nessahead.com

1755 N Highland Ave (Cross Street: Hollywood Boulevard)
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 491-1000
Twist’s Website

Editorial Description [from Citysearch]:
Modernly styled sushi bar, restaurant and cocktail lounge in the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. Fusion menu designed for sharing.

I went there for lunch (menu, PDF). It felt very mid 90s, due to the primary-colored abstract art but the rest of the decor was neutral and subtle with comfortable textures. Service was agonizingly slow, although that may have been due to our large (10+) party. Free appetizer or (mini) bottle of wine with an Elephant Card.

Things I Tried

Taco-Shimi Crisps, $13

4 servings of seared Ahi, avocado, shiitake mushrooms and wasabi aioli atop a light, crispy cracker. Presentation, texture and taste were nice but it didn’t blow me away.

California Roll, $9

Average.

Crispy Calamari, $10

Crispy, light and tender—not rubbery or chewy at all. Delicious. The first time I’d ever enjoyed every piece taken from a plate of Calamari. Served with a sweet thai chili (eh) and a roasted jalapeno aioli (sublime!). Ask for extra lemon.

Bouillabaisse, $8

This was my first experience with this dish and it made me think of a watery minestrone with shrimp instead of pasta. My fellow diners assured me that a real Bouillabaisse was a treat and that this did not compare. Very disappointing.

Hollywood Cobb Salad, $12

It’s impossible to mess up a Cobb salad, right? I asked them to be sure there were no carrots (I’m allergic) and it came to the table with a great big orange pile on top. The error was corrected but the carrot juice that had rubbed off onto the lettuce still made my tongue itch while eating. Turkey, smokey bacon, chopped egg, tomato, avocado and gorgonzola. The dressing was a very thick and creamy cheese-based (bleu?) mayonnaise-y thing that left a weird taste in the back of my throat. Not very good, I just ended up picking at the good bits.

Pumpkin Cheesecake, $7

Beautifully served with fresh berries and drizzled sauces. Tasty, if a little dry. Went well with coffee.

Viewed But Not Tasted

Lobster Crab Cakes, $15

Looked delicious. Received good reviews from the table.

Pan Roasted Duck Salad, $10

Asparagus, mizuna, savooy cabbage, peppers, cashew and cilantro pesto. Looked nice and crunchy with just the right amount of dressing.

Grilled Salmon Salad, $14

Said to be good, looked overcooked.

Caramelized Ginger Chicken, $16

Half a chicken with (what look liked) a peanut sauce atop skinny white noodles with grilled vegetables and greens. Noodles looked a little limp and (lazy, I know) the chicken required effort.

Grilled New York Steak, $20

This looked phenomenal. Served with a little mushroom gravy, baby broccoli and mashed potatoes. I was thinking of ordering this and now regret that I didn’t.

Overall it was pretty disappointing. However, memories of calamari will keep this place on my list (next time I get a craving).

Tags: , food, los angeles, review

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 at 3:35 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.