Eva Restaurant (www.evarestaurant.com)
“We ordered half the menu!” is often what we hear from friends describing their overeating adventures.
Friends, at Eva we literally did order half the menu. And not because we were pigs. Well, at least not this time. It’s because the menu is short and sweet, containing a little over a dozen items. I can almost hear the pitch: “we will insert a subtle layer of sophistication into a lineup of food that focuses on simplicity, classicism and quality ingredients.”
I think they do a pretty good job with the mission statement that I just made up for them. Lord knows I do pretty well with the mission statement I made up for myself: “To kick ass 24 hours a day.” Well done, Harold, well done.
The foie gras was very refined and extremely rich. Whatever. I will not spend a lot of time on this blog analyzing foie gras. I absolutely love it but I think Louis XVI got his head chopped off because he ate foie gras out in the open one too many times.
Next was this slow poached egg atop a piece of fried chicken mixed with kombu broth, white soy and japanese pepper paste. This dish reminds me of my prom night: an effort-filled, dressed-up venture that ultimately doesn’t really go anywhere. The broth is interesting but I was underwhelmed. The real star of the appetizers was the pumpkin ravioli. I know what you are thinking: “Pumpkin ravioli? Harold, that’s something I would have made pre-9/11 to try to impress that 22-year old chick in accounts receivable.” Dudes, I understand. But trust me, it was absolutely sumptuous.
For the principal courses, the halibut was absolutely cooked to perfection. Assuming consistency in preparation, its definitely a go-to dish. Although the beef was deemed “poached”, it is actually prepared sous vide, utilizing airtight plastic bags to preserve the integrity of the ingredients while being slow cooked. The result was a dish to be commended. I give it a carnivore’s approval. The bigeye tuna was fine but not distinctive in any real way. Finally, the cheese plate was high quality and diverse in texture, origin, smell and geography.
Eva is an establishment that performs true to its “mission statement” - so why not stop by and order half the menu? - H. Lee
Eva Restaurant, 7458 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036, (323) 634-0700
