January 2007 Issue

DESTINATION LOS ANGELES: Pearls Just Wanna Have Fun

by: CAROLE DIXON

Restaurant duo Tim and Liza Goodell, of Dakota and 2S Degrees at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, have opened a version of their South Coast hit Red Pearl Kitchen on Melrose. Drop your car off with the Chinese silk brocade-clad female valet parking attendants and enter the bold, red building. Follow the sparkly metallic gold floor and you end up in the clubby lounge or bar with a large, seductive photo of an Asian model spanning across an entire wall Powerful signature cocktails include the house Red Pearl made with pearl pomegranate vodka, champagne, peach liqueur, pineapple, and cranberry: or try the Drunken Samurai and Tipsy Geisha The lusty red interiors continue to the dining room, including a giant, shiny Buddha in the entryway, chandeliers made with kimonos, and mini Chairman Mao lamps. Don’t miss dim sum portions of duck foie gras shu mai. Strawberry cinnamon ribs, or spicy duck-banana lettuce wraps. ‘Happy Endings’ feature a Vietnamese coffee sundae or cardamom pot de crème with banana fritters.
More: www.redpearlkitchen.com