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farmertomato's Profile

How about suggesting some quieter restaurants?

Thanks. Some of these we've never visited, perhaps assuming they were trendy/loud. Others we know. I wonder about less pricey choices. Does 'casual' mean 100db+?

How about suggesting some quieter restaurants?

I read the thread below and agree with the posters who are put off by high sound levels. When we go to dinner, we like to have a bit of conversation, and I agree that many restaurants program horrendous music.

After an otherwise fine meal at Little Dom's the other night, we started looking for gentler dining. Unfortunately, quieter restaurants are usually either far more expensive or, worse, in the last stage before shuttering. So we're seeking some tasty destinations which lack the auditory abuse up with which we are no longer willing to put. (Didn't want to end my proposition with a preposition.)

For starters, I'll nominate Dish on Foothill Blvd in La Canada. Another plus there is that the tables are farther apart than is the norm in LA (and certainly in NY), and the food is delicious and not outrageously expensive.

I'd love to have a long list to choose from. Share yours.

Oh, Campanile - what happened?

We took a couple for a birthday dinner recently. It was tastier than you suggest, but exceptionally salty as you noted. Very expensive, and I concluded it would be more cost-effective to install a salt lick in the back yard, where the animals could enjoy it, too.

Jersey-style Italian Hero (AKA Sub)

I'm thrilled to see Jersey Mike's getting some love here. I know it's a chain, but their cheese steak is my favorite on this coast. And their subs are damned fine too. I went to the one in Tarzana the other day, and was totally happy. There's also one in Burbank, near Ikea.

Sushi Nozawa Closing!

Yes, I wonder if Katsu decided to retire. I believe he had some health issues, and the Beverly Hills fiasco might have bummed him out enough to call it quits. I hope that's not true--he was truly the best sushi chef in LA.

Sushi Nozawa Closing!

The good news: this will raise the average quality of Studio City sushi.
The bad news: he'll still be out there buying funky-quality fish.

Longing for Katsu.

Oxnard/Ventura area restaurant gift card

I'm looking for a restaurant in the Oxnard/Ventura area for which I can buy a gift card on line. Any Suggestion?

Is Iroha (Studio City) still open?

Thanks--I called all day Friday and at 6:30 pm nobody was answering--I let it ring forever--and I figured if they weren't open on a Friday night it might be Shuttersville. I'll try today.

Is Iroha (Studio City) still open?

I haven't been there for a while and there's no answer on their phone today. Have they shuttered? We were hoping to get sushi takeout for tomorrow night. Any suggestions for a good alternative?

Most Divisive Restaurants?

If Tito's Tacos is on the list, then I'd want to add Henry's Tacos. I actually kind like Henry's, but that may be a matter of proximity.

Most Divisive Restaurants?

Have to add Boneyard Bistro to the list. I'm always astonished when someone actually likes it.

Is there a name for this style of feeding oneself?

For at least 40 years, I've heard this issue described as "combinationist vs. non-combinationist." I suppose nobody used the term "separationist," since that would imply you were eating Basque food. An extreme non-combinationist would make sure that the separate food items did not touch each other on the plate, lest there be a drop of gravy on a kernel of corn. And an extreme combinationist might, in some cases, stir up all the items on the plate into a de facto casserole, sometimes a frightening sight.

I scanned this thread to see if those terms had appeared and was surprised that they hadn't. That's how I've always heard it described and assumed everyone used those terms.

Me? I'd call myself a semi-combinationist. Some dishes cry out to be united, others repel one another, and I let the food decide which way it wants to go.

Dacquoise

Long ago, the pastry chef at the Parkway Grill in Pasadena had a superb lemon dacquoise on the menu, and I had it whenever I was there. Later on, that chef was gone, as was the dacquoise, and I began searching for something similar. I was sent to a bakery in Pasadena, but struck out there. That was several years ago, so perhaps somebody has figured it out, I'd love to hear of a good source.

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Parkway Grill
510 South Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105

Villetta

I'll add to the kudos. We went a couple of weeks ago--no reservations avaiable, so we sat at the bar and had a wonderful time and a terrific meal. Salads were tops and the pizza is majestic.

Gastropubs in LA - maybe it's time to start a list?

I would advise against using the term 'gastropub' to any visiting Brit. In London, the gastropub thing is so over that it would be akin to suggesting a 'cool discoteque.'

Sherman Oaks Question

To call Boneyard Bistro anything resembling "the best Sherman Oaks has to offer" is so wrong that I must reluctantly point out that almost anyplace on Ventura Boulevard will give you better food and better service than that sorry, ludicrously overpriced establishment. If you just want a beer, Boneyard would be fine, but if you're planning to have dinner, stick with any of the other restaurants mentioned here and you'll be much happier.

