dfunghi

Mori, Il Grano, Josies, Joe's, thats one Japanese, Italian, French(ish), American. For lunch try Amuse, Taiko, Casa Antiqua ( very popular,though Im not sure why) Lobster. Breakfast, Zabbies, John O'Groats, Pacific Dining Car, or any of the hotels on Ocean. Shutters, Loewes, etc. D

Thank you all. Manka's sounds great. We have been to Pt. Reyes many times as well as Hog island, and will go again on this trip. We are staying up the coast from Bodega Bay at Gleason Beach. Waves, books, fresh air, rain, quiet, aahhh it sounds like a real vacation. D

I will be spending new years week in Bodega Bay and was looking for reccomendations for good local eats. Not looking for fancy just clean and fresh. Also any cheese producers or other cool things ( other than winerys) to visit. We will go to Tom Bay for oysters of course. D

Try Bistro 21, Grace, Sona, Mellise, Luques, AOC, Whist , Mori Sushi ( Mori serves a mix of raw and cooked and you can ask for no raw fish for your friend. On my last visit we didnt get "sushi" until last course), and dont miss at least one trip to a decent Mexican place while out here. Gualegetza (sp) is by far the most different from anything in NY. Most NY'ers that come west and complain about LA were from somwhere else to begin with and think because they spent a year or 2 or 3 in NYC that they are somehow NY'ers now.They aren't and never will be. NYC is famous for many things including eating. But to assume that NY'ers are food snobs is just wrong. Take the millions of slices of pizza and the millions of hot dogs sold each day. I wont begin to mention the Indian dives on 6th st or the Polish restaurants ( alas dissapearing) of the lower east side, or the Columbian, Carribian, Dominican, Thai, Viet, Korean, Italian , etc... Just on Roosevelt Blvd ( it's in Queens for all you New NY'ers ) Great Jewish deli in all 5 boroughs, Italian delis in Bx Q And Bk, How about Greek food from the sublime (Taygetos) to the ordinarry (gyro II). Dont forget all the Jamaican Soul food of Flatbush. Flushing is to NY what Montery Park is to LA. IMHO NYC is still one of the cheapest and diverse eating places I have ever been. Of course Im born and raised in NYC which slants my view. In California 15 years and loving it, but when I travel and someone asks where Im from I say NYC but I live in Cal. Bon Apetitte D D

I am suprised not one person mentioned the best coffee on the westside. GCW = Gourmet Coffee Wharehouse on Rose just west of Lincoln. If it's coffee and not social you are looking for this is the real deal. They direct import and roast there beans. Also for take out try Tamaras Tamales on Wash accross from Costco. D

In Farmers Market (3rd and Fairfax) there was a great poultry guy who had all forms of flying foods. I would guess its still there. Secondly you can order one from any number of places including whole foods. D

There will be plenty to "grumble" about the check at Lobster as well. It's good but it aint cheap! D

I go to a place on Little S.M. in B.H. about 2 or 3 blocks east of Wilshire on the North side of street. Ye Olde Cutlery might be the name??? Old time place where he does the work himself and has for probably 40 yrs or more. Last time I went it was .40 per inch with one day service. D

Sorry I missed it. I dont check the board that often. Glad you all liked Hua's. D

301 N Garfield #d. 626-571-8387, Hua's Yuannan Garden. On corner of building with kitty corner doorway? Near Emerson? D

I like "Seaworld". The restaurant not the theme park. In rosemead on Garvey. Big room lots of carts, lots of menu items, lots of service, Not a lot of caucasians. Prices are right and quality is very good. But not as good as Richmond / Vancouver area. I would pass on Empress ( all locations), Ocean Star or Royal Star, NBC seafood, or Harbor seafood. IMHO D

Super rica closes arond 9, breakfast at the "breakwater" sit outside and enjoy the view, all the locals do. Brown Pellican is at Henry's Beach ( arroyo burro) and has great location and ok food and prices that are high. D

I seem to remember hearing that Hamasuka was a celeb hang out as well and some of the money behind it is celeb money. I misspoke about nozawa as to their chef. Was thinking of another place. D

Hi David. I knew you a long time ago when I lived in SB. Like 90 or 91 . Is Bruce still wine maker at SB winery and did they ever expand their beers? Where are you now? GP with Dan? Anyway if he knew I was typin to you he would say hello for sure so hello from Sam in SM. D

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner. Hua's and Yuanan garden are one in the same. 300 block of Garvey. D

