Quantum Restaurant & Lounge

For those of us who are addicted to appetizers, the new Quantum Restaurant & Lounge (201 West Carrillo St.) is an immediate hit. The brainchild of Mondial Catering chef/owner Cynthia Miranda, the concept is designed around shared dishes and building a meal around several small tastes, with a definite Asian influence in both the food and decor.

The portions – and prices — are relatively small but the menu isn’t. I went with a group of nine friends and still wasn’t able to try everything that sounded appealing.

Among our favorite appetizers were house fries with tomato jam (a must try at only $3.50) sweet shrimp and avocado salsa with chips and oysters three ways.

High point entrees (all in the $10 to $15 range), which we also shared, were the delicious Chile roasted sea bass, yummy halibut wrapped in a banana leaf and mini Kobe beef burgers with onion rings, which put White Castle to shame.

The wine list is impressive, with a number of bottles in the $30 range. They also offer wine and sake cocktails like a sour apple, watermelon and blood orange sparkler or sakitinis.

While some in my party preferred the banana crème brulee (flavors change every night), I believe a dessert without chocolate just isn’t worth the calories. Quantum’s mini chocolate and Carmel sundae (topped with mini m & m’s) was definitely worth the splurge.

There’s also a tasting menu for those willing to put their menu the hands of the chef. At $38 for four dishes and $48 for five, it’s a good way to try a lot of things if you don’t have eight other people in your party.

While one my friends said the small dishes made him feel like he was at a tea party, he was outnumbered by appetizer aficionados who can’t wait to return. This is a perfect place for celebrations as well as pre- or post-theatre nibbles. I’ll definitely be back.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on April 15, 2004.

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