Restaurant Review: LA Market

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a media dinner at LA Market by Kerry Simon at the JW Marriott in the center of L.A. Live. If you're not familiar, the L.A. Live area is in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles and is like the West Coast Times Square--lots of lights, digital billboards, restaurants, concerts, but instead of Broadway shows there are the Clippers, Lakers and Kings games playing in the Staples Center.

Inside the JW Marriott's huge, almost open air and sleek lobby, sits the LA Market restaurant where we were previewing the updated menu from their new Chef de Cuisine-Hell’s Kitchen Season Eight winner Nona Sivley.

At the helm of Chef Simon’s kitchen, the HK winner plans to add her own touch to the current menu of reimagined American classics that complement the music and entertainment scene surrounding the hotel. True to her Texan roots, Nona has incorporated her passion for Southern and Southwestern cuisine by adding Crispy Pork Belly, Gnocchi and Jumbo Lump Crab, Pan Seared Cod, Grilled Ribeye dishes and a banana custard pudding with pecan ice cream (Taste of Georgia) for a sweet finish.

The best of the new additions was the Gnocchi and Jumbo Lump Crab appetizer with truffle parmesan cream. It was so creamy and delicious with generous chunks of sweet crab meat, that I'll definitely be back to order that again, even an an entree!

Another great appetizer is the Tuna Dynamite, an LA Market signature starter, which had caviar and lump crab on top over sticky rice and spicy tuna. Delicious!

I also enjoyed their yummy, melt-in-your-mouth, Braised Short Rib entree. Nona even jokingly asked, "how can you go wrong with short ribs?" I can't wait to order this entree again too.

You don't need to attend a special tasting like I did in order to see Chef Nona though as almost every seat in the restaurant has a view inside the open kitchen, where you can easily see Nona moving around dishes and overseeing everything. Even before she stopped over at our table, I felt like we already met, since I was watching her and her team throughout the entire meal, which was really cool. You can spot Nona in the kitchen over Darin Dines shoulder below.

FYI: A special Mardi Gras menu will appear Saturday March 5 through Tuesday, March 8.

LA Market
Lobby level of the JW Marriott
900 West Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

213-765-8930

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Previous Restaurant Reviews:
Cecconi’s in WeHo

3 comments

  1. It was fun being able to meet Chef Nona and try some of these dishes. Good to see you Tara - hope we can do it again soon!

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  2. Look it's a real restaurant review! I can't wait to try Kin- sounds delicious!


    Thank You!!!

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