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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Studio City
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I always thought that olive tapenade looked like that one grain of rice that you swallow too quickly so it goes up the wrong tube and somehow ends up coming out your nose. Green, gooey, kinda like a green train wreck with multiple deaths. Ugh. I'm not the only one that happens to, right? RIGHT?!! And for some reason, regardless of where it comes from--a nice restaurant, homemade by someone, an expensive grocery store--it always tasted like what I imagined olives blended with that impossibly difficult CD wrapper would taste like. Kinda bitter, too olivey, kinda fake and plasticy, just kinda gross. But OH hot damn, the olive tapanade at Spark's is the best I've EVER tasted. They must make it fresh and they must use really good olives and tomatoes or artichokes or whatever they put in there because I HATE olives and I can't get enough of this stuff. The cold tapenade paired with the hot delicious appetizer bread they serve, I just go apoplectic (word of the day in my inbox, sorry).
Whoa, that's a lot of tapenade talk, but I think it's what keeps me coming back. I've come here about 3 times for big company bday lunches and the lunch food is pretty good, but not rave-able like their tapenade. I can't remember what I had the first 2 times, but the last time I came here (as in yesterday), I had one of their 1/2 lb. kobe burgers with provolone cheese, sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes, lettuce, and a side of fries. A little overcooked since I asked for medium rare, so it tasted a little charred, but still pretty good. Their freedom fries are surprisingly delicious too. Yes, I said freedom.They're just plain crinkle fries, but they were perfectly crisp and tasted really good--abnormally good in fact. I distinctly remember liking the fries the previous times I went here too. Oh, and from the look of it, their woodfire pizzas are EXTRA thin and floppy, and I'm talking--fold it in half to eat it--floppy, which is a definite plus in my book. And how can you hate a place that serves ONLY passion fruit iced tea. My fav!
The topper to a good meal was the Chocolate Hazelnut Brazilia for dessert. Only took three bites (still on a semi-fake-diet), but that shit literally disintegrates in your mouth. And you can taste the hazelnut crust and the ground hazelnut they sprinkle on top. It's like a nutella explosion in your mouth! Such a simple looking dessert, but bursting with flavor--it's like the plot of "She's All That" in an effing dessert, minus Freddie Prinze Jr., ugh.
Sooooo, anyway, tapenade, tapenade, tapenade, tapenade, tapenade!!
People thought this was:
Tonight was the kind of night where the idea of a nice steak and a champagne cocktail sounded like a plan. Not wanting to go too far from the humble abode, I remembered the very persuasive billboard that Sparks has above the gas station at Ventura Blvd and Ventura Place and figured we'd give it a go. Definitely glad we did.
Upon entering das joint, the staff was super nice and while they initially sat us at a table in the middle of the restaurant, they were all too kind when we asked for a booth in the corner and said, "The lady is always right." Thanks, you are correct... in this case anyway.
From there we perused the cocktail menu and I saw those 2 beautiful words... Champagne Cocktail. Yes to the please. A few minutes later, our drinks arrived and it was a quick toast to life and we moved onto the steak menu. I'm sure it had other things, but all I was concerned with was a well prepared medium rare piece of cow. Mmmm mmmm.
I went with the cheapest steak since I am a baller on a budget lately and it was delicious. My only complaint was that it wasn't rested long enough, because after cutting into it, it quickly became a pool of red love. Awwhh, shucks.
I paired it with the hazelnut green beans and the smashed potatoes and they were both good, but not great. The salt on the potatoes was large enough to knock a fragile tooth out and while it tasted good enough, I would have preferred a smoother ride for my mouth. The green beans were good, but slightly overcooked.
My friend went to town on some side dishes and I can report that the fries were tasty and the asparagus was crisp and well prepared. I hoped for that same thing with my green beans, but not the case.
I also had a glass of spicy red with my steak and it was really nice. I think it was a Claret Blend of some kind and it came recommended by our server. Always lovely when a server can translate a spicy red, kick in the pants into a perfect glass of vino. Yayness.
