Baran’s 2239 is a cozy bistro tucked into a strip mall on busy Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach. They became popular quickly and in 2019 Michelin placed Baran’s 2239 on their Bib Gourmand list for LA. Owners Jonathan and Jason Barans recently collaborated with long-time restaurant owners John and Tom Papadakis of Papadakis Taverna fame.
I enjoy trying collaborations because it is the chef’s opportunity to exhibit his or her creativity. In this case a 5-course Greek dinner including a riff on a couple of classic entrees from Papadakis Taverna, Fileto (Grilled Lamb Saddle), or a Ksifias Sti Skara (Grilled Swordfish with herbs). The special was available for four days.
I picked up dinner for two and was surprised to run into John Papadakis. He fist-bumped me and I got to observe his beautiful silver ring with diamonds on it from USC’s 2005 national championship. Further, he gave me two CDs he recorded in 2019, “My Life” and “Play Day”, a collection of some of his favorites.
The Greek Salad was in a box with thinly sliced Persian cucumbers, red onions, and pitted greek olives. We chopped the feta cheese and tossed it with the lemon vinaigrette dressing.
The use of fresh tomatoes, eggplant, and spinach nicely elevated their Rice Pilaf. The red-colored rice was moist, with small chunks of eggplant.
They obtained excellent quality lamb and cooked it perfectly. The meat was perfectly sliced across the grain which made the meat fork-tender. The mushroom and herb jus nicely complemented the lamb.
Unlike snapper or tilapia, swordfish is a dense fish that is easy to overcook. This one had a nice sear and was extremely moist inside. A mixture of fresh chopped Mediterranean herbs, capers, and olive oil topped the fish.
The Baklava was probably just made because it was easy to bite into, unlike many other baklavas I’ve experienced. It contained chopped nuts, and honey and the exterior was crisp and flakey.
The dinner was priced at $95 (serving for two) with a choice of either the lamb or the swordfish. They nicely accommodated my request to include both entrees with a modest addition to the price. For me, it was worth it trying both entrees and having plenty of leftovers to enjoy the next day.
Baran’s 2239 initially re-opened making breakfast burritos on the weekend. The strong following allowed them to consider adding multi-course dinners from Wednesdays thru Saturdays. These dinners are a great bargain and I encourage you to try them for yourself.
Baran’s 2239, 502 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; barans2239.com