gmi3804
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Posts posted by gmi3804
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Joe's in Venice. They "do lunch" Tuesday through Friday and then have a brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Oops - forgot that I've been to Joe's too. And JiRaffe. Both excellent!
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Where are you going to be? Do you want local ethnic Mexican or Japanese? do you want a fancy meal? Would you like to sit at the beach and watch people roller skate by while you eat?
L.A. is a big place, help us to focus it down a bit and we can give you some great ideas!
I'm looking for something Spago-like, i.e., California/French. Fancy is good. Not into sushi. Last time in LA we ate at Sona, Grace, and Bastide. Loved all three. Looking for something along those lines, but it's difficult to find places like that open for lunch on Saturdays.
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I'm looking for a great place for lunch on Saturday. I only have one meal in LA, and sky's the limit. However, many of the best places don't serve lunch on Saturdays or only serve brunch (which I'm not interested in). So far, the best I've found is Spago. Ordinarily that would be good, but I've been there and would rather try someplace new. Thanks!
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I believe they're now serving lunch. According to Phil Vettel, "The format is the same, but there are fewer antipasti and the main courses include pasta, salads and panini. The lunch price is $17.95."
Any lunch reports? I'll be in Chi in a few weeks; OVS certainly is on my short list.
I haven't been for lunch, but you can expect the same quality as at dinner. And, importantly, the same wine list! Don't forget that this is an all-you-can-eat place, though they don't really advertise that much; if you want more, ask - even entrees, I'm told, though I've always been too stuffed by the time I've attempted to finish mine! At $17.95, this is a steal. Allot enough time, and you'll have a blast.
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A four-star rave (albeit from Pat Bruno
) in this morning's Sun-Times!Congrats, ChefGEB! I certainly had a four-star experience there, and am looking forward to returning soon - if I can get in now!
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You just need to read further up the list for recommendations.
Thanks, Shelora - just wanted to make sure you had nothing to add. These are major decisions I'm making here!
Are carnitas popular in Zihua? Where should I go? I had some killer ones last year in Los Cabos, at a place WAY off the main drag. I figured either I'd die of dysentery or have one of the most memorable meals of my life. Fortunately, the latter turned out to be the outcome.
And now I HAVE to try that Zihua sea salt!
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We're heading to Zihuatanejo at the beginning of March, and need to start planning our dining excursions! What are the latest recommendations? We tend to like more formal dinners (any places with top-notch wine lists?) and casual, light lunches.
Thanks in advance!
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Does anyone have anything to say about the food on Provo (Turks & Caicos)?
Didn't get to Provo during our T & C trip. We were prisoners at Parrot Cay. The food (and service, and facilities) at Parrot Cay was deplorable. When the lunch catch of the day (for four days in a row) is salmon, eyebrows were raised. At least we bonded with the other guests, who were enjoying themselves as much as we were. My partner ordered a Bombay Sapphire and tonic, with lime. Every night. For seven nights. Every night, he received a different drink. By mid-week, the waiter would look at him and say (with dead seriousness), "Your usual?" OK, I admit we'd laugh after he left, and had a great anecdote at the pool the next day (we were desperate for fun, you see.) And have you seen that expedia.com commercial about the couple looking online at the resort which offers mosquito netting on the beds? That could have been filmed at Parrot Cay! I have a really bad taste in my mouth about T & C because of this dismal, overrated (why aren't writers afraid to write bad things about it?) "resort." But I read Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True that week and enjoyed it a lot - at least those characters knew from fun.
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George,
We were in St Barth's a couple of years ago, after a 10 year hiatus, and were very disappointed with the quality of the restaurants. I don't know if the cooking on island has slipped or if we've just gotten more sophisticated palates, but except for the most casual places, menus were uninspired, prices were high and the food was just so-so. The one place we wish we'd gone to was The Wall in Gustavia.
On the other hand, the bakeries are wonderful and the options for excellent prepared food to carry out are many. Plus, you have to love a place where the basic supermarket has an abundant choice of cheeses, pates, and delicious baked goods.
I just started going to St. Barth's four years ago, so I can only imagine how good the restaurant scene was in the past; I think it's quite wonderful now, especially compared to Anguilla's. It's certainly much better than Anguilla's both in terms of price and quality, and your complaints about St. Barth's sound like my Anguilla complaints! I'm rather numb to high prices while on vacation, so I don't notice them as much as I ordinarily would at home; I REALLY noticed them on Anguilla, but not much on St. Barths.
I agree that there is a wonderfully diverse selection at the markets and bakeries, and indeed we did do our own cooking quite often.
The Wall House is a favorite. Their coffee-lacquered duck is extraordinary.
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I was generally underwhelmed with the restaurants on Anguilla - we spent a week there last year.
