Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
143
California wine country without ever having to hit the 101. The entire wine list is com-
prised of big and small labels fr om Napa and Sonoma to the Central Coast. The menu
offers wine-friendly dishes like puffy cheddar
gougères,
a burger with Asiago cheese and
herbs, and a tasty brussels sprout salad with shredded duck confit and hazelnuts. With a
huge patio and ample parking, this is a good stop before or after a night at Staples or the
Nokia theaters, which ar e just a fe w blocks away, and the huge patio is the per fect spot
for happy hour sips (and discounted menu items).
Bonus:
You can pick up any bottle
retail to take home.
403 W. 12th St.. (at Grand A ve.), Los Angeles.
&
213/746-0500.
www.corkbar.com. Main courses $13-
$19. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon noon-2am; Tue-Sun 11:30am-midnight. Metered street parking (free after
6pm) and nearby lots.
R23
Finds
JAPANESE/SUSHI This galler y-like space in D owntown's out-of-
the-way war ehouse/artist loft district has been the secr et of sushi connoisseurs since
1991. At the back of R23's single, large exposed-brick dining room, the 12-seat sushi bar
shines like a beacon; what appear at first to be ceramic wall ornaments ar e really stylish
sushi platters hanging in wait for large or ders. S almon, y ellowtail, shrimp , tuna, and
scallops are among the always-fresh selections; an excellent and unusual offering is seared
toro,
in which the rich belly tuna absorbs a faint and delectable smoky flav or from the
grill. Though R23's sublimely per fect sushi is the star , the shor t but inv entive menu
includes pungent miso-based soup with mix ed seafood, sautéed scallops with shiitake
mushrooms, deep-fried sawa crab , and several other choices. B rowse a wide selection of
premium wines and sakes (tr y the addictively sweet
nigori
).
923 E. 2nd St. (btw. Alameda St. and Santa Fe Ave.), Los Angeles.
&
213/687-7178.
www.r23.com. Res-
ervations recommended. Main courses $12-$20; sushi $4-$12. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11:30am-
2pm and 5:30-10pm; Sat 5:30-10pm. Free parking.
Tantra
INDIAN In typical L.A. o ver-the-top fashion, Tantra o wner N avraj
Singh hired a studio design company to cr eate an I ndian restaurant unlike any y ou've
ever seen. Hammered copper doors, ir on-and-silk light fixtures, murals of gender-fused
beings, and Bollywood mo vies sho wn on a giant plasma scr een ar e just a fe w of the
unorthodox props that vie for your attention. Part restaurant and part nightclub, Tantra
is one of L.A.'s current “in” destinations, both for its scene and the cuisine. The gym-size
building is equally divided: Veer right at the fo yer and join the eclectic S ilver Lake hip-
sters sipping too-cool cocktails while the DJ spins vinyl; v eer left and behold Lor d
Ganesha, god of prosperity, perched high above the temple-style dining room. Just about
all of the curries, stir-fries, masalas, and kabobs are expertly prepared, but two are stand-
out dishes: coconut curry shrimp flavored with
ajwain
(caraway seeds) and stir-fried with
palm vinegar, red onions, and peppers, and then finished with tomato coconut br oth;
and the
Mumbai
crepes—chickpea-and-corn crepes with a tangy cream-cheese filling and
topped with mango sauce.
3705 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake.
&
323/663-8268.
www.tantrasunset.com. Reservations accepted only
for parties of 6 or more. Main courses $11-$16. AE, MC, V. Tues-Wed and Sun 5-11pm; Thurs 5pm-mid-
night; Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. Valet parking $3.50.
Traxx
Finds
CALIFORNIAN There's always been a restaurant—of some sort—
inside the U nion Station passenger concourse, but Traxx is the first to do justice to its
grand, historic setting. S howcasing a stylish mix of r etro-evocative Art Deco character
with sleek contemporary touches, the interior blends seamlessly with the station 's archi-
tecture. Elegant enough for a romantic dinner, yet welcoming to the casual commuter in
6
