One of Hollywood's most exciting and highest rated new restaurants of 2013 is Littlefork. The creation of Massachusetts native Chef Jason Travi, the restaurant's menu features culinary favorites of New England and Montreal.
Photo by Leslie Balla, courtesy of Littlefork.
One of Hollywood’s most exciting and highest rated new restaurants of 2013 is Littlefork. The creation of Massachusetts native Chef Jason Travi, the restaurant’s menu features culinary favorites of New England and Montreal.
“In developing Littlefork, we did a foodie tour of Montreal, Boston and Providence, R.I,” Travi says. “The cuisine across that whole region is great—so fresh, its own culinary entity—and was missing from the Los Angeles food scene. I’ve been wanting to create a menu that is light, flavorful and satisfying.”
Chef Jason Travi
Named for the small utensils New Englanders use to eat shellfish, Littlefork whets the appetites of patrons with jars of pickled vegetables instead of the usual basket of bread. All the items we sampled on Littlefork’s menu melted in our mouths.
Highlights that set it apart from other Los Angeles seafood restaurants included clams casino, sublime clam cakes, lemony monkfish francaise (Littlefork’s signature fish dish) and the malt vinegar infused, lighter-than-air pork rinds.
“Bar snacks are thought of as lower brow food, but here they are done with care, and featured alongside entrees,” Travi says. “Pork rinds have a bad rap because of the store bought variety. I’m thrilled at the response we’ve gotten from them. The mentality is pork rinds are gross. We didn’t sell them the first month we were opened. … Now we are getting well known for them.”
Another popular item that has caught on is the maple eggs—a little egg shell filled with maple custard, with scrambled eggs and bacon atop, Travi says.
“It’s a cute little, scrumptious treat,” he says.
“We only sell Northeast coast oysters from New England or Canada. We love Rocky Nook oysters from Kingston, Mass., which you’ll only find at Littlefork. Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard have excellent oysters.”
While fresh seafood is Littlefork’s calling card, its creative bar offerings are also a highlight. From international beers to a creative array of cocktails (including their most popular, the Thai Town Mule) to the potent, after dinner digestifs, there is something for everyone.
Photo by Lesley Balla, Courtesy of Littlefork.
Travi’s wife consulted on the dessert menu, which consists of three New England favorites: buttermilk maple pie with grated orange peel, Maine-style chocolate whoopie pies and apple cider donuts that would find their perfect accompaniment with a glass of Calvados.
And where does Chef Travi head to when closing up after a long night in the Littlefork kitchen?
“I love this new bar on LaBrea near Melrose called Bludso’s BBQ,” he says. “It’s a Really great barbeque in a bar setting.”
Littlefork is open until 10pm for dinner and until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. Soon to be open for brunch.
Find more dining options with the LosAngeles.com restaurants directory.
