 The rejuvenation of the media gulch neighborhood continues with Circolo, an ambitious restaurant, bar, lounge and music venue. A long L-shaped bar welcomes patrons and leads to the expansive lounge area detailed with moody earthen hues, dim lighting and a wall of trickling water. Shimmering in the distance is a metal mesh curtain separating the lounge from the dining room. Upstairs, massive leather banquettes speak to patrons wishing for privacy. Chef Garret Martindale’s menu samples flavors from all over the globe, making its most notable pit stops in Asia, Latin America, the Pacific Rim and California. The geographical confluences are illustrated in dishes such as day boat scallops, which swim with chorizo in a konbu broth. This collision of flavors marks most dishes, and it’s not always successful (the chorizo leaves little to no impact on the scallops) but absolutely works in duck confit tacos, as well as the miso-glazed sea bass drizzled with Amarillo-coconut sauce. Desserts showcase more of Circolo’s “opposites attract” point of view in dishes such as yuzu ice cream served with winter melon soup, or diners can opt for something more traditional such as the deeply decadent, albeit straight-ahead pot de crème. The wine list travels the globe for its selections.
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