Housed in the old Mustache Café spot on a narrow street in Westwood, Fellow restaurant has reopened with a new chef and a new menu.
The 1929 space includes an art gallery entrance, high hand-painted ceilings, lush green and beige booths and concrete floors. In addition to the gallery next door, the interior of Fellow is also adorned with artistic celebrity photographs.
Chef Chris Flint joined Fellow a few months ago, coming from Eleven Madison Park, Maude and Nomad. His dishes are expertly plated and elevated.
Fellow has its own water menu, including seven still and five sparkling varieties. We tried the Speyside Glenlivet, from the UK, which was refreshing and clean. Our waiter informed us that the cocktails are also made with this British water, which gives them a clear and flavorful finish.
We started our meal with marinated foie gras with strawberry, onion and mustard greens; cauliflower tortellini with pine nuts and garlic; and ricotta gnudi with tomatoes and summer squash. All were excellent and almost too pretty to eat. Other appetizers include a scallop ceviche with avocado, radish and jalapeño; a Hamachi crudo with sorrel, citrus and ponzu; a fennel salad with kumquat, olive and aged goat cheese; and a green goddess salad with crispy quinoa.
Our main courses included a grilled short rib with potato, maitake mushroom and horseradish and the seared duck breast with beets, raspberries and nasturtium. We also received a beautiful side of roasted multi-colored carrots on top of a mushroom and black rice cake. Other entrees include poached striped bass with grilled cabbage, miso and shiitake and lobster with turnips, leeks and vanilla.
Dessert includes a pistachio cake with cherries and brittle, a butter mocha with chocolate butter mochi, dulci de leche and sesame and a coconut rice pudding with passion fruit and matcha. All worth ordering.
Drinks are equally delicious and pretty. We tried the You Had Me At Fellow orange vanilla soda and monk fruit and the Bilbao with gin, olive oil and rosemary lemon vermouth.
Perfect for a birthday celebration, romantic date or just to get together to go out to a restaurant again, Fellow is worth a trip to the west side.
Located at 1071 Glendon Avenue in Westwood, reservations at 310.208.1071, open Wednesday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.