Animal Restaurant
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel. 323.782.9225
Opening Hours:
Sunday – Thursday
6pm-11pm
Friday – Saturday
6pm-2am
Open Seven Days A Week
Credit Cards: Yes
Prices: Moderate
The name gives it away, it’s all about saving animals. Oops, no, it’s all about animals on the plate! Much to the chagrin of animal activists, and it is also about the chefs, two dudes named Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook who met each other in Florida, where later on in their travels west, opened a catering company that they named Caramelized Productions. Shortly after, they appeared on the Food Network, which led to a book deal called Two Dudes One Pan, and the opening of their restaurant Animal in an unmarked storefront on a nondescript stretch of “Matzoh Ball Alley” near Canter’s Deli on Fairfax. Even more curious is why they chose to open in this Jewish neighborhood, with their liberal use of the “piggy” from barbecued pork belly to bacon ice cream.
Sample Menu Follows:
chicken liver toast 3
crispy hominy, lime 5
roasted pork salad, celery, red onion, olive oil 5
heirloom tomato, ginger vinaigrette 6
roasted marrow bone, parsley salad 8
pig ear, chili, lime, fried egg 10
lettuce, beets, avocado, pita, feta, creamy sumac 10
barbeque pork belly sandwiches, slaw 10
baby broccoli, pancetta, parmesan, soft egg, bread crumbs 11
ricotta & goat cheese gnocchi, sage butter, pumpkin 11
melted petit basque, chorizo, grilled bread 11
sweetbreads, creamed spinach, capers, hen of the woods 14
duck confit, dates, arugula, pecans, sherry vinaigrette, apple 14
poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar 15
fluke, grape & yuzu granita, apple, orange, serrano, mint 16
foie gras, biscuit, maple sausage gravy 22
pork shoulder, collard greens, country ham, red peas, mustard vinaigrette 22
flat iron, artichoke hash, truffle parmesan fondue 25
turbot, shell bean ragout, basil, pickled peppers 25
striped bass, savoy cabbage, benton’s bacon, fennel 28
quail fry, grits, chard, slab bacon, maple jus 28
foie gras loco moco, quail egg, spam, hamburger 35
balsamic pork ribs, delicata squash, cippolini onion vinaigrette 37
rib eye for two, escargot butter, mash, brussels sprouts 80
tres leches, dulce de leche 7
panna cotta, saba 7
bacon chocolate crunch bar, s&p anglaise 7
joe’s doughnuts, cinnamon sugar, caramel 7
changes and modifications politely declined
we support local and organic farming
18% gratuity added to parties of 6 or more $20.00 corkage fee
They have put together an interesting wine list a sample of which follows:
Prices are for Glass/ Carafe / Bottle
Animal House Chardonnay/ Cabernet Sauvignon 7 12 20
Sparkling & Champagne
Prosecco, Col de Salici, Extra Dry, 2008 Vendemmia 11 35
Domaine Des Baumard, Methode Tradionelle, Brut, 2004 Loire 16 52
Cremant de Bourgogne, Parigot, Blanc de Blanc, NV Burgundy 17 55
Cremant d’Alsace, Lucien Albrecht Brut Rose, NV Alsace 15 53
White
Luneau-Papin Muscadet (melon), Clos des Allees, 2008 Pays Nantais 12 22 40
Simcic Pinot Grigio, Goriska Brda, 2007, Slovenia 13 24 46
Vermentino di Gallura, Canayli, 2007 Garantita 14 26 47
Gewurztraminer, Albert Seltz, 2007 Alsace 12 22 39
Kerner, Abbazia di Novacella , 2008 Alto Adige 15 28 58
Sylvaner , Domaine Francois Baur, 2003 Alsace 12 22 42
Pic Saint Loup (marsanne/roussanne), Chateau Cazeneuve, 2005 Languedoc 16 32 59
Domaine Charache Bergeret, Les Gravelieres, 2006 Hautes Cotes de Beaune 16 32 58
