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0 I have been looking forward to visiting the new BLT Steak on the Sunset …
I have been looking forward to visiting the new BLT Steak on the Sunset Strip since the day it opened in March. Having been to the original, critically acclaimed location in New York, I was familiar with their incredible a culinary excellence. So having an outpost here in my hometown, in the house of the former Le Dome, was good fortune, good timing, and bound to be good for my belly.
Joined by my buddy Rich, in town from New York and also familiar with the original, we had a fantastic meal at what I consider the hottest and most accomplished new dining room in town.
We started with BLT’s huge crab cake, loaded with generous, fresh chunks of crab and served with a remoulade sauce and spicy slaw. The caesar salad was chilled and crisp, with fresh made dressing that’s slightly creamy and characteristically salty, and a big, soft-yet-crunchy crouton in the middle. We also split a side of sautéed, wild mushrooms and white corn, a daily special that was special indeed.
The space at BLT Steak is open and airy. With an outdoor patio, roomy dining area and an impressive, long bar on the west wall, the space is modern, communal, inviting. Exchanging Le Dome’s elegant intimacy for BLT’s elegant airiness is a fair trade, especially given how well the space fits the mood and that brilliant BLT cooking comes with the deal.
The atmosphere and culinary expertise attracted some star-studded indulgers as well. I spotted actor Kevin Connolly (“Entourage”) out with a few buddies, and as our steaks arrived, Denzel Washington dropped in looking very happy to be on his way to culinary bliss.
Stars in place, we launched into the main course, divvying up two house specialties — the 22-ounce grilled rib eye and braised short ribs. The rib eye was beautifully charred and grilled, served in a super-hot cast iron skillet and accompanied by a half bulb of roasted garlic and a smidgen of bone marrow, served, appropriately, in a bone. Delicious, full of flavor and grilled to absolute perfection.
The short ribs are also a flavor extravaganza — marinated and braised till crispy on the outside and tender within. Meat falls off the bone, and the texture is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The short ribs were served in a deeper cast-iron dish to contain the au jus. For sides, we opted for grilled asparagus, crispy and thin French fries, and out-of-this-world creamy spinach. First-class comfort food all the way. I’m a big fan of the sauces, and in addition to the spicy mayo that came with our fries, we opted for horseradish (perfect for short ribs), and my favorite, three mustards, which was right for dipping both asparagus and the fries.
For desserts — and dessert is as good as you might expect from this expert Gotham-based eatery — we opted for peanut butter chocolate mousse with banana ice cream. I recommend everything on the BLT dessert menu. On my first trip to the New York location with my sisters and cousins, we ordered half the desserts on the list and they brought us those and all the rest. Let me tell you, it all rocks the house.
If you’ve heard about this new bastion of excellence on the Sunset Strip and have been thinking about a splurge, or even if this is your first BLT tip, you should do yourself a favor and celebrate life with a visit to this vibrant venue. BLT Steak has been in West Hollywood less than a year, and it’s already a local favorite.
BLT Steak is located at 8720 Sunset Boulevard. Lunch is served Monday – Saturday, 11:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Monday – Thursday, 5:30 – 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 5:30 – 11:30 p.m., and Sunday, 5 – 10 p.m.. For reservations, please call 310-360-1950.
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