Purple Basil

Classy Cuisine Comes to Calabasas …..Finally

Until recently, dining at the Commons mirrored the mediocrity of its sister shopping center, The Promenade in Westlake. Although both centers are in very upscale communities, they offer only cookie cutter chains such as Johnny Rockets, Chili's, Piacere, Rosti, Kings Fish House, Marmalade, Macaroni Grill and worse. All of these places promise much more at the entrance than can be delivered by servers that are, at best, minimum wage graduates of McDonalds or Carl’s Jr. schools of culinary arts. .

However Peyman Ashfar, the owner of just modified and highly popular Leila’s in Oak Park finally broke the chain. Almost imperceptibly he has raised his unique take on casual but sophisticated and moderately priced dining with his recently opened Purple Basil at The Commons

The slightly hard edge tile floored dining room is very attractive. It is divided into two sections with the first more intimate area seating about 16 people while the main area seats about 48. Tables are set comfortably apart. A simple but dramatic effect is created with low key halogen lighting, walls painted in peachy orange and green olive capped by a patriot blue ceiling. All of this evokes thoughts of the sunny Provencal area of Southeast France. Colorful contemporary paintings are hung strategically to create further interest. An extremely pleasant outside area seats about 25 while circling a small fountain for romantic alfresco dining during warm summer evenings.

Talented young executive Chef Richard Demanes presides over Purple Basil so you know you can count on the intense, exciting and unique flavors that he creates. Demane’s credentials are impressive. He has manned upscale stoves at Michael’s in Santa Monica, Campanile on La Brea and 2087 locally.

The best description of his food would be Architectural Style Asian Fusion with a touch of mid- Mediterranean nuances. The short Leila style menu includes 5 appetizers, 4 salads and 9 entrees. There are no nightly specials since the menu changes often. However every dish on the menu the night we were there had appeal to the entire table.

Our table sampled 3 of the 5 appetizers, Crispy Potato Crab Cakes ($12), Duck Confit Spring Roll ($10) and Roasted Fresh Portabella and Shitake Mushrooms ($9) with shaved parmesan and truffle-soy sauce. Both the Crab Cakes and the Spring Roll were beautifully presented hot and crisp on Asian style plates. Both exploded with flavor and were served in portions that can be split for lighter eaters. However the mushrooms, each ordered by the two ladies were such an intense and sensuous experience that if they were a film, they would be X-rated. I had a difficult time prying a forkful from my wife.

Crispy Farm raised Catfish

Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut ($21) with sweet raisin couscous and Grilled Thai Salmon ($19) with coconut sticky rice cake and cucumber salad were cooked with that intense Demane flavor, perfectly moist and attractively plated. I did not taste the Roasted Garlic Chicken ($16) because the male fourth member of our group gobbled it up before any one had a taste chance. He seemed very sated.

I must admit that I was slightly disappointed in my choice. I ordered the Crispy Farm Raised Catfish ($17) with Szechuan black bean sauce. sticky rice and stir-fried vegetables. It was served in that serious architectural style, moist and flavorful. Under most circumstances, I should have been satisfied.

However, I had incorrectly envisioned the succulent whole deep fried catfish, created at Chinois by celebrity chef Tadao Shiro. I could not get that flavor out of my mind. Shiro had taken this signature dish with him when he opened his eponymous South Pasadena storefront restaurant. Remarkably, this dish alone helped him attain Zagat’s rating as the best restaurant in Southern California a couple of years back.

Calorie rich desserts also burst with flavor. The four of us split a chocolate flavored bread pudding and delicate apple tart with gourmet vanilla ice cream.

Joseph Kono, doubling as manager at sister restaurant Leila’s and executive sommelier has compiled a short but very well thought out and fairly priced wine list.

However, we paid the corkage fee of $15 (click here for the accompanying Wine Wisdom article on proper BYOB and corkage etiquette) and brought a bottle of’98 L’Oratoire Chateauneuf du Pape from our wine cellar. It had recently scored a 92 in one of the major wine periodicals. While a full-bodied flavorful red might seem inappropriate, we found it to be a perfect choice that was not overwhelmed by the high intensity appetizers and main courses.

Steak, braised beef and pork tenderloin are also available for the red meaters as well as a pasta dish for vegetarians. But we think that the menu justifiably does its best with fish. However you should know, that Demanes is a flavor risk taker who occasionally misses. If bland, comfortable and familiar tastes are what you look for when dining out, Purple Basil may not be your choice. However if you look upon dining as a sensual adventure then Purple Basil is one of the three best relaxed choices from Studio City to Santa Barbara. The restaurant is also open Mon-Fri for lunch and Sat-Sun for Brunch.

Finally, parking at The Commons may be more difficult than at the Promenade. If the adjoining stadium style seating Edwards Theater has some hot attractions, you may find yourself searching for a parking space while your 8 O’clock table awaits. Thus the center offers Valet Parking for a small fee, as did the Agoura Mann.

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If paying a parking fee is against your principles or traveling over the Calabasas grade to the edge of “The Dreaded Valley’ is akin to visiting Afghanistan, then opt for the no-risk alternative at the sister Leila’s in the Oak Park Shopping Center at Lindero Canyon and Kanan Road.

Purple Basil Midway in The Commons – Calabasas Valet Parking Available
818-222-9801 Most Credit Cards

Leila’s 706 Lindero Canyon Road, Oak Park – Easy Shopping Center Parking
818-707- 6939 Most Credit Cards Dinner Only