XIV

I experienced Heaven on Earth the other night. And I'm an atheist.

We came here for a romantic dinner and it was spectacular. Service was superb, food was amazing and ambience was spot on. What more could one ask for?

My initial thought upon entering was "Wow, this place is opulent". It felt like being invited to a rich person's home and eating in their upscale and awesomely furnished dining room, complete with bookcases.



Even with this much grandeur, I never once got a snooty vibe. And, I despise attitude. Everyone was friendly, helpful and eager to please.

We were seated at a table for two along the couch area towards the front, but they ended up seating this extremely obnoxious couple adjacent to us who wouldn't STFU, and stop putting their damn arms on our table so we asked if we could be moved. Two minutes later, the manager appeared and apologized profusely for the inconsiderate fools and whisked us away to a much better table by the kitchen area.

This attention to clientele satisfaction earned them good karma points from me.

Our new table gave us a great view into the kitchen and I was hoping for some Hell's Kitchen drama, but nope, everyone was working smoothly and everything was being handled extremely well. Very impressed.



On to the food:

Appetizers -

Hamachi with strawberries: OMFG!! OMFG!! This was insanely delicious, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi and the strawberries complemented the fish perfectly. The mint leaves and olive oil completed the beautiful presentation.



Tempura scallops- OMFG!! Another awesome dish! Scallops were seared to perfection and the tempura bits gave it a nice textural boost.



Entrees-

Tai Snapper: Yumo! Snapper was crusted with tapioca and sat on top of a rice cake. I didn't much care for the rice cake because it was a bit too chewy for me. The broccoli rabe accompanied the fish and gave it a nice veggie kick.



Halibut- Hmm.. this dish was alright. It was kinda bland and not something I would recommend for a high end place like this. I just felt that this was a dish you can get an ordinary restaurant, not XIV.



Desserts-

Vanilla Custard: OMG! The beignets were so soft and fluffy, I felt like I was biting into a cloud. Dusted with powdered sugar, this was the best beignet I've ever had, hands down. I would eat these beignets forever if God promised me that I wouldn't gain any weight. Then again, I am an atheist. There goes that fantasy. The vanilla custard was creamy, delicious and smooth. Topped with a crispy citrus slice, this was my fave dessert ever!



Root beer float with chocolate chip cookies: Cookies were soft, warm and scrumptious. Root beer float was good, but not memorable. SImple presentation, kinda like something Mom would make you before going to bed. Well, substitute the milk for root beer of course.



In a nutshell, I would highly recommend the Hamachi, Tempura Scallops, Tai Snapper and Vanilla Custard.

And for the martini lovers out there, get the Star Daisy. It's tangy and sweet at the same time. Don't get the drinks on ice, unless you like your alcohol watered down.



Service was impeccable. We were always tended to, but not in an intrusive manner. I have only high praises for this place.



XIV was magical. I can't wait to come back. Dinner for 2 was $200 before tip. Totally worth it.


XIV
8117 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 656-1414