KASSAVA CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT

 

My friends and I wound-up at the original 3^rd Street location last week, and were thrilled that’s the one we chose. It has a totally authentic Island feel to it, while the one that just opened on the Sunset Strip is more trendy. [But here’s a warning about the new one (or bonus, depending on if you smoke or not.): That one is right next door to a cigar bar, and the odor definitely gets in. I’m sure the food is the same, and I have a feeling it will become a hip after (or during!) club go-to spot, but if you have lung issues, as I do, you’ll be happier at the original location.]

The superb food deets in a second, but first the ambience. The Kassava on 3^rd is a true homage to all things Caribbean. The food and decor are a combo of Jamaican and Haitian, with a little Martinique thrown in for good measure. We went nuts over the colorful wooden placemats, and there’s a whole wall of island artwork and specialties for purchase, to benefit Haiti.

This location is a cute little cozy bungalow, with a front patio and the wonderful servers, especially the delightful Vanessa Walkowiak, who’s the perfect combo of someone you’d like to be friends with and a happy-to-serve-you waitperson. And, if you’re single (or have medical questions,) you just might meet a doctor there from across-the-street Cedars Sinai. (Or a dancer from the near-by studio that I know the TV dance shows use.)

Now to the vittles. I’d like to tell you the highlights of our meal, but I’m afraid that I can’t. That’s because Kassava is the restaurant equivalent of Dominique Wilkins, who’s known as “the human highlight reel”–it was all highlights!

There was absolutely nothing that we hip chicks didn’t like! Including pain-in-the-ass ME! I even tried Candis’ red snapper, and loved it! (When I told Mr. X that I had eaten fish, he asked, “Whose hand did you hold?” Boy, does he know me! The answer was Candis’, who looked frightened as I took my bite. But she needn’t have been because I couldn’t get enough of it!)

Speaking of hip chicks, the fabulous chefs here are female! I was surprised when I found-out, though I don’t know why. Probably because no females in my family can cook. Carmen Dajon and Nicole La Juerre are sure not related to me!

But you know that my linear-thinking brain has got to go in order. The food is the same at lunch and dinner, but for the latter, they send a platter of crushed green plantain chips to the table. It looked something like potato chip crumbs, but mm-mm-mmm! (I don’t actually know the real name of them, but it’s the only thing like it, so you’ll see what I mean.)

The girls went nuts for the diverse selection of beverages, that they said are “authentic to the island culture.” Lucia was impressed with the ginger beer, which she said is like “very gingery ginger ale,” while Tattie loved her kola champagne, the flavor of which they likened to cream soda. Despite the names, they’re both non-alcoholic. (The girls as well as the beverages!) Candis went with guava juice, and I did what I always do when I can’t decide–I went with water!

Here’s a quick run-down of some of the appetizers and side orders we shared: The accra (which are yucca fritters–we had the vegan ones, without the codfish) were “really good,” the pineapple meatballs were “delicious,” the macaroni and cheese was “perfect” and “not overly cheesy, which would have ruined it,” and the Creole spaghetti had “a little kick, and an aroma of garlic,” and was “al dente, and not too saucy.” (I guess these chicks are just not fans of sauce and cheese!) Of special note was the adorable little festival bread, which we all loved and could “easily be a dessert!”

We usually don’t try soups because they’re so filling and hard to share, (I’m not a fan of other people’s spoons in my food,) but we were thrilled that we decided to try two of Kassava’s. The Haitian beef pumpkin was so much better than it sounds, and tasted as home-made as the “awesome” marinated chicken soup, which we said was “like grandma’s,” and “so not greasy,” with Tattie chiming in that she’ll want it when she’s sick. (That may be hard to accomplish, though, since she lives in New York. Now she wants to move out here just to eat at Kassava all the time. Or at least visit more often. Yay!)

The basic platters come with rice and beans, steamed cabbage, and sweet plantains, which is really enough, but the side dishes are so inexpensive that you can really order some of them, as well.

For the main dishes, Lucia loved her “gorgeous, flavorful, colorful, and bright” tilapia, Tattie said her jerk chicken was “spicy, moist, and great,” and a bonus was that, due to some clever “pre-shedding,” (or something like that,) the meat fell right off the bone.

Candis said her red snapper, which was served whole, was “lightly-fried” and “crispy, moist, and well-seasoned.” I’m telling you, except for looking at the head, I loved it! And my Karen’s Restaurant Revue viewers know just how much I really hate most fish! I also enjoyed my coconut shrimp, which are not what you think of when you hear the title. These weren’t fried with spiky coconut sticking out; rather they were in a bowl of creamy coconut milk with fresh spices, and tasted much healthier than the usual way.

I brought the grilled mango salmon to Mr. X because he’s my salmon expert, and he said this was the most outrageously “wow” food he’s ever eaten!!! We’re thinking of selling our house and taking an apartment down the block from Kassava! (And then Tattie could just stay with us.)

We really didn’t have room for dessert, but they were actually light enough to end the meal with a taste of sweetness, so we went for it. I’m basically a chocolate girl, but this cuisine doesn’t really specialize in that flavor, so the other girls were on these. [Note: they do have red velvet cupcakes, but they were out of them the night we went.]

So, this is what my pals said: the coconut-pineapple ice cream was “light, yet flavorful,” and “not over-poweringly sweet,” so it “went great with the other desserts,” especially the “great when warm” “pumpkin pie-esque” sweet potato bread. The night’s special dessert, the lemon cake, was “light and moist and crumbly,” while the rhum cake was “aromatic,” “cakey,” and “dark and stormy.” (Wow–this is my best group of reviewers!)

This is all from just one visit, and believe me, such a big meal is not necessary over there because it’s all really filling. We just ate as much as we could for reviewing purposes. But, we did miss many menu items, such as the curry dishes, sandwiches, salads, and very popular Jamaican patties. I’ll be happy to go back, many times, as a matter of fact, to sample other dishes to let you know about down the line, so check my dining section from time-to-time for updates. And if you eat there yourself, enjoy your meal, Mon!

8600 W. 3^rd Street    310-385-0233   www.kassava.com