The Bazaar by Jose Andres

11/18/08

Totally Bazaar!!

by MyLastBite at Citysearch

The Bazaar by Jose Andres is described as "a modern-day indoor piazza where guests and locals alike can enjoy pioneering culinary creations and intricately-concocted libations throughout several spaces: Bar Centro, Blanco, Rojo and the Patisserie." It sounds a little intimidating I know, but when you walk in the front door the friendly staff are ready to lead you through the evening... and what a fun evening it was!

There were four of us for dinner on opening night, my husband Peter, my sister Janet and her husband Paul (whose birthday we were celebrating). We started off with drinks at Bar Centro, which offers a traditional bar menu and modern "new way" drinks. I ordered the "New Way" Dirty martini with spherified olives and brine "air". I was really excited to try Ferran Adria's "liquid olive" and it did not disappoint.

We shared 20 dishes from both the Rojo (traditional tapas) & Blanco (modern tapas) menu.

My favorite dishes (that I would definitely order again and again):

"Mozzarella Tomato Pipettes with Micro Basil". These were so fun to eat! At the same time you bite the tomato, you squeeze the pipette (little tube) into your mouth, a really tasty combination of olive oil and a creamy liquid mozzarella.

"Olives Ferran Adria". The plate came with 4 olives, each on it's own spoon.

"Organized Caesar with Quail Eggs & Parmesan Cheese".This plate was so beautiful we sort of just stared at it for a minute. There was only one quail egg and I was lucky to grab it! Delicious.

Chicken and Bechamel Fritters.They tasted like chicken and dumplings mixed inside, crispy on the outside. I could have eaten another plate myself!

Watermelon Skewers & Tomato Seeds. A GREAT palate cleanser. Photos on MyLastBite!

Our server Skyler was fantastic. He was enthusiastic, paid great attention to us and really knew the menu inside and out. Simply said, Skyler was a wonderful guide on our trip through the Bazaar!

11/29/09

For a Special Night

by uscgrad97 at Citysearch

I ate here for the first time with family this past Friday night and we each had the Anniversary Taster Menu. We were in the Blanca room, which is a little better lit and has a brighter vibe than the Rojo side. Every item we tried was awesome!!!

Drink-wise, my favorites were the Magic Mojito (spun sugar--mmm), the garnacha and the sherry we had with dessert. My favorite dishes were the caviar cones, the liquid olives, the caprese, the shrimp fideua and the beef hangar steak. Dessert-wise, hands-down the Coconut Island. A little macchiato before heading out and I was perfect.

The service was great, waiters were informed, and they didn't rush us. Yes it's a scene - very LA - but we just went with it. The decor was funky-cool...you know, Philippe Starck.

I really loved The Bazaar. It was a memorable night!!

• Pros: amazing dishes each with a unique twist

10/13/09

Unbelievably Horrible Food

by dbarnes963 at Citysearch

Even for a tapas style menu, the portions are tiny, expensive and completely without merit. I ordered the garlic shrimp, hanger steak, goat cheese stuffed peppers, and shared a cheese plate with my client. The cheese plate was fair, but the rest of of the dishes were almost inedible. The shrimp tasted like metal, the peppers were bland and poorly presented, and the extremely rare hanger steak (which the waiter gave rave reviews) was tasteless even though it was swimming in reddish sauce of some kind. Even when I made several comments on why I did not finish the food on all of my plates (which is saying something because there might have been 3 bites per plate), the waiter just said, "Sorry you didn't care for that" and made no effort to remedy the situation. I paid $20 for a cosmo without knowing the cost, then quickly switched to wine, none of which were remarkable. There were a sea of open and empty tables throughout the 2 hours we were there, although they insisted that they were completely booked when we made the reservations (my client was staying at the SLS) and we might have to wait for awhile... The attitude by the host was quintessential Hollywood--"you are so lucky to be here. Wait awhile and we might feel like seating you..." Granted, the interior is like something out of a Lewis Carroll novel and very lovely. (Come in for a look, if you can find a parking spot for free. Do not miss the bathrooms.) Bazaar falls in line with most heavily-hyped restaurants in LA--like cotton candy, they are pretty to look at but all fluff, no substance, leaving you more hungry than you were when you bought it....

• Pros: The interior design
• Cons: FOOD, PRICE

09/05/09

Check your bill

by knowsherfood1 at Citysearch

the place is fun and quite tasty but beware if after you place your order the waiter says they're going to bring you some additional items to "try"...they are charging you for them! We had ordered more than enough food and the waiter said they wanted us to try some of their new items to see how we liked them that she'd have them sent out.... The next day we noticed the additional charges on the bill and have put in a call to the management. because that's not right the way the waiter presented it was very misleading, as though they were complimentary. ...it's been two days and management hasn't returned the call...let the buyer beware!

