Red O

Sorry I've been away for a few weeks. After writing so intensely for a month, I went away to New York City and came back exhausted. I ate and drank my way through NYC and have been wondering about Los Angeles' food culture as compared to what they have. You know, the grass is always greener. And on some level, walking around aimless for a few days, was exactly what I needed...no plans, no agenda...just some names of spots I've heard of and wanted to try and time to stumble around a city so full of choices. In Los Angeles, it's not always that easy to stumble upon a restaurant...we have to drive, soberly to a restaurant-usually with a reservation or a plan. I did that in NYC too, but there, it's ok to go without a plan. Or maybe you can have that too in LA. I'm still trying to figure that out.

I wrote a blog about where I went in New York, but scratched it, because when I came back to LA, I went to Red O and decided that I needed to speak about the pulse of my own city...the one I love and call home. Red O is Rick Bayless' first LA venture (there is another one planned to open in Santa Monica in the near future). His restaurant, a Dodd Mitchell design, is gorgeous. It is a lively restaurant with a a very LA vibe. When you first walk in, you are at standing in the front room and if you sit there, you can look up at the...well, we don't really have stars in the sky in LA. None the less, it is a beautiful, modern room, white with interesting design notes like cow bells strung together or an entire art piece that is made of metal and looks like the roots of a tree. There are swings hanging from the ceiling near the bar and you feel like you are someplace else...
Although I could not stand the "bouncers" at the door with a reservations clipboard, once I got inside, the place was great. The waiter was attentive as he explained the menu and took our order. It is a place to go with a group, because there is an entire side of the menu that is small plates. It is hard not to want to order one of everything. There are some definite things not to miss on the menu. There was this drink I had, a margarita with Serrano simple syrup was amazing. I love the idea of sweet, tart and spicy in one drink. It was a perfect pairing with the variety of spices in the food.
Try these: they were highlights!
-guacamole: a nice start
-Short rib sopes: ridiculous!
-Sonoma duck taquitos: smoky and rich
-Colorado lamb soft tacos-delicate tortillas, flavorful chile sauce...make you own
-chicken en mole poblano: it's only days later, I crave it and realize the subtlety in the sauce

There were dishes that were not life changers: shrimp ceviche-salty and nothing exciting and chicken tamale-eh...there are better in LA.

I would go back. I liked the feel of the restaurant...it is alive and new and fun. The food and drinks were great and it is a fun place to go for a night out with friends, a birthday celebration, or a bachlorette dinner ...yum, mole!

Red O made me forget about my experiences in New York City...it brought me back home. Los Angeles is a melting pot...we have chefs from Chicago coming here to expand their successful other ventures in a new place, full of hope. I love LA!

8155 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Neighborhoods: Mid-City West, West Hollywood
(323) 655-5009
www.redorestaurant.com/

Wine list notes: B+
Good range of wines and prices, variety of regions.
We had the Summerland Viogner ($59) which was fruit forward and paired nicely with the lighter fish dishes (shrimp) and chicken tamale and held up to the bigger spices in the duck, lamb and chicken mole sauce.