THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED NAMES Orris

THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED NAMES Orris Restaurant Review:

Hideo Yamashiro of South Pasadena's Shiro takes root on the Westside, going beyond Japanese cuisine to embrace a contemporary global palate. As you pass by or walk in Orris, you would not expect the food to be what it is. The focus is on small plates of Japanese- and French-influenced tapas---and there is no sushi, despite the sushi-like bar in front of the kitchen. The combination is very well executed, and it works at great prices. Yamashiro uses Western ingredients aromatized with Eastern spices and sauces in an elaborate dosage. The results are flavorful and light dishes: duck breast in saké soy, ravioli filled with shrimp mousse in shiitake mushroom sauce, lamb loin carpaccio infused with garlic and rosemary, warm snapper carpaccio Szechwan-style. Don't miss the sliced beets with Basque sheep's milk cheese and the potato Dauphinois. For the sweet note, do try the ice creams. It is almost one of those places you want to keep all for yourself. Orris is the name of an iris-root-based Japanese love potion that might actually work on you to make you come back. Reservations are not taken, but the wait is worth it.