I'd avoid Pimm't (at Cap Jaluca) and The Dining Room at Malliouhana. Both are extraordinarily expensive and bland, though the latter has better atmosphere (and is way less crowded.)
For good fine dining, Blanchard's is the way to go - exquisite!
I found that the mid-level restaurants deliverd the most consistently good dining experiences. And even these places are a lot classier than they sound:
Oliver's - small and romantic, right on the beach. Don't miss the extraordinary coconut pie for dessert.
Straw Hat - casual atmosphere, but serious menu. Definitely worth the effort to find this out-of-the-way place.
Mangos - island-style plantation house serviving wonderful Caribbean seafood.
Cuisinart - nice lunch poolside (forgot the name of the open-air restaurant), memorable organic produce.
Places I didn't like:
Scilly Cay - lunch-only private island. The idea is better than the experience, and they're rather full of themselves. The overhyped drinks are unmemorable but strong. Ho hum.
Hibernia - the worst experience we had. The snooty owner acted as if she had a pole stuck up her ass. If I wanted greasy food served by a walking attitude I'd have gone to my sister's. Dismal service and wine list, gloomy setting.
Anguilla is definitely not the gourmand's dream destination - for that, go to St. Barths.
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Here I go again!
Another wonderful meal this evening. Tonight, there was a special which wasn't on the menu - an exquisite short rib on silky, buttery mashed potatoes. And cherry pie (a first) on the dessert menu. I also tried the moist chocolate cake with chocolate icing - perfect! - with ice cream, natch.
Heads up: Phil Vittel sighting tonight! Expect a Trib review soon.
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2 stars from Phil Vettel in today's Trib...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi...1,5001088.story
Seems a bit low based on the experiences he describes, but probably appropriate given his ratings of other restaurants.
Two stars seems fair if it means "very good" and three stars means "extraordinary" and four stars means "perfection." It's certainly more fair than the Bruno review!
OVS offers a wonderful dining experience, maybe suffering a bit in the star ratings because it's not as "formal" as your typical restaurant meal.
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We had another very good meal at Bin36 in Lincolnshire on Saturday night, but there seem to be dark clouds on the horizon. First of all, the front of the restaurant has been sectioned off to accommodate a mini version of Kamahachi - the two restaurants are now sharing the space (rent issues?). The first thing that hits your nose as you walk through the door is the deep-fryer (tempura?) Japanese restaurant smell - not good if you're going to be sampling different wines. This would be a much bigger concern if there were actually a bigger/better selection of wines to sample. I don't need a 4,000-bottle list by any means, but it would be nice to have a bigger range of selections in a restaurant whose main reason for existence is its wine program. Apparently, the customer base in the north/northwest suburbs just doesn't support a spectacular wine list, which is a shame because the idea of Bin36 (a casual-chic place to have good food and great wines) is so attractive. I'm sad to say that only about two-thirds of the tables were filled at the busiest point in the evening. To make matters more bizarre, and I may be mistaken on this point, I believe either menu could be ordered from in either the Kamahachi or Bin36 spaces! I wanted so badly for Bin 36 to succeed, but its long-term survival chances don't look good.
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Don't forget Bobcat Bite for the best green chile cheeseburger in the world! It's just outside of town - Santa Fe, that is.
Speaking of accommodations, which are the best, money being no object?
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Ok, Valentino at The Venetian might be the most underrated restaurant in Las Vegas. Chef Piero Selvaggio is superb. He's always in the kitchen. The wine list is also impressive. I brough my parents (true NY food snobs) and they loved it.
I, of course, love Valentino, but the true revelation to me was Zefferino, at The Venetian. Maybe it's a case of my not expecting much, but I've had food there that rivals meals I've had in their homeland, Liguria. Exquisite. Has anyone else been?
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I live here.
Thanks for the update! I'm really looking forward to trying some of these places.
One of my favorite places closed several years ago - Sinaloa, on the West side (Hanapepe?) Some of the best Mexican food I've had anywhere. Have the owners opened up another place somewhere else?
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...at the other end a very burly all male group. They didn't look like professional football players, and one of them was significantly older than the others--a dad and his 5 strapping sons?
Damn - I always pick the wrong nights to go!
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I'm confounded at Pat Bruno's 1-1/2-star review of OSTERIA VIA STATO.
One more reason why online reviewing should replace dictatoresque reviews.
Perhaps, though I'd like to think that a reviewer is being unbiased as much as possible, realizing that it's a review which, by definition, is still only one person's opinion. The reviewer has a responsibility to be as professional as possible. He seems to take umbrage at the restaurant's wine program which, in my experience, is one of the best aspects of the place. I've never seen more variety at so many different price levels than here. In this case I suspect there's more "history" behind Bruno's impressions of the place (or, perhaps, the management) than meets the eye, as most of his impressions of the food were most complimentary.
