I remember going to this place a while ago, and loving their buttersquach gnocchi or something…read moreclose to that. The side came with the halibut. And it is one of the best sides, I ever had in my life. I even went to the LA Water Grill looking for it and it was not there. Recently, I was celebrating another precious birthday dinner (a little delayed by 7 days but still counts) and decided to go here, last minute.
My friend and I had reservations at another restaurant across the street in the mall. But, I wanted to be a little bit more hungry, so we decided to walk around and then cross the street to find our place in Water Grill.
So we crossed the bridge that connects the mall to the other side where the Water Grill lies and with the heatwave we are enduring as Californians, the walk felt like a trek through Arizona streets. I have never been to Arizona. But now I do not have to, apparently.
I had called the joint before but they told me they were absolutely book for the night. I have lived long enough to know that place in a crowded restaurant is sometimes a matter of finding a crevice to call one's own. But a crevice is sometimes found only through efforts. The staff was prepared to show us options, one of two bars, and seating in other areas of ther expansive restaurant. I think there were three options and all of these were in the avaiable areas. They did not try to find me a table in their main dining rooms, which is fine. I did enter as a peasant looking for stale bread. Ronnie, my friend, did not want to sit anywhere where the heat was abundant, but luckly on our trek through the bar we found a group departing. Those seats were for us. People were barely getting up. I was almost the tazmanian devil, but contained, I did not want to lose these seats which meant for us, to another person who needed those sits. I am not sure why but I was acting like a bridemaids during a clearence sale for her best-friend's desired gown. I wonder if this happens in real life or I am imagining a scene from a movie that made women savages when it came to low priced clothes?
The stools had food rests. My feet did not hang. A significant plus! The crevice had been found, and, like mice who had found their cheese, we were ready to split food and giggle like rats as we did!
It was a superb meal! Like, a holiday was had in the moment. Once I found the halibut with the gnocchi my made was made up. Nothing else would due but what I had waited for and found anew. Since the LA shop did not have it, I feared that this place would not as well. We also ordered brussels. Roonie ordered their sirloin and their chimichurri. At one point, I combined the gnocchi, with the halibut, and smeared the chimi, and ate it in one mouthful and the proceeding pow was a blast from the present to the taste buds. The Delorian arrived and parked in my tongue, is what I am trying to say.
Our server was Diana. And I thought that she would be more familiar with the fact that Diana was the real name of Wonder Woman. So I am making some lame dad jokes, even though I have not fathered any children, about Amazon and Thymescara. And she politely nodded but later found out that she was not connecting my jokes. But I guess dad jokes can be like that. She was also really kind of cool as a server. For instance, Ronnie wanted to enjoy mac and cheese. I ordered but then I walked and saw their beautiful ears of corn and wanted some. Ben eut we were informed that we had enough food and the corns probably would not be needed. Diana accomodated the request of swapping the mac for the corn. I wanted no chili. Then corn on the cob came with chili. She said that she had put in the order. And then a second order of corn came without chili. Ronnie, being the pure angel she is, was like Do you need the chili corn back? And I was like, now we licked it. Simply because I feel that the restaurant would be tacky to deliver a wrong side and then ask for it back. Like for the prices you all be charging, they can let us absorb the cost of their mistake. Both ears of corn were left.
The real kiss on my birthday from the universe was that I was allowed to have an entire side of the gnocchi for 16 dollars. It came. Now there was enough for Ronnie to share. I will admit that before a gurantee of more gnocchi I was wondering if they could share. We also got a tri-flavored cookie with ice cream with a sea horse cookie with ice cream. It was great. Exceptional even. And the garlic on the brussels, I am glad I am not the king of the undead.
So this place is a gem under the sea that I can visit from time to time. It is just not that close. But it is not the white whale, nor am I Ahab. I can go more often. And after yesterday's dinner, I do not see how I can not.