The Stage: Star Night is a hip patio spot in K-Town probably better known for karaoke than their food. Still, I find myself on an eternal hunt for out of this world Korean food. This meant an adventure out of the valley on a Friday night into Los Angeles to scratch an itch and try something new.
The Food: For my guest and I, the menu was slightly confusing. When we finally figured out that we could order a group meal or a la carte, it made sense. Eager to try a little bit of everything, we decided to order a bunch of small plates. Before we could finish our cocktails, bacon wrapped asparagus, dumplings, pork belly, and beef dishes started arriving.
Bacon being the king of the mountain complimented the asparagus well, but you could wrap bacon around almost anything and it would improve it tenfold. The dumplings were fried to perfection and deserved a second order, which we obliged. The pork belly was overcooked and missed the mark. Leave it to bacon to save the species. The beef dish was forgettable and didn’t leave a mark. Taken as a whole, I was neither wowed nor disappointed. I had my mind fixated on something out of this world. Shame on me for creating false expectations.
The Service: Our waiter wasn’t much help when it came to clearing up confusion related to the menu. We even asked, “What do parties of two usually order?” Our answer was a few jokes that didn’t land and an escape to check on our cocktails. Thanks for the help… I guess.
The Price: For two people, we paid $99. That price point in LA can often feel like a steal, but a drive around the corner would have revealed better tasting more authentic food at a lower price point.
The Takeaway: I’ve never been a big karaoke fan. I love being the center of attention just not in that way. I assume people visit Star Night for that experience and the food is a second thought. The only thing I can compare it to is the food you find at a bowling alley. It doesn’t distract from the experience and its only reason to exist is to make money. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but if you are looking for great Korean food in K-Town I suggest walking a little further down the street.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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