Overall, I thought the meal was nice and while not mind blowing, it was an upscale treat for a Monday night and I would definitely go again.
People thought this was:
On a Thursday night it was very difficult to get parking in Studio City. The Spark lot was full. So while I would have considered giving it a 4 star the parking definitely knocks of star.
The ambiance of Spark was nice, but a little load for my taste at times. The servers are nice.
The appetizer: Shrimp, Crab, Spinach Artichoke Dip was delicious (4 stars).
Main course (3.5 star): I had the Mesquite Chicken, which was good. The goat cheese, tomatoes and crystallized onions blended well together. The mashed potatoes on the side was nothing fancy, and the string beans seemed to be a little over cooked, but okay. Over all for $17 the portion of food was good.
Desert (4): The tiramisu was delicious.
We arrived, searching quite a bit for parking (to avoid valet). Street parking there is very full, even on a Thursday evening. Meters are two-hour until 8pm, and still it took twenty minutes to find one open.
We got in, no wait for a table. It was very dim lighting, setting the mood for a more romantic dinner aside from the fact that the room is small and loud, tables separated perhaps by a little too narrow of a space.
But, the mood was overall nice, the kitchen visible through plexiglass, the tables covered with white linen.
We ordered the Crab, Shrimp and Spinach Dip ($12) for an appetizer, though first came out our complimentary bread with olive tapenade. The tapenade was great--this coming from someone who doesn't like olives. It was mildly olivey, giving it a nice interesting flavor.
The Dip came out in a little white dish on a plate encircled with toasty wontons. It was perfection: creamy, warm enough to dive right into without a wait, and with just enough of a seafood flavor so as not to turn you off. The wontons were a great addition, having the perfect crunch to go with the dip. The only problem was that there were too few wontons.
We ordered from the Spark Classics section thinking these were their specialties. My friend ordered the Mesquite Grilled Chicken Breast with Sonoma Goat Cheese ($17) and I ordered the Lasagna di Mauro ($16). I tried some of his hazelnut green beans: slightly overcooked, though having an good flavor, interestingly nutty. The mashed potatoes were the same as anywhere else: just a salty pile of filler. (Not a big mashed potatoes fan.) The chicken had a wonderful type of goat cheese that was extremely creamy. This was balanced well with the tomato relish. The only drawback was that the meal came off as a bit salty.
The lasagna was not up to par. It was different, but I was seeking a more traditional version of this dish. This one was made with a stronger cheese than I am used to. Online, it calls it a smoked mozzarella. In the restaurant, I believe it was a parmesan, unless my mind is failing me. Either way, I like my lasagnas saucy--and specifically red, not white, so if you like cheesy, vegetarian-type lasagnas and alfredo sauce versions of lasagna, ignore my review. I took my first bite, noticing how fluffy the lasagna was, which was kinda fun. And, for the first moment, I applauded the accuracy of the bolognese sauce: it was exactly what I envisioned. But, quickly, my palate was overcome with the taste of what almost reminded me of bacon. I think it was the parmesan / smoky mozzarella. Either way, it was overpowering and, well, salty. The sauce no longer existed.
Fortunately, I was heavily filled by the wonderful dip from before, so the lasagna was a mere muse to this recent addition to my pseudo lifestyle as a restaurant reviewer.
We finished with the tiramisu. It had exactly the right flavor, reminiscent of any I have tried before here or abroad. The presentation wasn't quite as good, however. It was a short, flat piece of cake that was not quite as "solid" as I would have liked. For lack of a better description, it was a bit too much dependent upon slightly chewy ladyfingers held loosely together by the whipped cream and a very light mascarpone cheese. It probably would have benefited from having a slightly thicker mascarpone and/or a little more and little more cakey ladyfingers.
