Tugged away in South Pasadena, a friend told me about Shiro a legacy contemporary French Japanese restaurant that's been serving delicious fine dining for over 40 years! The decor is very classy and elegant, soft lighting with background piano music but you can still have conversations. They have daily fixe menu specials for Thursdays as well as their regular menu. First timer so we had to try a variety of dishes to get a good feel of their cuisine. Wine and cocktail options: had the Shirotini which is a twist similar to a lemon drop. My friend had the pink crane which is bourbon based. Both cocktails were well balanced and tasty. Appetizers: Their famous ravioli: had very creamy sauce over 4 wobton skin ravioli with plump shrimp inside topped with shiitake mushrooms on top. It's a mini meal in itself! Also tried their grilled octopus, cooked perfectly with a nice crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. The main star was the fried catfish sitting in what tasted like a ponzu sauce and please is big enough to feed 4 people! Also had the scallops which were delicious but truly the catfish stole the show. *The main dishes come with a medley side dish of broccoli, carrots and scalloped potatoes. Dessert was the crepes with strawberries and glazed pecans for the filling. The wait staff was attentive but also the owners were there to check in with all the guests to ensure everything was top notch. Learned that the co-owners are best friends. The original owner/chef was Shiro and his niece is one of the co-owners while one of is staff became the other co-owner. What a unique story. Definitely happy to support a legacy business and hoping others will too from this review. read more

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I didn't realize Shiro was still around. Boy did this bring me back down memory lane when I passed by during my week long stay in So Pas. I had to make a reso before we left So Cal and it was available for the next night. So happy we came bc WOW. I remember why I loved this quaint restaurant over 2 decades ago when we used to come for every special occasion. If memory serves me correctly, it's the same host. She was so hospitable and made us feel right at home. Our server was amazing. Gosh, I forgot his name. Tall skinny guy. Nightly specials. Truffle ravioli with spinach ricotta. Delicious. Had to share as it was a bit rich for a starter. Shaved truffles and blanched spinach. 5/5 Chilean Sea Bass 5/5 light and flaky Crème Brûlée with berries and bananas I didn't know I needed until I had the very first bite. Wow. So good and full of vanilla bean specs. Chocolate soufflé was more of flourless chocolate chocolate. Not too rich. Scoop of bold coffee ice cream. I just needed a tad more ice cream to finish the cake with. I didn't get it to try the crepe special since nephew ate most of it. Crispy wonton with poached pear. Raspberry sauce and orange custard was so unique and tasty 5/5 Both Hubs and Bro ordered the Mary's chicken and absolutely loved it. Well seasoned and garnished well. Filet was perfect cooked and seasoned even for an 8 yr old to finish on his own. DD ordered the salmon. It was so tender and fork soft. Her broccoli was so full of flavor and not overly creamy. I remember even saying out loud that this was a more decadent experience than TFL and Per Se without feeling so overstuffed and heavy feeling upon leaving. So glad I found Shiro again. Will definitely return again. read more

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French Japanese restaurant located in South Pas. Service was great; ambiance was dimly lit and more formal. Definitely a dress up for dinner kind of place. Food: amazing. I love fish and appreciated the server telling us about the specials for the night. I tried the French (instead of Chilean) sea bass and it was 5/5. Solid! One of the best fish dishes I've had. Perfectly cooked inside and flaky skin on top. Butter sauce complimented the dish well. We also had the tuna steak which was good, but typically not my favorite dish. Would recommend the goat cheese salad; a great appetizer. Note: the dinner menu is posted daily at 3pm on their website so be sure to check the day of to see what they're serving. read more

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Met up with an old business partner for dinner at Shiro in South Pasadena. Shiro according to my partner gave me the history of Shiro how the ownership has changed. He recommended the whole fried Catfish which has been a staple of the menu. The cuisine is Fusion French Japanese. The restaurant was not busy on the Sunday night. Service was excellent. We ordered the following items Fried Catfish 4 stars large fish served whole. Yellowtail Carpaccio 5 stars Clams in sake and butter 5 stars Asparagus wrapped in salmon 4 stars Tomahawk pork chop. 4.5 stars perfectly cooked. Service was excellent. Long conversations we basically closed the restaurant. Convenient Public parking lot right next door. read more

