The first time I had dinner at Animal, I fell in love. Now, it’s become somewhat of an unborn child to me. It has a soft place in my heart that no other restaurant can replace.
Animal, Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook’s first restaurant which scored them Food & Wine’s 2009 Best New Chefs award, is located along North Fairfax, north of Canter’s Deli. FYI – the place doesn’t have a sign (because, according to Shook, “it costs more money” hahhh). If you are an adventurous eater and you like all kinds/parts of meat, this is the place for you. Their menu is always changing, but they do keep some of their signature dishes throughout the year. As such, I’ve listed out the top 5 staple “must haves”. No explanation of dishes necessary. Just order them and judge them yourself.
1. melted petit basque, chorizo, grilled bread
2. barbeque pork belly sandwiches, slaw
3. poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar
4. foie gras, biscuit, maple sausage gravy
5. tres leches, dulce de leche (I do admit that when I last had this, it wasn’t as good it used to be. I mean, I think it still tastes really good, but it’s not as saturated in the milky awesomeness.)
There are also some dishes Animal used to have on the menu but no longer does, which sucks because they freakin’ rocked.
1. the old sweetbread dish: While they do currently have a sweetbread dish on the menu, it’s not as good as the OLD sweetbread dish. The old veal sweetbreads they served was alot heartier and more like late-night comfort food. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture that I can share (which is really upsetting), but I have a picture of the new sweetbread dish, which is good too, but like I’d mentioned 15 times already, not as good.
2. burrata with tomatillo salsa and olive oil: this was definitely one of the best burrata dishes I’d ever had. SO refreshing, and good. dayam. Bring it back!!
3. panna cotta: melt-in-your-mouth-effing-good. Bring it back, guys!!
Random Tip: I loveeee sitting at the bar, and peeking through the small opening into the kitchen in the back wall.
Animal
435 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Call for reservations: (323) 782-9225
sun-thurs 6pm-11pm
fri & sat 6pm-1am
