On a recent outing to Los Angeles two friends
hopped aboard the MetroRail Blue Line from Long Beach to escape the
beach, if only for a day. Beaches, we decided, had become as
countless as the grains of sand under our feet. You wake up one day
to realize you don't even notice the ocean waves. That's when it is
time to add some spice to your experience pool.
If variety is the spice of life, we recommend you
also
travel inland on your California Beach Vacation to enjoy the best of
the City of Los Angeles. In downtown L.A., you can see art,
architecture, men wearing ties and women wearing panty hose and
business clothes by the dozens. It is all so upscale and
non-beach--not a single soul appears to have sand on their toes!
Getting there: You can
drive into L.A., but another way to arrive without all the parking
expense and hassle is the MetroRail. You can hop aboard the train in
downtown Long Beach for a 50 minute ride. We stopped in
Compton to see the famous Watts Tower. The restaurant is no more
than a block or two from the MetroRail station.
We had been in
L.A. for over 15 minutes, looking at the street signs, buildings and
Los Angeles Public Library Freedom Bell and Fountains when we
realized it was time to seek and drink what all
good beach people live by, water. We stopped at The
California Club where the Fallout Shelter inside can hold 665
people, according to the sign on the building. Several men in suits walked past the
doormat and entered the red brick building, with the door closing
quickly behind them. It almost seemed mysterious, but probably was
fairly expensive to dine there or do whatever they did inside. And
with no windows and no water views
that we beach people desperately sought, we took a few steps further
and stumbled into a golden opportunity, Cafe Pinot.
A few feet away, there was a
cascading fountain, tables with yellow, shade umbrellas and a waiter
carrying a sweating, silver pitcher full of water. At the beach you
normally can grab a table and sit but here, we were instructed to go to
the reception podium 30 feet inside the door and tell the two
perfectly-coiffed women that we would like to dine at
this fine establishment. One escorted us outside to the table we had
previously eyed. Mary and I disagreed over which shaded table we
would choose but she consented to the table with the better view.
Al, our waiter, was an incredibly charming,
dark-haired, 20-something who smiled to let us know that he liked us
just they way we were, salty and sandy. Mary and I sat in the shade on a comfortable
76 degree day, enjoying a leisurely luncheon complete with trickling
water from the nearby fountain. What a change from the sounds of the
beach!
As we looked at towering buildings and immaculate
library lawns, I thanked Mary for motivating me to make the trip
into the big city. Finally, our meals arrived. I had a side salad
and a hamburger covered in bleu cheese sauce and caramelized
onions. Mary's vegetable plate was artistic.
I savored my burger. It was gourmet faire. My
accompanying vegetables served as a substitute for french fries were
perfectly cooked and retained their individual flavors with an added
burst of sweetness captured in preparation. Mary didn't touch the
centerpiece cantaloupe shape on her plate but commented more than
once about the wonderful flavor of three capers.
Styled after French
bistros, owners Joachim and Christine Splichal of Patina Group
restaurants hired top chefs to create French-California cuisine
prepared with an element of surprise. The surprises are not
overwhelming but are pleasant and pure utilizing natural juices and
sugars.
We fought for the bill and Mary won out as Al
handed it to her. I worried about the tip. Did
Mary leave enough? I always make a mental note as to what things
cost and am usually within $5. I would guess that with our
tip, the total came to $40. Finally, I thanked her and let my
worries disappear as we stood up to explore the surroundings.
90 minutes had passed since we arrived in Los
Angeles. With three blocks and a meal under our belts, we were ready
to get walking. I did not know that we were heading up the hill to
visit a venue with another Patina Group restaurant,
Walt Disney
Concert Hall.
Where to Stay: Just a
few blocks from the restaurant is the
Westin Bonaventure Hotel, that beautiful high rise structure
with columns of reflecting glass rising into the Los Angeles sky.
While it's very much a period piece dating to 1976 and
designed by famed hotel architect John Portman,
Millennium Biltmore dates back to a completely different era in
which hotels were designed for ornate detail and grandeur. Either
option is great, and you'll find around 10 hotels within blocks of
these two. Downtown Los Angeles is a city center.
Pinot Restaurants owned and operated by the
Splichals include Pinot Bistro, Cafe Pinot, Pinot Hollywood, Pinot
Blanc, Pinot Brasserie and Pinot Provence.
Other Patina Group restaurants include Patina,
Patina Privé, Nick & Stef's Steakhouse, Zucca Ristorante, Kendall's
Brasserie and Bar, Pentolino, Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar in
Downtown Disney, Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, Napolini, Tortilla
Jo's and C2 Cafe & Kitchen. They also own Music Center & Walt Disney
Concert Hall Patina, Kendall's Brasserie, Concert Hall Café, The
Fifth Floor, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Pinot Grill, Hollywood Bowl
Rooftop Grill, The Marketplace by Patina and Dining at the Bowl. San
Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, MOCA Patinette
Cafe, LACMA
Pentimento Cafe, Tangata at Bowers Museum and Santolina Cafe at
Descanso Gardens. COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the
Arts Julia's Kitchen at COPIA, American Market Cafe and Wine
Spectator Tasting Table are part of their empire as well. Wow!
Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 2:30pm;
Dinner: Monday - Wednesday: 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Thursday - Saturday:
5:00pm - 10:00pm, Sunday: 4:30pm - 9:00pm
patinagroup.com/therestaurants_pinots_cafe.htm
