Culturally Shallow

Past Wednesday, I went to Blue Velvet at The Flat. I enjoyed my dining and the scenery there, and the experience there was memorable in more ways than one.

I was at Blue Velvet hoping to catch their Cork and Rind promotion, where you get to sample a complimentary selection of wine and beer with cheese from around the world. Unfortunately, we were told that their sommelier has left and they are no longer offering the promotion. Instead, going forward, they are going to hold Real Wednesdays, “a social groove lounge bringing you a diverse mix of deep & soulful house, rare disco, boogie & modern soul.” Wanting to make the most of our time there, we settled down in the pool patio and ordered appetizers. (Note: According to Eater LA, executive chef Kris Morningstar quit Blue Velvet as of last month as well.)

We were told that Blue Velvet offers a restaurant menu for the restaurant area, a lounge menu for the lounge area, and a pool patio for the pool area. We chose to sit down at the pool area where it was deserted but inviting at the time. The waitress that served the pool patio area was the only one serving the pool area, but nonetheless remained very attentive to us the entire time even as patrons trickled into the pool area throughout the evening. Based on her recommendation, we chose to order Gambas (sauteed shrimp with shaved garlic, $12) and Five Cheeses Plate ($20). Both were very rave-worthy. We asked the waitresses what the cheeses offered were, and she came back to let us know that they were Cypress Grove Chevre Purple Haze goat cheese, Vermont sharp cheddar, Epoisses Beethaut, Tomme de Savoie and Roveol. She told us that normally their bleu cheese is the crème de la crème of the cheese plate, however, the chef chose to replace it with Cypress Grove Purple Haze goat cheese that night. We begged her for a taste of the bleu cheese, and she went back to the kitchen and brought us a slice back. It was very strong bleu cheese, but boy, was it good. It’s very potent, and I had to eat it with the bread offered. I normally try to limit my intake of the nutritionally empty white bread. However, in this case, I made an exception. Everything went great with the cheese! Inside the restaurant, the whole experience was delightful. Outside the restaurant, it was not quite so. Blue Velvet is located at The Flat, a rental apartment that used to be Holiday Inn. It’s since been re-decorated to look modern and chic, but failed to do so. You can gather from the lobby that it took its inspiration from The Standard Downtown, but the mediocre effort to re-vamp the building only made it feel like a student dormitory. Furthermore, The Flat is located in Westlake, a somewhat questionable neighborhood that’s right next to Downtown Los Angeles. When we arrived on Garland St, we saw locals trying to pry car doors open. Yikes! I valet parked my car, thinking that my car would be safer this way, only to find out at the end of the evening that they parked it right where we saw the said hijacking attempts occurred. $5 plus tips only bought me a sense of false security. There are poorly maintained apartments lined along Garland St, and it’s obvious that the residents who live in them are struggling to get by. To be honest, the notion that the opulence flaunted in their faces from the traffic generated by The Flat and Blue Velvet made me feel very uncomfortable both for my safety as well as the state of the society that we live in. I don’t want to scare you away. My experience may have been unique. This place was a fun place to visit and has a great dusk to night view of the Downtown LA skyline. It’s worth checking out as long as you remain alert of your surroundings. The Blue Velvet is open everyday Monday to Friday from 11:30am to 2:30pm for lunch, Sundays to Thursday from 5:30pm to 10:30pm for dinner, Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 11:00pm for dinner. The pool patio area is open from 4pm to 2am every night.

Blue Velvet750 S Garland StLos Angeles, CA 90017(213) 239-0061http://www.bluevelvetrestaurant.com/