Nobu Malibu (LV's LA)

There is something rejuvenating about sand, beautiful water and the breeze of ocean air. Nobu Malibu is a beautiful, posh restaurant located in the heart of Malibu.   A group of friends and I came here to celebrate the birthday of a close friend in our circle and what a great dinner destination this was! The birthday celebration was so much fun.  The location is breathtaking and the food is fresh and tasty, but be prepared to spend a small fortune for the ambiance and the tasty Japanese food that will play with your taste buds.

  The cozy couches and tables next to the ocean are definitely prime real estate here, so if you want to be seated there, you might fare better coming early or on a week day.

 We had a great spot with a view of the ocean and of course, lots of great people watching. When we saw Hugh Jackman walk by, we knew it was going to be an interesting evening:-)

 The food here is served tapas style in small plates, so we started with lobster tacos and this was definitely one of my favorites

 Lobster and shrimp tacos, brussel sprout salad

 Field Greens salad with Matsuhisa dressing

 This brussel sprout salad was tasty with a unique flavor, but one of my friends didn't care for it. I thought it was fresh tasting with robust flavor

 This Lychee passion fruit  refresher was sweet and delicious. So perfect with the complex flavors in the food. Yes the ladies in this photo  are looking right at me trying to figure out who I am, LOL

Yellowtail with Jalapeno

The first drink was so delicious, I decided to try the Acai punch. It did not look appetizing at all when they brought it to me, but it was very refreshing. It definitely tasted better than it looked

Shrimp tempura rolls

Okra tempura

The rock shrimp tempura is a must try. Definitely tasty and a large enough portion for sharing.

I snapped this image of the waves crashing from our table. Isn't this view amazing? 

We arrived early evening and it was low key and calm, but after it got dark the energy level here went into overdrive.

The vibe as the evening went on was LOUD, vibrant and energetic, especially in the bar. After dinner, we lingered in the bar to continue our celebration and met some interesting people. Definitely not a dull moment. We didn’t leave Nobu until close to their closing time because we were having such a great time and good conversation among strangers who became new friends.

 If you are after a quiet serene experience, come early. For high energy, come later in the evening. Lots of great people watching and a parking lot full of automotive eye candy:-)  I highly recommend reservations because it gets very busy here, especially on weekends. Dining here is a luxury experience, so when your toy size portions come out, just smile enjoy the ocean air and eat:-)

Nobu Malibu

22706 Pacific Coast Highway

Malibu, CA 90265

310-317-9140

Acabar (LV's LA)

I like beautiful places and gorgeous spaces. What if I told you that hidden behind a golden door in Hollywood is a Mediterranean oasis.
 Acabar is a swanky Mediterranean restaurant that occupies the space where Dar Maghreb used to be. Opulent and sexy, this spot transports you to another place. Nights over Egypt is a great way to describe the ambiance.The Moroccan decor is so stunning that you will forget you are in Hollywood and feel like you have arrived on the Hot Sands of North Africa.

 Behind this gold door, is some amazing eye candy

 We were greeted by these candles and rose petals in an open roof atrium surrounded by a fire pit. Absolutely stunning to look at.

And of course I had to get dolled up for the occasion:-) And since this is a birthday celebration, that calls for a little glam and elegance. Queen for a day. Or in my case, Queen for the month of July! This is birthday celebration #2 :-)

 It is not often that I have an occasion to wear a dress with a train, but since I am Queen for the day. Why not?

My  friends and I loved the ambiance

three the hard way:-) I love these ladies!

It was dusk when we arrived, but as the sun went down, the vibe in this place got really sexy

And this is what I mean...

Roses, candles, fire pit, sexy sexy sexy

 Every  detail is ornate and beautiful

Acabar is perfect for the Shah that wants to "Rock the Casbah"

If you like glamorous opulent settings, this is definitely
 the perfect place.

Every detail is awe inspiring. If you appreciate and admire beautiful things and I definitely do. How about you?

We started with the infamous "Porn Bread" yes, this is actually called Porn Bread, which is a playful and seductive twist on cornbread. This delicious bread is accented with corn, jalapeno and bacon and chock full of flavor. Slathered with whipped honey  butter, this is absolutely scrumptious. The phallic shape of the bread and even the way it is served sliding out of a cylinder, is playful and seductive.

 The food at Acabar is meant to be shared, so be sure to order lots of different things. Everything we tasted was delicious and had layers and layers of complex flavor. The Zuchinni blossoms with tomato and preserved lemon were fragrant and delicious.

 This photo does not do this dish any justice. This caramelized cauliflower with pickled peppers was an absolutely refreshingly different way to eat cauliflower.

 The braised lamb with couscous, was  delicious and fall off the bone tender. The other dish that we really enjoyed was the Shrimp toasts with rock shrimp, quail egg and Thai basil. Some of my photos did not come out clear because the flash on my camera wasn't on at first.

The Boneless chicken wings are served with green chickpeas, quinoa falafel, charred dates and walnut Tahini. These wings are succulent and layered with so much flavor and they marry well with all of the other dishes. Definitely try the chicken wings if you are the type of person that is nervous about trying different foods. These yummy wings are a great dish to try and a safe place to start

The drinks at Acabar are exotic and full of potent liquors, but my friends and I decided to have a mocktail and the bartender happily obliged and created a special birthday libation for me. This drink was refreshingly tart, but very fruity with grenadine, OJ, sparkling water and a hint of pineapple

Happy!

The lounge oozes with the kind of vibe that makes you feel like you are dreaming an Arabian Nights fantasy, but you are not sleeping. I guarantee that all five of your senses will be engaged.

 luxe, warm and inviting.

 Happy Birthday to me!

I tried the goat cheese cheesecake with lavender ice cream. The cheesecake was light and fluffy and the lavender ice cream that co-starred with the cheesecake was absolutely sublime. Ice Cream flavored with flowers is very common in Mediterranean ice creams and sorbets. Rosewater and Orange blossom have always been favorites of mine, but this lavender ice cream is pretty delicious as well.

 This dessert was such a treat for my taste buds. I was very curious about what a cheesecake made with goat cheese would taste like and it was tasty, but the texture is different than traditional cheesecake and it had a hint of sweetness, but wasn't over-the-top sweet

 My girls made me feel like a true VIP for my birthday dinner:-)

 Reflecting on a great evening. A beautiful environment is such a great way to enjoy life and lift your spirits. Enjoying unique restaurants is truly one of my passions.

 

This is the perfect place for a girls night out, an evening among friends and the cozy lounge and soft candle light make this the perfect date night destination

Acabar

1510 N. Stanley Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90046 

323-876-1400