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My family has been coming here since the 90s and we try to come for every special occasion. It is such a great restaurant with exceptional staff and amazing food! The catfish is the best I've ever had, hands down! And the location is perfect for walking around. Shiro is the best, highly recommend! read more

Shiro - Mushroom shrimp ravioli - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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I went to Shiro for my birthday dinner with my date and the service and ambiance was very nice! There wasn't too much people at this restaurant and nice to be able to converse! Calamari: The frying and taste was thin, crispy and light! I also really loved the tomato sauce that came with it! The taste was super fresh and fragrant! Mushroom Ravioli: The sauce was very umami and the shrimp ravioli cuts through and adds a good amount of flavor! My date and I loved the sauce and tried some with the bread! Duck with Orange Reduction: For the duck, the flavor cuts through and there's no taste of gamey flavor! The duck was tender and great to eat! The reduction adds a light clean umami taste. John Dory: In my opinion, I believe the John Dory was the highlight of the meal! The fish was light and crispy while I believe the mashed potatoes on the bottom added a well rounded touch of carbs to fully complement each other! Beets, Zucchini and Potatoes: These sides were such a nice touch to eat and a palate cleanser when the duck was a bit heavy or a need to take a break from the entrees! Apple Tart with Ice Cream: This small dessert was such a nice and light treat to eat and celebrate at Shiro! In addition, the vanilla and caramel coating was a great balance against the tart! I would love to come again at a later time to celebrate at Shiro once again! They have a cute little postcard that I've kept as a memorabilia for this great meal! Thank you Shiro staff for making my birthday special! TIP: They do have restrooms! In addition, I recommend coming at a later time so street parking is more ample and less of a hassle! read more

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I stumbled across Shiro by sheer chance when the other restaurant we were planning to go to that evening only had outdoor seating left - and that wasn't gonna fly for this 60°-LA-Winter-Wimp. Truth is, I had never heard of Shiro and I wondered how good it could actually be considering I'm a professional eater and Shiro had never come across my radar. Well, needless to say, I went in a bit skeptical and came out very much wrong. I am SO happy to have ended up here. I must've been living under a rock as it is apparently a very well-loved, top-rated restaurant for more than 35 years now. Who knew? Anyway, I arrived dressed like a bag lady as I wasn't planning on having dinner out after my nail appointment but they still welcomed me with open arms. The place was so charming, cute and cozy - an amazing vibe that feels like an upscale meal out while also casual enough that you can show up like a bag lady. And one of the co-owners, Sheryl, came by our table and was the kindest, sweetest soul ever - so incredibly welcoming and hospitable and even sent, not one, but TWO desserts our way even though we were completely stuffed from the literal best A5 Wagyu Filet, Scottish Salmon, and Prosciutto Salad we'd had thus far. I'm sooooo excited I uncovered this spot and pretty much plan on being a regular -- and will drag all my friends to Shiro. New biggest fan. :) read more

Shiro - 1 of 2 desserts co-owner, Sheryl, sent over. - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

My first time here and came to try the DineLA menu. A small, cozy, and intimate restaurant. It was perfect for catching up with my girlfriend. We were never rushed to leave. We ate, sat, and talked for over two hours. The food was delicious. Everything was well flavored. We really liked the grilled oysters (can't remember the exact name of the dish) Their menu is always changing, we were so glad we got to try it. It was not part of the DineLA menu. I will definitely have to come back with my husband. read more

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Amazing food with amazing service. I took my partner here for her birthday and we both loved it. The menu is constantly changing so I'm glad I was able to try the duck. While it didn't seem too busy we got reservations just in case. Cozy and intimate, the restaurant was a the perfect place for our occasion. The Duck and Fish were delicious but the Wonton was amazing. The only downside was there wasn't enough!! Ps. Street parking only which wasn't too hard to get :) read more

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Atmosphere is quiet and rich. Service is superb and conversational. Food is outstanding. The Filet Mignon was prepared perfectly, medium rare and the sauce was exquisite. The scalloped potatoes were cooked too perfection and seasoned very well. read more

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Another hidden gem in South Pasadena. Old school intimate California fine dining service. That catfish has been the bests in LA (IMO) for decades! Duck breast was perfectly executed. Yum! read more

