Modus Operandi

********THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED.********

Tonight the Monkeys tried Mode (916 S. Olive St., Los Angeles), just like I said we would a few days ago. We got our meals to go, however, because I am obsessed with TV and the Internet and wanted to eat, watch, and play at the same time. (Sad, but true.) We are definitely going back, though. Often. I loved our food and can't wait to eat everything on the menu.

The panini au chair (skirt steak panini with gorgonzola and sundried tomato and a side of field greens) was warm, crunchy, savory, and delicious. The flavor was spot-on, the meat cooked perfectly, and the bread grilled just right. Pretty reasonable for $10.

We also really enjoyed the thon albacore (seared albacore steak with bok choy. soy-ginger sauce, and a little ball of wasabi). The albacore was beautifully pink inside and just melted in my mouth. The only thing that disappointed me was that I didn't have more! Well, the $15 pricetag wasn't my favorite either. But, damn, this was a good piece of fresh fish.

We ended with a fresh pineapple tart tatine and vanilla ice cream ($7). I wish we'd gotten two of these. Or three. Warm and flaky with just the right tang, paired with mellow cold vanilla bean goodness. Incredible.

I'm so excited Mode is open 24 hours! I hope business starts getting better soon. At the moment, Mode still doesn't serve liquor, which I think is a big problem for a restaurant. I also think Mode needs more publicity; it doesn't even have a website yet. It would be a real shame if this place doesn't survive. I'm going to go as often as I can to help them out!