Botanica Restaurant & Market
Can I give this restaurant ten stars?! Why, of course, I make the rules. 10 stars it is **********
Botanica Restaurant & Market is honestly that good. Everything here is incredible – from the drinks to food to even the sides of bread you can order. The chefs know how to make the vegetables and produce shine. Mission accomplished.
Something different in all the best ways
Located in Silver Lake, I instantly fell in love with this tiny, community-driven restaurant as soon as I walked in the door. There are just a few tables, a bar, and a to-go counter. Despite it being relatively small, it feels big and airy – I think it’s due to all of the natural light that shines in, illuminating the welcoming atmosphere.
But first, cocktails
No breakfast is complete without a little booze to start the morning off right. I ordered a fresh grapefruit juice with a bit of soda water and vodka. It was very refreshing and not too tart, a pleasant surprise, as this is often a danger of ordering anything with grapefruit. My friend ordered a DELICIOUS coffee. It was so good that if I lived closer, I’d have to make a daily stop here.
Ricotta, you oughtta
My friend and I split the ricotta tartine and the breakfast mezze. The ricotta tartine had tomatoes on it, which were unlike any tomato I’ve ever eaten. I’m normally the guy who picks the tomatoes off his burger and only eats half of the tomatoes in his salad; however, I could not get enough of these! They were candy-level sweet, with a bit of acid, and perfectly balanced by the fat from the ricotta and bread. It was topped off with fresh basil and an incredible olive oil. Deeelish.
Mezze, take me away
The breakfast mezze plate is to die for. Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. This plate of deliciousness will transport you right into the Mediterranean… healthy fats and crisp vegetables and the most incredible bread to round it out. The mezze consists of beans, hummus, olives, toast, an egg, and an apple/fennel salad. The beans that come with it are so perfectly seasoned that I could have eaten a full jar of them. I’m not sure what type of beans they were, but they had a spicy oil on them, which made them highly addictive. There’s just the right amount of heat for a little kick. The eggs were tasty with a perfectly cooked yolk – not dried out and slightly runny. The bread is unreal. I could've eaten 10 pieces (if the size of my stomach would have allowed). I’m not sure what they put on it to toast it – oil or butter or something – but it was the best part of the meal (behind the tomatoes). The hummus was excellent, and the olives were good, but pretty basic. To finish it off, there was an apple and pickled fennel salad. It was very subtle in flavor, making it the perfect addition to the plate (it didn't overwhelm and of the other flavors). Mmm mmm mmm.
What an incredible meal. I’m already plotting a trip back as soon as I possibly can.