Overall, good to try, but stick to appetizers and desserts if you want to be impressed and feel you've gotten your money vs. palate's worth! Though the pizzas on the other tables looked good enough... more gourmet style thin crust if you're into that. And, yes, portion sizes were good. Service was good, though a bit slow and unenthused.
The food wasn't all that. They aren't very accommodating to a large party, even though we had reservations. And the waitress was one of the worst i have ever had. Would never go here again.
People thought this was:
Close to my work, so I love this place for lunch meetings. The Chopped Salad is excellent. Service is professional and well-timed. Street parking is tough, but they have valet. The booths downstairs are perfect for a comfortable yet classy lunch.
People thought this was:
I don't know why I have never reviewed Spark. I have eaten there several times and always enjoy myself. Maybe I subconsciously always want to be able to get a table on short notice so I don't really want people thinking its good.
Food is basic but I have never been disappointed [and I can be a bit picky]. I have enjoyed the grilled artichoke, frito misto, crab cakes and margherita pizza as appetizers. For an entree, I would highly recommend steak or the ribs or the burger. If you are feeling less than "meat-centric", the Cobb salad is a good choice.
The wine list is really nice and there are several selection that are great and won't break the bank. By the glass selections are a bit pricey but who's only going to have one glass of wine-get a whole bottle.
Service is usually friendly but can be a bit haphazard. Last time we ate there, I had to remind the waiter 3 time about my martini.
Table are a bit close together but it is more cozy than crowded.
Spark's is not a place you take out of towners to impress them with the fine dining options of The Valley but it certainly is good food, a good value and a comfy place.
Food 5
Service 4
Decor 4
other -almost always being able to get in on short notice [except maybe Fridays and Saturdays] 5
People thought this was:
I love this restaurant. Great salads and pizza. Pizza is made in a wood-fired oven in the traditional Roman style with a light, thin crust. SO good!! Really good seafood menu too. The BEST Cobb salad! Spark Cobb comes with
romaine, spit-roasted chicken, bleu cheese, applewood bacon, corn, tomatoes, cucumber,toasted sunflower seeds and a buttermilk
ranch dressing. Menu overall is great. They have something for everyone.
Although I hadn't actually been into Spark's physical restaurant, I had ordered the Margarita pizza from them several times. ( Hey I've lived in SC for 6+yrs whatd ya want?) I kinda wonder why, because it is o.k. but not great. They charge like a $3 delivery charge and are usually a little slow with delivery. Why do I keep ordering from them? lol
Christmas Eve my friend and I decided to actually go in and see what all the fuss is about. The restaurant in SC is not as big as other locations but still has a full menu. We expected it to be completely packed or dead both b/c it was pouring rain and because frankly Studio city has a significant population of people who don't celebrate Xmas. It was pretty full but we still were able to eat at the bar.
Our bartender was very sweet and friendly definitely cared about making sure we were happy. I had the filet minon served with smashed potatoes and green beans. I usually like my meat rare, but at the staff's suggestion ordered it med rare. My steak was good, just not the best cut I have ever had, at $37 I don't know if I would order it again. The potatoes were good, flavorful and the beans were crispy.
Overall a good experience but I am not in any hurry to run back......
Spark ? Nah more like a glowing ember at best
Wow I even bored myself with this review, eh well lol
People thought this was:
First off, many kudos to the staff for seating us about 15 minutes before they closed without batting an eye.
The orange iced-tea that they had was delicious... a bit... too.. delicious... The waiter eventually left us not one, but two carafes at our table because I was going through glasses at an unacceptable rate.
For the main course I got the wood fired rack of lamb with a side of creamed spinach and "broccolini" which I am told is some genetic mutation/hybrid of broccoli and zucchini. Let me say, without any sort of exageration, this is one of the best plates I have ever had out in the valley. The lamb was cooked PERFECTLY. Seriously. Downright delicious. It was one of the meals that I wish never ended.
The girlfriend ended up having the wood fired chicken topped with goat cheese and vegetables. Absolutely amazing as well.
