Josie Restaurant, Santa Monica
Santa Monica , California
90405
Tel: 310 581 9888
www.josierestaurant.com
Concierge.com's insider take:
Josie might not be on every Angeleno's speed dial, but it deserves to be—especially when a quiet, refined celebration is in order. Namesake Josie Le Balch, one of L.A.'s most talented chefs, turns out what might be called "California Market Meets New American" cuisine in a quiet, cosseting French-country room. Decor and service are understated—votives flicker, crumbs are gracefully swept from white tablecloths, confident servers know the food inside and out. Some of Le Balch's signature dishes include blood orange, arugula, and burrata salad; "Campfire Trout" cooked in a cast-iron pan with green beans and lemongrass nage; and salt-crusted chicken with sweet-and-sour shallots. Pastry chef Jonna Jensen sweetens the deal with transcendent versions of strudels, crumbles, and bananas Foster. A memorable evening is all but assured.
