By George! 5 Delectable Dishes on the Menu at Georgie

Photo Credit: Rick Lew

By George, Georgie is a hit! Geoffrey Zakarian’s new restaurant at the Montage (replacing Scott Conant‘s Scarpetta) is a beautiful new addition to Beverly Hills.

Aesthetically, the space is a hit. Restaurateur (he owns New York’s Lambs Club and The National) and Food Network star Zakarian’s design choices certainly suit the space (and the hotel itself), showing off a sophisticated design palette of caramel velvets, sage greens, blues and ivories which are complemented by rich oak flooring, deep mahogany tabletops, brass hanging planters and custom brass light fixtures.

The cafe is fairly feminine in its approach, featuring soft pink cement tile flooring, caramel banquettes, pale grey upholstered furniture and woven rattan chairs with pink throw pillows and fuchsia piping. It’s easily a place where you can imagine a well-heeled member of society sipping their morning tea or organic almond milk latte.

We’re definitely enamored by the space, a perfect foil for Zakarian’s personal warm approach, as well as the adjacent Garden Bar, replacing Parq Bar as a hot spa for afternoon tea and crumpets and evening cocktails.

But what should you expect from Georgie’s menu? The menu items can best be described as New America: think lots of carefully prepared meats, seafood and pastas. The dishes have an L.A. touch of course—you can opt for gluten-free or vegan preparations as well as adaptations to most dishes (minimal butter? No problem!) and the cocktails are chock-full of fresh pressed juices and innovative ingredients to the point that you might not even feel like you’re drinking booze (and that’s a good thing). The wine list, unlike the menu, is diverse, full of both California and old world European options.

After trying most of the menu, we can definitely and safely say we have a few favorites. Here are five dishes (including one dessert) as well as a cocktail and an honorable mention that you should definitely try when you head to Georgie.

Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni

Start the night right with Mediterranean-inspired appetizers. The yellow beet hummus with basil yogurt and spiced walnuts is so flavorful that you might not be ablet to stop dipping your naan, while the smoked tahini spread with falafel and pickled cherries is the perfectly opposing accompaniment.

Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni

The yellowfin tuna poke, prepared with sugar snap peas, sesame oil and furikake, is prepared with big chunks of tuna and is small enough that you’ll enjoy indulging for a first course. It’s fairly light, and well prepared.

Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni

Have another appetizer, you say? Don’t mind if we do! The goat cheese stuffed squash blossoms are cheesy, fried goodness. Chillies, lime and salsa roja provide an extra little kick.

Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni

This braised short rib with charred red cabbage, serrano chilies and toasted peanuts was a perfectly prepared, melt-in-your-mouth entree.

Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni

It was difficult for us to decide between two desserts, so we’re mentioning both. The bittersweet chocolate molten souffle is heaven in your mouth. Know in advance that you’re going to order this dish — it takes 15 minutes to prepare. The macaron ice cream sandwich trio is unlike any macarons you’ve ever seen: they’re huge and gorgeously flavored thanks to flavors like saffron, pistachio-rose and honey-orange blossom, all prepared with a marsala sabayon sauce.

Photo Credit: Dylan + Jeni

You’ve got to love the craft cocktails at Georgie. We certainly do, at least. For a kick of health (and to feel like you’re doing something good for your body), order up Feel The Beat: Ketel One Vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, beet juice, beet sugar water and orange peel.