Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen

One of my favorite places in Santa Monica is Huckleberrys.  Great for breakfast and lunch too.  I got their cookbook recently and am a fan.  I was excited to go to Rustic Canyon for dinner because it is the same owners at Huckleberrys.

The menu is seasonal and always changing.  A bit loud in there but we had a booth tucked in so we could hear each other speak which is kind of an important feature when you go out to eat.  The food was really good.  We split everything.  There were three of us.

We had three small plates, two large plates and a side.  The first small plate was farm peas, pecorino, olive oil, red wine vinegar, shallots and mint.  Super simple and really tasty.  The peas popped in your mouth.

I am kind of over the kale craze but this was excellent.  Chopped kale mixed with dates, almonds, aged gouda and a maple balsamic vinegar.

Kind of hard to pass up sweet and sour pork belly.  Roasted to the point of when you put your fork in the meat just falls apart.  Served with thinly sliced apples, brussel sprouts, turnips and a cider caramel vinegar.  Wow.

Our mains were also good.  Brined and roasted chicken cut into these boneless pieces served with savoy cabbage, trumpet mushrooms and a really tasty chicken broth.  The chicken dish is set down and then slowly pour the broth over the top.  Nice touch.

Our side was braised greens pickled jalapenos and pecorino.   Different and tasty.

Crispy skinned Branzino filets served with a broccoli, sunchokes and an XO sauce over the top.  Quite good.

When dinner is that good you kind of have to try dessert.  Cardamon pistachio ice cream.  Wasn’t too keen on this.

Warm chocolate cake with almonds, maldon salt and whipped cream was pretty intense.

Blood orange and buttermilk tart with whipped cream and pistachio oil was also tasty.

Bottom line, a place to return while we are in LA.