BEAUTY & ESSEX - HOLLYWOOD, LA

I've lived in NY for so many years yet I've never been to the original Beauty & Essex. Guess it was just meant to be it opened in LA now that I am here! Once you enter you should know it looks nothing like a restaurant but a bling bling shop. I didn't know things were actually for sale though! The ambient inside was a bit dark after the natural light from the sunroof was gone, but it created a good atmosphere. We arrived a bit early so we waited at the bar. The server was really nice, except the down side is we have to close the tab and cannot merge it with our dinner bill. We ordered a lot of things, but the few dishes I want to note is definitely the Tune Poke Wonton Tacos, Handcut Steak Tartare and Scallop & Pork Belly. The Wonton taco skin was really crispy and the tuna was fresh. To be honest I didn't like the Steak tartare on a piece of bread because I felt the mushy texture of the tartare should've been matched with some crispier accompaniment. But nevertheless the tartare itself tasted really good. And last but not least was the scallop and pork belly. It went well together with the crispy texture of the bacon along the soft and fresh scallop. However, I do think the pork belly takes away a bit of the freshness of the scallop so I prefer eating them separately. If I have a friend coming from out of them again, I would definitely bring them here again.

Address:

1615 Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028