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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Glendale
69 reviews
Los Angeles, CA
"One of my favorite restaurants in L.A. area. Great salads, great steaks, nice booths and bar. No complaints and I have been here 4 or 5…" read more »
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Yup the food was tasty -- and it was a fun mix-n-match menu. But...I thought prices were too high for the minimal portions. I get that it is a high-concept restaurant -- especially for Glendale -- but the value just wasn't there. I left the restaurant thinking it made for an entertaining people-watching experience -- but not a particularly standout dining experience. However, the place is still so new and the chef/owner's vision is pretty cool -- I have hope they'll iron things out. Cheese fans will really dig the cheese storage room -- you can see it in the rear dining room.
From the moment you drive up to Palate, something is --- quite apparently --- awry: you are in your car driving along the great car-dealership megapolis of Brand Boulevard; you are surrounded on all sides with not just a good but a truly staggering number of (free) parallel parking spaces along the street; and yet there is Palate: all by itself, on a corner, surrounded by fields upon fields of free parking spaces, offering to valet your car for $7.
The overall cost-value ratio of Palate, I'm afraid, is totally consistent from the $7-for-nothing valet and on into the restaurant itself: the $12 cocktails are tiny; the $20+ food isn't at all spectacular; and the 15%-on-top-of-it-all service is lackluster-to-poor.
Is it an awful experience? No. But, like the enormous faux-lamps under which you sit, there is something loomingly inflated-and-fake about Palate --- and, until it develops a bit more of a heart and a soul, I won't be back.
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Palate is one of those places you start thinking about your next meal there before you've even left. Kind of like planning your next vacation while still on your present vacation. It's so scrumptious! From the wine to the food, from the service to the atmosphere, this is one hot spot.
I met up with 3 other Yelpers (Shauna D. Victoria C. and Roman T.) on a Friday night. Sure, the economy might be going down the tank, but this place was jumping. As we waited for our table, I asked the bartender for a glass of something big and complex. As he had on my first visit to Palate, he poured me a nice glass of red yummy goodness, and he nailed it! He then mixed a couple cocktails for the others, and we were off to a great start.
Once seated, we started with a cheese plate, which was more on the generous side compared to the cheese plates of other comparable restaurants. We let our server pick two of our selections, and I think we decided we would have done just fine picking them on our own as we liked the one we picked best. We also got one of their mason jars with tuna, which didn't look like anything spectacular, but as we all know, looks can be quite deceiving. Don't know exactly what they did to it, but it was delicious!
Roman ordered a bottle of Beaujolais for the table, and it was the perfect complement to the cheese and scallops. So yummy, my mouth is watering as I write this. Thanks, Roman!
I had the scallops for my entree, which included the perfect accompaniment of apples, parsnips, purslane, and caramel. What?! Caramel? Yes, being a Top Chef groupie, I was so excited I finally got to try caramel on scallops (as one of the top contenders had prepared last season), and it was delicious.
We wrapped up with some dessert--a chocolate cake of some sort--and it was good. Not great. I was okay with that, though, because my tummy was perfectly content. Next time, if I have room, I'll try the bread pudding, one of my favorites.
And there will definitely be a next time...and a next time...and a next time. Ahh, you get the idea.
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It's always one of those situations that pains me to give a restaurant that you know is supposed to be awesome an average rating.
We got to the restaurant a tad bit early and was told our table was still occupied so they asked us to wait at the bar. I knew I wanted wine with dinner so I decided to get a cocktail. I saw they had a greyhound with St. Germain so I got that ($12). It was fantastic in the way only fresh grapefruit juice could be. I also tried a bit of the Strawberry Mule which was Moscow Mule with fresh strawberry. It was good but I loved my cocktail more. We had just ordered a cocktail for our final friend to arrive when they told us our table was ready. We asked the hostess to send the drink over.
We finally settled into our table and I looked around the interestingly decorated space. It reminded me of a classier Vegas restaurant with the huge vases of fake grapes.
After some time and asking a couple of different people, we finally got Victoria C's cocktail.
Roman T ordered a beaujolais for the table. The server brought the wrong year over but then we were told it was just a misprint on the menu. Hmm.
