The NoMad LA kitchen staff gave us a list of insider recommendations of their favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Kismet, a finalist for the 2018 James Beard Award for best new restaurant, was on their list. After visiting, we understand why. It’s a very small restaurant. Chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson’s menu is full of flavorful dishes paired with a small impressive wine list including natural wines.
We sat at the counter and opted to share several small plates. Everything that came out was better than the last. The roasted radicchio tart with onion jam, feta, pine nuts, and Aleppo honey shattered as we cut into it with our forks. The beets with roasted onion and orange blossom was topped with large dollops of soft marinated feta. It was simple but probably our favorite dish. For a heartier dish, we’d recommend the freekeh polenta with lamb, green chili, and charred cabbage topped with a perfectly poached egg with an orange runny yolk.
If you’re in the LA , this Middle Eastern California vegetable-focused restaurant should be at the top of your list. They don’t take reservations. If you want to skip the wait, we recommend going for lunch or brunch as soon as it opens. Kismet has been so popular that the team plans to open Kismet Rotisserie on Hollywood Boulevard soon. We can’t wait to try it. Thank you to Alaska Airlines for sponsoring this story.
