Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Blair's - Silverlake

2903 Rowena Ave., Los Angeles, CA
323.660.1882
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
website



VALUE - 8
The prices were above average, but I found the dishes well worth it.

TASTE - 8.5
I took the advice of previous reviews and ordered trademark dishes like the crab cakes, short ribs and macaroni and cheese side. I was not disappointed. The crab cakes were perfectly prepared with the right amount of cream and full on flavor The short ribs, obviously a crowd favorite, was falling off the bone. The sweetness and smokiness of the glaze was superb. I did notice that the red meat portions were a lot heartier than the fish counterparts. As for the truffle mac and cheese, hands down one of the best mac and cheese I've ever tasted. The weakest of the whole meal to me was dessert. I found the selection typical of many fine dining establishments, not really delving too much into the creative realm.

PRESENTATION - 7.5
Overall, this was probably their lowest score. I didn't really find the plating to be too ostentatious, but fits well within the simple, but elegant theme. The only reason why I scored it low is because I found the everything to be too monochromatic and lack originality.

AMBIANCE - 8.5
I thought the intimate setting was great. I found the lighting one shade too dark but overall, the decor, clientele and theme were not pretentious. Though I tend to favor minimalist, modern contemporary decor.

SERVICE - 9.5
The simplicity yet abundance of flavor of the dishes were only enhanced by the friendly service. I'm not a big fan of stuffy waiters/actors who act like they are better than the restaurant patrons. This is definitely not the case. The wait staff were real people. They were courteous, knowledgeable, but did not treat themselves too seriously.

WOULD I RETURN? - 9
Absolutely! This is a place I can see myself return to on a whim.

SOCIAL INTERACTION - 9
Overall, this is a great place to have a quiet dinner with friends. Along with their wine list, I was impressed by their selection of international beers. The casual yet elegant setting beckons for quiet celebrations and intimate3rd dates.

OVERALL RATING - 8.41
I love the Silverlake area and I love little diamonds found in its restaurants. Blair's is one that does not disappoint. I liked the mac and cheese so much that I might actually be revisiting the establishment just to see if I can bump up their ratings a bit. For a non-pretentious, fine dining experience, Blair's is becoming one of my favorites.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

My system is different.