I have reviewed hotels and talked about vacations, but very rarely have I written about food and restaurants here on the blog. However, a very little known fact about me is that I was a Yelp Elite for years before I was married and had kids. I would take photos of every dish during fine dining and pretend to be an expert telling the difference between sous vide and poached chicken and write about them as if I was a food critic (how disgustingly LA and pretentious right?) Anyways, I digress. The inspiration today is about a new restaurant I discovered recently called – Destroyer LA, before I begin, you know when a retired foodie actually write a piece about food, it is gonna be good.
Contrary to its seemingly masculine and vicious name, this place is anything but. Perhaps it serves as an oxymoron to name it so. The restaurant is tucked in the industrial part of Culver City, next to many tech and media and fashion head quarters and only opens M-F 8am to 3pm tailored to the hipsters lunch crowd. The entrance is very unassuming, had it not been the intentional asymmetrical sign, one would have easily passed it. Once you got inside, a vast and bright open kitchen/cash register/coffee bar awaits you along with a wall projecting the daily menu on the right and some limited indoor seating to the left.
The decor is minimal and the food is modern, the plating is done on earthy, heavy ceramics that perfectly compliments the food itself. Even the coffee mugs were clay and ceramic dressed in little sweaters to keep warm. My friend and I weren’t sure what to expect when we saw the plating, however one bite into the food and we were hooked! It was flavorful with all the gastronomic elements combined yet still kept the original integrity of the ingredients. There were lots of nuts and grains mixed with perfectly charred young veggies but also decent amount of meat.
Beef Tartare hidden under radishes and with pickled mushrooms mixed with something called smoked egg cream was something I have never had before and I have had plenty of tartares. Chicken Confit came with yukon gold potato that was cooked to perfection. Chicken was tender and falls apart at the fork, mixed with roasted lettuce, yuzu and hazelnut topped by an extremely fancy cheesy thing that kept us guessing what is was. Rice Porridge topped with caramelized broccoli, puffed rice, burnt onion was the perfect comfort food on a cold rainy day. We pretty much cleaned all the plates.
What do you think of this review? Are you captivated by the stark minimal imagery and the art like presentation of food? Name one restaurant that you have been to recently that completely blew you away so that I can check out if I’m in your hood and my NY readers, please give me some recommendations because we are coming to you!
Awesome photos Sheree, and I’m loving your overall look especially the cute blouse.
Sounds like a lovely place to eat! 🙂
Thank you for the link up!
Hope you are having a good week 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
The restaurant looks fantastic. I love the modern decor and the food look delicious! Thanks for sharing and for the link up!
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
I like to eat somewhere unusual once in a while, but I’m usually happy with very basic food. The best restaurants I’ve eaten in are both on Barbados – The Cliff and Tides. They are quite expensive but the food is amazing, so nice for a special treat 🙂
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thanks for the review – the place looks awesome!
Come stop by my blog for my latest collaboration with Los Angeles-based indie brand BACIANO and let me know what you think!
HappySpring!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
My husband and I are foodies and love trying out the interesting places! We really love True Food in Denver because of the philosophy of the place!
We’d definitely eat here!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
The decor and ambiance look amazing, but I don’t think my “hungry man” husband would ever eat that food. 🙂 This restaurant beautifully illustrates the difference between the coastal states and the flyover states. Two completely different worlds.
Your story about your yelp past is so funny! That restaurant looks amazing and your outfit is so cute! A fave of mine in NY is Beauty and Essex. So good!
xx Leah / http://www.eatpraywearlove.com
Sounds like a fabulous place… loving your footwear – the bows!!!
Looks & sounds like a very cool place. I love the decor, and the food looks and sounds delicious.
Definitely going to try this place next time I’m in LA! Sounds and looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Mary
http://marymurnane.com
Okay wow! The food looks and sounds so unique! It’s fun to hear about different things bloggers did before blogging or kids. You are very descriptive in describing the food and the pictures are gorgeous!
http://www.mylittlenest.org
So glad Sheree that you made my blog as your most clicked blog. Love it and Love your link ups.
Vaishali
http://www.vivaciouswish.com/2017/03/19/love-for-vintage-print/
Everything looks so damn delicious! Yummy! And I’m in love with your style, dear ✨?
This menu looks so good! I will have to check it out. My newest restaurant discovery is Salt Air in Venice Beach. So good!
xo,
Lisa
http://www.prettylittleshoppers.com
that food looks so yummy. Loving the shoes.
