Dine LA: XIV by Michael Mina

Dine La, one of the best events in LA, is here again!! We love Dine La for its affordable 3 course menu served by 4 star restaurants. On regular occasions, tasting menu at these restaurants could range from $100-$200, but during Dine La promotions, 3 course menu are set at only $44. Though some are quite a bit of a disappointment, as they tend to choose the cheapest dish to be put on the menu, some that we've tried previously are quite good, such as Ortolan, Belvedere at the Peninsula, and this time, XIV by Michael Mina. (Its actually the roman numbers 14, I originally thought that its the alphabet XIV, which doesn't really make sense =.=) Michael Mina owns many restaurants at SF, Vegas, Miami, etc and the most famous would be Michael Mina at San Francisco (he even publishes his own cook book!)

Looks more like a club on the outside than a restaurant

Dine La menu

Regular menu

complementary appetizer which is surprisingly very yummy!!! toasted pita bread with sea salt and something similar to humus.

Appetizer choice 1 - Ahi Tuna tartar, quite ordinary

Appetizer choice 3 (no one order the 2nd option which is the salad), Butternut Squash Bisque. Plate initially came with the sides and cream on the center, and soup came separately on a vase, which was later poured in. Its very creamy, sweet, and not too heavy. I think it's better than the tuna. 

Kobe Skirt Steak, from the regular menu. It's the best dish of the night, which proves that the regular menu is much better.

Main course option 2, Crab Risotto. Again, no one chose the 1st option which is the chicken. 

Main course option 3, braised short ribs. I don't understand why all places serve this as main course for dine LA. Ortolan and Spago had this the previous time we went. While Spago's was a big disappointment (taste like chinese braised pork) and Ortolan's was not bad, XIV's was better in my opinion. More juicy, tender and less sour. On the menu it says "coffee potato" but the potato taste so bland, no coffee taste at all.

Dessert option 1, glazed doughnuts. Quite disappointed with the limited dessert options.

Dessert option 2, Root Beer Float. (why would you serve a root bear float at a 4 star restaurant??) Anyway, I happen to love it, but I'm a biased for root beer. It's my fav soda. But this is quite different from the normal, it has root beer like sorbet in it and another fruit like sorbet mixed in it. Served with warm cookies. A twist to an ordinary item. 

Overall, I think the food is not bad, but the options are quite limited and well I think they should have 1 more dessert option instead of the current two. However, next time, I'd like to come for the regular menu instead of the dine LA.