Tallula’s Restaurant
Housemade Tortilla Chips, Salsa Roja
Nachos “Sencillo”, Salsa Roja, Spicy Giardiniera, Crema, Lots of Cheese
Chilaquiles, Salsa Roja, Black Beans, Cilantro, Watermelon Radish, Red Onion, Cheese, Pico de Gallo, Sunnyside Up Egg
Chicharrones, Housemade Tajin Spice
Grass-fed Carne Asada Tacos, Fresh Corn Tortillas, White Onions, Cilantro, Radish, Salsa Roja, Salsa Verde
Crispy Potato Taquitos, Caramelized Onions, Tomatillo Sauce, Cabbage, Pico de Gallo, Crema
Tres Leches Cake, Honey, Chamomile, Blackberry, Raspberry, Blueberry
Churros, Mexican Drinking Chocolate
Blue Corn Pancake, Fresh Berries, Piloncillo Syrup, Macadamia Nuts, Cardamom Whipped Cream
Subject to somewhat polarizing social media reviews, it was shortly after 11:00am that three guests entered Tallula’s Restaurant, the beachside space from Rustic Canyon owners Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb remaining almost entirely empty otherwise throughout the course of a ninety minute Saturday Brunch.
One part seaside shanty, the other an ode to Mexican staples “hecho con amor,” it is amidst colorful wood columns and mosaic carpets bathed in sunlight that guests are seated promptly, the music culturally appropriate and played far lower than what seems to be ‘normal’ in Southern California.
Tapping Jeremy Fox for a menu executed by Chef Saw Naing, the midday spread offered until September 1st replacing dinner Entrees with items such as Pancakes and Chilaquiles, it is from cheerful servers that suggestions come readily, complimentary Chips and Salsa soon attesting to bold flavors and quality Ingredients reflected by sometimes questionable prices.
Assuredly an expensive build-out, its spacious location alongside the Pacific Coast Highway en route to Malibu a far cry from Taco Trucks in Boyle Heights, it was after declining Margaritas in favor of Soft Drinks that a plate of Nachos arrived quickly, the combination of crisp Tortillas and housemade Giardiniera strongly adherent to porcelain thanks to “lots of Cheese” while Chilaquiles offered even greater textural diversity thanks to Black Beans, sliced Vegetables and an Egg cooked Sunnyside Up.
Surprised next by Chicharrones, three enormous Pig Skins shattering beneath spice and Citrus, it was only Tallula’s Tacos that seemed substantially overpriced compared to elsewhere, $9 per two-bites of fairly basic Carne Asada indefensible no matter how good the handmade shells or how exorbitant Nathan and Loeb’s rent.
Back on track with Taquitos, a trio of fried Shells filled with fragrant Potatoes bolstered by Caramelized Onions and tangy Sauce, it was making a quick transition to Dessert that Tallula’s Tres Leches immediately set a high standard, its light floral linger unexpected but welcomed while bite-size Churros and a Cornbread-like skillet Pancake were also quite pleasant save for the latter’s questionable $16 price.
www.tallulasrestaurant.com