Gjelina

Last weekend, my wife Marla and I went to dinner at Gjelina in Venice with her best friend and her best friends new girlfriend. Talk about a place where you should feel no pressure. Gjelina is loud and fun. This is the quintessential Los Angeles Foodie spot. There is probably nothing there not to like (unless you are looking for a quiet evening). I have read Yelp reviews about the bad service, but that was not my experience. Gjelina is perfect.

We sat inside at a corner table looking out at the lively restaurant. The waiter was friendly and for a restaurant with a six week wait list and 2 hour wait to be seated, he took the time to greet us, have a small sip of the Mi Sueno 2007 Chardonnay (a typical Napa Valley Chard with lots of oak and buttery notes) we brought from home, and tell us about his favorite menu items.

It is hard not to order the entire menu as it is loaded with farmers market ingredients that scream seasonal and fresh. The chef does magic to the veggies. My favorite was the marinated artichoke with burrata as a starter. It had basil oil, orange zest, and crispy shallots on top. It melted in your mouth. Foodie Therapy begins.

We had roasted sunchokes (also called Jerusalem artichoke) with salsa verde. Sunchokes are a root vegetable that almost taste like a slimy potatoe. They were delicious. Our waiter added that some of the more popular dishes that customers order are the Shishito Peppers, Turnips, and Cauliflour. At $8 a plate, any of these veggies are a good way to start your meal.

The mushroom toast was a table hit, with creme fraiche, truffle oil and a variety of hen of the wood mushrooms on toast...it was rich and perfect to share for two. I paired it with a Neyers 2007 Syrah ( a spicy wine with a punch) to go with the mushrooms and pizza.

Next we had pizza-now this is supposedly the reason to come to Gjelina (besides the veg) and now I understand why. The crust is super thin and crispy. The toppings are creative. We tried the Gruyere with caramelized onions and the gorgeous shaved asparagus, shallot, and runny egg pizza. Both were a hit. For the westside of LA, I cannot think of a better pizza. It definitely rivals Pizzeria Mozza on La Brea which is a little bit smaller pizza but just as interesting choices of toppings. I was eyeing the grilled radicchio, bacon, fontina and tomato confit pizza for my next visit.

To finish our meal, we tried the butterscotch pot du creme with sea salt and the banana chocolate bread pudding. Both desserts were a perfect end to an evening of laughter and
and yes, we liked our friends new girlfriend a lot. On our way out I made a reservation for my Dad's 55th B'day in July. I know, it's May...but Gjelina is worth the wait. And, as you will learn, I am a bit of a planner.

I recommend going this summer, go with a group of 6 friends, sit outside, and order a little of everything....remember, this is Foodie Therapy. Indulge, enjoy, and tomorrow you can go to the gym.

Information:

http://www.gjelina.com

1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291-3740
(310) 450-1429
Open for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner M-F 11:30-midnight; Sat-Sund Brunch until 3pm

Wine corkage: $20 (if you know wine, bring your own)
Wine list rating: a B (mostly around $50 a bottle)
This is a wine and beer spot only.

As you can see, we did not even get to the large plates. If you have a recommendation of a large plate dish you've enjoyed, I'd love to hear all about it!