Mako is the place I save for special occaisions or when I just feel like the perfect balance of flavor, presentation, and ambiance.
I have had several memorable dining experiences here that have woven this restaurant into that special place between my stomach and heart.
The dining area is fairly relaxed and rather informal, but you’ll still see people in degrees of dress from suits to country club attire to business casual. Being that this is LA, a trendy pair of jeans and a button shirt will suffice. Just make sure you’re not wearing sandals or sneakers.
The service is polite, informative, and very welcoming. The waitstaff seems to have little turnover, which is something I look for when judging the service at a restaurant. For those of you who use refills as an indicator of service attention, glass are promptly refilled when the glass gets low, but not with such frequency that the servers are constantly at your table to refill everytime you take a sip.
This is a tapas/izakaya type restaurant, where you order small dishes and share them with your fellow diners. The dishes are quite small, so don’t expect much from an individual dish, however, I’ve never left the restaurant still hungry. I guess it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend to fill up. For two people, I usually spend around $150.
The flavors are wonderful and varied, so each dish is an experience unto itself. The sauces are what give life to an otherwise common dish, such as tuna sashimi or carpaccio. And thankfully, the sauces are unique to each dish, so there is plenty to sample from.
Overall, this intimate eatery hold many fond memories of great conversations and fun times over delicious dishes.
Reservations are not a must, but are highly recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday.
fattiusthebear
12/12/2006wow, that is A LOT of food listed. and they all have descriptions! good job. O.O