A Unique Dinner at Upstairs 2

I am in Los Angeles every week, and often my mom and I will go to dinner. She loves to eat out and try new places just as I do, so on a recent Thursday night we tried a place new to us, Upstairs 2. It's not really new at all. They just celebrated their 5th anniversary.

It's a great location, especially for those driving from San Diego to LA, as it's right off the freeway, between Olympic and Pico, on Cotner Ave. It runs paralell to the 405 freeway. The restaurant is above The Wine House, one of the best known wine stores in LA. About 5 years ago they decided to put a restaurant upstairs, and it has become a popular dining spot for those interested in good food, wine and ambience.

The chef is Todd Barrie. He was chef at Joe's in Santa Monica for many years, and if you know restaurants in LA, you know that Joe's is one of the best. I was so impressed with my first meal at Upstairs 2, I can't wait to go back. Everything is small plates, and wine pairings are suggested for those wanting to pair different wines with each course. They offer 2.5 ounce glasses of wine for $5, so you afford to try several selections. We were there on Cinco de Mayo, when they offered a 3 course Prix Fixe menu for $30. It was elegant, but there was so much food we decided to pass. They also offered another fixed menu which included wine pairings for $47. Again, way too much food. Here's what we had.

Medjool dates wrapped in Serrano ham stuffed with asiago cheese, prosciutto fig and goat cheese flatbread, seared diver scallops with wilted spinach, roasted garlic tomato concasse, and roasted brussel sprout salad with pecans, frisee, belgium endive and shallot dijon dressing. Everything was fantastic. I absolutely loved the scallops. Other items of interest that those around us were eating included grilled mahi mahi on a crispy corn pancake, black bean hummus and avocado mousse. Braised boneless short ribs, with mushrooms, toasted barley and diced vegetables looked outstanding. They offer a cheese and charcuterie platter, where you can choose your cheeses and meats.

One of the nice things about this restaurant is that chef Todd is always looking to create new items for the menu and wants feedback from his customers. Every Thursday night the restaurant offers a Chef's Testing Menu for $30 where chef Todd offers new items that might possibly be added to the menu. The chef is open to discussion and criticism of the dishes.

Corkage fee is $10 if the wine was bought downstairs, otherwise it's $15. Every dish was beautiful to the eye and looked like it was made with love. I think going there with 4 people would be the best experience, as you could order many items and taste everything. Usually 2-3 items is enough for most eaters. So if you're in LA anytime soon, be sure and remember Upstairs 2. It's only open for dinner on Wednesday-Saturday night. Phone number is 310 231 0316 or check them out online at www.upstairs2.com. I highly recommend them for a great dining experience.