Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails – A West Hollywood Jewel

Los Angeles boasts a tremendous number of sexy spots to dine, drink, and dance, but Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails brings a whole lot more to its tables than the competition. Hyde Sunset is a stellar date spot that seduces you upon entry. The low lighting, plush furniture, dark wood, and Eastern carpets create a sleek, living-room ambiance that is both comfortable and intriguing. The outdoor patio surrounded by trees, graffiti murals, and a wood-burning fireplace adds to this inviting vibe. The brilliant minds behind Hyde Sunset also bring casual comfort to the menu by sourcing almost all of their ingredients locally and offering great deals, like a reasonably-priced, gourmet Taco Tuesday selection.

The unparalleled bill of fare and dedication to locavore cuisine is the brainchild of Chris Crary, a Top Chef alumnus and chef-sorcerer of Calicuisine (California cuisine—trademark pending). Chef Crary formerly served as the chef de cuisine at the renowned Whist in Santa Monica’s Viceroy Hotel, where he excelled employing local ingredients and dazzling taste buds—two traits he now shares in abundance at Hyde Sunset.

Before you even sit down to indulge in Chef Crary’s divine dishes, swing by the wraparound bar and say hello to Kate, the delightful and somewhat mischievous bartender. Trust her to whip up an off-menu libation or go with my personal favorite, The Love Unit: a loose third pint full of fresh basil, Absolut Vodka, Absolut Vanilla Vodka, freshly pressed lime juice, simple syrup, freshly pressed grapefruit juice, and freshly extracted red bell pepper juice. The spirit is well-balanced, smooth, and robust, with just the right hint of sweetness.

Once you’ve wet your whistle, dig in to the food. My absolute favorite plate on the Hyde Sunset menu is the Local Black Cod with Miso Cauliflower Puree, Kumquat, and Puffed Rice. This is a palate-altering, plate-licking, you-need-to-order-at-least-two-of-them dish! In fact, this might have been the best dish I had in LA during a week of fine dining. The black cod is so soft that it melts in your mouth, but it is the double dose of delicious sauces that makes the dish celestial. The miso cauliflower puree (the white sauce to the right of the fish in the picture) is astonishing. When you combine it with the orange kumquat citrus sauce, it will shoot more endorphins into your skull than a high-speed car chase in an action movie. The crispy puffed rice adds the perfect amount of texture to this exquisite dish.