Someone asked the server about wine and I did not like how she picked up Victoria's glass and proceeded to sniff her glass, explaining how you can figure out the "smells" and what the wine reminds you of. Personally, the wine was smokey to me which was odd for a beaujolais.
We started with a cheese platter. We didn't really have time to discuss which cheeses we would like and the server asked if she could pick for us. She asked three times and none of us replied. I think if a table does not affirmatively agree, you should probably give us a moment to pick out the cheeses. We reluctantly let her choose after we gave her some specific dislikes-- no blue cheeses and no brie (Shelley W didn't like the rind and the server told her to just not eat it!!). Of the three cheeses, we liked two. ($12 for three cheeses)
Roman also ordered the Porkfolio ($12) which was really good. I did enjoy the crostini that came with it, the cheeses and the tuna mason jar we also ordered.
The tuna was definitely delicious and if we didn't also have bread and a wonderful butter at the table, I would have maybe tried to order more!
I couldn't decide between the pork belly or the aged beef as my main course and when I asked the server, she immediately said pork belly before I even said the second thing I was considering.
The pork belly ($17) was good though somehow I expected it to be mind blowing and I would just l-o-v-e i-t. It was a decent sized piece and came with a nice bitter green and some interesting potatoes.
I also tried a bit of the scallops and thought it was pretty miserly to have three small scallops for $14. The sauce was good though. A bit sweet and made me think of Meyer lemons.
Then the server came by asking us about dessert. I was really stuffed and no one really seemed interested in dessert. The server pushed for us to get both desserts but we finally opted to just get one.
It was chocolate. It was good. But I liked the cookie it came with more.
Our total worked out to be $40 a person not including the wine.
I would recommend parking on the street instead of valet as there's plenty of parking all around the restaurant. It's squashed between a couple of car dealerships.
So, what exactly makes this 3 stars for me? Service was really unprofessional. I had to ask for water when my water glass sat empty almost the entire time we were eating. Otherwise, the food was good. And yes, I'd come back.
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Excellent food, great service and perfect wine pairing (according to my table-mates) - I can only talked about the 1st two points :-)
Our table shared the Porkfolio and a tuna potted meat (which is like a pate without liver). Both of which are very tasty. Our waiter also recommend a great white wine to compliment the appetizer - so says my table-mates since I didn't have any. We also share a couple of the prawn dishes which were oozing with flavors - I had to mop up the leftover sauce with pieces of bread.
For the main course, I had the special of the night (rabbit wrapped in prosciutto) and split some of the for the Yelper-recommended pork belly. What a constrast. The prosciutto rabbit was dense and works very well with the accompanying sauce, while the pork belly melts in the mouth (literally) in an explosion on flavors. Sure, it may be fat that you're eating but the taste buds will thank you. Moreover, it wasn't heavy nor overdone that we still had room afterwards for desserts.
The caramel bread pudding was fantastic. Perfect sweetness for me (since am not into sweet food) and the texture combination was awesome.
Overall, the prices for food were not exorbitant though may be significant more if you pair your meal with wine. To those who may find wine-recommendation to be intrusive, keep in mind that this is a wine bar with a restaurant and not the other way around. Wine goes with the food and the waitstaff does know they pairings.
I was very dissapointed at this place. after reading there review in los angeles magazine & litteraly live a block away thought i give it a try with my friend. made reservations.. Very ugly decor looked tacky its a pretty small place. not that inviting. Still busy in there though. we ordered the
charcuterie( the meat plate) SO not worth the price Rip off for 3 slices of pepperoni 4 slices of fatttttttttty procutoo & salami.
next i ordered the duck ( horrible) tasteless dry ewww
my friend ordered the short ribs WAS SOO dry wow needs more sauce or something. WINE was great but what good is the wine if theres no good food to go with it? they tried to sell us cheese the cheese plate for dessert our waiter kept insissting on it.
anyways nothign great about this place dont even bother with it.
THE MENU CHANGES CONSISTANTLY SO DONT RELY ON THE WEBSITE..
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Palate tantalizes my palate!
I have been wanting to dine here since its opening. I was very excited when I had a food based business meeting of sorts here. It started in the wine bar with a lovely bottle of wine from Santa Cruz (my hometown) and delicious cured meats.
