travelingmansoul's Profile
3 days in LA - can anyone suggest a Chowhound Tour?
for high end:
Providence
Valentino
if you really got bucks, Urusawa
bazaar
all driving distance from Santa Monica. Also, like jiraffe and joe's (in venice)
blair's in silverlake is usually always good
asenebo in studio city - awesome sushi...i'd add sushi zo too on westside to avoid drive
for casual:
mariscos chente
nanbankan (WLA)
orris - japanese/french/cal fusion
for ethnic: i'd take advice of chowhounders for SGV - still need to make a trip out there but it's a long, long drive from westside
in LA, mexican and thai is an experience - oaxacan - chitzen itza near DT or monte alban in WLA....I'm no expert in thai food so take advice from site. i go to casual places but nothing transcendal for thai
i've always been partial to lebanese and enjoy carousel in hollywood...you'll be stuffed but great food
Best Indian Food in or near Santa Monica
Bombay Cafe - it's decent; good. not the best Indian in the world but ok. Being half-indian, i'm picky - not like my mom's food.
Samosa House on washington is ok....
Nawab is decent too.
The Edison Downtown
Edison is great.
Excellent cocktails.
Lots of fun
Guys have to wear dress shoes - no sneakers.
Inexpensive Sushi Near Westwood
go down sawtelle
kiriko is great. gets pricey though.
hide is good too and less pricey.
sasabune on wilshire is very good too.
New in downtown L.A.
I second Bottega Louie. Very good.
i've been more to silverlake area - Blair's is great as is Canele in Atwater Village. This is about 10 mins from DT.
I know the bars DT - edison and bar 107 - tons of fun.
Best Breakfast in LA?
Blue Plate in Santa Monica
Also, in samo - huckleberry
john o'groats on pico is good
literati on wilshire is good
cafe montana is good
cafe 50s is decent....
Hole-in-the-wall Indian closest to Santa Monica?
in culver city, india sweets and spices on venice. annupurna is on venice too.
samosa house fits your bill too
chadni (sp?) on wilshire in Samo is good veg..not upscale but not total hole in wall
in WLA, there is a place in a strip mall - same mall as kinkos and an asian pho place....don't know name
Boho - Gone downhill?
Sorry to hear about bad experience.
I was there over a mos ago and it was quiet and service was good. food was ok. beers rock!
Beat my street: best food within 2 miles of your house.
I'm in WLA so I've got everything that JL put on his/her list - great picks JL!
Nook, Nanbankan, Kiriko, Orris, Bar Hayama, Il Grano, Darya, Javan, Shamshiri, Zankou, Monte Alban are my main favs on list..some others are good but these ones here are fav WLA spots
I'd add to list (if within 2 miles)
Valentino
Il Moro
Chunk King (ok, average)
I think Westside Tavern is only 2 miles.
Pecorino in brentwood is about same.
Banderas - decent salmon and great old fashioned cocktails
i'm likely missing more,
Decent Mexican food between LAX and Culver City, open past 10.
Paco's on Manchester would be a good option - I've been to the Pacos on Centinela much more which is decent. I like it. great margaritas!
La Cabana on venice would be good too.
Best Sushi in Santa Monica???
WLA has good sushi - close to SM so I'd opt for that
Kiriko on Sawtelle (Bar Hayama has decent sushi - amazing sake selection as well)
Sasabuni on Wilshire
Echigo is good as is Mori Sushi. Not been to the Hump in aeons. very good too.
Hide on Sawtelle is good and reasonable - I'd opt for Kiriko though if you're that part of town
Looking for a great vegan restaurant...
Vinh Loi Tofu in Reseda is really good
Real Food Daily is good too....Santa Monica
Nook has a nice tofu bowl dish in WLA
Leaf in Culver CIty - raw but good
avoid Julianos Raw on Broadway - in Santa Monica - overpriced; ok tasting for vegan and pretensious...average to poor servcie also
BEST CASUAL CUBAN RESTAURANT???
versaille is decent...
in manhattan beach, there is a decent one but the name escapes me....it may be havana mania.....
Burgers on Westside
Nook - WLA
Father's Office - either Culver City or SM - limited though of course
In/Out - Westwood
My wife really loves Apple Pan on Pico
I was at Westside Tavern and they may have a burger - not sure...their lamb french dip was really good...
Literati II (not the cafe) - impressive burger...
For W Hollywood - Animal, Ketchup & Comme Ca get really good reviews. I ate at Comme Ca but not burger...
Wife's birthday dinner in a beachside restaurant
casa del mar is nice
if you want a few blocks, go to michaels
or the huntley - food is ok but view is killer
sunset in zuma beach is a long drive but pretty if you get there as sun is setting...