Again, I was impressed that our food wasn't rushed or under/over cooked due to the time we were seated. Thanks again, staff!
Well we were all too full for desert, we did manage to polish off another carafe of iced tea.
I'll definitely be going back.
It was crowded inside and the tables are close together, but it's a great spot for a dinner. I had a good steak and my wife had some sort of pasta.
The highlight was a wine tasting of a winery I've never heard of. It was very good.
Me driving a Jetta sure impressed the valet guys, as they were all over my car. Living the dream!
#1 - The photos on this site for this place aren't the same as the place I went to last night! Trippy.
#2 - I had the Chicken Caesar Salad and the croutons were comparable to fried tofu bits (meaning crunchy on the outside and mushy on the inside).
#3 - Also, I had the crab cakes and they were okay. I have had more memorable ones.
#4 - The bartender tricked me and suggested the most expensive glass of wine on the list ($14/glass)! Not cool. I asked for a recommendation, not to be financially raped.
I would not be opposed to come here again, but I'm not dying to dine here again either.
Next time, I'll get the steak.
They were already out of the New York Strip on Valentine's night, by 9 p.m. Ahem. But, my boyfriend settled for the filet and I had a bite and secretly wanted to trade my halibut, which was overcooked and chewy. But I was digging the jasmine rice that came with it. It was cooked perfectly and had lots of flavor. I'm a bit of a rice nut.
The atmosphere was great until a couple sat at the table next to us, and I realized the tables are WAY too close together. I felt like trying some of their food too.
Actually, this place is closer to two stars than three, but I'm giving Spark the benefit of the doubt because we had a really, really great waiter who was attentive, not overbearing, great sense of humor, patient and helpful.
If only he'd made me order the steak.
Yummy lasagna!!! That and the fork and knife salad with BACON!! :) Few places make a yummy homestyle lasagna, but this place cranks out a great one. Service is pleasant and the food is always good.
For some reason, I remember Spark being cool and rustic.. kinda like Laurel Tavern. But when I went there last night, it had turned into a place like Stanley's! Where was that room in the photo?!! The decor was not cool at all.... and they had a Soft Soap bottle in the restroom! Seems like this place is on extreme auto-pilot. The food is not definitely not bad but for $100, I'd rather be somewhere with great food and atmosphere! Let's see.... Spark for $100 or Comme Ca, Church & State or Mozza for $110? A no brainer.
People thought this was:
oooh came here for the first time this week and it did not disappoint. we started off with spicy tuna tartare as an appetizer, which was very good... he had the cioppino, and i got the sashimi grade ahi tuna. the cioppino (seafood stew) required some effort since you had to crack open all the crab legs inside to eat it. the ahi tuna was damn good... light but satisfying. for dessert, we shared a the tiramisu which was also very light and really yummy. the ambiance was cozy but modern and elegant. the service was also excellent... attentive but not overbearing. throw a glass of wine to the mix and dinner for two was probably around $100 not including tip (i didn't actually see the bill, but i did the mental math). bit on the pricey side, but if he's willing to pay, i'm going again!
Completely empty late on a Sunday save a rabbi and a loveable man with a cockney accent who "doesn't much like olives..."
Valet: Grumpy. Hostess/Server/Bar Maid: Aloof and working very hard to run a whole restaurant by herself.
Not sure why four stars instead of three. Perhaps the ambiance (even though the decor seemed somewhat cheap and menus were old and needed replacing) and the flamenco-smooth-jazz. Our waitress was earnest and hard-working and rather down-to-earth. Could've been the dark wood and stone sort of feng-shui deal.
Swordfish special with an eggplant, onion, pinenut, raisin, garlic, olive oil/sherry sauce over hazelnut greenbeans (boyfriend had the hazelnut mashed potatoes). My main complaint with the green beans was that like many places, they over-oiled them.
The fish was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and not greasy at all thank GOD.
Dessert: Affogato, good espresso poured over great vanilla bean gelato, heaven, really.
