Cleo Hollywood at the Redbury

Cleo Hollywood at the Redbury
1717 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028
http://www.sbe.com/restaurants/locations/cleo-hollywood/($$$)

Eat AND Drink: Mediterranean flavors, California freshness, and won't break the bank.

Planning a night out in Hollywood and not sure where to start?  I have a recommendation that will never fail - Cleo Hollywood, located in the Redbury Hotel on Vine guarantees great food and drinks in a rustic open concept dining space.  The Mediterranean inspired shared plates are full of flavor without being overpriced and the cocktail and wine selection are both excellent.

Before diving in to dinner, take a look at the cocktail menu (shared with the excellent decktop bar named "The Library" upstairs) or choose from the limited but excellent wine by the glass selection.  The Vinebury, the Redbury's signature cocktail, is an excellent combination of vodka, elderflower, serrano pepper, basil, cucumber, and lemon.  

Any Los Angeles restaurant will live and die by its vegetable selections.  The wood fired brussel sprouts are a unique take on the now standard starter.  The roasted asparagus with a sweet pepper sauce are cooked to perfection

As a huge fan of Spanish cooking, I'm always looking for the best octopus dishes.  At Cleo, they prepare the grilled octopus with roast potatoes and fennel. While not the best octopus dish (that would be at Barafina in London), this is the best version I've tasted in LA.

As a shared plate dinner, there is no "main course" per se, but huge kudos to the grilled lamb tagine over couscous.  The lamb is marinated and cooked to perfection and for the serving size a good value.  The garlic shrimp with green olives and beans is a nice counter to the lamb.  

The service at Cleo is impeccable.  The staff work as a team, and a simple glance up will have them right by your side asking to help. Yet the waiters are never intrusive, all obviously trained to keep out of sight of cell phone toting foodie photographs. With such an excellent selection of food and drinks, it is no surprise that Cleo is branching out - with a new location at LA Live recently opening.  I will definitely be back - over and over again.