Chef Melba's Bistro

Chef Melba's Bistro Restaurant Review:

A wall of windows lines the entire dining room of Chef Melba’s Bistro, allowing for plenty of light in the comfortable setting and views of the highly trafficked street. The namesake chef is usually on the line helping prepare guests’ food --- an eclectic blend of California fare. Smoked salmon is loaded into strudel and then grilled for a crunchy texture, finished with a lemon-dill cream, red onions and capers. Crispy yucca takes the place of french fries, loaded with chopped braised pork belly, cabbage and tomatillo chutney for a rich appetizer. For those who prefer a lighter start, Tuscan kale is mixed with quinoa, goat cheese and tomatoes in citrus vinaigrette. Entrées are evenly split between seafood and land-dwelling options. House specialty cioppino is filled with scallops, prawns, fish and calamari in a delicate tomato-saffron broth, while the bulk of meat choices are braised, such as the zesty tequila-braised short rib with a spiced vegetable hash. Apple cinnamon cobbler and pear bread pudding both make for winning desserts, while the wine list is mostly limited to larger producers in California.