Jackson's Village Bistro

I suppose it's not entirely fair for me to review Jackson's as I know the owners, but it's too good not to tell others about it. I first came here with the owner, and I have to say, I enjoyed it more as a free meal, but who wouldn't? We were treated to a few appetizers, some salads, an entree each, and a few desserts to share between us. First up was the Mediterranean crostini with mint pesto spread, pine nuts, and topped with a delicate piece of shrimp. While it is slightly oily, it's really delicious and doesn't sit too heavy on your palate before the rest of the meal. For salads we shared the field greens with candied walnuts, gorgonzola, and caramelized pears as well as the ahi tuna salad with wasabi vinaigrette. Both are suburb, but the Asian-style ahi salad doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the French/Italian inspired cuisine. The main course is by far the most memorable dish from Jackson's and certainly the chef's specialty. The creamy risotto with chiati-truffle au jus and filet mignon is something I definitely crave (but unfortunately Jackson's is in Hermosa and a bit far to frequent). I've also tried the ribeye topped with crispy garlic, which was truly a savory experience. If I remember correctly, we ended the night with one of every dessert, but the best had to be the upside down blackberry pie, served with a small pie-like shell turned upside down with a gooey blackberry cobbler innards, then drizzled with blackberry sauce and paired with vanilla ice cream. If you like blackberries, you will really enjoy this dish and even if you don't normally care for the tart treat, you still might like this sugary cousin. My first experience was so great that I had to bring Chase here. The food was equally tasty, but this time we were on our own for the bill. Between a salad, 2 entrees, dessert, and wine, we were up to $100, which seemed pricey at the time, but I guess you could technically consider this a steak house since there are several cuts available on the menu, so in retrospect, $100 isn't that bad. The atmosphere is really pleasant with a homey interior that looks out into Pier Ave. in Hermosa beach. The beach smells and feels definitely enhance the experience as well. No need to be too dressy as a result, but it's definitely a great date spot if you're in the mood to put on a dress or a button-up shirt. The owner tells me that they have a lot of people come in for anniversary dinners and have even had a few people propose here. One of the customers enjoyed it so much that they painted a small representation of the restaurant to present to the owners of this family-run joint. And if you ask "who's Jackson?" you're sure to be told it's the owners' 10-year-old son.

http://www.jacksonsvillagebistro.com/