Success breeds failure. At least in the case of Restaurant 2117, the increase in popularity of Sawtelle as a dining destination led to the imminent demise of Restaurant 2117. After 21 years of business, this Japanese-European restaurant is being forced to close their doors, the latest victim of higher rents.
Restaurant 2117’s menu is more sophisticated than the ramen-seeking masses are seeking. It’s a shame because the cooking here was always top notch and prices fairly reasonable, considering the quality of the food. For a mere $21.17, there’s a prix fixe meal that changes daily. On our visit, the appetizer was a snapper carpaccio, topped with fried noodles, cucumbers, cilantro and sesame soy vinaigrette. It’s an appetizer that we would normally order, so this was a bonus compared to a soup or salad as a starter.
The prix fixe main was their housemade sawtellini pasta with Japanese wild mushrooms in a dashi sauce.
The housemade sawtellini is available as an option for the regular pasta dishes as well. The noodles made on the premises offers a nice, chewy texture, great for even a simple tomato sauce pasta.
I ordered a la carte, with the crispy wonton tuna tartare, accented with a wasabi sauce that really refreshed my sinuses. For the entree, I stuck with my favorite – the grilled half-chicken in mustard sauce, roasted potato and vegetables. The portion of chicken is quite generous, perfect for leftovers or, in my case, a very filling meal leaving no room for dessert.
A creme brûlée finished the prix fixe meal. My daughter greedily gobbled up the entire dish, leaving no trace for my husband nor me (it’s a good thing I was stuffed).
Restaurant 2117 is a hidden gem on Sawtelle, miraculously turning out elegant dishes out of a very small kitchen, deserving several more years of business. Unfortunately Restaurant 2117 will most likely shutter in January, which gives you a few more weeks to enjoy Chef’s Hideyo Mitsuno’s Japanese-European cuisine before he returns to Japan. Thank you Restaurant 2117 for all the fantastic meals over the years. You will be missed.
Location – 2117 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, 90025
Website –http://restaurant2117.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Pesco-Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes
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