abode restaurant & lounge closed

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By: Desiree Lanz
Edited date: October 24, 2022Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

NOW CLOSED

 

Situated peacefully on Santa Monica‘s Ocean Avenue, surrounded by the vibrant energy of the nearby beach and strolling people, Abode Restaurant and Lounge awaits customers with a chic and airy atmosphere. Inside, earth tones dapple the 1960s style dining room, bar and lounge while a terra cotta tiled courtyard beckons with its lush landscaping. The elegant, yet relaxed ambience invites one to take pleasure in a soothing and delectable fine dining event.

Husband and wife restaurateurs Anastasia Israel and Kelly Gleason, who envisioned refined food with a conscious in a family environment, opened Abode Restaurant and Lounge in April 2007. Partnering with Los Angeles design team Franklin Studios, executive chef Dominique Crenn and bar manager Zac Chowdhury, Abode claimed its place as a sophisticated spot with exciting gourmet cuisine for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Crenn uses ingredients bought daily at the farmers’ market to create delicious and beautifully presented dishes. Her unique style is influenced by a career at various renowned San Francisco restaurants, her position as the first female executive chef in Indonesia at the Intercontinental Hotel in Jakarta, and her French-Moroccan heritage. The savory tasting experience began with a refreshing melon soup, endowed with a raspberry port wine chili and sweet melon balls marinated in thyme and candied lemons. On the side was peppercorn ice cream with a splash of pomegranate on top, adding to the colorful artistry that made Crenn’s cuisine as attractive as it was tasty.

Next came a warm goat cheese and tomato salad with fresh greens and crispy warm goat cheese fritters in a dressing flambéed with orange peels. One of Abode’s signature dishes ensued, consisting of Moroccan spiced portabella mushrooms seasoned with a masterful combination of 26 spices on a bed of baby bok choy, apricot bits, mint and tofu. The grand finale brought utmost satisfaction with Crenn’s Study of Chocolate, presenting Hawaiian vintage chocolate in many of its most tempting forms”¦a taste of sorbet, saffron chocolate mousse, a mini hot cocoa, and an eggshell filled with molten chocolate cake. All along, the service was impeccably polite and hospitable, and eclectic international music added a pleasant touch. Furthermore, Abode offers a wide range of global, biodynamic wines, champagnes, and original drinks such as the Elderflower Martini, composed of organic green tea infused vodka with elderflower liqueur delicately garnished with edible flowers.  

In an effort to promote social responsibility and health, Abode uses mostly organic vegetables, automatic water systems in the bathrooms, and recycles oil for biodiesel. As a whole, the attention, aesthetics and taste were achieved with dedication and passion, offering a highly gratifying culinary experience.

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