LA Confidential: Craig's

Finally, the third of my trio of restaurant reviews in the current issue of LA Confidential is of a new steakhouse called Craig's that was just opened on Melrose by Craig Susser, the longtime maitre d' of a landmark LA steakhouse, Dan Tana's.

Here, there's more than just steak though (hence the pizza photo)--there's pasta, salads, all kinds of great grilled stuff, and some lovely desserts. You can read my review at the link below, or just take a look at the text I've pasted in.

Link: http://www.la-confidential-magazine.com/dining/articles/three-new-la-eateries?page=2

Craig's
“I want people to come, sit down, relax and know they’ll be taken care of,” says Craig Susser of the philosophy behind his eponymous restaurant on Melrose.

Susser, whom you might recognize from his many years as maître d’ at Dan Tana’s, exalts the sense of community that has packed the new restaurant with regulars from the day it opened. “They molded me, taught me how they want to be treated, and Craig’s is a direct result of that.” Even his chef, Robbie Sarstedt (a veteran of Spago and Boa), grew up in the neighborhood, on Sunset and Doheny.

The restaurant’s expansive teal booths, brick walls with wood paneling and hand-built mahogany bar lend the dining room a Mad Men aesthetic that harkens to an earlier age of fine dining, as does the classically continental menu. Standards include a Green Goddess salad, shrimp cocktail and a steak filet with blue-cheese ravioli. There are also wood-fired pizzas and entrées such as chicken Parmigiana and al dente cavatelli with prosciutto-vodka sauce.

You could opt for the cheesecake or apple pie à la mode for dessert, but once you see the bananas Foster over chocolate waffles, there’s really no other choice. 8826 Melrose Ave., LA; craigs.la

Comments