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I'm confounded at Pat Bruno's 1-1/2-star review of OSTERIA VIA STATO.
To each his own, I suppose. He seems to have had a big problem with the service. If things start happening too fast for me (anywhere), a polite, "please slow down," usually does the trick. And even though things do seem to start coming at you pretty quickly once you sit down, the pace slows way down to a most enjoyable one once the antipasti are finished being served.
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There are plenty of places near the Hyatt, but part of the fun of being on Kauai is had in venturing to other parts of the island; it's small enough where the farthest drive really isn't that far, especially if combined with other activities in that particular area.
You will LOVE the Hyatt, by the way. Be sure, however, to request a redecorated room. Room furnishings were looking a bit worn when we were there three years ago, and I understand they've redone many, but not all of, the rooms. The public areas at the Hyatt are among the most beautiful on the entire island, and their pool is, hands down, the best.
Good to know. Thanks! We're also considering, since we're venturing all the way out from NY, if we should spent a few extra days either at another resort on Kauai or fly to another island. I'm limiting my hotel choices to Starwood since my sister works for them.
Starwood = Princeville Hotel. Splurge and get a Prince Junior Suite, which has a tub/shower with a floor to ceiling window so you can bathe or shower with the best view in the world!
And then you won't have to worry about seeing sights from Kapaa and north because you could do those areas when you stay north. And if you're going to do a Na Pali sightseeing tour, it's far preferable to leave from the north (Hanalei) than the south, as Hanalei's closer to the Na Pali coast.
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Wow. Perfect timing. We're planning to go to Kauai end of March. My wife has a conference over at the Hyatt. Never been and would love to know places to go near the Hyatt.
There are plenty of places near the Hyatt, but part of the fun of being on Kauai is had in venturing to other parts of the island; it's small enough where the farthest drive really isn't that far, especially if combined with other activities in that particular area.
You will LOVE the Hyatt, by the way. Be sure, however, to request a redecorated room. Room furnishings were looking a bit worn when we were there three years ago, and I understand they've redone many, but not all of, the rooms. The public areas at the Hyatt are among the most beautiful on the entire island, and their pool is, hands down, the best.
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I thought I'd resuscitate this thread since we'll FINALLY be going back to our beloved Kauai next month, after a three year (too long) hiatus.
The last time we went, the big news on Kauai was Coconuts. We liked it so much we went twice! Is it still as good? We also liked the then-new Lemongrass.
I love A Pacific Cafe too. And the banana pancakes with coconut syrup at Country Kitchen in Kapaa. And the pies at Camp House Grill in Kalaheo. And Hammura's Saimin.
Is The Beach House still owned by Josselin like it was when it first opened? We went last time and it was a bit disappointing - something was "missing".
Is there anything new I should try? I know the island like the back of my hand and will travel anywhere for a good meal - french fries to foie gras!
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Another wonderful dinner last night at Carlos'. We were joined by Midwesterner and her husband; they had the degustation, and Greg and I ordered a la carte. Here's what I had:
Wild Burgundy Escargots in Brioche à Tête with Artichoke Hearts and a Roquefort Pernod Cream Sauce - a very rich dish, nicely presented on a round black plate. That cream sauce was especially good for bread-dunking.
Yukon Gold Potato Waffle and House Herbed Smoked Salmon Accompanied by White and Green Asparagus with Red Onion Crème Fraiche - Even though I'm not the World's Biggest Salmon Fan, this dish was a knockout. To read the description is to miss the whimsical presentation. A small, pastry "duck head" was placed atop some salmon salad, and the smoked salmon and greens formed the "body" of the duck. The asparagus flanked the duck on either side, and at the far right of the plate three different colored roe were arranged in a fish-shape. The waffle, by the way, was damn good too! I wish I'd had my camera.
Guava sorbet.
Sautéed New Zealand John Dory and Hawaiian Shrimp on a Bed of Fingerling Potatoes and Doubloon Mushroom Ragout with a Shrimp Tarragon Emulsion - Not seeing John Dory on many menus around here, I had to try this. The fish was perfectly seared, and the mushroom ragout was served in a potato basket.
Dessert consisited of a three-layer chocolate mousse: dark, light, and white chocolate mousses were presented as a three-layerd cylinder. Simple, flavorful, and CHOCOLATE!
We had a Peter Michael Chardonnay to start off, and a 1994 Volnay Red Burgundy after. Wonderful choices!
Carlos' has the type of menu which makes it hard to make up your mind - everything looks so good. And I like that the entire table doesn't have to partake of the degustation, and if you DO order it, you may substitute any dish from the a la carte menu if you prefer.
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We're going to Carlos' for dinner tonight - looking forward to it, being a recent Carlos' convert!
Best bets for Saturday Lunch in LA?
in California: Dining
Posted
I've been there too!