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This is our second time visiting this local jewel. Both of our experiences have been stellar from the service to the food. The staff is so friendly and personable that you feel so welcomed. We had the grilled octopus, cooked to perfection with a rocket salad on the side and the whole fried catfish, the house specialty. The wine list is excellently curated and the prices are amazing: most restaurants mark up their wines 3 to 4 times but I don't think Shiro marks theirs up more than 1 time. Every dish we saw come out of the kitchen looked fantastic and we can't wait to return! Please check out this wonderful restaurant! Thank you Sean, Cheryl and Irene! We will be back soon. read more

Shiro - Whole fried catfish - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I had dinner here tonight. I had one guest. We both ordered the DineLA menu. Our server was Tara. She was friendly and efficiently handled multiple tables with great service. We had a nice conversation with the owner about the menu. Next visit, I will order the famous Catfish. Do get: Spanish Octopus as an appetizer, Yellow Tail Carpaccio, Lamb Chops and the Apple Tart. Rating: 5 Stars read more

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Food was excellent and presented well. Servers were there whenever you looked up. Very attentive and anticipated your needs. All in all very nice and would certainly go back. One small issue is noise. There was a party in another part of the restaurant and the noise carried over so at times it was a little hard to hear our conversations but I was glad they had the business. I had dinner with 2 of the largest restaurateurs in the area and they raved about the food also. read more

First time visiting, came for dineLA & we loved it! Beautiful restaurant, friendly, attentive service & fantastic food! We loved everything we ordered: The Crispy Salmon Tartare Tacos & Yellowtail Carpaccio were both delicious. My husband enjoyed the Lope de Mer (French Seabass) & I devoured my Charbroiled New Zealand Lamb Chops, it was so tender & tasty! The chocolate soufflé was good but the apple tart was superb! We were celebrating a birthday so they added a tiramisu which was huge & super delicious. It seemed like everyone was ordering the catfish, we will definitely return to try more items on their menu! read more

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Excellent place for date night. My wife and I loved the quiet atmosphere and the food was amazing. It seemed like a local hang out as people were greeted by name. It was nice and refreshing to be a part of such an intimate place. We will return to Shiro for sure! read more

Great food, drink service and atmosphere. This restaurant is one of my favorites. It's a well oiled machine. GO. ENJOY read more

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It's like our hometown, it's a place we love very much. I really like the restaurant, which has a warm atmosphere when you enter, the welcome of the owner, and the very polite and neat feeling of the server. Today's dish was also a great dish without complaint. They were carefully seasoned one by one, and the presentation was very gorgeous, filling both the appearance and the stomach. Today was our anniversary, but it was a memorable moment. Thank you always. read more

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We had our Xmas party at Shiro last week and we all (19 of us) had a great time. The food and drinks came out timely as our waitress Christina couldn't have been any better. The rest of the wait staff and bus people made sure everyone was taken care of. Not every place can pull off a party of 19 but Shiro was certainly up to the task. Rick and Linda read more

Absolutely fantastic experience! This restaurant is truly perfect! Love the creativity of the dishes and the wait staff are fantastic!

1st Time Try. Order Shiro Wonton Ravioli (Tasty) , Whole Sizzling Catfish (Very Delicious) , Today Special Pork Chop (Tasty). Good Friendly Service. read more

Shiro - Pork Chop - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Came here initially to try the dinela menu but opt out when we saw the rest of the main menu. It's definitely and Asian fusion place. The service was really good, everyone was very kind and check in on us often. Each item we had was not bad but nothing really wowed us but I'm also someone who is a true foodie and also a novice home chef who explores lots of flavors. We had a decent night out but unfortunately, doesn't give me the need to go back. But definitely worth a try! read more

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Oh, this aren't bad, actually quite really good food! I wish they have an actual bar, instead of a hidden one... The ambiance was lacking, just bland, not great , not bad. Our waiter was very attentive and nice. No issue on the service. Food arrived in a timely matter. My duck was fantastic, one of the best I've had in awhile, which I was surprised. Is it a destination? Depends on your expectations.. South Pass is rough on restaurants.. always been. But, hey, food is really good here. Do stop by. Tons of parking in the rear.... read more

