If your next date-night restaurant destination has the word barn it it, don’t ditch your guy just yet…in fact, run there before they hand off the last of their salivating dishes- which happened to me, by the way, as I still think about the delectable lamb that got away. Barnyard is LA’s newest star from the classically French trained chef Jesse Barber- alum of nearby Tasting Kitchen, as well as Thomas Keller’s French Laundry and Bouchon, plus two of Portland’s go-to culinary spots- that has everyone talking…even the people behind the prestigious James Beard Awards, of which Barnyard is up for three.
The location is just off the Venice Boardwalk, and intentionally not on foodie-row- known as Abbott Kinney- where Barber previously manned the Tasting Kitchen, which suits him just fine…as this surfer-farmhouse-esque environment presents divine Mediterranean-inspired light and fresh shared plates infused with hearty main courses- in an easygoing and casual manner, lacking pretense of any kind. Specializing in whole animal butchery, Barber crafts his mastery-of-meats into sausages and slow-cooked stocks that could turn a room full of vegans into carnivores.
Barber prefers working with seasonal ingredients, where his produce, fruits, and vegetables are provided courtesy of Barnyard’s five-acre farm in Malibu. A purist, he doesn’t over-accessorize with unnecessary add-on’s, and consummates each dish with a simplicity that is so enticing, yet never heavy. While the front room is small and boisterous, the enclosed back patio has a cozy feel- and the mismatched vintage china makes for an even more charming date-night. Barber and his team lovingly prepare their tasty morsels to admiring guests who keep coming back for more- however, he will cook for you at home…if you ask nicely, and pony up some real dough. www.barnyardvenice.com
