XIV adds a la carte to the mix

After I reviewed Michael Mina's XIV restaurant in West Hollywood, the San Francisco-based chef wrote to say he would be introducing an a la carte option for those who preferred a more traditional format than the social dining concept he introduced with XIV.

Good to his word, he just rolled out the a la carte menu (as reported by Metromix), which includes not only larger portions of XIV's small plates, but some of the chef's greatest hits, such as his sumptuous lobster pot pie and even an American Kobe burger.

Meanwhile, on the terrace at the back of XIV, screened from the street by trellises, he's serving up little tidbits for the drink and nibble crowd. Lobster corn dogs with a Rob Roy under the chandeliers, anyone?

XIV, 8117 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (323) 656-1414; www.sbe.com.

— S. Irene Virbila

Photo of XIV by Lori Shepler /Los Angeles Times