It all looks so good!! Loving your cute spring outfit – especially the skirt!
Sarah
Trendy & Tidy
Okay one day when I’m in town, we need to go eat! You seem to know of the good places to go and find a yummy looking meal. It’s so cool you used to be a Yelp Elite. I never knew that about you!
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
I’m definitely intrigued by this restaurant! When I was in NYC last month, I was completely blown away by Budakkan It was a really sexy restaurant, not the minimalist style of Destroyer!
–Roxanne
http://glassofglam.com
Such a great review babe and the restaurant looks amazing in the design and even the presentation of the dishes. For sure will add to my list to visit. If you go to NYC you must go to the Ralph Lauren restaurant Polo bar its amazing and if you like coffee for sure the Ralphs coffee at 711 madison Avenue. Great coffee and great pics for IG hehehe
xoxo
Marcy
Omg now I’m starving and want to go to this place right now! I love the minimalism and the earthiness and the food looks incredible. I mean, I’ve had rice porridge before but this one sounds heavenly! And the dishes are all so beautifully curated. The decor inside is perfection and I definitely enjoyed reading your review. Love your outfit as well and that gorgeous bag!! Xoxo, Christine
http://dailykongfidence.com
Dear Sheree,
Yes ! I am absolutely captivated by the artful way the food was presented and the dishes just sound amazing! I would love the beef tartare, the rice porridge or any of the fine and inventive dishes at Destroyer Elite. I am in Rhode Island and have been enjoying Cafe Dolce Vita on Federal Hill.
Haha, my question is “why did you pretend to be an expert”? you have tried food and if you liked it, i hope you said the true opinion?!
The thing today about bloggers that I trust less and less to bloggers when they give a review to certain item. I appreciate bloggers who tells the truth and work only with a certain brands, hotels and even food restaurants that they really would go themselves.
http://www.queenhorsfall.com/
This place actually looks so amazing and I definitely need to pick your brain next time I’m in town for the great spots to eat girl!
Helen xx
https://helenchik.com/how-to-care-for-flowers
First of all your outfit is the cutest!! You look adorable!
Second, this place is so charming, I love the decor and how they beautifully present every dish in such a unique way!
You should write more about food in here 🙂
This is definitely a place I’d consider going next time I’m in LA
Thanks for sharing!
XO
Aimara
http://www.waysofstyle.com
What a wonderful place to eat! I live in San Diego, so LA is pretty close. I normally travel there twice a month so this will be definitely one of my next spots to have lunch. Adore all of your images, they are very well taken and attractive. Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy your week!
Vanessa
http://thefashionstatement.net
I always love discovering new restaurants too, especially if they serve brunch and coffee. I loved reading your review, not only does the restaurant look inviting but your food shots look so tempting and delicious. I am curious to know, did you try their coffee and dessert? I will definitely put this on my list of restaurants to visit, when I am in LA next. I am loving your outfit too, especially your shoes :).
xxx
Sarah
http://sarahatiq.com/
You always create very cute and inspiring looks!
And your photos are very minimalistic and clean! I really like it!
Haha but believe it or not, I always look to yelp before going to a restaurant to see the opinion of other diners and their own experience – so while you may think its pretentious now – i think it’s still something that is extremely useful 🙂 so don’t be so hard on yourself! LOL
Anyways back to this restaurant – one word : amazing.
love the aesthetics of this place. Definitely clean and minimal. I also loved the way they presented the food.
A place i would definitely want to dine!
Wanderlustts
http://www.wanderlustts.com
Thank you for sharing this review, I enjoyed reading all I will make sure to visit Destroyer when I visit Culver City. I like the presentation of the food and I am sure I will enjoy it according to your review. You should start reviewing more restaurants!!
Aurela XOXO
http://www.aurelafashionista.com
Great review and beautiful pictures! You can tell this isn’t your first time! I’d love to hear more about the menu and prices. I can’t tell you how long I sit and study a menu before I walk thru the door of someplace new LOL. Can’t wait to see where you go in NYC!
XO
http://www.lehoarder.com/
This restaurant is so amazing, it looks like it’s the new definition of minimalism. From the decor to the way the food is plated. However, it doesn’t mean that it lacks. I love the bright and open space, and I love how the dishes are so flavorful and all the components work well together. (Not that I’ve been or eaten here, I just had to take your word for it hehe). Thanks for this great review, I once wanted to be a Yelp Elite too, but never got to that status haha
-Lily from With Love Lily Rose
The food seriously looks crazy there. So fancy I think. If you didn’t explain anything I wouldn’t have known what I was looking at. I’m sure the food was amazing though. The pictures you captured are so very wonderful.
