Jer-ne

At the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey is Jer-ne. I've been here a few times and frankly, it's overrated. The breakfast is pretty bland with your run-of-the-mill breakfast menu with lots of eggs and French toast and a Continental breakfast bar. As for lunch, the menu is still pretty small, and nothing's really all that original or exciting. I was there with work today and wasn't really that impressed. For starters we had a truffle & mushroom pizza, which started strong, but then I had a beef salad for lunch. The salad came with carpaccioed beef, shaved parmesan, and truffle salad dressing. The beef was good, but the salad dressing was really acidic and strong, which made it hard to eat much of it. The two guys got sandwiches that looked the best out of the items ordered (there's really only apps, pizzas, salads, and sandwiches, yet nothing is less than $15). Certainly the best part of the meal was the dessert. We tried the berry crumble and the cafe smores. Upon first read, the smores dish didn't sound too reminescent of an actual smore as it's described as espresso & chocolate ice creams in a martini glass on top of chocolate and marshmallow layers. Sitting on the edge of the glass is a graham cracker crustini with melted mallow drops on top. When you work your way through that, there are 3 cinnamon sugar donut holes waiting for you on the plate below. Probably the best reason to come here is for the lovely patio that overlooks the boats on the marina, that is, if you aren't there to look for celebrities. If it's basketball season, and you come when the Lakers are at home, you're pretty much guaranteed to see members of the opposing team hanging around the hotel as it's the official hotel of the NBA. Don't plan on parking anywhere but the $8 valet either. Just saying....

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/MarinadelRey/Dining/Jer-NeRestaurantBar/Default.htm