Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Taste on Melrose


Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to Taste on Melrose for a meal and to learn about the current restaurant specials and upcoming events. Situated on Melrose, just below La Cienega, and just past swanky stores like Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and Diane von Fürstenberg, the establishment provides the fine dining that you'd expect in a relaxed, yet upscale setting. But, to my delight, I found that all of the eatery's prices are extremely reasonable!

For example, there is a lunch special that consists of pasta and salad, or soup or salad and a sandwich for only $8.50. That's a full meal at a great restaurant for about the same as what you'd pay for fast food. Also at the top of my list, the ability to build your own grilled cheese sandwich and the prix fix menus (because let's just be honest, sometimes we're all indecisive and it's nice to let someone else pick what you're going to eat!).

ahi tuna tartare


thai chicken cups


side salad


white truffle oil and mushroom mac & cheese


chocolate decadence cake


My host ordered the kobe beef cheese burger and it looked delicious. I haven't eaten red meat in nearly two years but I was about five seconds away from snagging that burger right off his plate!

kobe beef cheese burger


And what goes better with great food than booze?! Every month Taste has a "featured cocktail" - this month is a Pomegranate Basil Sangria served with raspberries and blueberries. This drink combines all of my favs: sangria, champagne, and fresh fruit. The best thing is it tastes SO good without tasting like alcohol and does the trick about halfway in. That's my kind of drink!


Happy hour happens Tuesday through Sunday 4pm-6pm. Well drinks are $4 and specialty cocktails are $6. As for happy hour food, small plates are $3.50-5. The thought of that sangria is enticing me to happy hour as I type!

Obviously, I am all for Taste and can't say enough good things about the restaurant. I highly suggest this place to everyone. For those of you who live in the LA area (or even those who plan on visiting) and would like to learn more about Taste, here are some cool tips:

- There are actually two restaurant locations: Taste on Melrose (8454 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA, 90069) and Taste in the Palisades (538 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272).

-Bottles of wine are 1/2 off on Wine Discovery Mondays (Melrose location) and Wine Discovery Tuesdays (Palisades location).

-Brunch every Saturday and Sunday - and with your purchase of a $13 entree you can also buy bottomless mimosas or bubbly for an additional $13 fee.

-Have Thanksgiving dinner catered by Taste. Pick the items off their Thanksgiving menu and let the restaurant do all of the cooking for you.

For up-to-date info, be sure to check out Taste's facebook page and twitter account!





Photos courtesy of: Taste and my camera



Disclaimer: My meal was provided for free; however, this review is completely accurate. In no way was my opinion of the food and restaurant swayed.

33 comments:

Melanie's Randomness said...

I'm sold on the white truffle oil and mushroom mac & cheese. Omg that sounds amazing & looks divine. I really gotta go to California. ASAP!

Melanie's Randomness

Islandia Lane said...

oooh that mac n cheese looks to die for!!
And I'm such a sucker for fum cocktails. Looks like an awesome spot!

Valerie said...

That mac and cheese looks incredible! I've never been to Taste, but always wanted to try it. Thanks for the info!

xo
Valerie

Valerie said...

Yes, the food trucks gather on Main Street on Tuesday nights. I haven't been yet, but I've heard it's really great!

Chelsea Talks Smack said...

Um that mac and cheese is STRAIGHT UP AMAZING.

SassyScorp said...

Oh yum! If I didn't have class first I would say to meet here! LOL. Next time, we'll go together cause that mac and cheese and the grilled cheese is so inviting me!

Chocolate & Chants said...

I love Taste! Haven't been in a while, but the food is really good. Last time I got the prix fixe menu and remembering being extremely satisfied with the food and service.

Prom Gowns said...

with all that foods be serving on my table...it will be a heavenly experience for me.

Selma @ Crazy Little World Of Mine said...

Hmmmm...this sure makes me hungry.

this free bird said...

This is a place I've always wanted to try, but somehow always get sucked over to Comme Ca...after seeing the display of goodness I'm thinking we might need to get over there STAT!

xo,
C
ps-so happy it's only sinuses. i hope it takes care of everything!

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Sounds like a great deal! The food looks amazing! I'm dying for the kobe burger right now :)

Anonymous said...

I need to go to that place like NOW! :)

Sandy a la Mode said...

oh my goodness!!! your meal looked delicious! i would LOVE to try that mac and cheese paired with a sangria, YUMMY!! thanks for commenting on my blog so i could find yours!! :)

Design Apprentice said...

So happy you found my blog because I in turn can now follow you! This blog is beyond awesome.

And funny story, I'm eating a microwave dinner and salivating over these food photos. This should be illegal.

bananas. said...

oh wow...everything looks deeeeelicious! especially that truffle oil and shroom mac & cheese. nom nom! but the tuna tartare took my breath away.

Jessica said...

Everything looks so divine! I need to give this place a try.

J said...

ooooo the food looks so good! maybe i will try it if i'm ever in the area!

Steph @ Thoughts From Cali said...

This place sounds great and the Truffle Oil and Mushroom Mac & Cheese even sounds better. Its nice to know there are nice places like Taste on Melrose that don't break the bank.

Mimi said...

oh my gosh, wow! those dishes all sound and look decadent! i definitely want to try this restaurant. :D

<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

Josie said...

Oooh, this looks really tasty and it sounds like you had a great experience there! I'd love to visit some day; the mac and cheese sounds delectable!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

You had me at the chocolate cake!! I love California.. want to go back STAT! xo

Cafe Fashionista said...

Ohmigosh my heart just skipped a beat - the food here looks amazing. Especially the white truffle oil and mushroom mac & cheese - yum! Fabulous review!! :)

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

Oooh yummy, you're making my stomach growl!

Unknown said...

Oh my! Sounds like an amazing restaurant! And the food looks so tasty! The white truffle oil mac an cheese thing looks delicious! And I'm always a sucker for dessert!

The burger looks so good too!

By the way, I received my lipstick and I love the shade! I don't have a shade like that, and I've never used that brand before, so it's fun to get to try something new! Love it! Thanks so much!

Pretty Zesty said...

That Mac n Cheese looks too good to be true!!!!

Unknown said...

Looks delish, and in such a chic setting, too! XX!

I V Y said...

mmmmmmmmmmm so gooood!

Marta from With Love... said...

That sounds delicious... :) Definitely food porn!

♥ Marta from With Love...

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Holy cow...that mac and cheese...I would tear that up right now!

Stephanie said...

My mouth is watering looking at these pictures!!

Eternally yours,
Stephanie

Audrey Allure said...

Looks amazing, and the food looks absolutely delicious! :)

Kelly marie said...

That wtom mac & cheese looks delish. I'm going to have to try it next time I go.
~ Kelly Marie @ Taste Out Loud

Jules said...

I love finding a nice restaurant that is reasonable too. Score! You always do the greatest food/dining reviews and this one is no exception. You had me at “build your own grilled cheese sandwich”. The Thai chicken cups and mushroom mac & cheese look delish.

I’d love to find a recipe for that drink. It sounds tasty and refreshing. Sangria is one of my favorite summer drinks. I’m really wishing we had a restaurant like that around me.

The brunch deal sounds awesome!