Sweet Lady Jane White Chocolate Cheesecake and Red Velvet cake: Cheese: Stale/weird tasting at first, very very tart raspberry, somehow the flavor of the white chocolate grew on me and it melted smoothly. Red velvet cake: somewhat dry, very sweet icing.
Bill (no drinks, just bottled water) was $100 + tip.
Nice fish!
So my review may be a bit biased since I used to work there forever ago... BUT i'm sure their food is still amazing and I know some of the servers are still the greatest. The lasagna will probably give you a heart attack if you devour it all on your own but it's SO good. One of my favorites was the Arugula & Prosciutto Pizza and the flat iron steak never disappoints. If you're ever there for lunch, get the Kobe burger! Great people, great food, cozy restaurant and a great valet guy!
Everything I had here was de-lish! I ordered the halibut which was perfectly cooked, light, and had a nice sauce. Our waitress was exceptionally nice and professional. Most others ordered steak and they were all pleased. Seemed like a laid back clientele, as opposed to what you can find in many LA restaurants. I would happily return when I come back to LA.
People thought this was:
Came here for dinner last night and I really enjoyed it. I got the Mesquite Grilled Chicken Breast
with sonoma goat cheese, smoked tomato relish,
mashed potatoes and hazelnut green beans... very good, my boyfriend got the Filet Mignon & that was very good as well, my best friend got the Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna, lets just say we were all very pleased, I cant wait to come here again & try something else.
* I really liked their choices on the Menu!
*Make reservations
People thought this was:
I ordered the 20 oz bone-in ribeye which is my favorite steak and my conclusion is that Flemings still has the best steaks around.
My steak at Spark tasted like it had been frozen a long time and they just de-frosted it for me. I have lots of experience with frozen steaks because my mom used to stock up on it whenever there was a sale.
The side dishes I got were smashed potatoes and broccolini and they were good.
Maybe I wasn't too hungry tonight, but I was disappointed with the food considering the prices. The one good thing about this place is they have comfortable chairs.
All talk, no game.
I had never heard of this place before when my cousin suggested we eat here with the girls. A friend of mine told me its popular by name. Now I know why its not popular because of the food.
This place is decent. I am going to give it two stars for the:
1)Ambiance and Atmosphere
2) GREAT drinks and because my sister and cousin thought their meals were good.
I honestly think this place was average when it came to the cuisine. We ordered the grilled artichoke as an appetizer, which was one SMALL artichoke cut into four measly pieces. For $11 that was ridiculous! Go to Stanleys a couple blocks away for AMAZING HUGE artichokes.
I thought the tampenade they served with the bread was kinda old and tasted funny. Everyone else thought it was good.
Ceasar salads were small, not so great dressing, not great looking lettuce, cold polenta croutons that were oily and three pieces of shrimp. This was a SMALL plate for dinner size. $14 no way. Looked like their chicken and fish dishes were good. Good mashed potatoes.
This place has a beautiful dining setting, with the kitchen facing you through a glass. Cute bar, GREAT martinis. The cosmo was deelish and the Lemon Drop was tart tart tart.
I wouldnt go back here for dinner but definately to sit at the bar.
People thought this was:
Just had lunch here for the first time in years.
The pizza at this place is awesome.
Great wine selections.
We had an artichoke, the grilled polenta/gorgonzola with arugula.
Shitake mushroon sandwich and the girls both had salads.
We matched it with a nice Sauv blanc.
Service was good and fast.
Food was hot and presented well.
Well priced given the quality.
Will be back again soon, next time for dinner.
People thought this was:
This place has pretty great lunch specials for $10.00. That's a pretty good deal, and all the food I've had here is pretty darn good... I haven't had anything that wasn't delicious, but for lunch I recommend the lasagna or 1/2 roast beef sandwich and salad.
The staff is very professional, and will seat you with no complaints if you come in at the end of service and not make you feel like you need to rush out... and full bar!!
My scrawny arm is outstretched across the table, escorting her hand into mine.
