Cleo at the Redbury offers a feast for foodies and scenesters
Theda Bara as Cleopatra
Cleo at the Redbury Hotel–a chimerical spot named after, you guessed it, Cleopatra, greets guests with a large photo of Theda Bara fom the 1917 eponymous movie. You will see from the slide show all the other pictures that line the walls.
The joint jumps with a youthful vibe fueled by specialty drinks and copious portions of Middle Eastern food served family-style at the tables.
Our hosts selected the menu and every bite was delicious from the “mezzes” to the flatbreads and seafood. A hummus with Tahini cucumbers and yogurt prepared the taste buds for platters of chicken and beef kebabs, lamb, hangar steak fish, flatbreads, salads, and desserts—all great.
The menu choices are dizzying and relatively inexpensive with grilled tuna or daurade going for $15, flatbreads served with mushroom and gruyere for just $13, cous cous for $11, hanger steak for just $15 and wines offered from $8 to $12 a glass, but fairly high by the bottle with many in the $30 and $45 range.
There’s also cocktails bottled and draft beers and specialty drinks like Cleo kiss (Tanqueray gin, crushed cucumber, pomegranate juice, lime and a splash of Martini and Rossi Prosecco and a Medusa’s Bite (Hennessy Cognac, Domaine Canton, crushed Conchord grapes, lemon and Ginger Ale).
Cleo’s definitely youth-driven but everybody’s welcomed by an efficient and friendly staff and fun barkeeps. It’s the perfect night out for locals, tourists and to take out-of-town visitors for a taste of hip and happening Hollywood.
Cleo at the Redbury, 1717 Vine, Hollywood, 323-962-1717, www.cleorestaurant.com
