought it was new and working out the kinks. Wrong, it's been open for a couple of years. I promise it will closed in a couple more.

In a recession, money is tight and nights out are a splurge. If you want to waste your money - please go here!

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thom1961

Joined 7 years ago

Update. We have gone back every month since our first time and have recommended The Foundry to everyone we know. Eric Greenspan is a great chef and a really warm host. Jim, his co-owner makes you feel like part of the family each time you go. I have been a repeat customer at many L.A. restaurants over the last 12 years (moved here from New York), and it is strange but no one ever seems to remember you out here or welcome you back. This is not the case at The Foundry. We eagerly look forward to each visit as it is alot of fun. We love the live music, the Absinthe cocktails, grilled cheese, tuna tartare, and pretty much everything on the menu. Definitely try the prawns, mussels and tater tots, they're addictive. Our waiter, Justin is the best waiter we've come across in L.A. also. I hope they are around forever and I look forward to my next trip this month.

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blondie4LA

Joined 4 years ago

Bluesy Tuesday was a Gas. Wanted great food and great blues and we got both. Loved the guy with the beard on assorted acoustic guitars playing absolutely authentic, down home, BLUES. The tasting menu was inexpensive and very "southern" and the combination made for a perfect evening. We will definitely be back.

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jkarmstr

Joined 10 years ago

Reasonable, but not fantastic. We had the chef's menu with wine pairing. Overall, the meal was OK and we had an enjoyable evening, however, our dining experience really lacked that "Wow!" factor. The tuna tartare was quite bland. The lobster pasta was incredible, the New York strip was tough and the quail unremarkable. The wine servings were exceedingly generous and the pairings were good. The timing of the wine serving was off as most were served well after we had received the accompanying dish (I feel that it's really important to taste the wine before and after tasting the dish to see how the wine changes and why it was selected). The ambience was really very good and our waiter was great. We like to try different tasting menus on special occasions, and we were not blown away by The Foundry - sorry.

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jcandi

Joined 5 years ago

We keep going back!. Great back patio and amazing food! If you're looking for a new place for a quiet night of creative food and great people, check out the foundry.