Dinner at Ammo Restaurant
Posted on May 27, 2012 under Archives | No CommentAlthough chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat left to open their own joint a few months ago (Cooks County, a few miles from Ammo), the California farm to table menu at this 16 year old LA restaurant remains basically the same. Named after owner Amy Sweeney, Ammo is calming with just a hint of Hollywood vibe. The concrete floor. leather chairs, eclectic music and blond wood tables provide an industrial design, while the seasonal fresh ingredients and inventive cocktail menu keep industry and local foodies filling both the inside and sidewalk patio seating. I visited last week with my friend Monica to sample some dishes and here is what we tried:
I started off with the very refreshing Blood Orange Crush (so good I actually had two) with prosecco, aperol, blood orange juice and thyme. Monica had an Iced Tea.
Spring brings with it jumbo asparagus and I couldn’t resist the asparagus appetizer, topped with fresh burrata, basil and tarragon. A tasty combo with the crunch from perfectly oven roasted green stalks and mozzarella and cream. Monica had the traditional Caesar salad with shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.
Fresh seasonal ingredients are the star at Ammo, and all our dishes reflected the restaurant’s farm to table philosophy. I had the barramundi braised with baby artichokes, cherry tomatoes, cannellini beans, Castelvetrano olives in a delicious broth of white wine and fresh herbs and Monica had a half roasted chicken on mustard greens with pine nuts, currants and shallots. Both were delicious.
We ended the meal splitting a nice flourless chocolate cake topped with whipped creme fraiche.
Ammo continues to flourish in the turbulent LA restaurant scene and still delivers seasonal tasty fare and some killer cocktails. Reservations recommended, located at 1155 North Highland Avenue, 323/871-2666