The Briks, (1111 S Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90015; 213.746.7766) is a hip new restaurant with graffitied walls, bright red bricks, collaged table tops and a private room with a picture of Cry-Baby‘s Johnny Depp and Traci Lords. Named for their house specialty, briks, they will have you craving stuffed pastries soon enough. They’re a thin filo, Algerian/Tunisian savory pastry stuffed with your choice of filling, a whole egg is cracked on top (it’s deep fried until the yolk is just poached).
As for food, they are serving up entrees like The Shank (Braised lamb shank, veggies, figs, roasted baby potatoes, lavender, red wine reduction sauce); Halibut Pavé (Seared halibut, braised romaine lettuce, cauliflower puree, ras el hanout beurre blanc); Coffee crusted dry aged rib eye with celery root potato gratin, green peppercorn sauce; Thyme for Takeoff (Airline chicken breast, roasted vegetables, pear dauphine potatoes, butter thyme sauce); Pork Belly Pibil (Achiote rubbed pork belly, onion curtido, black bean and chorizo puree, street corn); and Saffron and Piloncillo Clams (Manilla Clams, Di Becca Bacon, cavatelli Pasta, edible flowers).
There are also a few salads and sides like Batata Harra Tots and B.B.S. Bacon Brussel Sprouts. Cocas are Spanish pizzas they bake in a brick oven and they come in variations including Duck Confit with caramelized onions, heirloom tomatoes, micro arugula; Chicken Shawarma with tomatoes, red onion, Za’atar oil; Shrimp scampi, calamari, clams, tomatoes, basil, pink vodka sauce; and Beef chorizo, potatoes, pico de gallo, avocado.
Now, for the main event, the Briks come in varieties like The Tony Montana (Pork Lechon, black beans, mojo, sautéed onions); The Guru (Chicken curry, potatoes, peas, tamarind sauce); The Cholo (Beef Chorizo, papas, salsa ranchera, pico de gallo); The Sinatra (Shrimp scampi, basil, tomatoes, pink vodka sauce); The Classic (Tuna, capers, shallots, harissa); The Tree Hugger (Soyrizo, kale, white bean, peanut lime sauce); and The Bougie (Duck Confit, cauliflower puree, duck egg, balsamic truffle glaze).
If you have room for dessert, order up Cajeta Brulée; Midnight Munchies (Strawberry, banana and Nutella brik, vanilla ice cream); Abuelita’s Churros; and Norma’s Bread Pudding.
