Stephanie Izard is a highly acclaimed chef and restaurateur, best known for winning Season 4 of Bravo's Top Chef. She is the chef/owner behind a successful empire of restaurants in Chicago and Los Angeles, celebrated...
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This was our first time dining here, and it had been on our to-do list for quite some time, especially knowing that an Iron Chef is the owner. My wife and I met up with another couple for dinner and were excited to finally give it a try.
The space offers a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. The décor is nice simple, clean, filled with tasteful greenery, and thoughtfully spaced to create a comfortable dining experience.
We worked our way through the menu and ordered seven items along with cocktails: naan & dips, pickled pepper blueberry cornbread, sautéed green beans, wood-fired broccoli, goat shank, sticky glazed pork shank, and grilled kalbi-style short ribs.
The one dish we were most excited about was the goat curry, but we were told it wasn't available. While waiting for our food, a runner brought a bowl of goat curry to our table, only for us to find out it was meant for another table. Naturally, we asked our server what was going on, and he explained that the other guests had ordered it earlier. In reality, the restaurant had simply sold out. Our reservation was at 6:30 p.m., and the restaurant opens at 5:00 p.m., so it was surprising that such a popular menu item was already gone.
As for the food, everything was cooked very well and beautifully presented. The proteins were moist and tender, and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. The cornbread and naan were excellent standouts. While the proteins were certainly good, the flavors didn't quite reach that "chef's kiss" level for me. They were enjoyable but left me wanting a bit more depth and flavor. The Pork Shank was the better of the proteins.
Service, unfortunately, was the weakest part of the evening. Our server, David, seemed to lack attention to detail. He never offered clean plates as we shared multiple dishes, nor did he check in to see if we wanted additional cocktails or more food. It felt like several missed opportunities to enhance both our experience and restaurants sales opportunity. Whether he was overwhelmed, distracted, or simply disengaged, the service came across as mediocre.
Overall, the restaurant has great potential. The atmosphere is inviting, the food is well executed. With more consistent service and better communication regarding menu availability, the experience could easily be elevated.
An overall good dining experience for the ambience and people watching. I recommend the outdoor seating since the inside can be noisy. The food was all over the place and felt like it was trying too hard, reminiscent of when nouveau CA cuisine was starting. The naan and hummus was a blend of non complimentary flavors thrown together. The naan, heavily garlic seasoned did not pair well with the soy and carrot hummus. The top layer of the naan was delicious and the bottom layer was good with the sides but together with flavors negating each other. Less is more and pick a lane. The pork shank was good and probably the best dish we had with flavors very similar to a pastor taco…if that is the direction and comparison the kitchen wants to evoke then it’s a poor comparison for food that is different and slightly more elevated than the flavors of the LA pastor street taco for a much lower price point. The goat curry was muted and lackluster and was very similar to a chilaquiles with the fried naan chips. Are the slightly better flavors, presentation, and ambiance justifying the significant higher price point? The sad answer is no. There is a heaviness and sweetness to the food which made us feeling still hungry with leftovers. It lacked a savory filling element since the sweetness from the pork and the coconut in the curry negated and fullness from the meats. The accompanying pickled veggies in all three dishes with their bright acidity helped cut through the sweetness and heavy “bready” feeling in all of the dishes. Especially in the competitive LA restaurant scene where even the mom and pop hole in the walls are far better than even Bib Gourmand Michelin restaurants this place pales in comparison. It’s pretty and pleasant but lacking. The goat curry was better the next day as leftovers than at the restaurant.
AMAZING, MIND BLOWING! Totally recommend this place for brunch! Although passing through downtown LA was not fun to get here, but the food was totally worth it. We visited here for a Sunday brunch and we were impressed by how unique and tasty each dish was. The portions were relatively small and easy to finish. I tried the following:
- Potato Crepe: 5/5, light, fresh, flavorful
- Confit goat belly: 5/5, mind blowing, full of different flavors blending beautifully together, very well balanced
- PB&J pancakes: 4/5, too sweet and heavy for my taste, but interesting flavors
- Sunrise spritz: 5/5, refreshening, unique, and flavorful
The food and the service was spectacular. Had a 8:30pm reservation and got there about 7:35. While waiting at the bar for Lee to get are table ready, Johnny the bartender mixed us two of his best Spa Day a vodka cocktail. While picking Johnny knowledge of the menu for recommendation along with his warm personality we never left the bar. Every dish was layered with flavors that took you on a culinary journey around the world. After eating at the Cut Beverly Hills steakhouse(Michelin Star)the night before Iron Chef Stephanie and her Girl & the Goat team despite a different atmosphere made us feel like we ate at Michelin Restaurants two nights in a row!!
Stumbled on Girl & the Goat while searching for a new spot to have dinner with my friends. Their online reviews were good and so we decided to try this place. Food was delicious, ambience was great and service was awesome. I had to re-order my grilled oysters cos it was so good
