Lobster Sliders

Lobster salad piled on La Brea slider buns, with sweet potato fries.     12.95

Heirloom Tomato Bruscetta

Fresh summer tomatoes with basil, garlic and olive oil.  With batard toasts.     7.95

Pork Chop with Sweet Chili Glaze

Charbroiled and served with fresh fruit salsa and roasted sweet potatoes.     17.95

Smokey Orange BBQ Chicken

Charbroiled and served with roasted sweet potatoes and fresh vegetable*.     15.95

Grilled Tuna with Mango and Serrano Sauce

Served with jasmine rice and fresh asparagus.     18.95

Italian Shrimp Quesadilla

Sautéed shrimp, Crescenza cheese, lemon gremolata, chopped scallions.     12.95

BLAT

Bacon, fresh greens, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich.  With mayonnaise on sourdough.  With sweet potato fries.     12.95

Shrimp Taco Salad

Freshly sautéed shrimp piled on a mixture of romaine, cabbage, jicama, tortilla strips, our fresh salsa, Jack and cotija cheese and avocado all tossed together with our tangy lime sour cream vinaigrette.     14.95

Seafood Pasta Jambalaya

Chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, onion, bell peppers, zucchini and tomatoes tossed together with penne pasta and andouille cream sauce.     16.95

Since last we spoke I took a little time off to explore the coastal area around Santa Cruz. Exploring the coast might be a bit of an exaggeration. I was more “cat like” as I was constantly on the prowl for the most comfortable place to curl up for reading and napping. Upon my return, I noticed a new sign across the street promising a new store opening in October, the Cheese Store of Pasadena. This will be a great addition to the Commons. It also brought back memories from when the complex was originally opened in 1983. The developer’s original concept was to have each store follow the theme of the “baker, the butcher and the candle stick maker”. The early occupants were wonderful and they included the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, Il Fornaio Bakery, Tip Top Meats, and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. There was also a high-end stationary store, soap store and a fantastic chocolatier.  The William-Sonoma site originally housed La Couronne, a beautiful, upscale restaurant owned by Lud Renick. Lud also owned another of my all time favorite restaurants, the Chronicle. La Couronne had a large window at the back, which looked into their kitchen. Many took advantage of the view and peered in to see the immaculate chefs with their tall, stiff, toque-blanches on their heads as they sautéed foie gras and other equally delicious items.

It was a great concept. If you were planning a dinner party you could come to the Commons and find each ingredient for a remarkable meal. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. The developer, who certainly had a creative idea for a complex, apparently also had some creative ways to finance the operation. Not all of his methods were ethical or legal and so, facing bankruptcy and a flurry of investor lawsuits, he slipped out of the country. This led to a period of great unrest for the merchants of the Commons and many vacated their stores. Eventually, a group of local people bought the property, developed the office space and brought many fine tenants to the complex. The last few years have been tough for retail businesses and the Commons now has a few empty stores but hopefully that is changing. Earlier this year the Wine Detective opened its doors and now the Cheese Store of Pasadena will be joining us. Let’s hope for other fine merchants to fill the vacancies so that you will have quality options available for an “after Green Street meal shopping spree”.

The Coffee Poll: We run polls on our website (www.GreenStreetRestaurant.com) and come up with all sorts of sometimes interesting and other times useless information. Recently, we asked who had the best coffee and gave choices of Starbucks, Peets, Coffee Bean and Jones Coffee. Jones was the top choice followed by Peets. Our poll-takers may have been a bit biased as Jones is the coffee purveyor for Green Street. We’ve been serving their Madison Blend for a few years now and loving it.

Last Concert at the Huntington: The Southwest Chamber Orchestra conducts its final concert of summer at the Huntington Gardens on Saturday and Sunday night (Aug. 21 & 22) beginning at 7:30. They now allow picnic dinners so give us a call and we’ll prepare you something to take. For ticket information go here: http://www.swmusic.org/summer_festival/calendar.html

Tasting Notes:

• What happens when you pair a renowned wine maker (Gary Farrell) with grapes from areas that are known for great wine production (the Russian River and Cresta Ridge in Green Valley)? The Answer: Alysian Pinot Noir and Alysian Chardonnay. Michael, our wine czar, had the opportunity to taste these wines recently and was impressed with the “depth of flavor, and the subtle nuances of fruit, oak and acid. The wines came at me from all directions, dancing over my tongue, lingering, leaving nothing but flavor. They are really good”.
• Heirloom Tomatoes: There are many definitions of what qualifies a tomato to be classified as an heirloom. Much of it depends on the pollination and where it originated. I can’t give you the whole genealogy of our heirloom tomatoes but I can tell you how good they are.