For dinner I had the pork belly and it was amazing. The fennel salad and the pickled onions were big pluses as was the whiskey bread pudding. The wine with dinner was also phenomenal, unfortunately, it was brought by my dinner companion not the restaurant. The butter is handmade and worth every calorie.
After our business meeting ended and I was left alone with my friend and we finished the tables wine and asked for more and more bread with butter the night begun. We asked to meet the chef Octavio. He was truly charming. He had a big Japanese knife tattooed on his arm and when I asked him if he would be attending Savor the Season on Sunday he said he would be working at Meals on Wheels. That is the kind of chef he is thoughtful and creative he also told us about his plan for working with local gardens grown by hoodlums (my word not his). When my friend asked,"Why is everyone that works here French?" he brought out people from the kitchen and said, "Jorge are you French? Juan Carlos are you French?" We were proved wrong but the food was all right (note: not alright).
I will definitely go back and the pork belly will remain my main entree in my belly.
We went back almost 3 months to the date of our last visit in which i almost begged for a job there. This time, there was no need for begging or crying over the quality of the food. Our meal was good but it wasn't the explosion of flavors and combinations we had the last time.
Porkfolio: still fantastic, subtle rich flavors and the hands down winner was the lardo.
Salmon Rillete: really good, the salmon had a meyer lemon citrus taste to it and it brought back fond memories of eating fresh ceviche.
Black Truffle Risotto: rich, creamy, earthy flavors al dente.
Pork Belly: fatty, juicy, crispy skin just as good as the last time.
Cote De Veal: tender medium cooked veal with a nice pink center but lacked flavor even with the sauce.
The service was good, but our waitress went missing off and on sometimes for over 15 minutes each time when we needed something or wanted to pay up. My espresso was really good, but the Brazilian coffee was weak even when it was made by using a french press. I make a better stronger cup of joe. I think on our next visit we will do a chefs tasting which i didn't know existed until i overheard the next table requesting it from the waitress.
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The communal table is no longer 1st come 1st served, they take reservations for it now. Thats a big no no for me and its sad.
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06/09/2008
I cried and cried over how good our dinner was this evening at Palate. I love cooking at home and… Read more »
For a place that has a great wine selection, great food and a several week wait to get a reservation I expected more. I really want to give this place 4 stars because the food(what little we got) was very good. Unfortunately, between the portion size and our waiter I can not give it anything more then a 3.
Let's start with the good. The Food and Wine. The Food was easily a 5 and the Wine list is a solid B+. There were three of us and we shared everything which was nice. We started with the porkfolio, which is a must have. Very thinly sliced salami's and hams. Very good way to start. We then split the heirloom tomatoes, beef, gnocchi and lentils. The Gnocchi was so good that we ended up ordering a second plate of it. We ended it with a delicious panna cotta. While the wine list isn't as big as some wine bars in town it, there was quite a good selection and some really nice finds.
Now the bad. When we first got there we were ignored by the hostess as she was too busy dealing with someone on the phone to be bothered by the 9 people in front of her. When we were finally seated they didn't have enough menu's for us so we had to share one. The waiter seemed to have way too many tables to deal with and clearly spent way more time at some then others(including ours) We actually would have had more wine and perhaps even more food, but the waiter was MIA most of the time and we said forget it. The portion size was abysmal especially when it dawns on you that you are in a crappy part of Glendale and not Beverly Hills. The prices do not reflect the quantity of the food you receive. This place is too hip and too upscale for its own good. It's trying to be something it's not. The decor was nothing special and the tables are very close to each other because the place is not all that big.
I will most likely go back, but not for a while. I think management really needs to take a hard look at what they're doing and figure out what this place is. If they stop trying so hard to be some sort of Beverly Hills knockoff, up the portion size and stop with the pretension then this place could very well be one of the best places in the valley...perhaps even the best.
Do I recommend this place...hmmmm, well that depends. If you have a lot of money, order a lot of food and don't mind the pretentious nature of the place then yes. You will not be disappointed with the food, but don't be surprised to be disappointed with everything else.
I really hope this place goes in the right direction, because it shows a lot of promise for a place that is stuck between two car dealerships on Brand Blvd.
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Holy freaking crap; Cheese plate, Squash Blossoms, Ravioli, Home made butter. Need i say more?
