Another place to call home

There we found ourselves, drinking a third glass of House Made Apple Bourbon with Chef Mark Gold at Eva Restaurant and I'm realizing that LA is great. Ok, I've said it and now it's out of my system and I love NYC again. But after several fabulous weekends in LA I can say that the West Coast has a lot going for it. And our evening shared at Eva was just another reason to love LA.

Walk into the warm restaurant and immediately you're at ease. Sample one of their delightful libations and you feel lighter. Peruse their seasonal and ever-evolving menu and you'll be awed by the self-described classic French technique with a touch of Japanese flavor presented as modern American fare. Personally, I was moved by the attention to detail; the passion Chef Mark has for curating a meal dictated by what's fresh that day, and the love that Mark and his wife Alejandra have put into Eva (the name of their restaurant and daughter).

On the evening we found ourselves at Eva the fresh catch of the day included a single, succulent prawn, simply prepared and flavorful. The Salmon and Hamachi were equally beautiful in their fresh simplicity. The Udon Noodles with Dungeness Crab, delicate cream brown butter and lemon was so delicious it was devoured moments after it arrived at our table. And finally the star of the show was one of the most tender bites of Wagyu Beef I've ever tasted, drizzled with a  mustard Béarnaise the beef melted like candy in our mouths. The entire meal was fantastic but what I'll take away most from our meal at Eva was the experience itself. Mark and Alejandra opened this extension of their home to our family and they had a hard time getting us to leave. After several bottles of wine, post dinner drinks and the aforementioned Apple Bourbon we closed the place down and started making requests on their iPhone playlist. We had so much fun sitting around the cozy wood bar that the time flew by and we lost ourselves a little. And when the time finally came for us to leave and pick up our cars from the valet (so LA), Chef Mark ran out the door after us to offer one last bite of incredible Salted Caramels from Littlejohn's candies. And with that final gesture of hospitality, that little extra act of kindness as we put Eva in our rearview mirrors will stay with me and remind me that when we next find ourselves in LA, they'll be a little piece of home to come back to.


Eva Restaurant
7458 Beverly Boulevard, LA 90036