Restaurant Review: Fig and Olive, Los Angeles, CA

There are few restaurants that I get downright giddy about when I read about their opening and Fig and Olive was one of them. Widely established as a fabulous restaurant choice in New York, Fig and Olive settled into a cozy spot on Melrose Place. The space that once housed the clubs/restaurants Republic and Bliss has been transformed into a culinary wonderland that will transport you to a European city far from La Cienega Blvd. With all my traveling recently, last night was the first chance I had to experience the restaurant. Going with someone who loves eating as much as I do is always key, so this was a fabulous excuse to double date with my good friend Jenny the Dessert Darling.

What they've been able to do with the space is remarkable. Check out the pictures I pulled from their website:

Their cocktail list is so creative and mouthwatering! With fresh herbs and fruits used I wanted to try everything! Don't worry, I didn't, but what I had definitely made me want to make reservations right then and there to come back. I started with the Rossellini made with passion fruit vodka and a blood orange puree. Yummy!

Each meal starts with a little olive oil tasting with fresh baked focaccia ! (helooo!)

All three were delicious, though I preferred the two on the ends.

Now of course there was beautiful light when we arrived, but it got dark very quickly so the photos of dinner and dessert were not as stellar as I would have liked, but here is what I had:

I started with the gazpacho de andalucia which is vegan and delicious! Loads of flavor packed into a rock glass served with crunchy crostini. There was a little kick of spice to the soup with played well with the fresh sliced sweet grape tomatoes found in the bottom of the glass.

For an entree I chose the penne funghi tartufo which was made vegan by omitting the cheese. The perfectly al dente pasta was tossed with mixed mushrooms, scallions and is said to be drizzled with white truffle oil. Honestly, I would loved to have tasted the truffle a little more, but overall a very successful dish that I would order again.

Seeing as how we were eating with the Dessert Darling, we couldn't help but order 3 of the desserts for a little tasting : ) We were told the best dessert on the menu was the tropeizinne, so we had to order that along with the warm chocolate souffle and the chocolate pot de creme.

The tropeizinne was a fresh brioche sliced in half with mascarpone inside with meyer lemon glazed strawberries. The presentation was beautiful, but I have to say, good, but in no way the best thing on the menu. The brioche was fresh and very tasty. The mascarpone a little bland, but the strawberries were delicious.

The chocolate pot de creme, again, was very average… It did come with these fabulous little crunchy praline financiers which I wish there were more of!

And then there was the warm chocolate souffle. This is what they should be advertising as the best dessert on the menu! It was short for a souffle, almost resembling a lava cake, but the taste was rich and fabulous! If you are going to get one dessert, opt for the souffle.

Fig and Olive

8494 Melrose Place

Los Angeles, CA 90069

telephone: (310) 360 9100