The French? Sommelier/bartender is a riot, we sat at the bar-thingie because there were four of us and we hadn't made reservations, he kept us entertained. The other Sommelier made fun of him because he was serving us the American Hitching Post Pinot, but he explained i was the one who picked it. The second bottle i let him pick since other than Pinots, multipulcianos and primitivos i am pretty ignorant.
Beyond the fact that the food and wine was perfect the service is amazing, there were the great details like tastes of certain wines the Sommelier though we should try and his amazing knowledge of the food/wine. I LOVE when a server can tell me every detail of a dish or wine and does so with an passionate artistry.(you can tell they kind of care)
Other than Blairs this is my favorite spot in LA, get reservations because since the LAT review and Los Feliz ledger review it has been busy as hell.
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I had a really bad experience here. I met a girlfriend here for a bottle of wine and food at the bar. she was running late so I ordered the bottle, and people watched while I waited. The bartender was rude upon my ordering the wine and rude upon serving it. Dude, don't let me bother you while you are working. Finally, P arrives. Now he completely ignores us, for, oh about 20 minutes (the bar was getting crowded, but STILL, it ain't that big of a bar). When he finally swings by, it is too late to order anything because I have somewhere to be in 30 minutes. I really want to go again because I love the atmosphere and am dying to try some of the tasties in the little glass jars. But I will NOT be sitting at the bar.
We went here for a date night with another couple and expected so much more. My girlfriend and I read the review on Palate in Los Angeles magazine and decided to give it a try. The decor was a bit odd with these huge purple grapes overflowing out of a giant urn as well as the purple lighting. The place was packed and we were seated in the communal table which wouldnt' have been bad but it was so obvious we were separated from everyone else because the table was way higher than all the others.
Service was horrible and our waitress took forever before she finally took our order. The busboys were the only ones who seemed to know what was going on. The food was okay but my pork belly was tasteless. Almost like carnitas but pork belly. The one dish I did enjoy was the pork confit. Don't bother with the cheese and meat plate. They give you a huge slice of fat which to this day I still don't understand.
If I were to do it again, I'd probably do the wine bar in the back. The place looked more interesting.
Such a shame. We Glendalians are so starving for a good restaurant here and the new hip Katsu-Ya in the Americana just ain't worth the trip.
A group friends and I recently went to Palate's wine bar for dinner on a Friday night. While we all loved the decor and feel of the place -- exposed brick, cement floors, warm lighting, factory glass-- we found a lot was lacking in the service. No one is in charge on the floor to seat people or get them settled. After waiting some time, the bartender seated our group then disappeared without leaving menus. One moment he was tending bar, the next he was taking orders and a few minutes later he was running food. Not good on a Friday night when you have a full house. Their laid back system could work in a very small space but the wine bar is pretty big and really needs a staff to run it well.
What we ate was good though we all felt the entrees were overpriced for the small portions. Palate feels like a diamond in the rough -- a lot of potential but don't rush there soon.
Butter butter butter. Homemade butter that is. Classic whole wheat bread served with homemade butter sprinkled with a bit of sea salt. Wow.
We started with the heirloom tomato salad. And my goodness was it delicious. I think the light, tart dressing really made the salad.
For the entrees, we got the buttermilk chicken which was tender and flavorful but not as good as the pork belly. So I have to disagree with FoodSlut on the pork belly. It was recommended by our server, who was great by the way, and it was terrific. Cooked perfectly, bursting with flavor, and tender as can be in the center and wonderfully crispy on the outside. It had great flavor and texture.
For our wine, we had the Riesling. Mmmm mmm. Sweet, light and fruity. Just absolutely delicious and paired nicely with the food.
Towards the end of our meal we found a thin hair strand on our butter plate...ewww. So they lose a star. Ha...at least it wasn't a bug or worse...a pube.
Oh yeah~! I almost forgot...they have their own water purifying and filtering system. Everything is done in house. For $6 you get unlimited flat or sparkling water. How awesome is that?
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I remember reading somewhere on yelp that the difference between a Chinese person and a Korean is a Chinese will take something chic and make it ghetto (i.e. filet mignon at Chinese cafes) and charge it $10 a plate. The Korean however, will take something cheap (i.e. fried chicken) and cook it in Olive Oil and charge you $2 a piece!
