One among Los Angeles’ most sought-after eating locations is celebrating a serious honor after incomes a spot on America’s 50 Finest Eating places record.
Somni, chef Aitor Zabala’s intimate fine-dining restaurant in West Hollywood, provides an expertise not like most eating places within the metropolis. The restaurant has simply 14 seats and serves a single seating every evening starting at 7:30 p.m.
The night begins outside, the place friends collect on the patio for snacks earlier than shifting into the primary eating room for what the restaurant describes as an immersive culinary expertise.
Zabala himself is on the coronary heart of the expertise.
The restaurant’s 14 seats are positioned round a bar dealing with a central workspace the place the chef and his workforce put together and plate dishes in full view of diners. Company are inspired to work together with Zabala all through the meal, asking questions, taking pictures, and watching as the ultimate touches are added to every course.
“It’s virtually like a present in its personal regard,” Zach Jorin, a spokesperson for the restaurant, instructed The California Publish.
The tasting menu usually contains 20-26 programs, although the precise quantity varies relying on the night and the dishes being served. The menu adjustments often based mostly on elements and Zabala’s inventive imaginative and prescient.
“There are some recurring dishes,” added Jorin, noting that many menu choices in the end rely upon what the chef “seems like that day.”
For these craving a extra secluded affair, Somni includes a six-seat personal eating room. Right here, friends get pleasure from the identical beautiful menu and attentive service, all in an intimate setting aside from the primary group.
The popularity follows a protracted street again for the restaurant.
Initially, Somni operated on the SLS Beverly Hills as a part of José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup earlier than closing in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Somewhat than instantly reopening, Zabala spent the following 4 years trying to find what he thought-about the best location, assembling a workforce, and refining the restaurant’s subsequent chapter.
The restaurant has embraced a hospitality mannequin designed to make each visitor’s expertise seamless and stress-free.
Reservations are pay as you go, and beverage pairings are obligatory and booked prematurely. Company could select to improve or alter their pairing choices earlier than service begins, however the objective is to make sure diners arrive with just about each side of the night already organized.
The method permits friends to focus solely on having fun with the meal reasonably than coping with sudden costs on the finish of the evening.
Somni can also be making ready for a major operational change this summer season.
Starting in July, the restaurant will transition to a four-day workweek, a transfer the workforce says is meant to enhance work-life stability for workers and Zabala himself.
Jorin defined that this sort of work schedule is changing into extra frequent at high-end eating places and exhibits a rising deal with worker well-being within the hospitality business.
For diners, although, the primary focus remains to be the expertise: a tasting menu with greater than 20 programs, direct entry to one of many nation’s prime cooks, and a night that seems like each a present and a meal.
It’s no surprise Somni has earned its place amongst America’s best eating places.
Reservations for July at the moment are open.