A fork falls to the ground. The pling-clang drawing attention from my fellow patrons.
"I apologize" I whisper to my dining neighbors. "She's a bit nervous."
My waitress swoops by and hands me a new fork.
"This is the last one you will get, sir." She explains. "Please stop dropping them."
"Oh, it's not me. It's my lovely date, Lindsey." I gesture to her and give her a wink. "She's a bit nervous."
"Sir," she whispers, "that's a doll. Now, stop dropping them or else I will have to ask you to leave. You and your creepy life sized doll."
I smile and nod. I do understand her impatience. Lindsey has quite not mastered table manners since I ordered her in Spring. We practice at home, her and I, but the idea is quite foreign to her. She is more of a free spirit, ol' Lindsey. She prefers to hang, soak in the environment, stare blankly at the wall, deep in thought.
But enough about her.
Spark Woodfire Grill accommodated to our needs quite fantastically.
The food was delicious.
The waitress was phenomenal. Funny, quick, informative.
Hell, they even helped me move Lindsey in and out of the chair.
And helped when Lindsey needed to go to the restroom.
And when she spilled wine.
Dropped a couple forks.
A leg of chicken.
They didn't even mind when she sent back the rest of her meal. (They still charged me, mind you, but they didn't look offended.)
There is something to say about a restaurant that gives you superb service.
And one that doesn't think you're fucking insane for bringing in a life-sized woman doll into their establishment.
Four stars.
People thought this was:
I had a lovely dinner with some friends here last night. The service was good and it was a cute and cozy restaurant. On to the food...here's what we had:
Lasagna...meaty, cheesy and delicious
Tri-tip...so tender...a knife was not needed at all
Flat iron Steak...flavorful and cooked just right
Trout...flavor was good but I didn't like the scaly skin left on fish
Salmon...didn't try it but you can't really go wrong with salmon
Meatloaf...delicious and moist
Creme brulee...ummm...don't get this...not very good
Caffe latte...served lukewarm...at about a 100 degrees...eww
Our entrees were good but the dessert and my latte killed it at the end. Go for the food but have coffee and dessert somewhere else.
People thought this was:
Highly recommend making a reservation. Crowded dinning since it's a small location. Excellent affordable wine menu. Food is delicious. We love the Ahi Tuna, Roasted Herb Chicken, and Pistachio Crusted Halibut. Service is always friendly. Great place to dine in the "valley"!
Spark is pretty inconsistent, i've been here 5 or 6 times and my experiences have ranged from excellent to extremely poor to totally average. if i'm in the mood for some red meat I would go here without thinking twice if i'm in this neck of the woods and in a pinch. But if i have time to contemplate my future gluttony i'd probably drive to cut in beverly hills, spend a little more money for a much better piece of meat and environment.
Picture it.... I'm back from a semester abroad in Tuscany and I'm hurting. I miss the food, I miss the people, I miss the lifestyle, the ambiance all of it!
Enter Spark Woodfire Grill. My cousins took me out to dinner and imagine my surprise when she told me about the history of this restaurant and about how the young chef had been brought over from Italy to work his magic. We sat around on a Friday evening enjoying our drinks and meal at a leisurely European pace in the dark but warm dinning room of Spark and chatted the night away. It was perfectly relaxing and exactly the nostalgic cure I needed. (Their pizza margarita is EXACTLY like the ones I enjoyed in Florence!)
Of all the restaurants I've been to in LA this one has the best "front of house" people who are genuinely warm and make you feel at home. My family likes this restaurant so much that one of my cousins held her bridal shower here. It says a lot about the space that it can handle sunny happy bridal showers and dark romantic dinners.
People thought this was:
Meh - disappointed.
Ordered - Potato Leek soup, NY Steak with smashed potato & greens, skipped dessert.
The soup was so boring. It really tasted like starchy water with some leeks added to it.