Why do I see posts dated tomorrow?

I'm seeing posts dated Wednesday and it's still Tuesday. I suspect this has something to do with my having logged on from Australia a while back, but it's odd to see it continuing. How do I get Chowhound back from the future?

RIP: Dish Bistro (Pasadena)

Whoa! Had me scared there—thought this referred to the far superior Dish Restaurant in La Canada! Wouldn't want to lose that one,

German potato salad?

I really miss the old Atlas Sausage Company, late of Burbank Blvd in North Hollywood. I was particularly fond of their tangy German potato salad and would love to find something similar somewhere in the valley. Any suggestions?

Looking for dinner near--Studio City this Friday

Loteria Grill is excellent. Interesting menu, everything well prepared. Boneyard Bistro is distressingly mediocre and way overpriced. I would never recommend it to anyone.

Does anyone have the New Potato, Leek, Asparagus Soup recipe from Gourmet Magazine, 1990s?!

Don't have it, but I'll be watching for informed replies. Sounds like a soup that would be right in my wheelhouse.

Xiomara on Melrose

Wow, Xiomara used to be a wonderful place for ambitious Cuban dishes. The current menu sounds absolutely pedestrian, same old same old. I can't see any reason to go there now. Very sad when one of our better restaurants has to dumb down its menu in order to compete. I remember when a similar thing happened at the Crocodile Cantina in Glendale. Back then, our server said that Glendale wouldn't accept their interesting dishes. Sounds like Hollywood is the same way.

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Xiomara
6101 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Manny's bistro, anywhere like it? in LA?

Well, there's a Manny's Burgers and Tacos at Woodman and Moorpark in the valley, but unless the name is enough, you might be disappointed.

Top 5 Sushi L.A.- I know it's been done, but this is 2010!

Please, anyone: don't believe the above comment about Nozawa. Bad fish, badly cut, badly served, badly priced. Easily the worst.

Horrible food & drinks at The Ivy

There are always a number of photographers lurking across the street from the Ivy. I think it's so they'll be able to get pix of celebrities being wheeled out to the ambulance after consuming the food there.

Does anyone know where Katsu of Tama Sushi (Not Katsu-ya) landed?

We went to the Beverly Drive location shortly before it closed. The street was torn up and there were only a few of us in there. I hoped he could hold out until the construction was finished, so when we heard he had closed it we were crushed. I keep hoping that someone will point out someplace promising to fill the void, but after making the rounds in Studio City, we're not encouraged.

Does anyone know where Katsu of Tama Sushi (Not Katsu-ya) landed?

Please note that Chowhound added the address of the unrelated Katsu in Manhattan Beach, not me. I wanted to make it clear to anyone who might find it on a Google search that the beach joint was NOT connected in ANY way to our dear Katsu. It was confusing enough when Tama was a block away from Katsu-ya on Ventura Blvd. and the friends we had sent to Tama became confused, went to the wrong place and were sorely disappointed.

Does anyone know where Katsu of Tama Sushi (Not Katsu-ya) landed?

I've been searching for a new location for Katsu since the Beverly Drive spot closed. We always felt honored to patronize him and have yet to find a go-to choice. He always seemed to find the best fish in the market, leaving the dregs for Nozawa and the other pretenders, and watching him at work with the knife was the best show in town. A great man, and I hope he returns soon. The Katsu in Manhattan Beach is no relation. I'll certainly watch this thread in hopes that somebody comes up with something.

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Katsu
306 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Chili con queso...only different.

Sadly, New Mexico-style food is not to be found in LA. Green Chile Stew in LA? Fuggedaboudit. I sent an inquiry to Jonathan Gold once, and he mentioned a place in Santa Barbara (don't have the name handy) in his reply, but we haven't fought our way through the traffic to get there yet. It might be easier to drive to Santa Fe in order to get a decent meal, but we'll give it a shot.

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Santa Fe Cafe
353 N Pass Ave Ste B, Burbank, CA 91505

Omega Cafe, Moorpark at Fulton--WTF?

I've observed the signage for this place, but haven't had the courage to go in. There's one door and no windows. It's on the spot that was (long ago) the original DiMattia's. It was a Russian place for a while. Frankly, it looks like something akin to the "Mediterranean" joint on Riverside that was shot up a few weeks ago, and my imagination runs wild with bizarre scenarios which might result if I actually worked up the guts to walk in the door. So I'm wondering if a more courageous foodie than the Farmer has tried the place and gotten out safely with a tale to tell. There are no mentions of it on CH up to now, but it hasn't had its new sign for too long.