First Taste of Tangaroa

Tangaroa is an ocean god in Polynesian and Maori mythology, so the name of this fish market and restaurant is a well chosen one if you revere fresh fish and seafood.

I stopped by for lunch and found their service, space, and food all impeccable. I have never been to New Zealand, but I know several kiwis. I appreciate their very honest, clean, and sustainable ethos, which also comes through in the bounty from the sea; there is a reason that New Zealand Red Snapper is one of the preferred fish for sushi and good restaurants. 

The beet salad for $19 could have been a meal for a vegetarian, and it is ample enough to share if you want to split it an an entrée.

Their calamari for $17 was tender and flour battered. I would have preferred a different crunchier batter, but it included tentacles (my favorite) and was done with a light hand.

Crab cakes for $19 served with salad could have been a small meal with two good sized cakes. There was a bit of heat from the mustard in the crab mix, but the crab meat still shone through.

Grilled octopus salad for $29 was my favorite dish (so far). Perfectly cooked octopus was tender on the inside and crisp on the outside, served with a generous panzanella salad, this was a hearty plate!

Red snapper filet for $31 with carrot purée and sautéed squash featured perfectly crisp skin and tender red snapper, served with a medley of sautéed squash. If you order this dish as a solo eater, I would bet you will leave with delicious leftovers!

I can't wait to come back for their lobster special on Wednesday and a happy hour oyster fest!

Wood & Vine

Going to eat at Wood & Vine has become my automatic choice before a show at the Pantages. It's literally across the street, so there is no need to stress about traffic or parking, and the food, atmosphere, and service are always pleasant. They have instituted a no tip policy, with 20% automatically added to the bill to cover both back and front of the house employees, so those who work behind the scenes are paid a fairer wage for their work. I wish more restaurants would institute this policy.

I was going to a show for a pre birthday celebration so our serve gave us TWO complimentary glasses of sparkling wine (from Albuquerque and normally $14 per glass) and although I would not have ordered this ordinarily, it was a nice gesture and I appreciated the thoughtfulness.

The classic caesar for $12 had slices of garlic toast instead of croutons, and had enough garlic and a bit of anchovy to satisfy my picky palate.

The braised short rib for $26 was GIGANTIC! It was so tender and tasty that we put the leftovers in the car (it was a cool day and we parked underground across the street) as we went to watch the show!

I got the linguini and shrimp for $26 that was also a hearty portion, and a tasty rendition with fresh tomatoes and good sized, perfectly cooked shrimp.

We arrived for the show 2 hours early, so we had time to linger, but not much room after the meal. Our waitress once again gave us a complimentary dessert (normally $10). The hot donut holes with vanilla sauce were fantastic! 

It was nice to find Wood & Vine survived Covid 19, and it was fun to attend my first performance at the Pantages in over 2 years!

Hog Island Larkspur

On my way back to Los Angeles from Sonoma, I stopped off at Hog Island in Larkspur so some oysters before heading home. I got 3 East Coast ones per the waitress' suggestion, and after tasting them, I agreed I preferred them to the West Coast Oysters! A bit brinier and smaller, but each one was a smooth, sweet fresh bite. Your choice of any six was $21 and I simply dressed them in a squeeze of lemon juice and contemplated ordering some champagne or wine, but since I was driving and it was only 11 am, I stuck to water!

The grilled Monterey Calamari for $15 in a lemon parsley vinaigrette was bright and tender, and if you are looking for a light bite this side and a salad would be plenty.

The $14 Caesar salad had a nice roasted garlic-anchovy dressing.

Because I had no idea what the portion sizes were before ordering, I also got a bowl of clam chowder for $18 that was so rich and filling that I could barely finish the shellfish, much less the broth. 

I will definitely be back for an afternoon of oysters and wine when in the area and when someone else is doing the driving!