THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Palomino Menu

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Palomino Restaurant Review:

We always want to give successful upscale chains a fair shake, because they must be doing something right, right? However, we’re just not impressed with this contender for the Westwood dining crowd. The hostesses and staff are cheerful and charming. The dressed-up bar food isn’t bad --- in fact, the signature crab dip is a tasty mound of hot shredded crab and artichoke hearts, which you scoop up with sheets of cheesy pizza toast. Numerous artisan brick-oven pizzas, also a low risk decision, are offered, while pastas, Asiago-and-almond-crusted scallops, chicken Marsala and steak frites round out the menu. A more satisfying experience might be encountered by simply creating a menu of small plates like truffled deviled eggs with bacon, curried chickpea fritters with onion jam gastrique, and lamb empanadas. Happy hour is offered all day, every day, in the bar, which dispenses an impressive list of specialty cocktails. And to its credit, you can find something enjoyable on the moderately priced wine list, which also provides more than a couple dozen poured by the glass. For something sweet, there’s a perfectly serviceable crème brûlée and donuts with mascarpone cream and Nutella sauce.