Last night, fine dining met food truck fare at Eva Restaurant with a $50 5-course Grilled Cheese Night menu collaboration with my favorite, the Grilled Cheese Truck. In honor of National Grilled Cheese Month, I couldn't have been more thankful – especially since I'd spent the 2 days prior mourning over Meltworks' elimination on America's Next Great Restaurant. (The grilled cheese "fast casual" restaurant concept I thought was as solid as a brick of cheese, and it had my mind spinning all night thinking up crazy combinations.) But I digress.
If you haven't been to Eva on Beverly Blvd yet, it's a cozy little gem with refined local dishes resembling modern works of art. If you haven't been to the Grilled Cheese Truck to try my favorite Cheesy Mac & Rib (Macaroni & Cheese AND Short Rib stuffed inside a Grilled Cheese Sandwich) then something is seriously wrong with you.
As for last night's menu collaboration, Eva definitely classed up the Truck – specifically with their spin on the Truffled Mac & Cheese and Lobster course. On the other hand, the Faux-ly Cheesesteak course was the closest thing to "fast casual" with ingredients that reminded me of "what a hamburger's all about."
The Grubdown:
- herb-speckled 'n savory parm crusted Sharp Cheddar, Gruyere & Parmesan Grilled Cheese with freshly pureed, more acidic than creamy Tomato Soup
- standout flavors, perhaps the best balanced dish of the night Triple Creme Brie, Caramelized Onions, Proscuitto & Black Peppercorn Grilled Cheese with slightly bitter Braised Artichoke balanced by thick 'n creamy Potato Onion Puree
- more like a deconstructed IN-N-OUT Burger Faux-ly Cheesesteak Charcoal-Crusted Prime Rib of Beef, sweet Homemade Pickles, Crispy Fried Onions, Cheez Whiz nacho secret sauce, and Provolone French Bread Sandwich on the side
- as decadent as it gets, so worth the extra $ sweet Butter Poached Lobster with very faint Truffled Mac & Cheese stuffed Fontina Sandwich
- not cream cheesy enough, melted too fast, thin and a bit soggy Vanilla Mascarpone on more-like-wheat-than Brioche with Balsamic Strawberries & Chocolate Fondue
While the dessert dish was my least favorite, I was very glad I decided to go with the 5-course for $50 that included the Lobster dish vs. the 4-course for $35.
All in all, cowboy hat sporting Eva Chef Mark Gold and Grilled Cheese Truck owner Dave Dahni definitely delivered and I can't wait for more!
7458 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. 323-634-0070.
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