As a concierge for a very high profile LA hotel, I eat at a wide variety of restaurants. Lately a lot of the upscale spots seem to blend together. Although some of them have excellent food, nothing impressed me enough to make me feel like making it a regular spot...until now. The Larchmont Grill is so not like everything else. It is homey without being dull, it is lively without being pretentious, and the classic American fare is outstanding. I started with the BLT salad and had no idea a salad could be so delicious. Next came an amuse bouche from the chef, a tuna tartare with mango and avacado, a great trio of tastes. My friend doesn't eat fish, so he was presented with a beef brisket sampler that was equally amusing. For a main course, I had sweet and spicy baby back ribs which were prepared to perfection. The sauce actually was both sweet and spicy and went so well with the mashed potatos and cucumber slaw. The apple crumb was our dessert of choice and it had been freshly prepared by the pastry chef that day. A wonderful end to a great meal. The service was also remarkable, and the whole evening I felt I was an invited guest at a friend's home. I only wished I lived closer to Melrose, but it was worth the drive and I look forward to many returns.
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