Los Angeles | Somni – A Triumphant Return 🌟🌟

First off — congrats to Southern California on finally welcoming a Michelin three-star restaurant! If not for this exciting news, I might’ve waited till year-end to clear my photo backlog 😅. Every dish was delicious, and several were absolutely stunning: 🐟 Engawa (Flounder Fin) — Teriyaki-style, with just the right sweetness to highlight the fatty, charred aroma — not greasy at all. Best fin I’ve ever had! 🍚 Arroz Caldoso — Spanish-style risotto with truffle, crab, and lobster — a powerhouse of umami. 🥪 Truffle Sandwich — Layers of anchovy cream and truffle cream — a bold explosion of sea, earth, and creaminess. Anchovy was used masterfully in multiple courses (even in the Parmesan "feather" among the welcome bites). The culinary execution was well-rounded — from flavor layering and elegant presentation to innovative takes on Catalan cuisine and breaking traditional frameworks. The synchronized serving — like a symphony — added emotional resonance rarely seen in starred dining. Overall, two stars feel well-deserved. The third star feels like a slight regional bonus in SoCal’s somewhat uneven fine-dining scene.❤️🙌 Service still has room to grow — during the pairing, they mixed up my alcoholic and my friend’s non-alcoholic drinks three times. The $295 wine pairing included a Chardonnay from Sta. Rita Hills, two Pinots from Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, and a Napa Cab — decent but not outstanding. Recommend either non-alcoholic pairing or upgrading to the $495 option.❤️😍 The dessert finale was whimsical and dreamy… but honestly, I was too full by then! #LAMichelin #FineDining #VibeyRestaurant #SoCalLife