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Fresh Bites, Luca Giorgetti's new joint in West Hollywood is a spacious, comfortable oasis from the zooming traffic of Sunset Boulevard. The ceilings are high, an eco design that is smooth and sleek, with a curve on one wall leading effortlessly to the restrooms. A long, glass window allows you to watch food prep from beginning to end.
The key to the success of Fresh Bites on Sunset in West Hollywood is its versatility. Looking for a last minute lunch reservation because you forgot it was Julie at the office's birthday? Fresh Bites has an 18-top table permanently in place. The rest of the seating is designed with flexibility in mind to seat groups large and small. Is the IT guy vegan and your boss can't do gluten? Again, Fresh Bites is ready to accommodate.
If you want to chill out in the corner on your laptop all day drinking latte after latte, there is wifi and the Cadillac of espresso machines straight from Italy. On a jog and need an energy boost (because, yeah, we all jog on Sunset and Crescent Heights)? There is a fresh made-to-order fruit and vegetable smoothie and juice bar. Hit the espresso bar for fresh, moist and innovative pastries from Pastry Chef pastry chef Rebecca West for an after-movie snack. There is even a decadent brunch on weekends.
Last week, Fresh Bites invited LAist to try out their Italian-California menu. Chef Claudio Marchesan's pizzas have a thin Napoli-style crust and light, creative toppings. We shared a Rico Spinacci: ricotta, spinach, walnuts & garlic pesto, which arrived with with just a light smear of tomato sauce and sprinkling of cheese.
Our next course was a salad: Beets and Goat: beets, tomato, corn, walnuts, goat cheese,
romaine, baby mix greens, balsamic vinaigrette. I will confess to picking all of the beets and cheese off of the top. The beets were pure perfection, soaking up just enough of the vinagrette to give them a kick without overwhelming their natural flavor.
Next we tried the Kickin’ Turkey: oven roasted turkey, brie, tomato, arugula, olive paste & mayo. We dipped it in aioli and pesto, so the olive paste was kind of erroneous. It was one of those tightly-wrapped baguette sandwiches that remind you of European train stations. The combo of brie and arugula made the sandwich really stand out.
Finally, a plate of grilled steak with grilled mixed vegetables and a delectable quinoa, rich with Mediterranean flavors. The steak was cooked medium rare, and extremely tender. Even the side dishes were worth getting into fork-battles over.
But the best was yet to come -- a heavy layer cake, similar to those served in Europe and Canada, with an intense combination of citrus flavors. Usually you only get a treat like this at Christmas here, so with the Italian Meringue frosting and cream cheese layers, it was truly special.
Fresh Bites also offers a fun-looking kid's menu, light bites, all kinds of smoothies, vegetarian hot breakfasts and even banana ice cream. Fresh Bites may not be the fanciest place in town, or the oldest, or the most cutting-edge. But what they offer - a clean, spacious, comfortable, unpretentious room with delicious food and the welcoming feel to stay all day in the bamboo chairs and banquettes if you like, it will quickly become your go-to place.
Fresh Bites is open 7 days a week, from 7am to midnight. Just in time for a little pick-me-up before you hit the the Chateau Marmont.
