Providence is one of those epic meals that you will never forget, a perfect birthday meal. Everything about this place is pure dining ecstasy. Subtle, decorative hints of the ocean put you in the mood for the menu which is primarily of the sea. From tasteful artwork of seascapes, abstract shells bunched in corners along the ceiling, to the candles which look like glowing sea corals, are not over the top, but just enough to engage your ocular senses.
An attentive wait staff hops around the room from table to table. The breadlier offers up artisan breads, like fresh baked bacon brioche and olive sourdough mini baguettes. The menu is nothing short of a spectacular display of fresh fish from around the globe. Like Japanese kanpachi, imperial caviar, yellow fin tuna from Hawaii, wild halibut from Alaska, and snapper from Japan.
We settle on the Santa Barbara prawns ($33) to start off with. Salt roasted, with hints of rosemary, roasted at 500 degrees for just a few minutes. They bring the prawns out to prepare them at the table. They emerge from their hot salt death beds, cleaned and cut by the server. Then they are drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and served with a slice of lemon.
Next, the lobster risotto, fresh pieces of main lobster stirred with a creamy carnaroli rice, Japanese parsley, lemon, and drizzled with a very light carrot puree. The dish was light and refreshing, perfect to start out with. It’s offered in both appetizer size ($26) and entrée size ($45)
The main courses arrived like fine pieces of art, each one arranged wonderfully. A Wild Alaskan Halibut ($40) in a shallot crust, served with fava beans, baby artichokes, then drizzled with lobster juice and finished with uni butter. Then, the Tai Snapper ($42) with a seared crisp skin, served with roasted sweet peppers, dried chorizo and a potato and black olive salad.
The service through the entire meal was top notch. There are tasting menus, 5 courses are $85 or $115 with the wine pairing and the full tasting is $110 or $155 with wine. Mondays are corkage free. From June 15th-21st they are rolling back prices for the five- and nine-course tasting menus to $70 and $90 (more with wines). A very expensive but unbelievable meal, worth every penny. Full dinner menu can be downloaded here.
Providence
5955 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
323-460-4491
Mon, Jun 16, 2008
Food, Mid-City/Fairfax