Restaurant: A.O.C. Brentwood
Location: 11648 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049. (310) 806-6464
Date: March 10 & April 5, 2022, Nov 5, 2024
Cuisine: Vaguely Spanish New American
Rating: Tasty
A.O.C. has been a Hollywood staple for two decades. Founded by chef Suzanne Goin, they’ve had this former Hamburger Hamlet space in Brentwood for years, running it as Tavern. I think the pandemic knocked out that particular restaurant and they decided to reboot it, giving the landlord back some space, as a Brentwood outpost of their Hollywood original.
Not exactly Rembrandt.
The interior is basically the bar area of the old Tavern. They’ve let go the cool back sun room.
The menu.
a.o.c. rustic boule & salted butter.
bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan.
charcuterie board – pork rillettes, assorted salumi, chorizo & grilled toast.
pastrami-cured sea trout, beets, horseradish, dill & rye crisps.
Salad of citrus, arugula, maxorata, paprika, alornea olives, & quicos.
brioche, prosciutto, gruyère & egg.
Grilled white trumpet mushroom focaccia, asiago, raclette & sherry.
Focaccia. Burrata, anchovy, caciocavallo, salsa rustica & aleppo.
Grilled seabream, coconut rice, mustard greens & kumquat sambal.
Clams, sherry, sliced garlic & toast.
Hand-cut noodles, rabbit sausage, maitake, nettles & mustard creme fraiche.
Lamb chops, swiss chard bread pudding, tomato confit & olives.
spanish fried chicken, romesco aïoli & chili-cumin butter.
liberty duck breast, verjus poached quince, mustard greens & hazelnuts.
Hanger steak, chermoula, toasted pepitas & james’ arugula.
westholme wagyu beef brisket, potato-gruyere gratin, calabrian crema & beef bacon.
arroz negro, squid & saffron aïoli.
Cauliflower, curry & red wine vinegar.
italian broccoli, shallot, garlic & chili.
A.O.C. is a useful addition to Brentwood in that it’s a pretty tasty New American style place. Brentwood is dominated by Japanese and Italian, so this allows for more options. It’s a tasty place, even if the menu is fairly small. Theoretically it’s supposed to be a bit Spanish, but barely. It is at least relatively free of the overused Asian influences dominating many similar places. Of course I love Asian food, but I don’t always need it mixed into EVERY cuisine.
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