• Pros: very hip, creative foods
• Cons: they bring you food you don't order and then charge you for

09/01/09

I'd rather eat soap

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

I just left after spending over $220 on food and I could not find one thing I enjoyed

or could even force myself to eat. I've eaten at all of the high end restaurants in LA including CUT, BLT, Comme Ca, Dan Tana's and I can honestly

say, don't believe the hype. I tried the lamb, pork, two types of tuna dishes, chicken, guacamole cones, potatoes and I could not find one thing I liked. We are going to a

restaurant down the street, I wish I could wash my mouth out with soap.

08/03/09

An amazing culinary explosion in your mouth

by larkam at Citysearch

I completely disagree that this restaurant is anything less than a 4-star experience. I've been there twice now in the last two months, and going again in two weeks to introduce it to more friends. Its a refreshingly unique experience, and every item on the menu is deliciously wonderful...or just good at its worst. Yes its expensive, but if you can afford it (or save up for a fun night) its worth the experience. Life's too short...

• Pros: excellent mini-bites of wonderful food
• Cons: expensive

It's a bazaar world after all at SLS hotel's sceney eatery.

by Mar Yvette at Citysearch

Don't get confused--before you head into this place, just know that it's all the Bazaar by Jose Andres. And in case you don't know who he is, he's the big-time Spanish chef who's practically owned the Washington D.C. dining scene for years. True to its name, the sprawling space is indeed like an indoor marketplace (maze?) where the trendy, spendy and sceney descend to dine on creative tapas and drink fancy cocktails. A duo of dining rooms--Rojo is the red-hued portion with its own "jamon and cheese" bar replete with life-size black-and-white photos of matadors, while Blanca is the more modern white space--serves up traditional tastes such as chorizo with garlic and more modern twists like mozzarella tomato pipettes (you literally have to suck out the cheese from a plastic tube) and liquid olives (thin-skinned membranes that explode in your mouth like mini saline bombs). Bar Centro, centered by a massive communal table, serves a wild variety of vittles ranging from caviar and cauliflower creme fraiche cones to foie gras wrapped in cotton candy. For drinks, try the edible caipirinhas (it's sorbet for grown-ups!) to margaritas topped with whipped "salt air." And finally, The Patisserie is a gorgeously pink dessert dream (think Marie Antoinette meets Willy Wonka) with an open kitchen and counter-style shop of homemade candy like saffron drops wrapped in edible paper and tres chocolate mousse. Now you know.

06/15/09

Very disapointing !!

by Llakehal at Citysearch

First I would suggest to the Maitre'd and the hostess to SMILE and try to be nice, it feels good, it's very healthy, and above all, it is a positive asset when you work the door of a restaurant. Right there that would change drastically the experience of their guests.

That being said the food took a very long time but thankfully was very good ...

• Pros: Foie Gras lollipop
• Cons: THE MAITRE'D and service

03/23/09

shockingly average

by sfgordo at Citysearch

this is a fun place to go on a date or with friends.

It's essentially fancy bar food.

Do not believe the hype, you will be seriously let down like I was.

4-stars from the L.A. times is a joke

• Pros: fun
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

03/17/09

Horrible! Fire the Hostess!

by Kindenough at Citysearch

I tried to get a reservation for my 30th birthday 3 months ago, and the b*tch of a hostess was so rude and said, sorry were completely booked! Umm, we all know this isnt true, and that they keep tables open for guests at the hotel, So I said, If I get a room there can I eat there then, she had the nerve to say probably not but you can try through the concierge! What? Are you kidding me? Never have I had such a hard time trying to get a reservation or was treated like sh*t like the way she made me feel. I will never go there or recommend this place to anyone! The first impression is the hostess, and if she's a b*tch, do you think I want to eat there with that kind of negative energy?

• Pros: It looks nice
• Cons: Cant get a reservation!

03/14/09

Attitude needs improving

by parsnips at Citysearch

I'm sure the food here is good, great even. Though judging by the attitude of the hostess, I doubt I'll ever taste it.

I heard the great reviews and called to make a reservation. All the tables were committed, so I asked to put my name down in case of a cancellation. The response was: "umm, I guess I can take your name down, but I doubt anyone will cancel. Almost all of the reservations are confirmed." When I optimistically still urged her to take my name, the response back was "ugh, fine."

During this recession, there are plenty of other LA restaurants (Animal, Mozza, Craft, Jar) that will gladly humor me, try to fit me in or at the very least, encourage me to come another day. The hostess at Bazaar, Aletta or whatever her name is, needs a reality check.

• Pros: Food, or so they say
• Cons: Manners