PayOrPlay's Profile
Not so Glad-stone's Long Beach
I am sorry that you had to endure that. A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I used to live walking distance from Gladstone's in the Palisades, and I can provide witness that there was a time when, if you ordered carefully, you could have fun and decent food there along with the view. That time is long past.
If you're at the Aquarium and want that seafood-house experience, King's Fish House is downtown, maybe 15 minutes away on foot or by shuttle bus.
Did anyone happen to go out for dim sum to celebrate Mother's Day?
Not exactly dim sum, and not for brunch, but we did end up having lots of dumplings for early dinner at Wang Xing Ji (our first time there). The place filled up pretty quickly after 5pm.
Sam Wo closing... help!!!! Where...
This news makes me feel sad, and very old. I used to eat there 30-some years ago when I was in school, and even had dinner there one night while taking the bar exam. To the best of my recollection, I sat on Eddie's floor only once--preferred the perfectly civil service you'd get if you went up one more floor. The last time I was in SF with my family, a couple of years ago, we walked by and I thought about taking them up for the experience, but we ended up elsewhere. Dang.
Izakaya a step above - The fantastic cuisine of Morinoya [REVIEW + PHOTOS]
Thanks for the early review.
It's too bad about Yashima, a place I'd named to my "been there 100 times list" back in 2010 but which had recently shown serious signs of neglect (we had to leave without eating the last time we went, because they started using some horrendously acrid cleaning solution on the tables that made it impossible to taste the soba). Finding another convenient udon/soba specialist may be tough.
We'll go try Morinoya expeditiously, although I would also be concerned if they're really planning to operate at a high price point. But maybe that was just a function of ordering so much. Here's a link to their menu, with prices.
http://www.restaurant-morinoya.com/?page_id=318
Miyata Menji on Sawtelle
Tried Menji last night: I loved the tsukemen, which is an absolute umami bomb, and as unusual as advertised--I don't remember having tasted a sauce with quite that combination of Japanese and Italian qualities elsewhere, even at the local yoshoku places like Sawtelle Kitchen and Blue Marlin.
The tonkatsu was good, but for that I'd have to give the nod to Tsujita across the street instead.
Menji also has curry ramen, limited to 20 servings a day; I didn't see anyone ordering it while we were there.
I wonder how long a restaurant can survive on Sawtelle with only 2 -1/2 menu items?
Explorations on Brookhurst: Xanh, Fountain Valley
Very sorry to report that Xanh Bistro is closing "soon"--as soon as the end of this month, according to the staff on duty when we dropped in for lunch on Saturday (chef Haley wasn't there). Our meal was excellent as always: since we discovered Xanh from this thread four years ago, it had become our favorite Orange County restaurant.
We're told that they'll be looking for a new location and a March OC Weekly article says likewise. But in the meantime, if you haven't been in a while, or ever, now is your last chance, for the time being.
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/2012/03/xanh_bistro_fountain_valley.php
Finally made it to A-Won. Great korean sushi if you're careful.
We go to A-Won frequently, and always order the hwe dup bap and al bap. The hwe dup bap is more about volume than finesse, but the dressing is indeed excellent. I'm sure there's better al bap somewhere, but not really sure where, since the lamented demise of Odae-san as a sashimi specialist: Arado's has seemed more or less the same as A-Won's. As you say, the panchan is nothing to get excited about.
2 other good things we often order at A-Won: grilled eel, piled high with sweet hot ginger; and the fish cake soup, as simple and soothing in its impact as matzo ball soup, only with mystery fish and tofu skin instead of chicken fat.
PERFECT SUSHI West Los Angeles SUSHIZO
Yes, that's Niki Nakayama at n/naka, 3455 S. Overland. She used to have Azami Sushi on Melrose.
By reservation only. http://www.n-naka.com/
Dolce Isola [aka The Ivy at a third of the cost]
Yikes! Have they stopped serving it, or did that just appear to be an aberration?
Lunch for 40 after Bob Baker Marionettes show downtown?
Not quite sure about that price point, but La Parrilla at 1300 Wilshire (across from Good Samaritan Hospital) leaps to mind.
Or, La Golondrina on Olvera Street.
Or even the Grand Central Market, where you'd certainly meet the price, although that would be more in the nature of an adventure than a sit-down meal.
Dolce Isola [aka The Ivy at a third of the cost]
Yes, this place is a nice surprise. Hard to find unless you're looking carefully in the block just north of Hamilton. The gelato (of the soft & creamy type) is also very good.
LA Convention Center: Dinner for 40 doctors?
My wife is organizing a sit down dinner for 25 – 40 physicians in connection with a meeting being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in November. She is looking for a place that has a private room and is priced reasonably enough so as not to break the coffers of the host, a charitable organization.
