A day in LA is not complete without my trying a new restaurant. There's so much to choose from, but on the Saturday before Christmas, I went to LA to spend the day with my mom, and actually tried three new restaurants. Gjelina is not to be missed. Mom and I decided to park on Abbott Kinney and browse the wonderful collection of boutiques and specialty shops that abound on this half mile area in Venice. After about an hour of shopping we were getting hungry. Our original plan was to go to the Rockenwagner bistro for lunch, always a favorite of mine, but when we passed Gjelina and peeked inside, we knew we had to try it.
It's a bit dark inside, with lots of long wooden tables, community tables, some high top tables for 4, and some standard size tables along the wall. We sat along the wall where it was easy to look out over the room and see what everyone was eating. They also have a very nice dining patio in the back of the restaurant. It's a little bit noisy, as the place was packed, and a very interesting group of customers. Lots of foreign travelers, families (it was Saturday), many young men and women in their 30's and 40's, actors, writers, businessmen and women.
The menu is extensive. They serve breakfast, lunch, brunch on the weekends, and dinner. The menu is divided into several sections: appetizers, vegetables, small plates, pizza, large plates. All the food is interesting and unusual. Mom ordered the farro and eggs, a brunch item. It was a plate of farro cooked and seasoned with vegetables and spices, then topped with two perfectly poached eggs. Absolutely delicious. I ordered the lamb burger, well seasoned on a wonderful bun, with fries. I loved it, but couldn't finish. I have to go back to try the veggies and salads. Here are a few menu items that intrigued me. In the vegetable section they offer roasted cauliflower, garlic and chili and vinegar, anchovy and burrata toasts, with pepperonata, capers and sherry, and braised sweet corn with fresno chili, cilantro, lime and feta. In the salad section I want to try the spinach, crushed olive, pinenuts, and feta and garlic dressing, smoked trout, grapefruit, avocado, red onion and lemon sounded delicious, and everyone was raving about the kale salad which consisted of Tuscan kale, shaved fennel, radish, lemon, ricotta salata and breadcrumbs.
Pizzas were equally interesting: squash blossoms, zucchini, tomatoes, burrata and parmesan was one interesting pizza offered. Another was 4 types of onion, goat cheese, thyme and black pepper. Many small plates were listed on the menu, like ricotta gnocchi, cherry tomatoes, parmesan and green olive oil. I want to try the mushroom toast, with white wine, crème fraiche, grilled bread and thyme.
Don't go to Gjelina expecting to order a Diet Coke. They don't have them, but they do offer some refreshing carbonated fruit drinks, with sugar. (I think they were Italian). Portions were generous, wait staff was helpful and friendly, and the customers were an eclectic blend of characters. It's definitely a place to try if you're in Venice, California. Shopping on Abbott Kinney is great fun, and with another fine restaurant added to the area, you'll have plenty of restaurant choices. This is a restaurant well worth trying.
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