Did you ever know that you're my Shiro, you were everything I wanted to eat. You took me higher than an eagle and You almost swept me off my feet. So I started off with their anchovies tempura appetizer that came with a garlic aioli dipping sauce that was also sprinkling with truffle salt. This is a nice starter if you're undecided about the menu and it also pairs well with their specialty Shirotini to wet your whistle. I really didn't want to get stuffed so I just went with a couple their small plates. First I got their Chinese ravioli that was filled with shrimp mousse in a bath of shiitake mushroom sauce. Man this was so good and I wouldn't mind getting this again. My second order was the truffle ravioli and this came with black truffle cream sauce with mushroom duxelle. So yes I love mushrooms and truffles with ravioli and I was so undecided I got two of almost the same thing but it worked out for me. Everything I ordered was on point along with the server but everyone else that was helping out not so much. It's unfortunate but it happens. Thats my take on this adventure, Peace... read more

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Loved this restaurant. It's a beautiful blend of Japanese and French cuisine! The restaurant is moderately quiet, beautiful inside, and super clean. The service is excellent and staff is attentive. Everything we tried was amazing and for fine dining food it's priced quite affordably! Started the meal with complimentary bread and butter. Yum! We tried the shrimp ravioli with mushroom (OMG to die for. The trip here was worth it just for this dish!), the duck breast entree and black angus ribeye. All dishes are served with the daily veggie and potato! Finished the meal off with the chocolate soufflé tart with chocolate whipped cream and coffee ice cream. Delicious all around. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Shiro - Sonoma Breast of Duck - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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The food here is marvelous, a blend of European and Japanese flavors. The style is classic but comfortable, with friendly service and a local clientelle. Order anything and you won't be disappointed, but be warned: the catfish, while memorable, is not small. read more

I cannot believe I have never heard of or tried this place. Super unassuming place from the outside. The inside looks like a classic old school dinner place with tablecloths, candles and dim lighting. HOWEVER, the food and service were amazing. They also offer wine flights and pairings which are fairly prices. Loved everything we got. Cannot wait to come back and try their famous fried fish and tomahawk pork chop. read more

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I was there for my friend's birthday dinner pairing with Dine L.A menu. The food is delicious with relaxing ambiance. Our server was attentive and we enjoyed the dining experience very much. Will come again. read more

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A Simple Setting with a Flavorful Punch Nestled in an unassuming corner of South Pasadena, Shiro's ambiance speaks of simplicity--eschewing modern décor for a more understated approach. The décor may be minimalistic, but the culinary journey it offers is anything but. Starting with the appetizers, Shiro sets the stage for an impressive culinary performance. The flavors are vibrant and well-balanced, offering a tantalizing prelude to what's to come. The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the whole fried catfish. It was a revelation: perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and succulent within. Each bite was a testament to the chef's skill in marrying texture and taste. The sea bass, though competently prepared, lacked the same wow factor. It was enjoyable but failed to leave a lasting impression. It's a dish that does its job but doesn't strive to steal the spotlight. Service at Shiro, however, leaves room for improvement. While our server was polite, attentiveness was lacking. A glaring example was our request for a second bread basket after the appetizers. It arrived only after we had nearly finished our main courses and after we had to remind our server again. In summary, Shiro delivers a commendable dining experience with dishes that range from good to exceptional. The whole fried catfish is a must-try, but the sea bass might not elicit the same excitement. The service, while friendly, needs to step up to match the quality of the food. If Shiro can fine-tune this aspect, it could elevate itself from a good restaurant to a great one. I'll rate 3 stars but easily could be 5 stars if service was apart and Sea bass was flavorful. read more

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Love Shiro's . Shiros has been a neighborhood staple for decades. The dedication to the quality of dishes served, to the "tried and true@ dishes...!Catfish.... Makes Shiros special occasion or as seen multiple times a regular''s go to special spot read more

Consistently well prepared and delicious with excellent service. Nice wine collection too

