DineLA review: Minx Restaurant and Lounge in Glendale, CA

Just got home from the most amazing dinner of my DineLA experiences yet: MINX in Glendale! OMG who knew? Everything was PERFECT! Amazing food. Just WOW.

Since the place is all colored lights and triangles of "sails" over the patio, I wasn't sure what to expect. My husband even said he thought it looked like it might be like an upscale version of Chili's.

Boy was he wrong. It was plainly the best meal I've had so far from the DineLA program.

First off, I might mention: the best part of taking my husband with me on these meals is that neither of us is squeamish about eating half of the food and then trading plates. You can never get the full impression of someone else's dish by one bite ferried over on a fork.

We started with an order of crabcakes and an order of ahi tartare. Devoured. Surprise of the appetizer course: onion sprouts! (since the seeds were still attached, I think you call them sprouts as opposed to microgreens?)

Then the entrée. Oh My God. We got the Truffle-crusted New Zealand Lamb Loin with Creamy Polenta, Wild Mushrooms and Truffle Jus;, as well as the Petit Filet Mignon with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach and Beer Battered Onion Rings. Both were amazing... and I have to confess, I had a hard time stopping at half of the lamb so I could pass it to my husband. It was cooked perfectly. The crust was delicious. the mushrooms, veggie puree, the sautéed greens, all of it. YUM. The filet mignon came with a very generous portion of garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach (flavored differently from the lamb's greens) and two enormous onion rings. Someone must have put out a memo and declared all fancy onion rings shall be made from red onion.

By the way, the platings were gorgeous. Everything was arranged just right: sauces, height, colors, balance, all of it. lovely.

My favorite thing about these DineLA menus is that you get dessert. Period. You don't have to ponder and fret over whether or not you should get something, because it's included. He chose the Fiji Apple Tartlet with Cinnamon Crumble and Butter-Pecan Gelato, I got the Chocolate-Hazelnut Pot de Creme with Bourbon Chantilly. He loved his apple dessert, and I think I died and went to heaven with mine. He's not a fan of chocolate, and I'm glad, because I nearly finished the thing! I'm a sucker for hazelnut-praline.

I've got to counter all the negative reviews I'd just seen when looking up the chef's name. I know that this place has been having trouble with finding a good manager, because they're posting ads all the time. The people who complain about the food offered on the menu must not be accustomed to this type of cuisine. Maybe they were also expecting something like Chili's? Also, we were there on a Monday, so there wasn't a huge crowd and there wasn't much of a bar scene at the time, so maybe we were spoiled by the calm environment.

I'm a very harsh critic, I admit, but I've got to say, I couldn't find a single fault with Minx. The service was attentive (<3 to Xavier!) the atmosphere was lovely, even the music they were playing was just right. I'd happily go here again. Chef Joseph Antonishek has won my heart and my belly.



Last thing I ate or drank: I couldn't finish the chocolate pot de crème. ME. Not finishing dessert. Does that convey exactly how rich that thing was? Mmmmmmm!!!

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Nights 1 & 2 of DineLA

I wanted to give a couple of one paragraph reviews on where i've eaten
so far.

On the first night, Sunday, I went to NeoMeze in Pasadena and it was
AWESOME. The decor was modern but comfortable. (metrosexual bachelor's
apartment?) The pork tenderloin on the tasting menu was mind blowing.
each slice of the meat tasted like the meaty part of bacon. Also, i've
never had onion rings made from red onion: so sweet, i thought at
first bite that maybe it was apple! I had a really interesting rose by
the glass ($10 and worth it) Chateau Val Joanie or something like
that. I felt it didn't go with the quail, even tho the menu suggested
the pairing.

Last night, Monday, i went to Cobras & Matadors on Sunset. we bought a
bottle of cava next door, and it took us through all the plates, even
to the churros with chocolate dipping sauce for dessert. The standout
on the table there was the Game Hen. When i try to copy this dish, i
will use boneless chicken thighs, because getting the meat off that
critter was kind of a challenge. I'd heard such bad reviews of this
place, and was delighted that i'd decided to give it a go anyway.
also, ryan my server was as hot as the patatas with aioli. PS #1 don't
even bother trying to avoid Valet. #2 don't order all your choices at
once unless you want it all on the table within 5 mins of each other.
Hang on to the menu and keep it coming 2 at a time.

Tonight i'd intended to go to Violet, but i've been there several
times before (OMG i truly LOVE that place) and I think i have to spend
today eating lentils and brown rice so that i can pace myself for the
rest of DineLA.


Last thing I ate or drank: Diet Pepsi. it can't be champagne everytime...

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