Cooper100's Profile
Comme Ca or Osteria Mozza
I just don't understand the vehement reactions to EITHER Mozza or Comme Ca - they're both fantastic. I don't think most of you have eaten enough bad food to realize how good these restaurants are, for Los Angeles - I've been them all MANY times and yes, there are always issues - but honestly - it doesn't get much better in town. And you can hardly compare one of these casual restaurants to something high end. Campanile was my favorite restaurants for many, many years and the last time we ate there, was... well the last time we'll eat there. Nancy Silverton's SHEER MAGIC has moved over and up a bit, to Highland and Melrose. And David Meyers is clever, classy and has a lot of taste and talent - are these restaurants loud? They're BISTROS, they'd be criticized if they WEREN'T loud... Comme Ca is gorgeously cramped and tight, it's bustling, it's exciting - Nancy Silverton's pizza is stuff dreams are made of. Really, people - these are both (or 3, if you count Osteria) superior restaurants for what we have to choose from. If you disagree, zip over to BLD, Campanile or Hatfields - those places really miss. (uh oh, now I've opened a can o' worms, haven't I?)
My Evening at Comme Ca
David Myers got it right, so right with Comme Ca. We felt like we were in Paris again. And Irene Verbila (sp) got her review right too. This could easily become my new hangout. Super nice service, choice of tables, busy but not swamped, gorgeous interior in a totally understated way, nice crowd.
We ordered some of what the Times discussed, the Moule Frites, etc. Also a special cheese soup made with blue and Gruyere cheeses and bacon with toasted baguette and pickled vegetables. I had steak tartare, not the finest but very good and well-seasoned. Martinis in terrific little glasses and perfect olives. Mains were Beef Stroganoff, very good and plenty of it. Sole Meuniere (another recommendation) was wonderful as was the Duck leg Confit. Great desserts, two different cakes, and a wonderful cheese plate I chose myself at the cheese bar up front.
I like Sona very much, so I'm a fan of David Myers (and Michelle too). But you sort of have to "commit" yourself to Sona, it's an event and you have to be up for it. Comme Ca is just a FANTASTIC neighborhood french bistro in Los Angeles. I'm SO excited it's there. Can't wait to go back!!!
My Evening at Simon LA
Re: the crab salad either we have different tastes or there is no uniformity in the kitchen; I suspect the latter. You're right on that doughnut thing, I was trying to be kind, you "went there" and you're right, it was vile. I'm no fan of Red Velvet ANYTHING, and this certainly didn't change my opinion. And I agree on the Red Thai Curry, v. average. And I think a B+ is more than generous.
My Evening at Simon LA
We went last night, had a party to go to at 10, so we decided to have dinner there before. I tried to get an 8pm reservation on Monday, they said, "just come in - we'll find something for you"... well, what they found was this odd long, low plank table in the center of the restaurant they called "the chef's table"... it was more like the Children's Table, and was really uncomfortable. Low, sat on upholstered stools with no back. We waited 20 minutes before anyone arrived to take drinks orders - Luckily the evening improved from there. There were lots of apologies and the service was fine. The food was actually very good. We had no intention of ordering off the DineLA menu, but after looking at the standard menu, the DineLA menu was more appealing.
Starters were a Crab salad - DELICIOUS and a Yellowtail Carpaccio, also good. The mains were braised short ribs which were great and a huge portion, and I had Red Thai Chicken Curry which was very good, if standard curry. Desserts were little red velvet cupcakes, so so and a doughnut bread pudding which was AWFUL. The little touch at the end was some fresh, fun cotton candy! Nice fun touch.
Would I go back? Nope. Just not special enough. Fine but not good enough in this town where excellent restaurants have FINALLY arrived.
Hollywood/Highland
You can try 25 DEGREES and DAKOTA, both walking distance and both decent. Hollywood and Highland is ALL that's wrong with gentrification.... there is NOTHING there for anyone who lives in the neighborhood (like us). Vert was passable, barely... and now that's gone...
Providence vs. Patina
I've eaten at Providence and Patina once each. I will never go back to Providence and I dream of the Cote de Boeuf for two at Patina constantly. Providence almost gassed us outside on the "patio" by turning on the heaters and not lighting them, they got 3 dishes wrong on the Chef's menu, the waiter was a dingbat, and instead of my Jeep Grand Cherokee, the valet guys brought me a Range Rover (an attempt to make up for the bad food?). The food was only okay, several dishes were off.
Patina was perfect. Service, atmosphere, food, knowledge, the sommelier paired different glasses with different courses flawlessly, the cheese cart and cheese was lovely, the beef was superb, everything was outstanding.
I've read most of these posts on this issue, and so many have had so many different experiences, sounds like BOTH restaurants have bad nights and of course, good ones. But bad nights at these prices are unacceptable - and BOTH should work it out.
Josie or Grace
I find the layout at Josie to be rotten. You step in and you are ON TOP of diners, the kitchen and the hostess station at once! Then they send you alllll the way back past all the diners to this lovely little room to wait for your table, then alllll the way back into the dining room - the best room in the place is the back - but that's the bar area... the location is also odd - it could be a Dry Cleaners from the look of the outside of the place. THAT SAID - the food is very good and the service is as well - they should flip the rooms, though - that first impression at the front ruined it for me.
Best Burger in LA
Here are three I like, all in Hollywood. The Hungry Cat makes a great "upscale" version on an English muffin. Flaming Patty's on Melrose and Vine, very nice old-school version and my most-frequented... The All American Burger on Sunset, between La Brea and Fairfax - all VERY GOOD, so much so, I'm about to get in my car! Curses to this Burger topic, it never ceases to make one crave a burger.
The Ivy?
I'm new to Chowhound so forgive me if I'm repeating old topics, but what is the deal with the Ivy? Does anyone really like the food there? The portions are STUPID big, the food is just so so - and yet it thrives - packed and the stars, the stars that go over and over... Am I missing something? Signed, (poisoned) Ivy.
Where can I take my foodie fling visiting from SF for a romantic gourmet dinner?
I've heard Cafe Delfini is AMAZING - good to know that others are recommending!
sweet lady jane- incredibly rude!
i've actually seen the owner yell and reprimand staff in front of customers, on several occasions, so this news does not surprise me at all. Conversely, my friend says they makes the best Cherry Pie on earth, so we'll be sweet and maybe "Jane" will follow suit... has she used up all her sugar in her pastries, I wonder?