Riesling, Richter Estate, 2007 Mosel Saar Ruwer 11 20 39
Rosé
Grenache/syrah Rosé, Dragonette Cellars, 2008 Santa Ynez Valley 12 22 38
Sancerre Rosé, Domaine Girault, Le Grand Moulin, 2007 Loire 17 32 60
Red
Pinot Noir, Domaine Serene, Evenstaad Reserve, 2006 Willamette Valley 18 34 65
Barbera d’Alba, Casinca val del Prete, ‘Serra de’Gatti’, 2007 Piedmont 15 28 48
Rosso di Montalcino (sangiovese), Villa le Prata, 2006 16 34 68
Betts & Scholl, O.G. Grenache, 2006 Barossa 17 34 65
La Grange de Piaugier, Cotes du Rhone, 2007 11 18 40
L.P. Red, L. Preston, Dry Creek Valley, 2006 12 22 42
Henri Milan, Saint Remy de Provence, 2005 14 26 50
Syrah, Holus Bolus, 2007, Santa Ynez Valley 15 28 50
Tres Negres,(merlot, syrah, tempranillo), Puig Romeu, 2002 Penedes 13 24 46
Cabernet Sauvignon, Macauley, 2001 Napa Valley 18 34 70
Dessert
Moscato d’Asti, Montaribaldi, Veneto 11 34
Jorge Ordonez (tocai friulano), Malaga, 2005 10 30
Muscat, Yalumba Museum Reserve, Barossa 12 40
Jonesy Port, Trevor Jones, Tawny, Barossa Valley 13 35
Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale 5
Green Flash IPA 6 Hopf Spezial Weifse (pint )15
Anderson Boont Amber Ale 7
The Bruery, Orchard White (750 ml) 28
Avery Salvation Ale (22oz) 24
Mission Blonde (22oz) 15
Ommegang Abbey Style Ale 9
Cooper’s Sparkling Ale 7
Mexican Coke 4
Abita Root Beer 5
Diet Coke 4
Ice Tea 4
Coffee 4
Fresh Mint Tea 5
Wine Tasting & Wine Dinner celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Beccofino Restaurant on Thonglor, Wines for the Event Courtesy of Fondo Antico & Wine Merchants Co. Ltd., Bangkok.
Wines Tasted at Wine Tasting
80 Spring Street
Contributed by: Emi Kagawa
Above: Rice served in a traditional basket
Above: Entrance foyer
Above: A starter from the set lunch presented beautifully
Above: Fruit plate on banana leaf
Image credit: Musso and Frank Grill
Pictured Above: An enormous replica of a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 sculptured from a solid block of ice
Below is an Ice Bar at the Hotel Plaza Athénée, Bangkok, a Royal Le Méridien Hotel. This year’s French vintage is being heralded as “very good” by reports from wine authorities tasting from the barrel, although I have not heard a verdict as to Bordeaux yet. The Beaujolais Nouveau, 2009 from Georges Deboeuf, tasted at the Reflections Restaurant on November 19, 2009, exhibited more acidity and tannins and less fruit than many previous years. For such a young wine it is growing up in the fast lane, and if this speaks for other wines from this vintage, we can expect structured, firm and most likely, long-lived specimens. I personally, welcomed the slight acidity melding with the fruity overtones of this year’s nouveau offering from Beaujolais, although I heard remarks about it being “sour” from one taster.
The “Ice Bar” fashioned entirely from ice blocks was a highlight of the hotel’s ingenious design theme for the evening
Pictured above: Rubeth, the outstanding vocalist who performed throughout the evening, she can normally be seen singing at the Glaz Bar from 9:00 to 12:45 at the Hotel Plaza Athénée on the ground floor.
Above: As in years past the culinary displays were truly amazing with a large selection of authentic French dishes
Dental Hospital & Spa
114 W. Channel Rd. near Pacific Coast Hwy.
His son, Edoardo Baldi, who was at one time the manager & sous-chef in Santa Monica, has opened his own restaurant in Beverly Hills called E. Baldi, pictured above and below.