Ate for the first time tonight. Chris was our server and he was phenomenal. Met Ms. Cheryl Bailey the owner, who was very gracious and kind. We got the catfish entree to split as an appetizer; the shrimp dumplings in a delicious sauce with mushrooms; and other appetizers. I had the filet which was melt in your mouth, served in an incredible sauce. Will definitely be back. Everything was delicious and the service; the ambiance; everything was world class & top notch. read more

We made a reservation for Shiro for my parents anniversary! This restaurant is located on a quiet little block but that doesn't mean it doesn't get busy in here! We were seated immediately and because of the short menu (in a good way) we ordered right away. Our server was super nice, but the only downside was that they were out of two things that we wanted (sad!) so we didn't get to try the oysters or the special fish, despite telling us that it was available for the day. :( I ordered two entrees as my main: their famous ravioli and the fried squash blossoms. I personally didn't love the cream mushroom sauce as it had a weird aftertaste, and the shrimp paste inside had a weird texture. The tempura squash blossoms were interesting as well, but the sauce on the side did not pair well with it. I ended up using the mustard sauce on my mom's salmon to eat with it as it was too plain to eat alone--it wasn't the best match but it was better than the original sauce. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate tarts, kumquat crepes, and they gave us their apple tart for our anniversary celebration. These were definitely the highlight of the meal, as well as the loaf of bread they served in the beginning. Overall, I was disappointed that I didn't love the food (based on the reviews) but glad I tried it! Note: we sat at a square table but they kept serving us from behind. It was kind of surprising because we would be chatting and all of a sudden a hot plate would fly in between our heads with no notice. read more

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Superb service. Loved my meal here. Shiro is a neighborhood place, known for its Franco- Japanese plates and the whole fried catfish served table side. Dinner was superior-- dishes we ordered didnt fall short of expectations. Loved the fish preparations, cooked slightly short or rare, not raw... perfect. Dessert was definitely a highlight too- classic French pastry with a tempered sugar palate. They have wine wine flights if you're wanting to sample. Superb service. Restaurant was packed for an early week night at 6pm. Coming back. End of Yelp. read more

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Food is excellent. Ravioli appetizer in shrimp sauce was cooked perfectly. Only complaint is there are 4 raviolis only so we ordered quite a few. Sea bass wasn't my favorite because the meat was dry to me but the sauce made up for the dry fish. The dory was perfect. Lamb was part of dine la, we've had better. Smoked salmon was so-so but we liked the asparagus quite a bit. Service is great. My only complaint is for the price of the food, the restaurant itself was mediocre. The toilets are really old and don't flush properly and the bathrooms stink. Sort of like the restrooms in sushi Roku in Santa Monica. read more

Shiro - What we ordered - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Spectacular, a real gem of a neighborhood restaurant. The best fish dishes of any kind I've ever had, the sea bass and catfish were absolutely phenomenal. Kindest hosts and servers. Love this place. read more

Took 20 years but finally made it to Shiro. Drinks were good and the catch fish was pretty darn delicious. Service was on point and the setting was very comfortable. Definitely a nice outing for dinner. read more

Came to Shiro for my mom's birthday on 03/19. Reservations made in advance & was seated immediately upon arrival. Indoor & outdoor seating currently available. Ambiance is pretty quiet & intimate. Restrooms are clean. Service is fairly quick. Menu options seem to change daily so I was a little disappointed that a couple of menu entrees I wanted to try were not on the daily menu (Duck Breast & Scallops) when we went, but our dinner overall experience was great! Everything we ordered was shared among 3 people. -Shiro's Wonton Ravioli was good, I liked this fusion dish. The sauce was really tasty. -Goat Cheese Salad was refreshing & the goat cheese wasn't too pungent and paired nicely with the heirloom tomatoes and vinaigrette. -Pan Roasted Scottish Salmon was my FAVORITE dish of the night. The dill mustard sauce paired so well with the perfectly cooked salmon on a bed of cabbage. -Loup de Mer (French Seabass) was okay, served on a bed of spinach. Flavor wasn't bad, but portion was a little small. -Chicken Breast was cooked perfectly and paired well with the Scallion, Bacon Bits and Au Jus sauce. I liked this dish too. They also gave us each a separate plate of veggies consisting of green beans, scalloped potatoes and beets. And were kind enough to include a complimentary Apple Tart with Ice Cream for my mom's birthday! :) I tried a bite of the apple tart - it was warm, flaky and not too sweet. Now I'm just desperate to know when the Duck Breast & Scallops will be back on the menu so I can try! :P read more

