Dining at Kali – Los Angeles, CA

*1st Mini Bite – Bellini with Creme Fraiche and Caviar. This was considered the Amuse Buse, to cleanse the palette and get the taste buds flowing to begin eating.*

The Michelin Dining Guide just awarded Kali Restaurant with One Michelin Star earlier this Summer in 2019! And that meant that I had to go try it out asap! Unfortunately, asap ended up being about 3 months later in September for my husband’s birthday.

2nd – A Quatro of Shellfish
– Fresh Sea Urchin from Santa Barbara misted with meyer lemon juice. I’ve never had fresh Sea Urchin before and it was soft, tangy and briny. It doesn’t have that cotton-mouth feeling when eating the kind served at regular sushi restaurants.
– Smoked Abalone with diced chives. It had a faint smokey flavor and the texture was pleasantly chewy.
– Raw Oysters with Cucumber Relish. The oyster was sweet and briny. The cucumber added a clean and crisp accompaniment to it.
– Green Mussel with Edible Flower Petal. This one was uneventful. I don’t remember it at all.

The dining experience at Kali is much more casual and trendy. The atmosphere is hip, bustling and artsy. Minus the quiet ambiance and quiet music. It’s a restaurant with a full serving bar, large windows that look out onto the streets of Melrose, and an attentive wait staff that hustles around the floor of the restaurant with enthusiastic energy.

3rd – Yellowtail Sashimi Crudo with a citrus yuzu vinagrette and edible flowers. This was my husband’s favorite dish. The sauce was light and tangy and went perfectly with the delicate slices of yellowtail sashimi.

Our visit to Kali was a delightful experience. I made reservations a week in advance and we requested the Chef’s Choice Pescatarian menu, since we were not eating meat anymore but still eating seafood. The restaurant was kind and accommodating.
The Chef’s Choice menu consisted of 8-courses that was up to Chef Kevin Meehan to create at his preference for that particular evening. He would prepare each delicate dish with unique flavors and attention to detail.

4th – Fresh Berries & Tomato Salad with Burrata Cheese Crumbles,
Salted Almond Granola and Parmesan Crisps. This salad was the perfect mixture of sweet and salty. The salty crunch of the almond granola added such a burst of flavor.

5th – Agnolotti Squash Pasta with Sage and Fried Corn Husks. These tiny little pouches of flavor was filled with a butternut squash and sage puree. Adorned with the crispy fried sage leaves and corn husks. Plus the crunch of candied walnuts.

If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant to impress your date but don’t want to be too over-the-top, Kali is the perfect place. The price tag is also fair and not too damaging on the wallet. The Chef’s Choice with 8-courses came out to about $325 with tip and tax included for two diners. Without the wine pairing. If you would like to add wine, it will cost extra. So personally, I think it’s ideal for a special occasion if you have the funds to try it. The dress code is business casual and not too fancy schmancy.

*6th – Pan Fried Cod with Mini Fried Squash Blossoms in a smoked cod broth. The delicate filet of cod was soft and flaky. And the smoky broth was a lovely flavor.*

7th – Sheepshead Fish with grilled green onion and potatoes, plus a circle of
black garlic ketchup and green onion citrus reduction. This dish was my favorite of the night. The filet of Sheepshead Fish was sooo soft and flavorful. And the black garlic ketchup went perfectly with the dish. It added such a punch of flavor altogether.

Overall, it was a nice dining experience. Our service was top notch. And the food was delicious. The portions may look small, but we were pleasantly full by the end of the night. The entire meal took about 2.5 hours to complete. If you have the budget, I would highly recommend it.
Want to check out another restaurant that was also awarded TWO Michelin Stars this year? Check out my post about our Dining Experience at n/Naka.