On Tuesday, my family and I dined at Madera Kitchen in Hollywood. I was delighted when I received the invitation through my blog to dine there because my daughter and I rarely eat dinner with my husband during the week. He works in Hollywood, so it was a nice opportunity for a family dinner.
Plan ahead for traffic
We arrived around 7:00pm for our 6:30pm reservation. It took me over an hour to drive there from the Westside (because I drove during rush hour), so plan accordingly. If you live closer than I do, but too far to walk, I would suggest taking a Lyft (link goes to my promo code for $5 credit, new users only) to avoid driving. If you do plan on driving, valet is $9.
The Venue
When we first arrived, my husband noticed it’s the spot where the club Wonderland once lived. I really liked the vibe of the place. The decor was really fresh – a lot of plants, exposed wood, and cool furniture. It is very “Instagram-friendly” — there is even a photo booth type camera set-up in front of the fire place.
It was still light out when we arrived, and the weather cooled down, so I opted to sit in the patio area, which is an “inside-outside” lounge area with plenty of seating options, pillows, and blankets in case you get chilly! We sat at a table with a fire pit, which we agreed they should not light, given my 4-year old daughter was with us.
Happy Hour
Happy Hour at Madera Kitchen is Tuesday – Friday, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm
I highly recommend dining during Happy Hour. The drink specials were reasonably priced, pretty, and delicious. We ordered portobello mushroom sliders for my daughter off the Happy Hour menu, which was more than enough for her. Two sliders for $4 was a really good deal. I wouldn’t mind coming back on a Wednesday, when oysters are six for $6.
Drinks
We ordered specialty cocktails off the Happy Hour menu, because…why not?! The three choices looked interesting and tasty. My husband ordered the Penicillin (Famouse Grouse scotch, ginger, and Laphorig Mist).
I ordered the Lamborn & Parker (Belvedere Vodka, Llillet blanc, sugar snap peas), mainly because I’ve never had a drink that included sugar snap peas.
Appetizers
Madera Kitchen encourages sharing plates, hence their extensive list of small dishes. Everything on the menu, as the waiter mentioned, is locally sourced from California Farms. We chose the Watercrest Salad and Sashimi.
The Watercrest Salad includes kumquat, asparagus, pomegranate vinaigrette, and bleu cheese
Sashimi was made with sea bass (the catch of the day), with yuzu mayo, watermelon, pomegranate, and baby herbs.
Entrees
I made ribeye steaks at home the night before, but I wanted to order it when I saw it on the menu at Madera Kitchen because it was prepared differently and came with hazelnut chimichurri. Chimichurri sauce isn’t for everyone, so I would suggest you order it on the side. A friend of mine doesn’t like cilantro, so she would be one to order it sans sauce!
My husband loves sea bass, so we went with the pan seared market fish, which is accompanied by artichoke pesto, roasted potatoes, baby carrots, and sautéed kale. It’s a light and savory dish, which is perfect for summer and dining al fresco.
Dessert
It’s funny how a kid (like mine) says she is full, but once a plate of something sweet is in front of her, she has an appetite of a linebacker. We shared (well, kinda) the churro ice cream sandwich on a plate. I think my husband and I got a couple bites of it before our daughter devoured it.
Thank You
Thank you, Madera Kitchen, for inviting us to dine at your establishment.
Madera Kitchen is kid-friendly and very accommodating, but I would recommend it more for a date-night, drinks, or happy hour spot. Great service, and a cool, hip environment.
Check out Real Mom of SFV’s post about Brunch at Madera Kitchen.
Madera Kitchen
Check website for more information such as current menu, hours, and reservations.
Website: cahuengagroup.com/maderakitchen
Located at: 1835 Cahuenga Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 (Cross street: Franklin)
Westside Mommy was not monetarily compensated for this post. We received complimentary menu items in order to facilitate this review. All photos an opinions are 100% my own.