Lobster Sliders

Lobster salad piled on La Brea slider buns, with sweet potato fries.     12.95

Heirloom Tomato Bruscetta

Fresh summer tomatoes with basil, garlic and olive oil.  With batard toasts.     7.95

Texas Rib Eye with Chili Barbeque Sauce

Rib Eye with a pepper chili rub, charbroiled and served with chili barbecue sauce, fresh vegetables*, roasted sweet potatoes and red chili onion rings.     28.95

Mango Glazed Chicken

One half boned chicken with skin on, charbroiled and topped with fresh mango glaze and accompanied with our mango black bean salsa and roasted sweet potatoes.     17.95

Grilled Scallops with Pineapple Salsa

Giant scallops charbroiled and served with our tangy pineapple salsa atop jasmine rice.     18.95

Smoke and Fire Quesadilla

Charbroiled Gaucho chicken breast, smoked gouda, fire roasted red bell peppers, grilled sweet onions and fresh basil wrapped in a giant flour tortilla and served with chipotle sour cream.     12.95

Grilled Roast Beef Sandwich with Sundried Tomato Mayonnaise

On grilled sour dough with white cheddar cheese, sundried tomato mayonnaise and pickled pepper and onion relish.  With Sweet Potato Fries.     12.95

Green Street’s Chicken Salad

Our famous chicken salad, tossed with fresh fruit, toasted almonds and curried mayonnaise.  Served with fresh greens and fresh fruit.     14.95

Charro Pasta with Shrimp

Southwestern in flavors, sautéed shrimp and linguine are tossed with our fresh tomato-citrus sauce and topped with fresh avocado slices and cotija cheese.     16.95

We’ve previewed a new sandwich….. the BLAT. It’s on our specials menu until August 23. It’s a basic Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich on La Brea Sourdough bread (with Best Foods Mayonnaise) but the heirloom tomatoes make this way more than a basic sandwich. It’s served with sweet potato fries.

Crab Cake Sliders

Four crab cake sliders served with cole slaw, remoulade sauce and sweet potato fries.     11.95

Heirloom Tomato Bruscetta

Fresh summer tomatoes with basil, garlic and olive oil.  With batard toasts.     7.95

Peach Glazed Grilled Pork Chops

With peach relish, chipotle smashed sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables*.     17.95

Mojito Chicken Breast

Double chicken breast, in our Mojito marinade, charbroiled and served with green rice and lime corn sauté.     15.95

Shrimp and Mango Skewers with Guava Lime Glaze

Black Tiger shrimp, charbroiled with mango and red bell peppers and our guava lime glaze, and served with Asian slaw and Jasmine rice blend.     16.95

Chicken Jalapeno Sausage Quesadilla

Our famous chicken jalapeno sausage, stuffed into a quesadilla, with fresh spinach, sweet, caramelized onions and smoked mozzarella.  Served with guacamole.     12.95

BLAT

Bacon, fresh greens, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich.  With Best Foods mayonnaise on sourdough.  With sweet potato fries.     12.95

Crab Louie Salad

Dungeness crab meat and shrimp piled on a bed of mixed greens and Belgium endive, with tomatoes, chopped egg, green onions and our Chipotle 1000 Island Dressing.     17.95

Rigatoni with Summer Squash, Sausage and Goat Cheese

Sautéed summer squash and crumbled Italian sausage tossed together with rigatoni and goat cheese.     11.95

Crab Cake Sliders

Four crab cake sliders served with remoulade sauce and sweet potato fries.     11.95

Heirloom Tomato Bruscetta

Fresh summer tomatoes with basil, garlic and olive oil.  With batard toasts.     7.95

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Charbroiled and served with roasted sweet potatoes and fresh vegetable*.     $23.95

Balsamic Barbeque Chicken

One half boned chicken with skin on, basted and charbroiled with our balsamic BBQ sauce.  Served with roasted sweet potatoes and our fresh vegetables*.     17.95

Pecan/Potato Chip Crusted Snapper with Honey Mustard Mayonnaise

Fresh snapper lightly sautéed and served with fresh vegetables* of the season and jasmine rice.     16.95

Cowboy Steak Quesadilla with Poblano Corn Relish

In a giant flour tortilla with pepper Jack cheese.  Served with sour cream and guacamole.     13.95

Green Street’s Chicken Salad Sandwich

Our famous chicken salad served on La Brea walnut cranberry bread with mayonnaise and lettuce.  With sweet potato fries.     12.95

Green Street’s Chicken Salad

Our famous chicken salad, tossed with fresh fruit, toasted almonds and curried mayonnaise.  Served with fresh greens and fresh fruit.     14.95

Fiery Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

Shrimp sautéed with chili oil, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, garlic and parsley, tossed with angel hair pasta and Parmesan Reggiano cheese.     16.95

