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| - For dinner, my friend JB wanted something reasonably healthy and wasn't overly anxious about the price, as long as it was casual and allowed for conversation. She also mentioned recent cravings for rare-cooked tuna. Remembering the tasty tuna tartar appetizer I once had there and the tuna burger I'd seen on their menu, I took us to Chelsea's Kitchen (CK).
Chelsea's Kitchen is one of Craig and Kris DeMarco and Bob Lynn's several brainchildren that make up the LGO Hospitality family, which includes Arcadia's trendy places to be seen, Le Grande Orange Grocery, Le Grande Orange Pizzeria, Postino Cafe, and Radio Milano (one of two branches, the second being in Pomona, California). I'm definitely not a scenester, and CK tends to cater to the slightly older, not-so-trendy-but-still-in-the-know crowd who wants a good meal and a low-key atmosphere.
My work group goes there regularly for lunch, and I've liked every meal I've had there. I'll put a warning in about the Howie Burger--after awhile, the bottom bun gets soggy. The regular burgers hold up much better. The restaurant's lightly honeyed cottage cheese side is a nice alternative to fries.
Their menu is straightforward and to the point--no frills, no garnishes. The interior is the same. Hardwood tabletops, a few giant, yet minimalist stone pots for fake floral arrangements. Seats to lounge in. Nothing soft and flowing, but comfortable all the same. A band of windows, shaded by the roof's overhang, enwraps the dining room, bringing in comfy ambient light. That night, the comfy lighting was dim, but not so dim that you'd need a flashlight to read the menu and get a good look at your plate. Everything's clean, right down to the design lines. Even the busy open-view kitchen's stainless steel gives off a well-scrubbed look.
The hostess greeted us with a smile. I saw folks on the front patio and suggested we sit outside, too, remembering how loud the dining room's music can get and how close the quarters are. They sat us at the rear patio, along the canal, which I think was nicer than the front would've been. A very short time later, our waitress arrived to take our drink order, and we both ordered lemonade.
The service the whole night was quick and attentive, which was nice as most of the tables inside and out were seated. The servers weren't obtrusive while we had our animated conversation over our meal. We weren't waiting long before our lemonades and glasses of water arrived. The lemonade was cold and fresh, though after a few sips through a straw, some of the pithy stuff at the bottom started sending a face-puckering, bitter wash over my tongue. Unfortunately, there was no sweetener at the table, so I took only occasional sips. At the least, it was refreshing. And while I didn't love it, but they were quick and liberal with both lemonade and water refills at my table, topping us off whenever we got close to half empty.
Looking over the menu, the first thing I pointed out was the tuna tartar with guacamole and tortilla chips, and we decided to split the appetizer. The tortilla chips served with our appetizer chips were pale, fresh, crispy, and salty--all the components of a very addictive food. The only petty complaint was the one single chip that was just a bit chewy. The tuna tartar and avocado accompaniment was nicely done. It was simply seasoned, which is essential for letting the buttery tuna shine through. Avocado and tuna are a classic combination for a reason--they work well together, with the avocado buffering the fish (not fishy) taste, and the tuna polishing the avocado's taste. The crisp, thin chips gave a nice, brief crunch without overwhelming the tuna's and avocado's texture. Unfortunately, the speedy service worked against us, and it was just a few minutes between arrivals of appetizer and entree.
Sometimes, the skinny seasoned fries are limp, but the seasoning is consistently tasty. The tuna burger was beautiful, served with the top bun and all the accompanying fresh veggies to the side--lettuce, thinly sliced tomatoes, fans of avocado slices. I put the two together, sliced it in half, and had to give it the smackdown to make sure I could wrap my maw around it. The burger was perfect--moist, flavorful, scrumptious, and rare. The bun was fresh and soft. The glaze was awesome--slightly sweet and tangy, and the burger's edges were crisped, offering a nice contrast to the soft middle.
I wanted a place to tuck away and have good food. The open dining room where you can see the face of every other diner doesn't allow that, but there are plenty of patio niches that make close conversation easy, making the restaurant good for groups, despite the tight spaces between tables you sometimes have to navigate, but even better for a few friends if you sit outside. You probably won't find yourself daydreaming about the fare, but it's good and consistent enough to choose in a pinch when you don't want to blow a load of dough on a really good tuna burger.
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