Any suggestions? It must be easy walking distance from the Convention Center.
Most Kid Un-Friendly Restaurants In LA.
I concur about Cut: I don't see it as particularly kid-unfriendly (within the universe of fine LA restaurants) other than because of the cost. In fact, its hotel location means that if the meal gets slow, bored kids--and their bored parents!--have somewhere interesting to walk around between courses.
Most Kid Un-Friendly Restaurants In LA.
Just before I saw this thread (and the LAWeekly article) we had committed to a dinner at Providence including our 9-year-old, along with my mother-in-law. This thread produced a bit of trepidation, but we went ahead with the dinner and all was fine.
We went early, our son was on his best behavior, and we ordered from the menu, which probably sped things up a bit--and (after a puzzlingly slow start to the evening, in which it took them 20+ minutes to get drinks to the table) the meal was outstanding, perhaps even more satisfying than the last time Mrs PoP and I went there together and ordered the tasting menu! (The kitchen still sent out several amuses so the evening retained some of the "surprise" of a tasting menu, without overwhelming the smallish appetites of our son and my MIL). Nor, at least on this Sunday evening, was the restaurant particularly quiet (as the LAWeekly article suggested); in fact, the background music was a bit on the loud side!
I would not go far as to call Providence "kid-friendly" or suggest that anyone start throwing juvenile birthday parties there, but they were very nice to our son. The bartender even concocted a couple of tasty non-alcoholic drinks for him, the second of which was so unusual and tasty that several of our adults tasted it and then ordered their own, and PoP Jr. came up with a name for the drink. It also helps that PoPJr. loves seafood and is as adventurous an eater as most adults. And we were not even the only family group that evening. For the right kind of kid, and assuming one is willing to spend what it takes (for us, $115/pp, with only minimal alcohol), it need not be off-limits.
-----
Providence
5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
30 Scoops in 30 Days
Another add to the list: This week we finally found Dolce Isola (on South Robertson, in the block north of Hamilton High School), and were quite taken with their gelato. It was served a bit warmish and thus is very soft and creamy. Best flavors we tried were vanilla bean and the candy-stick peppermint.
I agree with others that the most glaring omission from the list is Mashti Malone. Although in fairness we also go to Saffron & Rose a lot, and I am glad she included them. She didn't mention the date ice cream there, which is just fab.
Cajun-Creole in LA
The real deal is hard to find out here, as always, but we like New Orleans in Hermosa Beach, especially for the expensive, very well put together seafood gumbo. Good red beans too. Po-boys and fried things are more inconsistent: sometimes very good (with the most Leidenheimer-like bread I can remember getting in Los Angeles) and sometimes not so much (with the same uninspired bread as you usually get at Creole places out here).
http://neworleanshermosa.com/
We would also like to know about the Gagniers, if ever they turn up again.
Japanese Style Chinese Food In Los Angeles
Those items are standard offerings at traditional ramen restaurants, like Ramen-ya on Olympic in West LA. (For anyone who doesn't already know: In Japan, ramen is considered to be Chinese food, as contrasted with Japanese noodles like udon and soba.) I have a particular fondness for Ramen-ya's huge shrimp omelette, smothered in sweet-and-sour sauce and served either over rice or floating in a big bowl of ramen noodles and broth, but they also do a creditable job with the stir-fried liver and chives. (Menu: http://www.ramenya-usa.com/ramenenglish.htm)
Restaurant Venue for 100? (DTLA)
At a lower budget point, there's always Empress Pavilion or one of the other larger Chinatown restaurants. (Yes, I know it ain't the SGV.)
http://www.empresspavilion.com/banquet.htm
-----
Empress Pavilion Restaurant
988 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
*You* eat the Uncrustables, Wolfgang Puck, or some thoughts on the substandard dining options at LA's cultural institutions
There's a Counter right across the street from the Page Museum--the blandly seasoned burgers are not the greatest but not terrible either, and there's always that Apple Pie milkshake. India's Tandoori is further up the street, not too bad, and Luna Park is not too far away, also open for weekend lunch. Or it's a quick drive to the Farmers Market
I am certainly aware of the historical basis of your antipathy for Patina Group, but I do have to admit that PayOrPlay Jr. has, for all of his 9 years, loved going to Pentimento for a cheese plate and fancy non-alcoholic drink as part of a weekend museum visit. It's closed right now, we haven't tried the replacement Ray's/Stark Bar yet.
It is absolutely true that L.A. museums currently offer nothing like the excellent dining opportunities at places like the Met in NYC, the National Gallery and the Museum of the American Indian in DC (although most of the other Smithsonians have only McDonald's. so we're ahead of them, anyway!), or the Moss Room at the California Academy of Sciences. The restaurant at the Bowers in Santa Ana is not bad, although we almost always decide to skip it and head over to Little Saigon (insert plug for Xanh Bistro here) instead.