But you know what, me thinks us Asian restaurants have been beaten by the Americans. Forget paying $100 for a pair of Nike that actually cost about $2 to be made by 12 year old Vietnamese kids, come to Palate Food + Wine for sardines that will set you back $9 (it's about 99 cents a can and probably taste better). Pork Belly, at $16 it tastes more like something from Wong's Chinese Food Express than "fine dining". I thought the purpose of eating pork belly (despite it being a cardiologist best friend) is for the textural experience of soft meat with full fat flavor in between crispy layer of fat. It definitely fell short of my expectation. Sorry, putting it on a nice white plate will not fool this ghetto foodie, I eat the food not the plate.. well.. unless it is from Wong's Chinese Food Express and the dishwashing process is the good old scrape and rinse and back to the plate stack.
But with the ranting, why am I still giving it a 4 star rating? For starter, cute decor. Feels like dining in someone's loft than an actual restaurant. Especially if you opt for the community table. Secondly, it does amuse me to think that with the right presentation and skills, you can turn any poor man's meal into culinary delights!
Ratatouille was good, despite its origin as a common dish that was often made in summer with fresh summer vegetables. Corn soup, while extremely delectable in taste and light in texture was still made from a common crop that you can get at Vons for $.50 a pop or so. Nonetheless, I am not ashamed to admit that I did dip my spoon into the bowl one last time as the friendly waiter proceeded to whisk it away. Ahh that last taste of heaven. The cheese plate was good and was paired quite well with a bottle of Margaux.
Jokes aside about the price of food relative to cost of making it, I was rather pleasantly surprised to find that the wine was still reasonably priced. And the service was friendly without being overwhelming and the atmosphere was fun and not stuffy. Another amusing side note, when the bill came out our alcohol was actually more expensive than our food. Perhaps it may prove that the food is still somewhat fairly priced or speaks volume of the typical poor man willing to pay more for booze than food.
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Just had a nice dinner. It was good but nothing blew my taste buds out of the red ocean...
Maybe it's because I was dry... wine selection was nice...
tuna con-fit 4 stars
stone fruit 3 stars (basically tasted like pickled plums)
Coleman greens 2.5 stars
chicken- corn dish (my friends) 3 stars
Crab -Chanterelle mushroom risotto (special) 1 star (100% flavorless)
flour less chocolate cake 2.5-3 stars
french press Brazilian coffee 4 stars
Ambiance 3.5-4 stars
Service 4.5 stars
that's all I've got for you...
First off, just the type of customers it seems to pull into its web is a big plus. The energy, and warmth of the place seems to come as much from those dining as it does the paint job and wait staff. Not to say I don't love the look of the place, and I thought our service was spot on- attentive without being cloying. I hadn't been sat at a communal table in I don't know how long, and could not have been happier. The cheese room was in my eye-line, and I spent most of the night either trying to say "god that's good" through a mouthful of food, or wondering how I too could get paid to be in a small room with nothing but cheese all day.
Rating: 7.5 (out of 10)
When I first heard of a new restaurant being noteworthy in Glendale (my old hometown), I had to do a double take. Don't get me wrong, there are wonderful culinary delights to be found in Glendale, but more of the hole-in-the-wall variety. Not something that can take the Greater Los Angeles area by storm. But I have to fill you in on how I came across this brilliant little bar.
I first heard from a friend named Sam that a little joint opened up in Glendale that served as a wine and tapas gathering. Sam had gone to culinary school, so when he made a recommendation, I usually listened. But the funny aside to all this was the story he told of the fun waiter they had, a Frenchman who over-utilized the adjective "genius". Everything was "genius", from the taste of the olives, to the selection of cheeses, and even to the description of the dishes.
But after I had made up my mind I should try this establishment, I was bombarded by 4 other of my friends mentioning their wonderful experiences. So, when I was invited to join a couple for dinner, how could I refuse? But low and behold, as I arrived a bit early and was enjoying a Vesper, one of the 4 friends walks in the door, Michael A. And then, as I waited for the rest of my party to arrive, whom should we sit next to, but the aforementioned Michael.