Pairing Spirits w/ Cigars
for me, depends on time of day as well
if afternoon - mint julep or a mint lemonade/bourbon drink with a romeo y julieta is nice
single malts (i like oban and macallan 18) with a nice cuban - monte cristos are always cool
What restaurant dish if you have to eat it for 30 days straight...GO
i'd not look forward to gaining like 40 lbs in 30 days but if I could eat one meal, same one for 30 days....
lamb chops with the garlic at nanbankan
king crab at orris....
calamar steak at paco's on centinela
nook burger
Poll: What restaurants do you eat in most often?
Westside:
Nanbankan
Orris
Kiriko
Il Moro
Versailles
Zankou
Hide
Javan
Shamshiri
Silverlake/DT/East
Blairs
Carousel
Cobras & Matadors
Lou
Wahoos/Fish Grill/
Westside - Good take-out?
for take-out, there are incredible options
Il Moro - get the bar menu food and it' won't be too expensive
other places for take-out:
La Botega - italian on santa monica
Monte Alban - oaxacan/mexican
Even Nook does take out
Chan Dara is ok.
Shamshiri -- persian is great and enjoy the takout. I like Javan also.
New restaurants in West LA?
In last 6 mos:
Anisette is really good - Santa Monica
Westside Tavern on Pico - westside pavillion - great cocktails and good food.
Tavern is new in brentwood - got mixed reviews. Haven't been yet but nice drink menu
I don't recall but been to Bar Hayama but that may be 1 year...I can't recall when it opened..maybe longer than year but it's good too..
Shamshiri Grill Westwood
I enjoy Shamshiri...live closeby and like the dishes there...
You should bring wine you like. they have some simple wines there
with the lamb, I like it with a syrah - or a spanish wine (tempranillo)
with lamb shank, i dig it with a malbec - trivento is fine;
with the chicken, the chardonay would be fine
Favorite Beer Bar Ever?
i forgot - other room in venice is good as is library alehouse. the latter rocks!
Favorite Beer Bar Ever?
For SF, yes, Toronado rocks.
For LA, naja's place; york is good too...lucky baldwins is excellent
I need to check out O'Brians in SD. I enjoy visiting there
For Toronto, Volo is good but there's also brewpub (brewhaus? - its near Jamie Kennedy's wine bar down near front street)
I've enjoyed beer in other cities but can't say I found a great beer bar - some good bars with good beers.
Pico Robertson Area..any local bars/ taverns?
westside tavern at pico/westwood (westside pavillion) - really good food and great cocktails - - gets busy though
village idiot is really good. not far from pico/robertson area
i also second 3rd Stop..
culver city has some great places - quick drive there...bottlerock (small bites and great wine/beer selection); Akasha is more restaurant but very cool
Your favorite "South Beach Diet" dining options in L.A. - all price ranges
yakitori may be a good option
nanbankan in WLA is awesome even if you're not on diet but you'll get meats and the veggies you're looking for - grilled to perfection
you need to be careful with vegan places as they use wheat gluten a lot.
With that noted, leaf cuisine would be decent too (I go to the one in Culver City)
i agree with Shamshiri grill but only caveat is that persian food is so rice-heavy.
Searching for the real Dover Sole.
any suggestions for dover sole on westside?
I had some while ago at Zin Americano Bistro in Westlake (near a meeting) and it was quite good - very nice food there...
Best Duck Confit in LA?
In last year, these have been my tops for duck confit:
Michael's in Santa Monica
Tasca on 3rd Street
Church & State
Lily's in Venice (not as good as others for duck but the other items were good french fare -it's not melisse but good and affordable)
Best Upscale Burger
On the occassions I indulge:
Nook - good burger in WLA
Houston's i recall had a good burger
Father's Office gets its raves...
Casual-ish westside locale for party
For 30-40, wow, that may be challenge...
alibi room has the kogi food but it's good...get there earlier - on washington - culver city
il moro - bar area is also good - big enough for 30 ppl - WLA off olympic - italian food
backstage in culver city also is fun...big enough and talk to owner - maybe able to arrange - think it's bar food
la grande orange - on main in samo - see if you can enough space since it gets crowded
LAX to Santa Barbara recommendations
if you can wait until SB, I'd suggest something that won't blow away most foodies but it's good fresh seafood and healthy portions; view of marina - Brophy Bros on the marina in SB. It's on the scenic road (not sure the name but everyone knows the place) - pre
if you're driving up, and in malibu, there's sunset restaurant at zuma beach. Brunch is decent and it's got a killer view being right on beach... Decent drinks - average service but not a bad experience - romantic vibe with the view
if you up the drinks, it'll go beyond $40 but otherwise, it'll be close to that
there are decent brunch places in malibu....