The steak was merely fine, for about 30 bucks it had better be. The smashed potato was literally a boiled and smashed yukon gold potato with a pat of salted butter on top of it. LAME
What was the most annoying thing was, my friend ordered the caesar salad and requested anchovies to go with it. Got charged $1.50 for the anchovies! It's not like $1.50 is going to change the world, but it was the principle of it all.
Service was fine but the food was just kind of... lame.
LAME
People thought this was:
Struggling on picking a resturant to go to after work, my coworker suggested Spark Woodfire Grill. I checked out the website and was enticed with their menu selection and venue. We decided to go there for happy hour which was in the upstairs lounge. In order to get to the upstairs lounge, we had to take the "secret passage way" (side alley) to the back of the resturant, then walk upstairs. The walk was reminecent of alleyways in Europe that are narrow yet painted with calm colors. Walking through the alley I was thinking to myself, "damn this is gonna suck." but much to my suprise, when I was walking in a modern decorated lounge accompanied by a warm glowing dinner area was revealed.
We went for happy hour which is only suppose to be in the lounge area, but we asked the waitress if we could sit at a table in the dining room, and they were nice enough to say yes.
The ambiance in the dining area is great for small groups and intimate conversations. I would probably even take a first date there.
Ok, now lets get to the important stuff.
Drinks
We had a couple minutes to look over the happy hour menu and there was a decent selection of drinks and food. I had a the Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen and also a Mojito Martini. I was expecting a Hef on tap, but unfortunately it was just a bottled hef, none the less it was good and served in a cold frosted glass accompanied by a lemon wedge. The Mojito Martini was served in a classic martini glass and had some whole mint leaf garnish on top. The drink was smooth and refreshing with just the right amount of alcohol. Overall I thought the drinks were great.
Food
On the food side, we ordered several appetizers; Maryland Blue Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli, Fried Calamari, Kobe Beef Sliders, and the Seared Ahi Tuna.
The appetizers came out in 2 rounds. First up was the Calamari and Crab Cakes, which came out in the area or 5-10 minutes. After scarfing that down and ordering another round of drinks, I'd say the 2nd round of food which was the Kobe Beef Sliders and Seared Ahi Tuna took about 20 minutes to come out. (thats pretty long when you are hungry) but I digress.
The Maryland Blue Crab Cakes were magnificent. They were cooked to just the right heat, crispy on the outside and warm on the inside. Along with the cakes came a corn relish and a little side of greens. The cohesion of the flavors and textures was great. With the light fire of the chipotle the sweetness of the corn, the texture of the crab and the refreshing nature of the greens, I would have to say this was my favorite appetizer out of the four.
The Calamari had a beautiful golden color and was presented on a bed of romaine lettuce. Itwas well seasoned, cooked to the right temperature, and accompanied by a tangy "tartar" sauce. The Textures were good with crispiness and tenderness of the calamari, and the romaine salad underneath was a perfect solution to clense the palatte after the tangy tartar sauce.
The Kobe Beef Sliders were low carb, three sliders were presented with no buns, but leaves of romaine lettuce. The Sliders were topped with melted swiss cheese carmalized onions and a pickle. The beginning of the slider was great, I tasted the carmalized onions and cheese, thats tasted great, but when it came down to the nittygritty, the beef was very under seasoned. The beef was cook to the right temperature, but without the seasoning, it killed the slider. None the less it was definitly juicy and and filling.
Lastly we had the Seared Ahi Tuna. When the plate came out , the tuna was beautifully stacked in with avocado, a couple cucumbers, topped with a line of sauce and accompanied by several fried wonton like chips. The presention was an A+, but as we were sticking our forks into the tuna to slice off a bit, the stacked cucumbers got in the way and toppled the tower of tuna in all its glory. None the less, the flavors of the tuna were good, a scoop of tuna, avocado and greens topped on top of a wonton chip was refreshing and satisifing at the same time, leaving the last bit our appetizers clean and crisp to finish.
