Celebration Dinners with Change to Spare

Timabruin wants to treat his sister to a memorable wedding anniversary dinner but not drain his wallet. The goal: $200 for four.

Hounds are on it. Smitty’s Grill is high on the list. “I was just there again last night,” says khh1138, “and it’s become one of my favourite places in Pasadena. It has a nice cozy Old Hollywood feel, the food is American but EXCELLENT American.”

Recs for dishes to share include the rack of lamb—at $22 it won’t break the bank. Salads and appetizers are very good. And Fosselman’s ice cream with dessert is a “mark of distinction.”

mlgb suggests Benley or Café Piccolo in Long Beach. They’re both BYO with no corkage, and four people can easily dine for less than $200. Benley is “quasi-Vietnamese” with very good food—small but nice inside. Café Piccolo, with a “less adventurous menu,” also offers a nice atmosphere, especially on the patio.

modernist recommends taking advantage of special three-course prix fixe dinners in this order: Lucques on Sunday ($40), Josie on Wednesday ($35), and JiRaffe on Monday ($35).

It’s OK to bring a bottle and pay the corkage fee. Just make sure the restaurant doesn’t already carry what you’re bringing.

gaylenwaydelich offers up Le Chef in South Gate. “Excellent and very reasonable. Full bar and nice wine selection. Six of us had apps, dinner, drinks, and bananas flambe prepared table side for under $250.00 with tip. Outstanding hidden gem, hard to find but worth it.”

Smitty’s Grill [San Gabriel Valley]

110 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena

626-792-9999

Benley [South Bay]

8191 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach

562-596-8130

Café Piccolo [South Bay]

3222 E. Broadway, Long Beach

562-438-1316

Lucques [West Hollywood]

8474 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

323-655-6277

Josie [Westside - Beaches]

2424 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica

310-581-9888

JiRaffe [Westside - Beaches]

502 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica

310-917-6671

Le Chef [South LA]

8724 Garfield Avenue, South Gate

562-776-6067

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