* * Fresh Vegetables * *

Snap Peas, Asparagus and Red Bell pepper Sauté

Crostini with Sun-Dried Tomato Jam

Jam spread on La Brea baguette slices and topped with goat cheese.     9.00

Flank Steak with Roasted Corn-Pancetta Salsa

Charbroiled and served with roasted sweet potatoes     24.95

The Devil’s Chicken

A double chicken breast, flattened and marinated in our lemon-red chili flakes marinade, charbroiled and served with lemon herb orzo and arugula salad.     15.95

Grilled Scallops with Pineapple Salsa

Giant scallops charbroiled and served with our tangy pineapple salsa atop jasmine rice.     18.50

Mango Brie Quesadilla with Charbroiled Chicken

Fresh mangos and chicken together with melted Brie cheese and jalapeno chilies.

Served with Sour Cream Lime dipping sauce.     11.95

Cuban Burger

Our burger, charbroiled, and served with sliced black forest ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, garlic mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, pressed together on a ciabatta roll.  With sweet potato fries.    12.95

Turkey Tostada Salad

Smoked turkey, tortilla strips, Jack cheese, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, red bell peppers, green onions and avocado all tossed together with mixed greens and our buttermilk dressing.     13.95

California Pasta

Penne pasta tossed with fresh spinach, basil, tomato, sundried tomatoes, red chili flakes and our Asian tomato sauce.  Served TEPID.     11.50

Our summer trips to the Hollywood Bowl have sold out……We are taking names on a waiting list for the following trips:

Friday, July 9

A Beatles Celebration

Featuring the Hollywood Bowl orchestra and special guest stars!

Friday, August 13 –

Harry Connick, Jr.

Romantic ballads, big band standards & pop classics.

Friday, September 10

Fireworks Finale

Pink Martini with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

Cost: $70 per ticket (includes, dinner, transportation and your ticket to the Bowl)

Duck Sliders

Four duck sliders, grilled with our Asian marinade, and

topped with slow sautéed shitake mushrooms and spicy Chinese mustard sauce.     13.95

Peach Glazed Grilled Pork Chops

With peach relish, chipotle smashed sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables*.     17.95

Pecan Crusted Chicken

Pan sautéed with chipotle smashed sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables*.     15.95

Yucatan Marinated Halibut

Fresh halibut, marinated in our spicy citrus Yucatan marinade, charbroiled and served with yellow rice and fresh vegetables*.     19.95

Smoke and Fire Quesadilla

Charbroiled Gaucho chicken breast, smoked gouda, fire roasted red bell peppers, grilled sweet onions and fresh basil wrapped in a giant flour tortilla and served with chipotle sour cream.     12.95

Thai Burger with Gingered Shitakes

Fresh turkey burger, mixed with Thai spices, charbroiled and topped with shitake mushrooms sautéed in fresh ginger and served on ciabatta with Chimichurri mayonnaise, fresh greens and sweet potato fries.     11.95

Green Street’s Chicken Salad

Our famous chicken salad, tossed with fresh fruit, toasted almonds and curried mayonnaise.  Served with fresh greens and fresh fruit.     14.95

Rigatoni with Summer Squash, Sausage and Goat Cheese

Sautéed summer squash and crumbled Italian sausage tossed together with rigatoni and goat cheese.     11.95

Duck Sliders

Four duck sliders, grilled with our Asian marinade, and topped with slow sautéed shitake mushrooms and spicy Chinese mustard sauce.     13.95

Ginger Flank Steak

Flank steak rubbed with our ginger and garlic marinade, charbroiled. Served with wasabi smashed potatoes and fresh vegetables* of the season.     24.95

Orange Pine Nut Chicken Breast

Our orange marinated chicken breast, charbroiled, and served with jasmine rice and fresh vegetables*.     15.95

Mixed Seafood Grill

Skewers of salmon, swordfish and shrimp, charbroiled, and served with our Jasmine rice blend and fresh vegetables* and accompanied with our red pepper sauce.     17.95

Chicken Jalapeno Sausage Quesadilla

Our famous chicken jalapeno sausage, stuffed into a quesadilla, with fresh spinach, sweet, caramelized onions and smoked mozzarella.  Served with guacamole.     12.95

Catfish Sandwich

Fresh catfish, breaded in cornmeal and pan sautéed. Served on ciabatta roll with Chipotle mayonnaise and fresh lettuce greens.    With sweet potato fries.     12.95

Turkey Tostada Salad

Smoked turkey, tortilla strips, Jack cheese, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, red bell peppers, green onions and avocado all tossed together with mixed greens and our buttermilk dressing.     13.95

Seafood Pasta Jambalaya

Chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, onion, bell peppers, zucchini and tomatoes tossed together with penne pasta and andouille cream sauce.     16.95