"... it's a short walk to the bluffs to enjoy your slice al fresco while it is still fresh from the oven."

Joe's Pizza already (very adequately) fulfills that need for me on 2nd & Broadway.

Hehehe relax... I dig you. Americanized Chinese is its own genre (which I respect). I actually think Joss and Chinois on Main are OK. I even do takeout from Joss every now & then.

My beef was with Philippe Chow, which pretended to be oh-so-authentic, but the food just plain stunk, any way you looked at it. With Mr. Chow prices.

Viewing this one with trepidation... I was burned by Philippe Chow (anyone remember that abomination?) on Melrose before.

An newer reply to an older original post:

I believe the current titleholder is Maison Giraud in Pacific Palisades.

Granada Market, Sawtelle.

+1 on Chado - Hollywood location might work for you.

Trust your first instinct: Pacific Dining Car

The gestalt is the thing....

+1 on Sunny Grill. Best gyro I've had so far in L.A.

Wow, it seems a downhill slide is in progress...

Pann's

Hilarious!

8-clap!

Oh no! Oh where will we go for Italian food in Brentwood now?! :-P

OP reporting back.

We went to Messhall in a Saturday. I didn't realize until we pulled up to park that this space used to house Louise's Trattoria. The patio was happenin' (and near capacity), but we parents wanted a bigger table in the dining room instead, and there were plenty of those available.

The staff was very courteous and understanding of our 3 Chowpups in tow. Lots of napkins, water refills, prompt order-taking. Kudos.

The food: I tried the chicken & waffles, which was OK. My friend's steak & eggs were cooked to order, and decent tasting.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

Huntington calls will get the OP routed to the 110-N. Best bet for the SGV is to say Garfield Hospital... :-P

Either that, or everyone in the graduation party (yes, grandma too) rent a motorcycle and have a lane-splitting party. Just make sure you're all insured.

If you go to Calif. Roll Factory, go visit Mike, the owner of the video store next door. He's awesome.

Absolutely kosher to ask about them crazy rolls, kevin!

Hamasaku is the textbook answer, but the guys at The Room Sushi (old Ratata space on Westwood Blvd, just south of Santa Monica Blvd.) have quite the killer roll assortment.

They just opened, so they're aiming to please.

BRUINS!

... only when Sergio is cooking.

Did someone say Monte Cristo sandwiches?!

:-O

That would make food journalism too easy now, wouldn't it? :-)

That is the best burger bun in the city.

Also, the Peking duck wrapper needs to be thinner. I'm more used to the thin tortilla-esque wrapper in Asia (like the ones they use for that oh-so-authentic Americanized moo shu pork), but in L.A. most Peking ducks I've seen have been served with the thick, mantou-esque bread (Momofuku-style).

Didn't many of us come to Chowhound to escape the likes of Zagat & Yelp?!

I actually agree with the apps, sides, & desserts being good, but MAN! Have they screwed up my steaks in the past!

Or was is Manet?

In a rare disagreement with ipse, methinks not so highly of Capital Grille. In fact, my experience with them was so subpar that I now refer to them as Capital Punishment Grille, relegated to the level of Denny's for steak - Wait, I take that back: I actually do go back to Denny's every now and then.

Just curious: CUT has the glitz element (albeit no respect for the steak itself IMHO), but I get why most people would place it at "Tier 1". But what makes Wolfgangs a "Tier 1" in your book? Peter Luger nostalgia? (Mind you, I DO enjoy Wolfgangs magnificent porterhouse, but overall the experience is no better than, say, at Mastro's.)

Hop Woo (Olympic & Sepulveda), or Hop Li (on Santa Monica Blvd., same plaza as Kotoya Ramen)