-----
Luna Park
672 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Patina Group
291 W Cerritos Ave, Anaheim, CA 92805
Petit Ermitage (West Hollywood)
I am supposed to have a business lunch next week with some folks who will be staying there; they'll have just arrived from the airport and would probably appreciate being able to eat at the hotel, if feasible. I think the restaurant is part of the rooftop bar at this boutique hotel, but I can find no solid info. The website is no help--confirms that there's a restaurant (and 24 hour room service) on site, but provides no hours, no menu, no photos. Anyone eaten there, or know someone who has? Thanks.
Petit Ermitage
8822 Cynthia Street
West Hollywood
(310) 652-3388
http://www.petitermitage.com/
Durkee's Dressing -- WLA
Found it at Gelsons Century City tonight--not only in stock, it's even on sale right now!
Durkee's Dressing -- WLA
I've seen this around although I can't swear that I've seen it recently. Here's a thread from last year:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/671477
High School Culinary Society going to Thai Town: can anyone help us?
Just to echo what Professor Salt and Sushigirlie said--when I saw your inquiry, the first thing I thought of was Bhan Kanom Thai for dessert. It's the perfect place for a bunch of high schoolers to wander in after the meal with a few bucks each to pick out different desserts. The "Thai tacos" are in particular not to be missed. http://www.bhankanomthai.com/
And, congrats on your group--great idea.
-----
Bhan Kanom Thai
5271 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Croatian Food/Restaurants in LA?
Strictly speaking, I believe Aroma is Bosnian-owned rather than Serbian.
Portuguese Restaurant (Well Sort Of)--In Chinatown?
Just to echo what Estone888 said about Natas--it's not just a bakery anymore, they have a rather extensive menu now. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/712497
Vikings-sympathetic bar with decent food near Irvine?
Despite your deeply misguided choice of team :-) , I'll help anyway: According to http://www.southerncaliforniavikingclub.com/pages/club-location.htm, the place for Vikes fans in OC is Northwood Pizza. Very little to be found on the food, though.
-----
Northwood Pizza
4960 Irvine Blvd Ste 104, Irvine, CA 92620
Mulberry Street Pizza - Yikes!
I still like their white cheese slice--gave up on everything else a long time ago. I understand some of the antipathy expressed here, but I think they do serve a purpose: is there a better place to get a cheap, very fast, walkable lunch or snack in Beverly Hills?
Review New Beverly Hills Restaurant - Momed
We've been to Momed twice now and have been fairly impressed. The salads and other standard Middle Eastern dishes are good, but there are some surprise standouts to discover on that menu. Last weekend I ordered one of the specials, a grilled trout on green couscous, and it was outstanding; the yogurt-marinated chicken was also first-rate. Interesting drink selection (PayOrPlay Jr. is infatuated with the neon-green tarragon soda) and some knockout baked goods including gigantic rosewater-flavored meringue cookies and a stunning halvah-caramel-chocolate bar that's sort of a Lebanese reworking of a Nanaimo bar.
Caveats: it can be a little chaotic, and for a place where you order at the counter and grab your drinks from a cooler, it can be a little pricier than you might expect (our two meals have run about $25-29pp, including tip and desserts to go, each time we've been) . But no complaints about the food.
Natas Malasadas
I am surprised that there are not more recent posts about the food at Natas. After having read about it here and elsewhere for a long time, we finally found ourselves in the Valley at lunchtime and decided the check it out. Until I looked at their website I was expecting a bakery with a little bit of food but the menu is much more extensive than that. We had sopa de pedra (vegetable soup, simple and outstanding), bacalhao imperial (salt cod and shrimp with vegetables in a creamy sauce--delicious but very rich and a huge portion), steamed clams in a lemon-wine sauce (very very good) and a shrimp salad (not bad, but less outstanding than the others).
We were utterly stuffed but had to try the malasadas anyway. As others have mentioned, they're fine, but don't expect anything celestial like what you get at Leonards. Honestly I preferred the queijada. I want to go back, though.
REVIEW: Rasputin International Grocery, Encino
Yes, this is a great place. We stumbled in there a couple of months ago, looking for some dessert to take home for later after stuffing ourselves on the salads at Itzhik Hagadol. It is as you describe. Maybe the deli and baked goods are not quite as refined as those at our favorite, Royal Gourmet next door to Traktir in West Hollywood, but it was all pretty swell, and that poppy seed roll is indeed wonderful.
Has anyone eaten at Red Square?
-----
Traktir
8151 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
