...wow...so many amazing dishes served with care and amazing flavors! The wine pairing was expensive, but worth it. Same for the truffle addition. We loved the intimate environment and kind staff. The "hidden door", was fun! The whole thing was worth going at least once!
The chef's dining room is upscale, but cozy with only 5 tables, all located across from the open air kitchen. The chefs and servers partner in serving you each course, telling you about the ingredients for each dish... like little stories. Such a special experience! The food was fresh, precisely made, and each had blends of interesting components. The plate before dessert, they had a performance using an 18th century press for the duck sauce on top of in-house 21 day dry-aged duck.
I strongly recommend their mocktail pairing menu, they are creative in a way that doesn't compare
Alright, better late than never. The menu has probably updated since I ate back in August, but still worth sharing the beauty. This is my first 2 Michelin restaurant experience and I gotta say, it was worth the experience. I was not disappointed by the flavors. I was not let down by the portions. In fact, I almost couldn’t finish dessert. I was genuinely surprised and delighted with some of the dishes, like the scallop chips and baos. How?! Def come here on a special occasion!
I’ve been to so many underwhelming fine dining restaurants in LA that I was beginning to wonder if I should take a break from the ultra refined, high end dining altogether. Mélisse was a surprising delight and solidified itself as one I hope to visit regularly.
The welcome cocktail, a yuzu grapefruit situation with the best foamy egg whites, was so good that I requested another. They had non-alcoholic versions as well.
Starters (or “one bite wonders” as I like to call them) tend to be the best part of the meal in many cases, but the mains (most notably the duck) were memorable as well.
Two issues: 1) several items were too salty (Chawanmushi and the fish course), and 2) the Koshihikari rice course could totally be skipped - presentation and taste felt out of place.
Strong execution, friendly service, and a cozy, fun atmosphere made this experience enjoyable. I hope to be back to try future menus!
I never knew food was capable of giving me chills and bringing me into complete ecstasy. I have been to several other michellin-rated restaurants, but still none come close to Melisse. This restaurant will always hold very special place in me and my girlfriend's hearts. I have been here a handful of times and every single dish has amazed me with both exceptional taste and immaculate presentation. Thank you Josiah, for this wonderful gem.
I am convinced that Mélisse is one of the most intimate restaurants in LA where you can enjoy various sophisticated fine delights. The creativity of renowned Chef Josiah Citrin shows in every dishes, served in astonishing presentations with scrumptious delicacies. Pairing champagne & wines with the tasting menu here achieves perfectly-balanced components, harmoniously.
Located in a serene ambiance, stylish and classy seating area, yet private scene in the heart of Santa Monica, I love that we are able to see how chefs prepare our mains in the most exquisite ways, plus a wonderful sommelier who pays meticulous attention to detailing & displays extraordinary service. If you’re a discerning food connoisseur like me, this 2 Michelin starred place is suitable for a pleasantly charming date night. Overall, my boyfriend and I are satisfied from start-finish, indulging our finest palates properly with the bite-sized portions.
We visit California at least once a year, and I'm not gonna lie, visiting Melisse is one of our top reasons. It's always fantastically delicious, exciting presentation, and kind and engaging folks work there. We've been coming in since before the pandemic, and the experience has remained amazing throughout- maybe even better because of how intimate the Melisse-side space is now. The thing that really makes or breaks any experience for us is the people though, and they have some of the absolute best - they're passionate about food, they'll tell you all about it, and they'll interact with you like you're a guest they invited over for dinner - it's not stiff like some fancy places can be - they're real, which is so much more fun!
Melisse is a gastronomic and sensory delight. The restaurant itself is small and intimate seating about 14 people at a time. There are 5 tables, each with a wonderful view of the open kitchen.
The service here is impeccable as would be expected from a 2 Star Michelin rated establishment. From the moment we walked into the bar at Citrin to being led into the back room for our meal we always had someone available for our every need.
Needless to say the food here is divine. From the aged beef, green goddess charcoal caviar to the Liberty Duck "Rouennaise" every dish was unique, creative and exquisitely crafted. I counted 19 different dishes. So come hungry for the portions are as generous as the courses are plentiful.
Melisse is definitely one of the best restaurants I have had the pleasure of eating at. If you are looking for a special night out in Santa Monica make sure to put Melisse at the top of your list.
First time here and I’m a fan. Thanks to Dine LA was able to try a few items dishes and loved them all. The duck was my favorite, but then, it was all good. Service was incredible as well and the setting very beautiful as they made up their parking lot into a permanent looking patio. Not at all like the ubiquitous tents you see across town. They did it up right and would love to see them keep the patio around after Covid.
Wish I could remember all of the dishes, but we enjoyed the wine pairing and cocktails a little too much :)
Perfect example of a solid 2 star - Great food all around with several excellent dishes, high-quality ingredients / well-executed techniques, and refined service. For us, the meal's highlight was the turbot.
The 14-person dining room is fantastic. While the price point is certainly up there, I'd recommend the experience and I'm excited to see what Melisse's team can put out going forward.
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