la.foodblogging

If it weren’t for the fact that the entire street, Montana Avenue, was deserted save for the half block radius around the restaurant, we would have driven right by Yu, which is in a space that used to be a Wolfgang Puck Cafe. It’s is dark on the outside, and there’s no sign. That seems quite the trend now in restaurant storefronts – be obviously inconspicuous. Quite annoying, actually, when I have to u-turn. Twice.

Yu serves asian small plates. It’s not fusion, it’s Asian, and if we want to get really obnoxious, it’s pan-Asian – different cuisines represented on the menu, but not really mixed together in the same dish. Sometimes it seems weird to me that things likea teacup saucer sized plate of garlic boonchi beans are served here in such high style when I can get an enormous family style plate of dry sauteed chinese long beans at a chinese restaurant. Not sure if “boonchi beans” are the scientific name for green beans, but that’s what they tasted like. They were okay, but a little overly spiced. And what of the sweet and sour kurabota pork with ruby red grapefruit? It too has a fancy name and is served in high style. About 8 pieces sit in a hammered silver plate over a little bunsen burner - but it tastes like…sweet and sour pork from panda express.

There were things on the menu I didn’t order because it just felt wrong - Korean things. Jahp chae, galbee, and kimchi bokeumbop. They were translated into ingrish on the menu, though - Korean barbecued shorts ribs, chili kimchi fried rice. If I want to eat korean food, I would go into Koreatown, but that’s just me.

Overall, Yu’s food was good, though everything seemed a little overly salted and/or spiced - and that’s coming from a saltaholic who puts extra salt on everything! That said, the place is nice - low lights, high ceilings, dark wood…a gi-normous golden buddha in the front of the dining room and huge empty birdcages hanging from the ceiling. And let’s hear it for a full bar!

But it just doesn’t seem like the type of restaurant that fits this location. There are lots of “trendyâ€? places popping up in santa monica these days, like Cinch, Lincoln, Ma’kai, Boa…but they’re not on quiet little Montana Ave. I’m not raving about Yu, but others like Daily Candy and the L.A.times seem to like it.

Yu Restaurant and Lounge
1323 Montana Ave. (@ Euclid)
Santa Monica, CA 90402
310.395.4727
www.yurestaurants.com

By sarah (see more of her posts). You can find more of sarah's writing at her own website The Delicious Life