Al Fresco on the top flow? Great views mixed with fantastic food? Donโt think twice, itโs AllBright.
Cheeky intro aside, this Melrose Place staple was a breath of fresh air. The famed womenโs club and incubator of female talent recently opened their rooftop for fine-dining, a wonderful addition to their already stout cultural offerings.
The space is open, inviting, and fully-compliant with CDC COVID regulations. Everyone is spaced, everything is clean, servers wear masks, peace of mind is in reach.
Chef Penelope Perez Lleraโs menu is fresh and fanciful, with constant nods to LA culture.
Photo: Theresa Bateman
The b.L.A.t. – get it? L.A.? -boasts crispy bacon, avocado, Bloody Mary Mayo on a bed of sourdough. Thereโs also, as you can imagine, lettuce and tomato. Felt I should mention it just in case.
This was a standout dish, spicy and packed with complementary flavors. It was also light enough to serve as a hearty entrรฉe, memorable but not too filling.
The WeHo Burger is a succulent and savory offering featuring caramelized onions, homemade thousand islands and a brioche bun. If the thousand island sounds familiar, thatโs intentional: Chef Llera meant for this meaty delight to be an homage to In Nโ Out, Californiaโs finest burger chain. Itโs not up for debate!
Photo: Theresa Bateman
The Peruvian Sashimi was a delightful shock, a bowl of salmon, jalapeรฑos, fresh coriander, and – wait for it – miso and coconut Leche de Tigre.
In my notes I wrote โnever had anything like this,โ and itโs true, I hadnโt. But you can bet I will again.
It was spicy and citrusy and sinewy and sublime, a risk fully validated.
Dessert was a cheesecake pot, paired with their signature matcha cookie. The cheesecake was fluffy and perfectly sweet, a too-easy-to-eat post-meal treat.
Photo: Theresa Bateman
That matcha cookie wonโt leave my dreams, haunting me with itโs soft, supple, and sugary body. I love you, cookie.
The aptly-named Escape was my favorite cocktail, a mix of St Germain, Luxardo bitter Bianco, ginger, lemon, Prosecco, sage and seasonal flower. Drink this and float away to a mental island where world peace is the rule, lลซau are mandatory and the sand is white as Regis Philbinโs teeth.
So much love to the wonderful, wonderful staff here, from reception to the phenomenal server to Chef Llera, a welcoming, warm well of information, humor and boundless culinary talent.
The AllBright is also offering a new rooftop membership that lets guests preview club services – think yoga, workshops, music – with additional programming offering entrepreneurial support and community sisterhood. Get in before memberships close July 31st by contacting Jenna Richner at Jenna.Richner@allbright.co
