Restaurant-Dining Critiques

Animal Restaurant
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel. 323.782.9225
Opening Hours:
Sunday – Thursday
6pm-11pm
Friday – Saturday
6pm-2am
Open Seven Days A Week
Credit Cards: Yes
Prices: Moderate

The name gives it away, it’s all about saving animals. Oops, no, it’s all about animals on the plate! Much to the chagrin of animal activists, and it is also about the chefs, two dudes named Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook who met each other in Florida, where later on in their travels west, opened a catering company that they named Caramelized Productions. Shortly after, they appeared on the Food Network, which led to a book deal called Two Dudes One Pan, and the opening of their restaurant Animal in an unmarked storefront on a nondescript stretch of “Matzoh Ball Alley” near Canter’s Deli on Fairfax. Even more curious is why they chose to open in this Jewish neighborhood, with their liberal use of the “piggy” from barbecued pork belly to bacon ice cream.

Sample Menu Follows:

chicken liver toast 3

crispy hominy, lime 5

roasted pork salad, celery, red onion, olive oil 5

heirloom tomato, ginger vinaigrette 6

roasted marrow bone, parsley salad 8

pig ear, chili, lime, fried egg 10

lettuce, beets, avocado, pita, feta, creamy sumac 10

barbeque pork belly sandwiches, slaw 10

baby broccoli, pancetta, parmesan, soft egg, bread crumbs 11

ricotta & goat cheese gnocchi, sage butter, pumpkin 11

melted petit basque, chorizo, grilled bread 11

sweetbreads, creamed spinach, capers, hen of the woods 14

duck confit, dates, arugula, pecans, sherry vinaigrette, apple 14

poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar 15

fluke, grape & yuzu granita, apple, orange, serrano, mint 16

foie gras, biscuit, maple sausage gravy 22

pork shoulder, collard greens, country ham, red peas, mustard vinaigrette 22

flat iron, artichoke hash, truffle parmesan fondue 25

turbot, shell bean ragout, basil, pickled peppers 25

striped bass, savoy cabbage, benton’s bacon, fennel 28

quail fry, grits, chard, slab bacon, maple jus 28

foie gras loco moco, quail egg, spam, hamburger 35

balsamic pork ribs, delicata squash, cippolini onion vinaigrette 37

rib eye for two, escargot butter, mash, brussels sprouts 80

tres leches, dulce de leche 7

panna cotta, saba 7

bacon chocolate crunch bar, s&p anglaise 7

joe’s doughnuts, cinnamon sugar, caramel 7

changes and modifications politely declined

we support local and organic farming

18% gratuity added to parties of 6 or more
$20.00 corkage fee

They have put together an interesting wine list a sample of which follows:
Prices are for Glass/ Carafe / Bottle
Animal House Chardonnay/ Cabernet Sauvignon 7 12 20
Sparkling & Champagne

Prosecco, Col de Salici, Extra Dry, 2008 Vendemmia 11 35

Domaine Des Baumard, Methode Tradionelle, Brut, 2004 Loire 16 52

Cremant de Bourgogne, Parigot, Blanc de Blanc, NV Burgundy 17 55

Cremant d’Alsace, Lucien Albrecht Brut Rose, NV Alsace 15 53

White

Luneau-Papin Muscadet (melon), Clos des Allees, 2008 Pays Nantais 12 22 40

Simcic Pinot Grigio, Goriska Brda, 2007, Slovenia 13 24 46

Vermentino di Gallura, Canayli, 2007 Garantita 14 26 47

Gewurztraminer, Albert Seltz, 2007 Alsace 12 22 39

Kerner, Abbazia di Novacella , 2008 Alto Adige 15 28 58

Sylvaner , Domaine Francois Baur, 2003 Alsace 12 22 42

Pic Saint Loup (marsanne/roussanne), Chateau Cazeneuve, 2005 Languedoc 16 32 59

Domaine Charache Bergeret, Les Gravelieres, 2006 Hautes Cotes de Beaune 16 32 58

Riesling, Richter Estate, 2007 Mosel Saar Ruwer 11 20 39

Rosé

Grenache/syrah Rosé, Dragonette Cellars, 2008 Santa Ynez Valley 12 22 38

Sancerre Rosé, Domaine Girault, Le Grand Moulin, 2007 Loire 17 32 60

Red

Pinot Noir, Domaine Serene, Evenstaad Reserve, 2006 Willamette Valley 18 34 65

Barbera d’Alba, Casinca val del Prete, ‘Serra de’Gatti’, 2007 Piedmont 15 28 48

Rosso di Montalcino (sangiovese), Villa le Prata, 2006 16 34 68

Betts & Scholl, O.G. Grenache, 2006 Barossa 17 34 65

La Grange de Piaugier, Cotes du Rhone, 2007 11 18 40

L.P. Red, L. Preston, Dry Creek Valley, 2006 12 22 42

Henri Milan, Saint Remy de Provence, 2005 14 26 50

Syrah, Holus Bolus, 2007, Santa Ynez Valley 15 28 50

Tres Negres,(merlot, syrah, tempranillo), Puig Romeu, 2002 Penedes 13 24 46

Cabernet Sauvignon, Macauley, 2001 Napa Valley 18 34 70

Dessert

Moscato d’Asti, Montaribaldi, Veneto 11 34

Jorge Ordonez (tocai friulano), Malaga, 2005 10 30

Muscat, Yalumba Museum Reserve, Barossa 12 40

Jonesy Port, Trevor Jones, Tawny, Barossa Valley 13 35

Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale 5

Green Flash IPA 6
Hopf Spezial Weifse (pint )15

Anderson Boont Amber Ale 7

The Bruery, Orchard White (750 ml) 28

Avery Salvation Ale (22oz) 24

Mission Blonde (22oz) 15

Ommegang Abbey Style Ale 9

Cooper’s Sparkling Ale 7

Mexican Coke 4

Abita Root Beer 5

Diet Coke 4

Ice Tea 4

Coffee 4

Fresh Mint Tea 5