I go to Hua's on Garvey and it has some of the hottest and strangest food Ive ever had. This is not like Hu's in culver city. This is the real deal. Was wondering if any others here have tried it and what they think and do they know others. Ive tried Chunking on Garvey and although it also was authentic and super hot it was a little oily and under cooked. Hua's gets it right and has excellent chef. D

Nozowa is top notch even with the original chef gone. I was trying to stick to westside. Zealot give it a try if you like top quality fish and dont need ambiance. I have not been in years since I moved to the westside but I loved it before. D

How could I forget Cafe Blanc on S.M. blvd in B.Hills

Sushi huh? Well your in luck because we have some of the best sushi in America here. Mori Sushi @ Pico and Gateway, Sushi Sushi on Beverly DRIVE just north of Olympic, Il Grano which is a Neopolitan restaurant does a "CRUDO" plate of raw and marinated seafood that is better than most sushi in LA. @ Santa Monica Blvd just west of 405 freeway. Uzen also on S.M. Blvd further west by about 10 blocks. Theses are recomended for the quality of the food not their decor or hype or customer list. If you want to see the beautiful people eat then there is Sushi Roku on 3rd. near Beverly center. These are my favorites others will tell you theirs. These are all within 15 minutes of west hollywood. Non sushi I recomend Il Grano, Whist, Joe's (venice), Bistro 21, Campanille, for their food. I recomend Les duex cafe, Luques, AOC, for food and potential people watching (celebs) D

Simply put Jf. Quality is why. Being in food biz in LA I have tried smoked salmon and assorted other treats from many places and they all pale compared to Russ & D. IMHO. Homurus on Pico was excellent but alas they are gone. Cheaper aint always better. D

Hey Beach, yea I thought about it but when I left in '98 it was so so. I understand alot has changed and it is not the case now. People seem to like Bouchon too but it also post dates my SB days. Of course if you want to go in another direction like lets say Bar food or Mexican or Cal-Mex type burrito places then SB has much(mucho) to offer or at least it did. It is not possible for me to drive through SB and not go to supa rica so it would be my #1 recomendation plus its soooo, soooo, Santa Barbara as is Joe's on State. Same bartenders since the late 70's and waitress too. D

Having lived in SB from 89 - 98 ( from NYC) I will add that compared to NYC there are almost no restaurants to recomend. Downeys was always good and a cut above most SB kitchens. Most of the places to eat dont have staff stay very long and there is little or no cutting edge food. Supa rica is ***** five star good. Blue Agave on Cota is good and Joe's on State( a landmark) for steak and strong drinks . Above the Navy building by the breakwater is a good (name is ???) seafood place, a little nicer than Brophys however Bropheys is a "local thang" as is the breakwater for breakfast. Set your sights low if you are used to eating at lets say Gramercy Tavern or similar you wont find it in SB ( or easily in LA for that matter). There used to be a sign at the beginning of town that said "WELCOME TO SANTA BARBARA, SET WATCH BACK 1 DECADE" . Just kidding but they should. Im now in Santa Monica which is more crowded , more expensive, less beautiful, but I meet people who arent so mellow that they are one step from a coma, like SB. If I was retiring then SB for sure but if you want to have a life, social and otherwise and need to earn $$ then SB is a tough choice. Additionally housing prices have gone crazy lately so be careful. We bought in '90 and had to wait till '97 or so to get our money out, and this was a modest home. Bacarat is nice if you got the dough plus has ( I've heard) an excelent restaurant. However it is a ways from SB proper. Same price range is San Ysidro Ranch. Really great old property going back to Hollywood hayday like Lombard and Gable D

Brooklyn bagels, manhattan bagels in santa Monica, St Urbain if you can find them. The SM location closed. As for smoked fish and other goodies if its a big order then call Russ and Daughters in NYC and have it shipped. D

I would guess there are really great Mexican Seafood shops which are out of my radar for sure but I would love to find. This would be more along the lines of shrimp, squid, octopus, etc. type "cocktails" Great ceviche served on those crispy little shells like in Baja. Plus maybe fesh tuna for the grill. Ensenada style so to speak. D

99 ranch markets , Nijaya or Safe and Save on Sawtelle. Anjin II at SM farmers markets. For large purchases go to 5th and San Pedro to any of the fish wholesalers. International marine or Phillipes are my favorites. Supermarkets by their nature are going to have older fish due to the supply chain. D p.s. Is this really Russ Parsons from the Times????