the meat at mastro's.

my brother's friend zai invited us to dinner at mastro's this past week. he recently move to spain, but was back in LA for a week or so, and wanted to go to mastro's because he apparently can't find good beef there. it's not my first time there, so i knew what to expect. the cocktails were good, and the quality of the meat is very good. but the sides.. well, other than the crab and black truffle gnocchi, i've never been terribly impressed.

someone ordered their shrimp cocktail, which came served over dry ice - very pretty.

heirloom tomato and burrata salad was the special salad for the evening. the tomatoes were good, the burrata was just okay. but i've been spoiled by mother dough.

the aforementioned alaskan king crab and black truffle gnocchi. this is super decadent, but REALLY good.

my rare-plus (between rare and medium rare) 18 oz. kansas city strip steak.