mixmaster b

I wish I could join but I am out of town til after the event. ENJOY!!!

Welcome, laubowski! I can't let your critical views on Mori go unanswered! I guess it's a love it or hate it type of place, but I find the smaller portions on the fish to be really perfect, refined, and just what I want to eat. I do think the experience of the omakase vs ordering by the piece is better there. Have you been to Big Fish on Robertson? That place gives huge portions and the food is good. I guess it is a different approach. PLEASE let us know about Bastide--I've been dying to go.

I can't speak to Bastide, Saddle Peak Lodge, or Patina as I've not been. Bel Air Hotel is a lovely spot--very romantic outdoor dining room. Beautiful setting. The food is very, very good, but nothing unusual or mind-blowing. Campanile is wonderful with very good food-- seasonal american stuff that is some of the best, most consistent in LA. However, it is not much of a hidden jewel. It's a large well known place, not super-romantic. I've heard great things about the downtown Patina. That and Bastide are at the top of my wish list. Spago is also still very good, and close, though again not an unknown place. Mori Sushi is an absolute find; my favorite meal in LA is omakase at the sushi bar. IMO it is a hidden jewel but the ambiance, while pleasant, is not super special/romantic. AOC is great, too. Emphasis on wines by the glass, cheeses, and small plates. Romantic in a casual-LA-happening kind of way. Yummy food. Sona is a good option, with total attention on the food. However, it can be inconsistant, and is a place to go only of you are the type of foodie that loves carefuly plated, tiny tasting menus. I happen to love it. Maple Drive has a new chef who is getting some rave reviews. Some other good spots in the BH/WeHo area for everyday: Le Pain Quotidien for breakfast/brunch/lunch. Mulberry Pizza for a slice. Enoteca Drago for a glass of wine at the bar and a nice afternoon snack. The tiny bar in Maison 140 is great for an early evening drink. Il Pastaio for excellent pasta dinners--the Beverly Hills version of family dining. Peet's Coffee for really good, strong brew. Let me know if you need any addresses--and have a great time.

One that I am glad is gone: Les Deux Cafes. How they managed not to make money on that place is anyone's guess--always packed, expensive drinks, overpriced food! I hope something nice opens there--the garden is lovely. And that space on Robertson that is now Pearl--used to be Moomba, used to be Luna Park. Some locations just seem to be cursed.

For markets, I love the Ivar Farmer's Market on Sundays in Hollywood. Go to the Pususa stand! You should also check out the Farmer's Market on Fairfax. It is permanent and kind of an indoor/outdoor thing, with vegetable, meat, chees, and bakery stands, along with many booths that served food. There are a few places, including Monsiuer Marceau's (sp?) that do wines by the glass. For better stuff, Beachfan is right on about AOC. Get a reservation--it gets so crowded, even at the bar. The food's wonderful, too! Greenblat's up on Sunset has a winebar in their shop. Not great on atmosphere but they sometimes have interesting things. Wine House is terrific--you might check out one of theis classes. Du Vin on San Vicente is also a winner.

I’m not much of a cheap eats expert, but here are some ideas: Pho Café on Sunset is cheap and good, and also has a great hip vibe and design. BYOB, Sunset and Silver Lake in a strip mall on the north side of the street. Phoenix Inn on Ord in Chinatown is really good Chinese food, funky old room with lino floors and flourecent lights. Lots of exotic stuff on the menu. BYOB. Cheap. How about the great taquerias? I am sure you can get better advice from more expert diners, but I like Burrito King, Costa Alegre on Sunset and Glendale (actually a nice environment), and I used to eat at Taco Boy in Bell all the time. It was delish, but that was about 4 years ago. Empanadas Place on upper La Cienega has delicious empanadas. The Apple Pan? Versailles? Also, Ruen Pair Thai, where we had an EG lunch, was inexpensive, good, and quite pleasant for the price.

They have a lot of tables and the turnover is high, so the wait is usually short. I like their chili!

Start with a basket of pastries--SOOO good. I tend toward the lunch/sandwich stuff, but it's hard to go wrong. Enjoy it!

Josie's is really nice but has more of an East-coast feel. I haven't had dinner at Joe's but brunch, which was nice. The street it is on, Abbot Kinney, is fun to stroll along; lots of interesting shops and restaurants. I am still a fan of Chaya Venice, which is very CA. Good sushi and "fusion" type food. A little slick, but still fun. Chinois is pretty casual. I ate there once and enjoyed it, but haven't been compelled to return. You should check out the Viceroy Hotel for drinks either before or after dinner. Quite a scene, with great, over-the-top decor by LA designer Kelly Wearstler. Don't eat there, just a quick drink. All of the places in question are close to where you are staying. Please let us know where you go!

