THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED NAMES MAX

THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED NAMES MAX Restaurant Review:

Andre Guerrero, born in the Philippines, was a major force in the evolution of a California cuisine with Asian accents, now an L.A. staple. This restaurant, named after one of his sons, attracted a trendy Valley crowd since its debut in 2002. The chef-owner has now reinvented the place as a more casual concept, the kind of reasonably priced bistro one would feel comfortable returning to a couple times a week. Polished candlelit wood tables are spread throughout a livelier, less pretentious room with mustard and burgundy accents. A couple of cozy alcoves are fine for intimate dinners, while other tables spill out onto the sidewalk beneath a protective awning. After a good beginning of this reinvention, the kitchen has lost its edge. The menu has been noticeably abbreviated and the execution erratic. Starters include a salad loaded up with several varieties of roasted beets, topped with a golf ball-size goat cheese crouton. Another recommended appetizer, ideal for sharing, is a miniature crock of velvety chicken liver pâté flavored with truffles, served with toasted bread and house-pickled vegetables (cauliflower, onions, carrots) instead of cornichons. Among the Asian-inspired items are a quintet of miniature ahi towers for a starter and miso-glazed black cod served over shiitake mushrooms and sugar snap peas for a main course. A Cambozola-topped burger that ranks among the Valley’s best is served with crispy fries and a sweet homemade ketchup.