Overall Spark Woodfire Grill was a good experience. The prices for happy hour were decent (in the not go broke realm), the food was good, and the drinks were tasty while alcoholic, what more could you ask for?
People thought this was:
I give Spark 3 stars. Don't get me wrong, the food was amazing. The Cobb Salad, as one of my friends so elegantly put it, is magical. The eggplant parmesan left me wanting more. And the desert, oh the desert...
However, the service was horrible. Our waitress didn't even attempt to fake a decent mood. She was rude and unattentive throughout our entire meal. She and the bussers were taking plates of off our table before we were even through with them. At one point they cleared my friend's plate before she even put the bite she just picked up off of it into her mouth. There wasn't even a long wait for a table, so its not like they were desperate to get us out of there to seat someone.
From now on I will only go to the Beverly Hills location.
People thought this was:
I came here for lunch. The food took a while too come out, and $15 for a burger iis a bit much, though it was kobe beef, but it was definitely good, and the fries were AMAZING! I've never had fries before with each piece consistently hot and crispy. Service was courteous and I believe the chef even came out a couple times to check up on us.
JONASAPPROVED!
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Spark is a good microcosm of what I like about Ventura Blvd in general: Good food, great friendly service and lots and lots of eye candy!
I'm a studio drone so I have only been for lunch. It's fun to watch studio-badged persons mingle with the talent that shows up nearly every time I go there. Like back in high school when the homecoming queen accidentally sat next to the band kids...
Good for small groups (e.g. probably no more than 6-8)
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So, I went to Spark with two of my best friends last Friday night for a change. We LOVED it. We got a pizza, ribs and their "house" chicken dish...I forget what it was called, but it was made with goat cheese in the woodfire grill. EVERYTHING was amazing. The service was pretty good, and the prices are reasonable for the quality of food.
The biggest drawback was the wine list. I expected some classic itialian varietals like Barbara d'Alba...or maybe a nice Amarone, but it was basically your standard cheap restaurant wine list. I would bring my own bottle next time, but I would go again for the delicious food.
I really liked the range of prices and the items on the menu. Any place that has great Ahi Tuna (what I got), amazing filet, and pizza... Im a fan. The place was a lil small tho... we sat on the patio, but it was still really nice.
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This is a neighborhood restaurant. Like most such establishments, the experience is better if you're a regular. You appreciate things like the fact that the staff doesn't turn over much, so you see the same folks month after month and they recognize you and are very warm. Service is superb: courteous and prompt. They have busy nights like any other restaurant, but I usually have no trouble getting a reservation on http://OpenTable.com on the same day.
The food here is very good. The menu is diverse enough that I can always find something I'm in the mood for. They also are very accommodating on adjusting dishes to individual tastes (hold the butter, sauce on the side, etc.). The grilled meats are done well, and their neapolitan style pizzas are awesome. Tthey do very nice fish as well, and have a tasty Caesar salad with polenta croutons.
The space is a little loud although they've done a lot to try to deaden the din. It's not so loud you can't carry on a normal conversation. The decor is relaxing and the ambience is quite pleasant. This is a very popular place for local celebs, who enjoy the fact that they can dine in peace without getting bothered.
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Really great woodfire cooked artichoke appetizer! Excellent soups, ribs and steaks. They have chimay, which I always appreciate. Try it - it's really good.
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Surprisingly great baby back ribs at an unlikely venue. Not that the food at Spark isn't tasty, but the ribs rival anything I've ever eaten at a traditional BBQ place. The burrata & tomato salad is so stellar that you'll never want to eat regular mozzarella again. Be sure to get it with their thick balsamic sauce for a flavor enhancement. Enjoy................G
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great filet (extened lunch at work...) :o)
great wine (okay, it was only 2 in the afternoon...but is was 5 o'clock somewhere)
great prices (yeah, not so much)(but worth going nontheless)
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SiLa Specials
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
10% Discount Continues
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Studio City
Category: French
Neighborhood: Studio City
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Studio City
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Studio City
Category: Italian
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