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mixmaster b

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    Hidden jewels in LA dining

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    I do not recommend Mori Sushi as I find the food to be far over rated. Service is poor and they are quite stingy with the fish.

    Few places I recommend:

    Peninsula Hotel Belvedere Restaurant is one of the highest rated hotel restaurants in the country and it is awesome. I go there once a month for brunch. They have the best mac n' cheese with truffles.

    Maison Akira in Pasadena has not received enough praise. I find myself keep coming back to this small French Japanese restaurant. This place is very unpretentious with excellent food.

    R23, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants because of the environment. Its great to have a few people at this art gallery/Japanese restaurant. Their seafood boulabaisse is amazing.

    I will be trying Bastide on Saturday if you still need a recommendation on that I will surely give you my feedback.

    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.

    Hidden jewels in LA dining

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    Some of the reviews I've read that appeal to me:  Bastide, The Bel Air Hotel, Campanille, Patina,  or The Saddle Park Lodge.  Am I on track or do you have a hidden jewel to recommend?

    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.

    C.S.I. Southern California

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    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.

    LA

    in California: Cooking & Baking

    Posted

    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.

    Cheap Eats LA

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    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.

    Josie? Joe's? Chinois?

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    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!

    Sample of Best Ethnic in LA for a NYCer

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    Ita-Cho is decent. Been there several times. Mountain yam is kind of...sticky? Slippery? I don't know how to describe it. They have decent sashimi, at least when I've been there.

    Someone showed me the little sushi place, Hirozen Gourmet, in WeHo, which I like too.

    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

    in RecipeGullet

    Posted

    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

    in RecipeGullet

    Posted

    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 )

    Mixmaster b's Best

    in RecipeGullet

    Posted

    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

    in RecipeGullet

    Posted

    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

    in RecipeGullet

    Posted

    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

    in RecipeGullet

    Posted

    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 )

    Palm Desert / Palm Springs Restaurants

    in California: Dining

    Posted

    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!

    Top 10 LA Neighboorhood Restaurants

    in California: Dining

    Posted · Edited by mixmaster b (log)

    Thanks for getting me on the right track.  I am currently working in Marina Del Ray/Mar Vista.  I have yet to buy a new home (currently living with family in Downey), so any suggestions on neighborhoods to find a place to live where I can walk to such wonderful neighborhood restaurants would be appreciated too.  If I had to narrow my dining choices, I guess I would exclude Mexican and most Chinese since I can probably find great places w/o too much trouble.  Maybe Italian, American or Mediterranean (Turkish, Greek, lebanese, Spanish).

    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!

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