As for the food, I would highly recommend this place as a wine and tapas place, but skip the entrees. If the main courses were of quality, I would have given this place the 5 stars it probably deserves, but the tapas really stand out. But what really makes this place is that they charge only retail prices for wine + an $18 corkage. So, at other restaurants where you'll spend $200-$300 for a great bottle, here you'll only spend about $118. Their selection is vast, and they also allow half glasses (like flights, really) so you can sample a great variety of wines to complement the different courses.
They also have a great variety of cheeses for formage. Overall, it is a great experience to meet up with friends (I would recommend at least 4, maybe 6-8 would also work) and have some great wine, food, and wonderful conversation. Bon Appétit!
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What are some of the "most sensational" experiences?
When finding a toilet after holding your shit in all day?
Or how about "releasing" those bodily fluids after months of pent up sexual frustrations?
Or ..... A toast point with the Ratatouille at Palate Food and Wine!!!!
Holy. Shit. On. Myself. Good!!!! Eggplant + onions + tomatoes + slice of heaven.
The starters were well priced (mostly $5 range) and deliciously portioned. Corn soup. Poulet de chicken. I cannot wait to try the rest of the dishes on that appetizer section. Pair it with good bottle of "I don't fucking care"..I'm butter or better.
Misses? Unfortunately, the pork belly tasted like left over Sam Woo with some sweet drizzle. And the sardines? Call me ghetto, but I like boneless ones from the can. Skip the entrees, stick to multiple plates of cheese and apps.
And what an interesting dining experience. Community tables! Unlike Lou, these tables were like the grade school cafeteria on a rainy day. You better "get yer social on" or risk being that loner in grade school.
Fortunately, to my left, I had "the most interesting man alive" sipping on barolo. In front, a hair stylist that resembled Mr. Vidal Sasson himself. And to my right, I had an older african american lady celebrating her bday...looking for the right drunken moment to "back dat ass up".
Safe to say, we fit in. And how could you not?
A place with AWESOME FOOD. A place with AWESOME WINE.
IS A PLACE FOR AWESOME DRUNK NIGHTS.
Chin chin bitches.
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Palate was suggested to us by Mr. Gold himself when I wrote to him at the LA Weekly looking for a charcuterie. The food was phenomenal! Everything was so fresh and their cheese and meats were delicious. We ordered several plates and enjoyed every single one. The wine list was extensive (although I couldn't do more than sip at my husband's glass since I'm pregnant).
We thought the pink neon lighting and the giant grapes really screamed tacky surburbia, but it was more funny than annoying. But the service was wanting. Not that anyone was actively rude. But we had just come off of an long day and didn't want to have several bottles of wine with each course of dinner. MY husband and our two friends ordered glass service and the waiter responded accordingly. He pressured us, then ignored us for the rest of the night. He really dampened what would have been a perfect dinner.
I'm a big proponent of the food/service dichotomy. I figure that my mood has a whole lot to do with how the night went. So despite the chef, I don't think I would go back anytime soon.
You might have noticed a lack of restaurant reviews on my end as of late - that's because I just keep coming here. It's freaking amazing.
Seriously, as far as I'm concerned, Palate and Farfalla are the only restaurants worthy of going out and spending cash on the east side. I love to cook, so you have to bring it to make me pay premiums on wine and food. This place brings it. I want to eat and drink here every day. Have been here 4 times in the last 2 months and don't see it slowing down anytime soon.
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07/02/2008
Had dinner here a week ago and it's simply outstanding. Great food, great layout, great design,… Read more »
Yeah, finally a wine bar that's close to my house! I came here for my friends birthday and I was refreshing to know that Glendale is still growing. I'm still getting into the entire Champagne and Sparking Wine thing, but I love it either way. The wine selection is pretty good and the bartender dude didn't look too snobby.
I'm give this place 3 stars because of it convince to my house and the drinks. This place could have had a chance to get 4 stars but they lacked on some areas. We got their 15 minute early with reservations at 8pm, we had to wait 40 minutes for a table to open up, and the potted meat thing tasted like Tuna Salad.
Decided to expand my horizons and decided to check this place out in glendale.
It's a small intimate place, but because it is small it was hard to get reservations even ummm on a Tuesday night. We were left with 6pm or 8:45pm. (since I'm coming up from the OC...we opted for the latter).
