Thanks for this, my in laws live around the corner so we'll visit. I wonder if it's where my mother in law gets her czech dumplings?

Steel yourself for campy decor but Bubba Gump shrimp has a similar dish on the menu.

Has anyone else seen this? Empress Pavilion now has xlb. They would be fantastic except they steam them in the same litle steamers they use for everything else and the xlb all stick to each other making it impossible to pick them up without ripping and spilling them. I'd like to see them invest in the bigger steamers or if they can't do that at least spring for the little foil cups.

-----
Empress Pavilion Restaurant
988 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

I meant to give an update of all the different joints in this 7th St. alley but after two months of visits my companion and I have never veered from St. Vincnet's Deli. The Donner kabob sandwich is fantastic. We wake up on Monday mornings dreaming of it. She gets it with the pita to increase the meat to bread ratio, I go for the french bread. Load it up with pickels and pepppers and then pour on the je ne sais pas sauce. My friend has been requesting extra tomatoes, a good idea since they place the tomatoes underneath the rotisserie to pick up all the juices. I like an espresso while I wait, sometimes a tahn/doug with the sandwich. I finally ventured out and tried the Tues. "Forester" special; a stew with meat, potatoes, carrots and peas. It was great, I am planning to try the eggplant if I ever make it there on a Wed. but the sandwich is better. Spitz doesn't hold a candle to it (but the liquor license makes up for a lot). Maybe someone out there can tell me if there's anything better here. I'll let you know about the Wed. special if it's worth giving up the sandwich.

-----
St. Vincent Court
314 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Is Bob's ( in Farmer's Market) too far away?

There's a new restaurant on Honolulu in Montrose that claims to be "NY style Chinese." I haven't tried it yet. I take my NJ friends to Paul's Kitchen and they seem satisfied.

-----
Paul's Kitchen
1012 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Mama Lu's "special" pancake. Mmmm, may have to talk folks into going there on Monday...

Aha! I always thought the problem was the tequila, I'm greatly relieved. "No llores, hay mas peces en el mar."

I think your best breakfast bet is hot coffee and bagels that are in the back of the little Vons. For dinner I recommend the shredded beef tacos at Coyotes and lots of Tecate. The bloody mary on the boat over is good too, order it spicy with an extra bean.

The India Sweets and Spices on Venice sometimes makes a blistering hot samosa. Bring your own Taj Mahal and add a lot of yogurt.

The one on Foothill in La Crescenta is still open.

Sir Winston's on the Queen Mary. The service is fantastic, they'll help make it a special occasion, then have a glass of champagne in the Observation Bar. Now that you are afianced it could just be a nice, romantic place.

-----
Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Sir Winston's
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Super King on San Fernando if I need phyllo, dates or hookahs. Sunland Produce in Sun Valley for middle eastern and Mexican. Cost Plus for German cookies, Schreiner's in Montrose is ok for German but if i need to do a big shopping trip I usually hold out for Tip Top Meats (see San Diego board). The grocery store in Alpine Village has a big selection but is expensive.

-----
Sunland Produce
8840 Glenoaks Blvd, Sun Valley, CA

For picks, dividers, boxes, cutters, egg molds and that anti-bacterial paper I go to what I call the $1.49 cent store. Sorry I don't have the real name (Japanese Gift?). It is across the walk from the Hello Kitty store in Japanese Village Plaza. The Mitsuwa market has great Pokemon, Hello Kitty and brightly colored rice seasoning. Sometimes there are bento items upstairs in the housewares section. Marukai Market in Weller Court always has boxes, once I scored the "monkey with banana" dip containers and they usually have soy sauce strawberries.

-----
Marukai Market
1740 W Artesia Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247

Sur la Table and Cost Plus have silicon cupcake molds that I use for bento. Cost Plus had some different shapes, stars and maybe diamonds.

As long as everyone is over 21

This is always what I'm looking for; here's my list. The Dresden, food and music are the ha-ha! kind of entertaining. Columbo's Steak House in Eagle Rock, there is a jazz duo and sometimes other entertainment in the evenings. Over the years The Red Lion in Silverlake has had music, the days of Helmut on the accordion are sadly gone. I do go to La Luna Negra, the Flamenco guitar and dancers are much better than the food although you can't go wrong with a drink and tortilla. There's a similar Spanish place on Ventura that has Flamenco dancing on Tues nights, it seems like the food is better there. Leo's Sports Bar in La Cresenta on Honolulu has a surisingly good menu and has a guy who's good with the guitar on the week-end (although Friday is karaoke). They also had Moose Drool on tap last time I went, what'snot to like? Cafe 322 in Sierra Madre has ok Italian food and live music. Papadakis used to be the best in San Pedro, that was a complete evening.
I'd like to find good food with just some guy playing the hell our of an acoustic guitar, the Eagle Rock Fri farmer's market would be perfect for this if they only had a liquor license.

-----
Cafe 322
322 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA 91024

La Luna Negra
44 W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105

We take out of towners with teenagers to Saddle Ranch Chop House in West Hollywood. There's a menu kids like, the Sunset Blvd. scene, s'mores over the fire, the entertainment (and a lesson to them about drinking) of watching people fall off the bull. Usually someone's spotted a celeb.

-----
Saddle Ranch Chop House
8371 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

I have two kids who love dinner with a musical act. We go to Columbo's in Eagle Rock and sometimes Luna Negra in Pasadena, Cafe 360 (or something) in Sierra Madre. Anyone recommend some other spots? Food is secondary to atmosphere. Thanks

The caramel malt is awesome too. Just a malt and fries would make a great meal. On the subject of fried foods, Lucky Boy's fried zuchinni is a great side and Brit's does a great fish and chips.

If you can swing an invite to the Magic Castle, sushi and cocktails here and dinner at the castle and you have a beautiful night.

Roscoe's?

Dusty's in Silverlake has my favorite savory mushroom crepe.

Sunland Produce has a lot. 8840 Glenoaks, Sunvalley

-----
Sunland Produce
8840 Glenoaks Blvd, Sun Valley, CA

Great doughnuts

Orange nacho-cheese nachos at Carnitas Michoacan

No time to rest, Max. We need to prepare to "collect data" for the 2010 list.

Clancy's in Glendale has the best soup base for their cioppino. It could use a couple more crab legs in it - I have been thinking of sneaking some in my jacket pocket to supplement.

Damon's is doing a Christmas prime rib to go.

Spoon - the Brazilian place is close, also nearby is the Angelique Cafe (840 S. Spring). Pete's is on that side of downtown, I'm never happy with the parking situation around there but figure your $15/day juror pay well-spent. St. Vincent's court is worth exploring.