tarnmoor's Profile
Looking for dinner near--Studio City this Friday
Not anywhere as good as chef Laszlo's former location at Hortobagy on Ventura near Vineland.
Jersey Mike's Subs - Bev Hills
Shredded lettuce -- Yuck! I ate at the new one in Westwood. Won't go back.
Anything new around Hollywood and Highland in past year?
I think you'd better unpencil Musso & Frank: The last several meals I've had there were wretched.
LOKKING FOR THE BEST HANDMADE TAMALES IN L.A.
Bertha's Tamales on Saturdays at the Santa Monica farmers market at Pico and Cloverfield has great pork tamales. It's my favorite breakfast, slathered with lots of hot sauce. OK, so I'm a Visigoth!
Canter's - what happened?
I have to agree with PayOrPlay. Although I still like the pastrami there, I absolutely love the fruit cup -- probably one of their signature dishes. Worth trying to get the taste of all that salt down a ways.
Where to find cheap groceries in West LA?
Try Star Market on Santa Monica Blvd just west of Bundy. The flatbreads are fresh and cheap, though the produce is occasionally a little tired. Good selection of tea, Persian sweets, and canned goods.
Soup Weather
Elena's Greek & Armenian Restaurant in Glendale (corner of Glendale Blvd & Acacia) has a lentil soup to kill for. Closed on Sundays.
I Want Fries, the Sweet Potato Kind
The Cafe 50s on Santa Monica Blvd near Barrington has excellent sweet potato fries.
Brown Rice in Thai Town?
Toi on Wilshire in Santa Monica (around 12th St) also has it.
Yummy Thai Food in Surrounding Downtown Area
Salla (aka Sala) Thai on Alpine Street in the heart of Chinatown just east of Broadway is tiny and friendly. It's in one of those micromalls and usually has a stand selling fried bananas out front.
Pizza - Reykjavik, Iceland
I've actually been there and had their Vesuvius Pizza, which is made up to look like a volcano with sauce in the "crater." I remember it as being pretty good. I also rather liked the Pizza 67 chain throughout Iceland. If a country makes good bread and good cheese, good pizza can't be far behind.
overrated/over hyped?
Old is OK providing they keep up their standards. I've had some pretty disgusting stuff at Musso & Franks, sufficient to make me direct my steps to Miceli's or Famima! instead. Do not ever order their fried onion rings -- truly dégoulasse!
Help me round out my Santa Monica suggestions
You're thinking, I believe, of El Texate, a Oaxacan restaurant across Pico from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Excellent chile rellenos, barbacoa, and chicken & veg soup.
guelaguetza or Monte Alban?
Also, consider El Texate in Santa Monica on Pico just west of 4th Street, near Vidiots. Not well known, but I've had a lot of good meals there. My wife loves the chicken and veggie soup with avocados, and I go for the chile rellenos and Oaxacan dishes (except for mole: I had the mole from hell in Oaxaca, Mexico once, and it made me swear off the stuff).
Little Tokyo, or Chinatown
There's a nice little Thai (?!) place on Alpine Street near Broadway called Sala Thai. It's family-run and feels like you've just walked into a little place in Bangkok. Prices are reasonable and quality is excellent. I'm very partial to their spicy squid and fish filet dishes.
Chowhound Lost in West Los Angeles
The Santa Monica Oaxacan restaurant is called El Texate on the south side of Pico just west of 4th Street. Excellent chicken soup with avocados and other vegs, goat meat, chile rellenos, and other specialties of the area. Also a bar on the premises.
Greek Festival in the SF Valley this weekend?
We've been going for the last several years. I think the food is good and the pastries are truly excellent. Park in the residential streets south of Plummer and walk up the hill. Be sure to take the church tour.