We got there at 8:30pm and were told they would come get us when our table was ready. So we decided to check out the wine store in the back, walked around a bit and Ericka decided to taste a Syrah. There really wasn't anyone else back there so we were chatting it up Zack (an employee in the wine store). At around 8:50 the hostess comes and lets us know that the people at our table are still eating dessert and that it would be awhile longer or we can opt for the community tables out in the back. Since it wasn't too crowded we opted for the community tables. (although personally it's irritating anytime they can't have a table for you on time)
It was just the three of us: we all tried different wines....I like Syrah so I tried one that Zack spoke about earlier. Our server was Xavier and he was really attentive and helpful. Bread and butter was good, our cheese plate was good with the different mustards (interesting one was the grape mustard). Entrees we got pork belly (my favorite), lamb (first time having lamb if you can believe it) and the lamb was good as well. Lamb is fed organic feed btw... (got that info as Ericka knew some of the chefs from a previous dining location and they would come by and chat with us). And the Gnochi was pretty good....although we ate it last and therefore got a little cold. ------------ I forgot to mention we ordered the porkfolio......that is a must.. :-)
We also order the chocolate pudding and umm I forgot the correct name...but something olive oil with white chocolate (has lavendar flavoring as we found out later). The pudding was ok...(i'm not a huge dessert person)...and the olive oil cake thing was pretty good. It's not sweet, but has an interesting taste to it.
Service as others have mentioned was excellent. Water was refilled without being asked, and the plates were replaced frequently. All the staff members were very nice and not snooty as you find at some places.
Cool place to chill........but it does get a little pricey so you can't do it everyday now!
We did see Mr. Octavio walking around the premises...which was cool to see.
P.S. This place is relatively new....but the wine store does have complimentary tastings on saturdays. Check with the store for more info. Sounds like something to try if you live in the area.
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Yes, I did it. I went again last night. Back-to-back late dinners at Palate. Dragged another set of friends out to have them experience the butter, the cured meats and the cheeses.
So I ordered (or was given)...
bread and butter - still a winner
porkfolio - still great
pork mason jar - good
rabbit mason jar - good
ratatouile mason jar - great
olives - great
lemon cucumber - great
carrots - good
stonefruit - ok
chilled melon soup - good
halibut - good
vegetable papillote - great - different mix from last night - supposedly they change this up nightly
pork belly - eh - someone wanted to try it even though i told them they would be disappointed... and they were
veal - good
cheeses - great... still can't pronounce them. epoise - great, roaring 40's blue also great... a sheep milk cheese called ossau-itray (?) my favorite so far
Why the downgrade... still not crazy about any of the entrees. I would prefer coming here for the cured meats, mason jars, pickles and cheeses... pass on the entrees. Also, our server on Saturday night was average... nice guy but he did the bare minimum and was never around. Friday night was great... Ryan took care of us... she definitely helped make our experience on Friday great and even tried to help out on Saturday even though she wasn't serving us. Also, completely different energy from Friday night to Saturday. Friday had energy while Saturday had no vibe in the back room.
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08/09/2008
Based on the suggestion from a friend, we ventured into Glendale to dine in the sea of car… Read more »
I went to Palate for a second time recently and really enjoyed myself. The first time around the service was a little iffy but this time it was knowledgeable, and fast. The servers were right on it and wow that bread is soooo yummy! I love the wine list the little 2 oz tastes are so fun. You can try and try until you can't try anymore!! Oh yeah the pate sooooo bad for you but sooooo good. Gotta try it out!
Truly amazing!! Absolutely worth the trek from the westside. The food is mostly incredible. Highlights were: porkfolio with the purple mustard, the jared rabbit (eat it on the toast), lemon pickled cucumbers, melon soup with dungeon crab (flavor explosion!), corn ravioli with smoked ricotta in brown butter (so delicious i wanted to order it again for dessert), chocolate pudding, stone fruit dessert.
We had the sommelier pair all our wines/foods and were mostly pleasantly surprised by the choices. She was very attentive to our wishes and what we ordered. We had a non-meat eater, and shared some dishes and some we didn't share and she really paid attention to all that and gave us all different wines.
