Rate-A-Restaurant #286: Bashan

Restaurant: Bashan

Location: 3459 N. Verdugo Road (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: French, American



We stipulated: It was date night -- the kids were at their cousins' house -- and it was a perfect moment to use a Groupon we had purchased for Bashan. As a bonus, it's Restaurant Week, so this was out one chance to partake in a dineLA menu.

They stipulated: "Bashan Restaurant is a casual fine dining neighborhood restaurant. Constantly searching for the best ingredients, our menus are farmer’s market driven and change seasonally. We incorporate classic French technique in all of our preparations infusing California, Mediterranean and Asian practices." Bashan also offers a $40 prix fixe menu on Tuesdays through Thursdays, and burger night on Sundays.



What we ordered: We both got the $45-per-person dineLA menu.



Appetizers: Pork Belly "Teriyaki" (crispy rice cake, togarashi, braised scallions, pickled apples) and Wild Fijian Albacore Sashimi (papaya, nori, pickled daikon & red jalapeño, ponzu).



Main: Olive Oil Poached King Salmon (Okinawa yams, braised bacon, celery root, sweet peppers, pecans, crispy skin, beurre rouge) and Seared Maine Scallops (marrow beans, Spanish chorizo, mussels, peppadew peppers, grapes, sherry).



Dessert: Brioche Chocolate Bread Pudding (chocolate sauce, cocoa nibs, vanilla ice cream) and Coffee Tiramisu (pistacho, cocoa nibs).



High point: The scallops -- particularly, that broth -- were amazing.

Low point: Strangely, after small but satisfying dishes, the desserts were enormous. Of course, it was overwhelming. We were the last seating, and perhaps they had enough left over that they were being generous.



Overall impression: Bashan has been recognized around town as one of L.A.'s best restaurants, and we can see why. From a amuse bouche (above) at the start to the atmosphere and attentive wait staff, it was a nice experience.



Chance we'll go back: High chance. The dineLA menu wasn't quite as adventurous as we wold have liked, so we definitely want to check out Bashan's regular menu.