Beverly Hills may not be LA's...youngest...neighborhood, but sometimes it's still fun to get dressed up and have a swanky night out in The 90210. There's always the iconic Spago's if you want to spend a pretty penny, or one of the neighborhood's many staple Italian restaurants. But if you want something a bit newer and fresher, you should look no further than Georgie, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's almost 2-year-old spot at the Montage Beverly Hills. Taking over the former Scarpetta space, Georgie has been quietly serving approachable modern American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's one of those restaurants that's been on my "list" for some time now, but only recently did I have the chance to finally check it out.
FENNEL & ZA’ATAR PARKER HOUSE ROLLS with Smoked Honey Butter
In addition to their extensive cocktail menu, Georgie has a daily happy hour from 3-7pm with a specially priced menu of drinks and bites. I tried out a few different cocktails that evening, which were all good. I also started off with their house rolls, which were hot, fluffy, and so delicious with the sweet addition of honey butter.
GREEN ASPARAGUS SALAD with Caesar Emulsion & Brioche Croutons
I have to give Georgie a lot of credit for their variety of veggie-driven dishes, which is unique amongst the steakhouses and pasta-forward options of BH. One of my favorites was the Green Asparagus Salad with a Caesar emulsion and brioche croutons. The asparagus was cooked really nicely, and I loved the crunch of the croutons.
BEET SALAD: House-Made Ricotta, Puffed Quinoa, Candied Olives
Though I'm not much of a beet person, I can definitely appreciate Georgie's delicate beet salad. The beets were tender and fresh, while the ricotta added a really nice creaminess to offset the earthy beets. Crunchy puffed quinoa was, to me, the star of the dish.
HAMACHI CRUDO: Kumquat, Togarashi, Ginger Oil
Hamachi Crudo is probably one of the most ubiquitous dishes in LA, but when it's prepared this well, I can see why. The hamachi was rich, light, and tender, while the kumquat added a fresh tartness to the dish. Togarashi and ginger oil were nice additions, as were the crispy onions on top. It was a light but satisfying take on a popular bite.
DUNGENESS CRAB with Cucumber
The Dungeness Crab was another really fun, light dish, with the creamy crab submerged in layers of cucumber and radish.
EAST COAST SEA SCALLOPS: Green Pea Risotto, Parmigiano Reggiano Ash
Finally, the scallops were a wonderful end to the savory portion of the meal. The scallops were cooked perfectly and served on a green pea risotto that was just so good. I loved the blackened Parmiagiano Reggiano ash, which added some satisfying cheese and an earthy feel to the dish. Another winner!
To me, our meal at Georgie was a surprising departure from some of the more classic and, dare I say, old school restaurants of the area. While I wouldn't claim it's the most innovative food in LA (I don't think they would make that claim either), Georgie has definitely brought a fresh, modern perspective to the neighborhood, serving light, veggie-forward dishes that could please you, your parents, your grandparents, and your most food-snobby friends.