I absolutely need to visit this place and also your first paragraph made me lol. I’m such a fan of stone mugs and dinner ware! I actually collect different hand crafted stone mugs when I travel! They just have an energy that a factory made coffee cup does not! Anyways…. all of the food looks gorgeous and I love the minimalistic decor!
Manda | http://EvocativelyChosen.com
OMG! You should definitely do more food/restaurant reviews! The photography is spot on and really captures the essence of the minimalistic place. Also, not to mention your vocabulary for the review was so perfect on so many levels. No wonder you were a Yelp Elite reviewer. Haha. You should check out Spoon by H on Beverly in West Hollywood. It’s my favorite restaurant of all time because the owner tries to get to know your taste and really personalizes each dish. (She does have a secret menu though and changes every day so make sure to call in and ask what’s the special for the day.)
xoxo,
Maggie S.
❤Clothestomidnight.com
This restaurant looks incredibly amazing and the dishes as well. I love to discover this kind of places. What I’m truly adoring is your outfit, you look so beautiful in it!!! I ordered a pair of shoes similar to the ones you are wearing. Can’t wait for them to arrive!!!
Have a lovely day, sweetie! xx, Gina
And here I thought I had been everywhere in LA. This place looks so cute!! Must try it next time I’m in town!!
This restaurant looks so cute, and from your pictures, the food looks delicious. I’m getting hungry just looking at your pictures 🙂
xo, Maryam
http://www.glamandposh.com
OMG this place looks amazingggg! Next time Im in LA.. I am totally going to visit here. Thanks for the link up!!
Love see this open kitchen and a lot of ingredients, nuts and veggies.
Your outffit is very pretty..Great idea a to link up.
xx
Eva
http://www.themermaidfashion.com.
Hey Love,
How are you?
Love Restaurants and Food Photography, I do many reviews about Hotels, Restaurants and I love sooo much:)
This place is sooo Lovely, Just Loved the Photos about the Dishes:) Looks Fantastic:) I would Visit for sure:)
Love Kisses Open Kloset By Karina
Happy Week:)
I most certainly can tell you’re a retired foodie when reading this as you describe both the place and its atmosphere as well as the food itself in such a distinguished and beautiful way and then combine it with the beautiful minimalistic photos! You basically had me at hello here. I could always recommend Noma in Copenhagen if you’re in my Scandinavian hoods or Teatergrillen in Stockholm where I live. Give me a heads up so we can enjoy dinner together though 🙂
xoxo
Thomas
http://thomasfalkenstedt.com
This place looks so wow, just the way I like it! This minimalistic design and the colourful menu – so promising! And I really love your own unique technique of taking photos, they are just on point!
Cheers, Eliza | http://www.fashion-confession.com
The presentation of the food is second to none 🙂 I adore the minimalist setting too. This looks a fantastic restaurant to head to if you want to try something new that is still healthy!
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
Amazing post and write-up, I truly believe this is a comeback of a foodie reviewer? don’t retire! you write amazing!
xxx
thenewgirl
Hi babe,
I LOVE the way you shared about the Destroyer LA in this review.
This is the kind of restaurante i love to discover, feeling very inspired right now!
Would definitely be visiting it when in town 🙂
Thank you!!!
Hadasah xx
http://www.styletolove.com
Yum this place looks amazing! That quinoa blend looks so good! I am obsessed wit mixed grains. I wish they had longer hours! I work 9-5, so unless I’m on vacation, I wont be able to visit. :/ I am definitely putting this on my restaurant go-to list.
This place looks amazing! The food looks very good and I love the minimalist setting too, Next time when I visit LA i will check out this place!
Ooh destroyer looks so tasty- I’ll have to check it out when I’m in Culver city! That tartare looks so yum- I want to eat it all! I’m really trying to eat more delicious veggies- recently loved flower child in Santa Monica!
Destroyer LA looks like the perfect place to dine/brunch in! Love the minimal design and the way the food looks like! Everything seems so Instagram worthy, and I can’t believe you’ve been in the Yelp Elite, haha! You sound like a real food critique! And did I mention how much I love your bag?! Have a lovely week! <3
Andreea,
http://couturezilla.com/