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We came party of 4 with friends that live in South Pas and are regulars. Parking was accessible. There is a nearby lot and plenty of street parking. We ate outside; only distraction were kids skateboarding on the sidewalk. Food was delicious. We all got our own appetizers: hamachi, burrata, and mixed greens. We all ordered different fish entrees: halibut, salmon, French sea bass, and the house special fried catfish. The catfish is 3lbs but enough meat for 1 person, maybe 2 light eaters. We also got our own desserts: puff pastry, fruit, wonton, and ice cream. We are outside. The servers were attentive and quickly refilled waters. Good local place we can see how they're such a long time fixture! read more

Shiro - Whole Sizzling Catfish with House Ponzu Sauce & Fresh Cilantro, Xtra Large 3 lbs - Asian Fusion Near Me - South Pasadena, California

dineLA menu was $45/person Another wonderful evening with our YELP friends, Nikki B. & Jeremy B. We've been to Shiro before, separately, but decided to hook up this time to celebrate dineLA Restaurant Week. SERVICE: Christina assisted us on this visit. She greeted us and told us about the specials for the evening. Their menu is created daily using fresh ingredients. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and very efficient. In fact, the entire staff was on their game. DRINKS: Last year, my Old Fashioned was super strong, which killed the flavor. I think it was a very heavy pour to compensate for the small ice cubes, vs. the larger "block" cube. My wife's Lemon Drop was spot on, with extra sugar on the rim, the way she likes it. This year, we started off with a round of cocktails: The French Quarter for Jeremy, the "1505" Martini for Nikki, another Lemon Drop for my wife, an Old Fashioned for me. All our cocktails were on point. The French Quarter was like a Mint Julep. Nikki really made a point to hi-lite the tartness that the natural pomegranate juice added to the "1505" Martini. I also noticed that they returned to the "block" ice cube for the Old Fashioned. FOOD: Amazing! We received a basket of warm French bread on the table with butter. The bread had a nice, crispy crust with a fluffy interior. Nikki & Jeremy ordered from the daily menu, while we ordered from the DineLA menu. We started with the Romaine Salad with toasted pine nuts, tomatoes, and a Roquefort Cheese dressing, and Shiro's Wonton Ravioli with a shrimp mousse filling and shitake mushroom cream sauce. The salad was good, but the ravioli was amazing! For our entrees, we had the Pan-Roasted Mexican Shrimp & Canadian Sea Scallops with ginger lime sauce, and Roasted New Zealand Lamb Chops with rosemary & garlic au jus. Both dishes were perfectly prepared and very tasty. Jeremy chose the Ventura Farmer's Mixed Baby Greens with house Vinaigrette to start and the Prime Black Angus Filet Mignon, aged in-house, with a Chateaubriand sauce. He said it was one of the best he's ever had. Nikki decided on the Ventura Farmer's Mixed Baby Greens, because she wanted to make sure and have dessert. Everything was beautifully presented, and the entrees came with scalloped potatoes, sautéed zucchini, and cauliflower, all of which were good. We also had another round of drinks, a glass of Taittinger Brut Champagne, a Jack 'n Coke, a glass of Chardonnay, and I had the red wine flight. DESSERT: Nikki & Jeremy split an Apple Tart, which was light, flaky, and the apples weren't over cooked. The caramel sauce drizzled over top was tasty. We had the Chocolate Soufflé cake, which was light and had a good flavor, as well as the Apple Tart (both choices on the DineLA menu). My wife thought the apple tart was one of the best she's had. Along with dessert, we ordered a couple glasses of Ice Wine (German) and some Port. Both the Ice Wine and the Port were enjoyable and paired well with the desserts. Both desserts came with ice cream, which tasted like they were made in-house. In all, the desserts really hit the spot to wrap up a nice meal. There's plenty of free parking in the lot next door and behind the restaurant, as well as the surrounding streets. Overall, a fantastic evening was had by all. As is usual for us, we closed the place down. It's always a fun time with Nikki & Jeremy. I highly recommend you give Shiro a try. read more

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