Jean Georges – Beverly Hills!

Jean Georges just opened his signature restaurant in the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills and although there are a few of his staple items from the menu in New York City, the Executive Chef, Michael Archuleta is putting his touch on the menu with Cal-Asian style cuisine.  The a la carte menu varies from caviar to raw bar and pizza & pasta selections, but the meat and seafood items are definitely the reason to dine here.

The location at the lovely Waldorf Astoria, on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, has a Rooftop Restaurant and Bar to grab a quick cocktail before dinner. However, Jean Georges does have their own bar in the restaurant where you can order one of your favorite cocktails and have a more casual meal with the full menu at your disposal.

The restaurant is modern in design with a peekaboo kitchen towards the front.  Chef Archuleta was kind enough to come out and introduce himself and mention he was originally from Los Angeles and glad to be back in his old stomping grounds, after working at Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas for many years.

We began our dining experience with a lightly chilled Coconut Milk & Berries Soup amuse bouche. The flavors were a great palate cleanser and a nice way to start a summer meal.

As an appetizer – Fresh Crab & Squash Blossom Beignets.  The bed of cherry tomatoes and raspberry vinaigrette gave the dish a light acidity to counter balance the soft flavors of the crab.

The Butter Poached Lobster with Corn, Coconut, Lemongrass and Lime Emulsion tasted as if I were in Thailand at one of the finest restaurants. The delicate seafood was succulent and juicy and I thoroughly enjoyed the preparation, foam and all.  I haven’t had a lobster dish this amazing since Guy Savoy in Paris.

Wagyu Beef was decadently tender with Carrots and a Miso Mustard – the beef could be sliced with a butter knife, virtually no chewing required. The chef brought over some seasonal vegetables of summer squash and tomatoes in a turmeric oil to accompany our meal.

We were going to pass on dessert because we indulged on the housemade Olive Focaccia and fresh Ciabatta, however the chef treated us to Strawberry Sorbet & Ice Cream with Meringue and Whipped Cream and we couldn’t resist.  The Petit Fours were pretty amazing too.

Jean Georges is my favorite restaurant in NYC and I am over the moon that there is now a location so close to home.  The food is prepared with grace and sophistication – something that is definitely overdue in Los Angeles.  Also, there is a tasting menu and Jean Georges is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.