TART Restaurant, attached to the darling Farmer’s Daughter Hotel in Beverly Grove, is the perfect restaurant for any occasion, whether you’re feelin’ a legendary brunch, a leisurely cocktail out on the patio, or a daring and creative dish from their new dinner menu…
When I dined at TART, I was overwhelmed in the best way possible. The interior is creative and fun, the cocktails are abundant, and the menu is innovative and refreshing. The first thing I ordered was a cold brew coffee because I’m a caffeine fiend. This wouldn’t normally be anything special to report but the kitchen whipped up some fresh almond milk on the spot for me since they didn’t have any already made, which blew my mind. Talk about good service.
To kick the meal off, I opted for the stuffed squid, which was filled with house made sausage, topped with a beautiful tomato sauce, and served with a side of arugula. If you know me, you know I order squid every time it’s the on the menu, and I can say this is unlike any dish I have ever had. It reminded me of stuffed cannelloni, but with squid instead of pasta. The sausage was wildly flavorful, and made this dish a standout on the menu. As another visually stunning appetizer, we ordered the market salad, which on this day involved quinoa, micro-greens, radish, grapefruit, and a light dressing.
For the entrée round, I ordered the Beef Two Ways and Grilled Lamb Loin. The beef two ways consisted of braised short rib and filet mignon with bacon jus, oyster mushrooms, and caramelized pearl onion. I really enjoyed the contrast between the two cuts of meat. The filet was buttery and rich, and the short rib was fatty and delicious. The oyster mushrooms were prepared in a way that they were extremely meaty and buttery as well, despite no dairy being involved.
The lamb loin was probably my favorite item of the entire meal. The lamb was served in a cast iron with potato, broccolini, roasted garlic, onions, and a zinfandel reduction. The dish is normally plated with potato gratin, but the chef happily substituted roasted potatoes since the gratin contained dairy, which I can’t eat. There were several things that impressed me about this dish. First of all, the broccolini was cooked to perfection. This veggie can air on the bitter side if not prepared properly, but this was not the case. Secondly, the pearl onions were fantastic. Their juiciness and flavor made them a major component of the dish rather than just an accouterment. Finally, the lamb was cooked to a perfect medium rare, which allowed you to taste all of the flavors the meat had to offer.
Finally, we ordered the flourless chocolate cake. This rich dessert was served with homemade whipped cream, raspberry coulis, fresh raspberries, and some beautiful golden spun sugar on top. While this dish did contain dairy, it is totally gluten-free, so make sure you save room for it. The tartness of the raspberry coulis provided a perfect contrast to the richness of the chocolate cake, and the whole thing served as the best way to end my meal that I could imagine.
Dinner at TART was definitely one of the best culinary experiences of the year so far. The best part about TART is that several of the items are naturally gluten free, but most of the menu can be altered to your restrictions. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and it’s obvious every member wants you to have the best experience possible.