October 17, 2011
-
YAY! – it’s that time of the year again. Dine LA Week is here again! Eat up! Chow down! Here we come!Maison Akira – fine dining menu featuring French cuisine with a Japanese flair. The dineLA menu didn’t include some of the dishes the restaurant is most famous for (like the miso Chilean sea bass and Grand Marnier souffle), nevertheless, Chef Akira takes personal interest in preparing each selection in the menu, with the freshest ingredients for a culinary delight.
The restaurant is housed inside a modest brick building, on a tree lined street…..
Amuse bouche – Shrimp over a tomato based seafood custard; a small free appetizer to stimulate our appetite…..
Seared Albacore Tuna, with Wasabi Caviar, and Green Asparagus and Smoked Salt…..
Oyster Flan in a Sea Urchin Beurre Blanc Sauce, with Hijiki, Green Beans & Mentaiko…..
Angus Beef Château Steak in a Cabernet & Bearnaise Sauce with Gratin of Potato & Oyster Mushroom Sympatic…..
Maple Leaf Duck Breast Rôti Sauce Aigre-Doux with Potato Galette and Legumes de Saison…..
Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse Cake and Yuzu Ice Cream…..
The restaurant was full while we were seated at around 7.30 pm. It was a Sunday night, I suppose everyone arrived at the same time. I was very tempted to have the wine pairing as well, but too bad since I don’t have a high tolerance to alcohol. Besides, that’s an addtional $20 over the $44 ‘dine L.A.’ set menu. It was an enjoyable dinner afterall, and will definitely return to try their famous Sunday brunch!
Maison Akira | 713 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 | (626) 796-9501 | www.maisonakira.com
We went to Orris on a regular day, not during the ‘dine LA’ week. As you may notice the “Closed” sign at the entrance, we arrived about five minutes early. 
We caught a glimpse of owner Chef Shiro busy preparing tonight’s dishes…..
Amuse bouche – Shrimp and endives…..
Seafood salad…..
Red snapper carpaccio…..
Asparagus and prosciutto…..
Grilled artichoke…..
Kurobuta pork medallions…..
One after another, French/Japanese tapas treats coming out of the kitchen, and the result is an evening of sheer bliss. The entire dinner costs about $25 per person, plus service charge. Although the interior decor is very plain, the overall atmosphere is pleasant and this place will be our regular hang-out!
Orris | 2006 Sawtelle Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025 | (310) 268-2212 | www.orrisrestaurant.com
Comments (25)
$25?!?! WOW O_O but too bad when i’m in LA next month, this deal won’t still be available ):
that’s it! i’m moving to LA. right now!
just wonder do they usually have this during Fall, while the business slow down a bit after the Summer holidays?
@p3terr - You can still try the other items on the regular menu, which are very good as well!
@rudyhou - LOL….Welcome to L.A.!
@agmhkg - I think so. Since there’ll be another promotion coming up in late February or March, which is the slow seasonl. The trick is they always skipped Saturday which is usually a good business day for the restaurant business.
those dishes look amazing! i can’t wait for restaurant week in baltimore to roll around again!
As always, I LOVE your food posts. I think you eat better than anyone I know, seriously.
Everything looks and sounds delicious here… only thing that I’d hesitate on is the Oyster Flan, and I LOVE Oysters. The flavor/ texture combination just seems like it’d be kind of disturbing. How was it?
Very nice Gary. That tuna dish looks so tempting.
I’ll have to file your “low tolerance for alcohol” away for future use. hee hee…
@kunhuo42 - Thanks Aaron! I like events like these, give us an excuse to dine out!
@arenadi - Ooh, I’m so flattered getting props from culinary master Michael! I heart your food porn and keep wondering how come all your shots are so perfectly well focused like magazine spreads? BTW, back to the dish in question, the combined flavor of oyster flan with sea urchin beurre blanc sauce did leave a slight bitterness, I guess it’s an acquired taste.
@ElusiveWords - Uh-oh! What’s going to be used for future, I wonder? I guess you like tuna sashimi?
Several dishes here give me ideas for things I could do for my next “small plates” dinner… whenever that is. The amuse bouche at Maison looks very cute. Love the idea.
Can someone sponsor my trip to LA?! haha
@christao408 - How about serving a few of these small plates dinner during one of Tawn’s fashion shoot? That’ll be great!
@oxyGENE_08 - No worries! Just fly over and I’ll find you a foster family! Hahaha~
wow, shrimp and endive – two things I’d never think would work well together…did it taste okay? I’m back down there in a week and will try to get there as I’m staying in Santa Monica so I’ll be (sort-of) close.
I missed it again. I was in Chicago. Glad you made the best of it!
@AppsScraps - Sounds good to me! If you have extra seating, we may join you guys too! I never turn down a good meal! LOL
@CareyGLY - Oh yes, Carey, I enjoyed this time around, a few of these places have very good menu items!
Looks awesome!!!
I really wanna try the red snapper carpaccio!!!
@yang1815 - The red snapper carpaccio is moderately soaked in olive oil, endives and almond bits; I think the dish is delicious tooo!
I loved the Orris. Find me a place in LA and I will move there. ( after the knee is all healed up, and may be after my grandchildren grow up, and may be and may be and may be… )
Thanks for the visual delight Gary.
@ZSA_MD - Oh sure, I’ll find you a cozy home in LA, close to all the good eats!