De un tiempo para acá, el área de Echo Park has been reinventing itself y poco a poco has been transforming itself from a “ghetto fabulous” neighborhood into a fab and hipster-friendly area. You can see it in the streets, the people on them, the shops and, of course, even in restaurants and hang out spots. Por estos rumbos it’s all about survival o te reinventas o cierras el changarro. Sin embargo, existen varios establecimientos que no necesitan cambiar nada para seguir manteniéndose dentro del gusto de las personas. “The Park” es uno de esos restaurantes. Even with hipsters taking over the entire area, “The Park” manages to leave outside all that pretentiousness that’s known to accompany hipsters and wanna-be hipsters.
“The Park” is your typical hole-in-the-wall and then some. The décor is minimal and almost unnoticeable; nevertheless, the atmosphere is nice and cheerful, the staff is genuinely friendly and this joint is as comfy as a restaurant can be.
Eclectic food
Si hay algo que de seguro encontrarás en “The Park” es: de todo un poco. Even though their menu is quite small and rather limited, they have a little something for everyone. Lo sorprendente viene cuando te das cuenta que many items from the menu are vegan friendly and reasonably healthy.
A good thing about their short menu is the fact that they really focus on the dishes they prepare. Plus, they have a rotating menu which changes with every season, and which gives a total of 4 different menus throughout the year.
Grub time!
You should know that while the portions at “The Park” are not ginormous, they’re not measly either- they’re just about right. They serve enough food to satisfy your palate and fill the tank.
With that in mind, if you feel like having an appetizer, the choices are rather limited. The appetizer menu might seem way too familiar- that is because it’s rather generic… so, why have fried calamari at “The Park” when you can have it anywhere else? Instead, try their cornbread pancakes.
The cornbread pancakes are bite-size pancakes mixed in with either shrimp or soy chorizo. While both of them are tasty in their own way, the cornbread pancakes with soy chorizo te van a dejar con el ojo cuadrado. The soy chorizo (“soyrizo”) tastes almost like the real deal minus the heartburn and the ridiculous amount of saturated fat and cholesterol.
Comida saludable sin querer queriendo
Aun cuando varios platillos en el menú no parezcan tan apetitosos, el aroma a comida que inunda “The Park” no miente… así que si tienes alguna duda en cuanto a los platillos en el menú, don’t hesitate to ask your server- they’ll be more than happy to enlighten you and give you all the skinny on “The Park” food.
There are a few people out there who are mushroom crazy and will eat champiñones y hongos a morir; sin embargo, para nostros los más normalitos, eso de los hongos como que nomás no. Si eres de los que le hace cara de fuchi to all things mushroom, after having some at “The Park” puede que cambies de parecer.
Their polenta with Portobello mushroom is sublime. The combination of the polenta and the Portobello mushroom is quite harmonious. Por si fuera poco, te sirven un side the mashed potatoes que si bien no son nada del otro mundo, they’re fluffy and have a nice flavor to them that complements the flavor of the dish as a whole.
You can’t go to “The Park” and not have the veggie burger. Sure… why have a veggie burger when you can have a real burger? If you’re on a diet, it makes sense to go for the veggie burger.
Unlike other veggie burgers that taste like cardboard with salt and pepper, the home-made veggie burgers at “The Park” will turn you into a vegetarian at least for thirty minutes.
The veggie burger also comes with grilled mushrooms, garlic and gruyere cheese. However, as much as the condiments and the burger’s “stuff” contributes to its taste, the buns get major props in making this a memorable and worthy veggie burger.
Si es que aún te queda un hueco en el estómago para el postre, go nuts and get the “chocolate pot de creme”- like a little piece of heaven for all chocolate lovers out there.
The Park
1400 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213.482.9209
