Sorry Not Sorry

When Amanda texted me to remind me that it was DineLA and asked if I was free to meet for dinner, I was excited. I gave her a short list of a few places that looked good, and we decided on Sorry Not Sorry in West Los Angeles.

We both chose the DineLA prix-fixe menu. I started with the Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions (cheddar on buttery brioche with slow-cooked onions). It was served with a glass of Ca’ de’ Medici’s Piazza San Prospero Lambrusco Scuro.

While the thick-cut bread was delicious, I couldn’t help but feel it needed a warm side of tomato soup to truly hit the mark.

For the main course, I went with the Hanoi Black Pepper Chicken (organic chicken thighs seared in a bold black pepper reduction, served with wasabi mashed potatoes and pickled red onions).

Again, this was – fine. The chicken was seared well, but the dish lacked  sauce.  When I asked for more of the black pepper reduction to help – as I personally wanted more of it on the chicken rather than cooked with it – I was told it’s made fresh and they couldn’t provide any more.

We wrapped up the meal with a simple Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Overall, the experience was decidedly mid. While the vibe was pleasant and the meal was fine, it wasn’t the standout experience I usually hope for during DineLA. It wasn’t the best meal I’ve had, but it certainly wasn’t the worst.

Previously at
Sorry Not Sorry

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When Sonni came back to visit Los Angeles for the weekend, I was excited when she invited me to her group friend hangout at Sorry Not Sorry in West Los Angeles.

Now, the fact that there’s a rosé bar in Los Angeles is super fun. I easily found parking on Pico Blvd on a Friday night.

The decor of the main bar was delightful. Tones of hot pink, roses, green and gold were on point. I walked back and was immediately greeted by a spacious outdoor patio and found my group.

Now, the challenge of sitting in a large group has traditionally been the fuckery that comes in at the end of the meal. One person gets a small item whereas another gets two cocktails that are $20 each. Usually, it’s a mess. One group check over 13 people? It’s 2023. This was thankfully NOT the case at Sorry Not Sorry. When I politely excused myself to directly speak with the bartender and waitress about getting a separate check, they assured me that the group was already on separate checks! It was a breath of fresh air of modern convenience.

Browsing the menu, I figured that instead of getting a cocktail, I should get a rosé. Since, it’s a rosé focused bar – of course! I ordered the Gruet Winery’s NV Sauvage Rosé (New Mexico).  I actually did taste the wild strawberry and a hint of cherry that is described in the rosé notes.

As duo of light bites, I ordered the SUMMER WATERMELON SALAD (cucumber, red onion, mint, balsamic) and TURMERIC GARLIC FRIES (ketchup & Mama Kim’s aioli). Under the summer sky, the summer watermelon salad was perfect. The large chunks of watermelon were juicy and perfect. I appreciated the balsamic sauce as contrast.

The turmeric garlic fries were aromatic and delicious. Another group guest mentioned that she greatly enjoyed the scent of the fries, as the garlic was intoxicating.

Settling the bill was extremely easy. Our lovely waitress rotated around the table and settled each person’s check with ease.

Overall, Sorry Not Sorry was a lovely summer experience with a group of friendly patrons. The vibe was right, the drinks flowed and life felt really good under the Los Angeles skyline.

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