Service was top notch and i was also very impressed by how knowledgeable and interested the bus boy was in what we ordered. He knew more than most waiter do in other restaurants.
The only drawback was that halfway through our meal there was a prolonged pause of food coming to the table. It was a bit annoying but not enough to complain or make a stink. The sommelier noticed that and comped us all a few extra glasses of wine. Sweet!
The decor is nothing special but i really didn't care since my full attention was on the delicious foods, wines and company.
Go there!
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Been there twice, both times in the bar area 'cause the restaurant was packed. The bar doesn't offer as much as the restaurant, and that's OK. You can buy a bottle from the store and they waive the corkage fee. Most importantly they have good prices on the bottles so you don't feel like you're getting ripped (financially). Good selection of wines both old and new world. The service can be a bit slow, but I think they are overwhelmed due to the buzz. In the bar area they have both bar seating and communal tables. I found the bar to be more ergonomic than the communal.
The food was amazing and very well presented. Call me a snob, but I must point out that the crowd there kind lacks the "hip factor" of other eastside eateries on Glendale Bl., Los Feliz, etc. It's a nice place but when customers come in dressed in bad Tommy Bahama shirts, shorts and flip-flops it's kind of a turn off. This ain't Kansas, Dorothy.
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My favorite restaurant in LA county and innovative for LA's same old same old steak houses and Italian showcases. Unlike these Palate serves interesting food. Palate is also reasonably priced. Portions are perfectly sized. Many plates should be ordered. The wine program run by Steve Goldun is outstanding. Sit back and let him choose wines by the glass. Take some friends and watch them smile.
If you weren't looking for this place along Brand Avenue you'd miss it amongst the car dealerships and store fronts. Palate's elegant modern decor, full but not overwhelming wine list and impeccable cuisine make this a must try for everyone in the area, and even encourage some West-siders to make the trek across Hollywood over to this side of the 5.
Was very surprised and pleased by the knowledgeable and friendly wait staff. Our server offered us several different wine choices to pair with our meals. We started with the mushroom filled cannoli - the pasta was perfectly cooked. For our main course we ordered the sea bass with fresh squid and the dry-aged beef entree. For a side course we had the vegetable papillote and the roasted potatoes with caramelized onions and garlic chips.
If that you think that's not enough to feast on, they also have a refrigerated "cheese cave" featuring a variety of cow, goat and sheep's milk cheeses. Then there's the wine shop that's attached to it. I believe most of the wines on their wine list are available for purchase by the bottle, but can't say for sure. They do tastings here where have their own tasting menu and food items not on the dinner menu.
This places is perfect for an intimate dinner, a gathering of friends and family, or a casual spot to taste some new varietals of wine.
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I was trying to find reasons why Palate should get less than five stars, but honestly, I can't. We've visited Palate twice already and the meals were amazing. The ambiance is fun...passionate people who love food and love wine (and offer it at a really great price). Some of my favorites this last meal were the asparagus with egg, the gnocchi, the rabbit and the two that really blew my mind were the ox tail and (of course) the pork belly....OMG!!!! I think they sprinkle a little crack on that pork belly...it is so so amazing. We bought all the wines off the wine list and had a great array of great tasting wine. We had an amazing time...great friends, great food and wine. And Octavio even remembered us from the last time we had been there. Palate is a great place that we'll make many visits to.
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Went here for the first time on Wednesday night for dinner. I work in Glendale and we were meeting some clients for dinner and had heard the hype about the new restaurant in Glendale.
I didn't know what to expect, but wow, it was wonderful. We first started out having a glass of wine in the back, in the wine store. I love the decor!
We were seated and ordered various entrees and small bites. Everything on the table was WONDERFUL except for the sea bass, which was very overcooked. From reading other reviews, this must have been a fluke.
This place is also very vegetarian friendly. Overall great atmosphere, great service, great staff, great food and great wine!
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This was recommended by a foodie friend who's past recommendations have been exceptional - Sona, Lucques, Osteria Mozza . . .
While the food was good. The truffle rissoto was divine and the platter of salumi yummy, the portions sucked beyond belief. It was far too much money to pay to leave the restaurant still hungry.
If you want to taste and purchase wine at a reasonable price, this is an exceptional place to go . . . just remember to eat first.
Very disappointing.
