Nealpollack

This is definitely the handiest moving to L.A. advice I've received yet. You people are so much more helpful than the posters at sexyvampires.net! Manhattan Beach, ho!

I have dined at Fred 62 many a time, though rarely sober. But now I'm an L.A. family man. That's a great suggestion for a family outing. I also wonder if my kid would like House of Pies. Hard to imagine that he wouldn't...

I do like Peruvian food a lot, and I really dig a good Colombian churrasqueria. As for neighborhoods, it had to be near a Trader Joe's AND Dodger Stadium. Specifics are hard to name. I just love food.

As proof that we're real foodies, proximity to a Trader Joe's was a primary factor in our choice of neighborhoods. I've been to Casa Bianca already, and it was definitely terrific. The tips on good Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food in Glendale are priceless. We like to dine at all levels from time to time, occasionally splurging on a high-end meal. I made reservations for us at Table 8 to celebrate our arrival in L.A. I've eaten at Campanile and A.O.C. before, and I left very satisfied. The cheese selection at Campanile is incredible, and the charcuterie at A.O.C. is only topped, in my mind, by the one at Lupa in New York. La Terza also sounds really good. Any other suggestions?

I'm moving the family to L.A., as I pursue the final crushing of my dreams in Hollywood. Naturally, since I'm an egulleteer, we're looking for food advice and for food friends. We've rented a house in Eagle Rock, where all yuppies with an artistic bent go to die. Please advise any way you can: What's good around the neighborhood, what's new around town, where can I get a great South American meal in a strip mall for $15 and under, and so on....Thanks! Neal

I'm a big fan of Artisanal, but yeah, the service isn't exactly five-star. I recommend going in for lunch, preferably on the late end of the rush. It'll be a lot more relaxed, and it's not like they ever run out of the best cheese....

Hey, Yimay. I guess that was you talking to Ben outside the bar. Yes, I was pretty dang annoyed, but have since returned to my usual state of mild rage mixed with a little Zen happiness. Thanks for the recs. South American food sounds grand to me...

It might be too little time, Fifi, but we're only 2.5 hours away, and if the food is as good as it sounds from all these replies, we may have to make more frequent trips. I'm always amazed at how bad the food is in Austin. I was kind of leaning toward T'afia. Sounds very Alice Waters. Thanks so much for all your suggestions. And keep 'em coming if you've got them! If you need a survival guide for a trip to Austin, don't hesitate to call on me. Thanks, NP

Hey, folks. My wife and I live in Austin and have never been to Houston. We're going for a weekend, staying at the Hotel Derek, and I want to eat big-city style. Austin is the greatest, but the restaurants are mediocre at best. So here's what I'm looking for: 1 Outstanding Fine-Dining Restaurant (specializing in regional ingredients) 1 Great Vietnamese Restaurant 1 Breakfast Place 1 Cheap Eats Heaven I love the description of the place in San Leon (Topwater Grill) in another post, but am not sure if that's a day trip from Houston or a separate trip to Austin. Because that place sounds amazing. Anyway, we have about six weeks before we go, so I'd sure appreciate any feedback y'all are willing to provide. Thanks so much. NP

You're well-off eating at any roadside sodas, particularly ones near the beach. Always cheap, and usually great. You can get a Chinese-style seafood stirfry for $3, and a lobster with homemade fries for $10. Fried chicken is also often good... In Playa Hermosa, on the main drag just before the beach, there's a great restaurant called Ginger, run by an ex-pat from Montreal. A meringue dessert that's out of this world....