District (districtonsunset.com)
First off, I’m annoyed because most of the pictures I took with my iPhone turned out to be garbage so I didn’t upload a lot of them. Time to get a blackberry. Oh wait, I already have a work-issued blackberry. I somehow forgot despite receiving a thousand emails about the 15th floor refrigerator being cleaned. You know what Manny? Go ahead and empty that sucker.
Secondly, I had real doubts about District when I heard it was situated on Sunset Boulevard. Why? Well, dear reader, when’s the last time you said to yourself, “Wow I had a bitching time at the [Cat and Fiddle/Skybar/Saddle Ranch/Redrock/etc., etc.]? That’s right…never. Let’s face it, other than spotting Bill Maher at Bar Marmont and eating Pinches Tacos across the street at 2 a.m., there’s not huge value to hanging around Miyagi’s unless you want seedy, herpes-laden lapdances at the Body Shop.
Despite these misgivings, I popped in here for an early 6 p.m. dinner with L.F. this past weekend. In case you haven’t noticed, the only people who eat dinner at 6 p.m. are: 1) people who have been collecting social security since the Clinton administration; 2) my 5 year old nephew; and 3) my parents. Folks, Larry King is still eating steak at the Palm at 11 p.m. We started with the jalapeno cheddar biscuits. Not bad. Then we got the duck fat yorkshire pudding. Um, yeah, you read that right. Duck…Fat…Yorkshire…Pudding. I would literally eat every single word in that description, and it doesn’t disappoint. Although I’m not sure what “Yorkshire” tastes like. Hopefully its not a codeword for a British guy’s scrotum. And if it was, why the hell would they name a food product after it? It would be the equivalent of “macaroni and balls” or “apple pie a la testicles”. Stupid Brits.
The cocktails at District are very good and ably justify the large space they have devoted to bar patrons. If you are a whisky and tequila fan, you will be happy with the muddled concoctions, often with a nice emphasis on spice. We enjoyed the cheese rice agnolotti with hazelnuts, as our order was well balanced and not too starchy. Against our initial judgment, we ordered the pork belly with apricot mostarda - I have to admit that while every restaurant offers pork belly nowadays, District’s variation is worth a try as its nicely crispy on the outside and wonderfully flavorful on the inside, despite its appearance as a wooden shard.
While we had the souffle (very nice) for dessert, I was particulary pleased with the toffee napoleon. I feel like you don’t see napoleons on dessert menus that often. Next time I come here, I want to try their shrimp with grits & aleppo pepper and sea urchin gratin with bay scallops. And there will be a next time.
District, 6600 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028, (323) 962-8200.