I really like Ita-Cho. Best dishes: Lotus Root Eggplant with miso Garlic Sprouts with pork (The best of all, IMO) Enoki Mushrooms baked in foil Long-Simmered pork with Mustard Fried Chicken Nuggets are a big hit. The sashimi is good but the cooked stuff is the reason to go.

Vesper Bond's original drink, before Smirnoff came on to the scene 3 parts gin 1 part vodka 1/2 par lillet Shake over ice, serve up w/lemon twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG854 )

Vesper Bond's original drink, before Smirnoff came on to the scene 3 parts gin 1 part vodka 1/2 par lillet Shake over ice, serve up w/lemon twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG854 )

Rudy 1 part Lillet 1 part red grapefruit juice 2 parts gin Shake over ice, serve up w/lemon or orange twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG853 )

Rudy 1 part Lillet 1 part red grapefruit juice 2 parts gin Shake over ice, serve up w/lemon or orange twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG853 )

Calais 3 fl oz gin 1 fl oz cointreau 1 fl oz lillet Shake over ice, serve up w/lemon or orange twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG852 )

Calais 3 fl oz gin 1 fl oz cointreau 1 fl oz lillet Shake over ice, serve up w/lemon or orange twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG852 )

Mixmaster b's Best Handful of mint, muddled with 2 tbs superfine sugar Scrape into shaker with 1-1/2 oz Lillet 2 oz gin (Tanqueray 10 was perfect) the juice of half a large lemon lots of cracked ice Shake Serve up w/ lemon twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG851 )

Mixmaster b's Best Handful of mint, muddled with 2 tbs superfine sugar Scrape into shaker with 1-1/2 oz Lillet 2 oz gin (Tanqueray 10 was perfect) the juice of half a large lemon lots of cracked ice Shake Serve up w/ lemon twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG851 )

Mint Daquiri Handful of mint Muddle the crap out of it (mortar & pestle are best) with 2 tbs superfine sugar Scrape into shaker with 3 oz dark rum and the juice of 1 lime Stir to dissolve sugar Add lots of cracked ice Shake Serve up w/ lime twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG850 )

Mint Daquiri Handful of mint Muddle the crap out of it (mortar & pestle are best) with 2 tbs superfine sugar Scrape into shaker with 3 oz dark rum and the juice of 1 lime Stir to dissolve sugar Add lots of cracked ice Shake Serve up w/ lime twist Keywords: Cocktail ( RG850 )

I found this LA County site where you can look up the ratings of different places, along with the reasons they got rated as they did, and their ratings histories. Pretty interesting stuff!

I love the ratings system. I eat in B restaurants a lot (even sushi), but I don't think I've ever braved a C. Mainly, the ratings give me courage to try places that look a little sketchy.

I'd love to go back to the Temple. I think Stupid American's idea of a Thai holiday is terrific. I'd still be up for Jitlada, and for maybe some of the other spots Food Zealot mentied earlier. We have to finish this job and tally up the votes!!!

I was in Palm Springs about 18 months ago and ate at 2 places: Johannes 196 S Indian Spring Road in Palm Springs. I thought this place was very good. Upscale European food with an Austrian influence, and it is actually a chef-owned place (hence the name). It had the feeling that Johanne is always there and cares a lot about the place. A small, modern room, nice quality china, fairly pricey. A colleague from work was there a few weeks ago and said he had a very good time and impressive food. I’d go back for sure. Melvin’s This is a real old-school place, complete with waiters in dinner jackets. We had Caesar salad and steak Diane, both of which were finished table side on rickety carts. I don’t think anything in the place has changed since the 50’s, from the décor to the menu to the clientele. For a drink at the bar, complete with crooning pianist and waterfall, this is a great place. But dinner was a little painful; mediocre quality and high prices. Good luck!

At the risk of infuriating some fellow e-gulleters, I don't think Downey is very rich in good restaurants. Your whole experience of LA will have so much to do with the area you choose to live, from the vibe of the neighborhood to the proximity of good restaurants and markets to the length of you commute. I live near West Hollywood/La Cienega, and there are lots of trendy, overprice places, some with good food and some that just suck, but not the kind of places warm neighborhood spots you are talking about. I think West LA, Food Zealot's neighborhood, is quite good for restaurants. Lots of good japanese, some nice Indian. There are also some stretches of Sunset/Hollywood around Silver Lake or Echo Park that have lots of nice places to eat. I lived in Santa Monica when I first moved here. For food, I think Venice is better, especially around Abbot Kinney. Good Luck!