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Dakota Weiss Does it Right at Estrella in West Hollywood.


By: Maren Swanson • December 3rd, 2015

Estrella Restaurant in West Hollywood.

There’s a new star on the Sunset Strip and her name is Dakota Weiss. Weiss (you may recognize her from Top Chef Texas), most recently running the kitchen at The Sunset Tower Hotel, has relocated down the street to spread her culinary wings even farther as Executive Chef of Estrella.

Dakota Weiss - Estrella Restaurant.
Estrella Restaurant on the Sunset Strip.

Estrella, a new restaurant featuring modern American cuisine, is now open in West Hollywood and it’s drawing in quite an eager crowd. Weiss told me she has more creative freedom with the menu here and it shows. With her careful attention to detail, balanced textural composition and free-flowing flavors, Weiss is making a culinary statement with her food and guests are eating it up…literally.

Bone Marrow at Estrella Restaurant.
Bone Luge at Estrella Restaurant.

One of Weiss’ favorite foods is bone marrow and it’s pretty obvious with her Instagram handle: @dakotalovesbonemarrow. So, how could I resist the opportunity to sample her favorite sherry funneled into my mouth through an emptied out bone marrow luge? I couldn’t. I got a chance to start the bone luging and it continued around the table last time I was in. What a ride. Heck, don’t knock it until you try it.

Cocktails at Estrella Restaurant.
Artichoke Guacamole at Estrella Restaurant in West Hollywood.

Head mixologist, Gioconda St. George, was showcasing some seasonal cocktails the night I came in, combined with a rock-n-roll twist. Since the restaurant drew inspiration from the famed Laurel Canyon bungalows of Joni Mitchell and “Mama” Cass Elliot, you can expect to find cocktails named, Sex, Drugs & Rock n’ Roll or Trouble Leaves Too Slow on the drink list. If you just happen to be having a drink and a snack a at the bar, don't miss out on an order of Artichoke Guacamole with oven dried tomatoes and tortilla chips paired with a Gobsmack cocktail (Avua Cachaca, jalepeno, sage, pineapple syrup, lime juice).

Hamachi Crudo at Estrella Restaurant in Los Angeles.
Hamachi Crudo at Estrella Restaurant in Los Angeles.

Menu standouts were plentiful for me. For starters, I would re-order the Hamachi Crudo with confit squash, citrus, chile de arbol and truffle pumkin seeds on my second visit. It's a lovely mix of textures, both delicate and articulate. If you really want a heaping flavor explosion and some spice, go with the Sliced Figs served with turkey chorizo, pomegranates, mint almonds. Oh, and don’t, I repeat, DON’T forget to try the bone marrow!

LAFW 2015.
Most of the tables at Estrella are high tops (ladies, bring a purse hook) and ordering tapas style in encouraged, so it’s recommended to order multiple dishes and dig in. I got to try some fun share dishes with my table. The Honey Fried Chicken was crispy and delicious and the accompanying not-so-heavy salad with tempura battered cornbread croutons balanced the dish well without weighing me down. The Caramelized Branzino with wild mushrooms, lobster-egg yolk cream, olives and carrots was also sublime. I also loved the Grilled Long Beans with tomato-anise jus, cracked wheat and crispy maitake mushrooms. Veggies. Done. Right.
Sweet Potato Pie at Estrella in West Hollywood.
Dessert at Estrella in West Hollywood.


I tried 3 desserts off the menu, but 2 of them changed my mouth’s world. The Cast Iron Skillet Seared Honey Pound Cake with strawberries was like a riff on strawberry shortcake, but the pound cake added a heartier element to the plate. The bee pollen-avocado semifreddo was just delicious; I even wanted another scoop, but I didn’t dare ask. The icing on “cake” for me was the Sweet Potato Pie. It was perfectly executed fall dessert served with caramelized carrot-cream cheese ice cream, pink peppercorns, sage and cinnamon cream. Wowza.

At most of the food festivals I attended this summer, Estrella’s dishes always made my top three and they weren’t even open yet. All of the team’s hard work and Weiss’ vision definitely paid off. You can bet I’ll be back for more.



Estrella

8800 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

(310) 652-6613