palate food + wine

01/15/09

Find Your Way to Palate Now!

by MyLastBite at Citysearch

When Palate Food & Wine first opened last May, I thought the restaurant was located in a mall. For those of you (who like me) thought it was located INSIDE the Americana at Brand, the restaurant is actually a few blocks PAST the mall (from the134 freeway). It's on the right side (on Brand blvd) in between Garfield and Chevy Chase Dr. Just look for the Mazda dealership and you're very close.

What about the food? My husband and I loved it... so much that we ate there two weeks in a row. Chef Becerra was warm and inviting... like we were enjoying a meat at his home. Our favorite server was the charming Monica. Just like Chef Becerra, she made us feel comfortable and very welcome.

During our first dinner at Palate, our table was next to where Chef Becerra was expediting orders... which is absolute HEAVEN for me, except my back was to the chef and kitchen! My husband kept "oohing" and watching as Chef Becerra was finishing the plates before sending them out to diners. I made sure I had the better view on our second visit.

What we ate: Homemade butter with radish slices and fleur de sel, Pickled Persimmon $3, Porkfolio with Grape Leave Mustard $12, Potted Salmon Rillette $5, Short Ribs (with Pomme Puree) $19, Pork Belly (with Sweet Potato Hash) $17, Young Rabbit with Roasted Grapes $18, Scallops $12, Crostini with Eggs topped with Shaved Black Truffles, Cheese Course: (Puits d'astiers,Brillat Savarin,Epoisses) $12. Photos on MyLastBite!

• Pros: Inviting atmosphere and cool fromaggier station!
• Cons: I wish it was around the corner from my house.

01/01/10

Spectaculary bad service

by Dagalaif at Citysearch

I dined at Palate a weeks ago and was seated at the bar in the rear because there were "no available tables" (funny, except for a holiday party in the central dining area, the restaurant was almost empty!).

The bartender couldn't tell me whether the Riesling she was serving was sweet or dry, so I ordered a bottle of Sancerre, instead. The Sancerre was served warm (I'm not kidding). When I asked if she could chill the wine, she dropped the bottle in the sink where they wash glasses and dumped some ice on it! If that wasn't bad enough, I had to ask for bread three times. I won't go into detail about the mediocre food that I was served.

Sadly, I don't think my experience was anomalous. This was the second time that I dined at Palate. The first time I made reservations, I was seated in the front of the restaurant and had to contend with a really surly waiter.

If you want a really nice, tapas-type dining experience, drive to AOC instead.

• Pros: Interesting Decor
• Cons: Service and food.

12/15/09

NOT SO MUCH....

by ari81 at Citysearch

I wanted to try Palate ever since it opened. As a self-proclaimed Foodie, I love to try new places in the city. When an occasion arose for a holiday dinner with a friend, Palate was my first choice. Maybe my expectations were too high because of the hype. I like to study the website, menus, reviews, etc. before I go. This place seemed to have all the goods. I sat with my girlfriend near the kitchen. The appetizers were just okay - the cheese and meats weren't anything special, nor was the dry cold bread. The "cucumber salad" was about 7 fancy pickles. The squash soup lacked flavor and the raw pumpkin seeds were just annoying. My girlfriend had a hair in her salad, but the best part was when the sous chef came out into the dining room and started to shuck oysters on a banquette about 6 inches from my head with a sharp knife. Not sure if that was intentional or the kitchen was crowded? We complained and the sous chef returned to the kitchen. Kind of smelly and strange? The short ribs were good, but fairly basic. Service was lacking considering the price. Wine list wasn't exciting either. Overall, a disappointment.

• Pros: Ambiance, off the beaten path makes it accessible
• Cons: Service, food, price

07/10/09

One of the worst dining experiences!

by sistersilence at Citysearch

Waiter was in a bad mood from the minute we got there. He didn't know what ingredients were and didn't offer to find out. My tiny entree cannelloni had no flavor. The food took a very long time on a Wednesday night.... The menu was more like documents (too many papers on top of each other and very confusing). What more can I say. We felt very unwelcome and that the staff was too put-out to care. Its too bad because it looks nice inside. I do not recommend having a meal here.

• Pros: Atmosphere until you are too frustrated to care
• Cons: Service, Portions, Price, Poor Attitudes

03/10/09

Waitier rude!

by CSMobileUser at Citysearch

My Service was poor! Waitier alex needs to learn some manners!

03/10/09

Service Disgusting

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

Waitier needs a bath! Were not in Paris! bad b/o

03/09/09

Inconsistent Food - Horrible Service

by javabean116 at Citysearch

I have been to Palate twice- once in November and once last night. I had a good experience in November & decided to go again, but this time to sit in the dining room rather than the bar... BIG MISTAKE!!! The service was horrible. We sat down and no one cared about us at all- no water or menu for over 10 minutes. After we ordered (prix fixe for me & cheese plate for my companion), I had to wait for over 45 minutes before my main course came after the salad. When the miso-baked cod finally came, the fish was bland and didn't seem fresh. Waiter never came by to ask how the food was or to refill my water. To top it off, the dessert came while I was half way done with the fish- absolutely rude! Sadly, the dessert (date tart) tasted like fig newtons. The best part about the meal was the cheese plate... which they don't even make. If this was fine dining... clearly we are in trouble. Good food is only part of the experience... what polishes and sets a fine dining establishment apart from others is the ambience, service, courtesy of staff, food quality, etc. Would I come back? Maybe (but that's because the first time was good...) but I will definitely sit at the bar.

• Pros: 2.5 oz. wine pours, a la carte selection, cheese selection
• Cons: Service, noise level, hot or miss food quality

03/02/09

One of the best places I have been

by DrWungFu at Citysearch

I have lived in LA my whole life and have been to some fantastic restaurants, but I must say that Palate is one of the best in the city. The staff is great and the food is exceptional. The prices are awesome as well, and in this economy it is a great place to go out and not spend a ton of money. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to go out and try something new.

• Pros: the tables in the wine shop, friendly staff, great food!
• Cons: Far away from the westside

02/24/09

Wrong Chef

by WineLover03 at Citysearch

Gary Menes was not the chef you acted inappropriately in my last review. I was given the wrong name.

• Pros: Good Food
• Cons: Unprofessionalism; No respect for clientele

01/09/09

Absolute Hidden Gem

by cartagena at Citysearch

This place is AMAZING. By far the coolest place Glendale, Silverlake or even Los Feliz has to offer. The plates are fun to share. The food is ridiculous. The wine list is absurd and you're even welcome to bring your own. The ambience is cool yet welcoming. Hands down, worth every penny (menu could be way more pricey if it wanted to be) and a great place to bring friends, family or visitors..or even just a date with your better half. You can ask for your own table if you want a private dinner or the communal high top tables in the back which are fun and inviting with a lot of cheese making action around you. Well worth every penny and worth the drive! Don't let the other reviews sway you differently, this is the place!