Hackenbush's Profile
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
I went to the new Five Guys on Wilshire on Friday afternoon. Great burger and the best french fries I've had in years. There was a minor glitch in my order causing me to have to wait a bit longer than I should have but the staff was so apologetic, I couldn't complain.
I don't get the price comparisons here to smaller burgers. I also like that Five Guys gives you so many choices of toppings (including sauteed mushrooms) at no extra charge.
Seeking Great Party Place
Okay, I'm looking for either a great restaurant that can host a party for around 100 people or a hall that can be rented for this purpose and then catering can be brought in.
A Saturday evening.
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Culver City, Studio City, Sherman Oaks.
Italian food or Chinese or American.
It would be nice if it had a piano and some sort of sound system for speeches.
Anyone have a nomination?
New Wave for Gladstones??
I second your recommendation of Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. A great, fun place to eat. Best clam chowder in town and everything else is good. Just don't show up there without a reservation on the weekend.
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Paradise Cove Beach Cafe
28128 Pacific Coast Hwy Frnt, Malibu, CA 90265
Best Steakhouse in L.A?
I was disappointed with Cut the one time I went there. Maybe we got an outlier. That happens at all restaurants.
I would rate the steak at Wolfgang's and Mastro's about the same but I much preferred the side dishes at Wolfgang's (especially the German fried potatoes) and the atmosphere. The times I've been to Mastro's, it's been too noisy and we had to wait and the tables were too crammed together. We really felt a sense of having to eat and get out.
So I would definitely vote for Wolfgang's. I don't think I'll ever go back to Mastro's because I can't think of a single reason why I should.
Taylor's down in Koreatown is good for what it is, which is a cheaper steak that doesn't try to be the greatest thing you ever tasted. I'm not knocking it but when I go there, I'm more inclined to have some kind of fish.
The steaks at Musso-Frank's are very good. I'm usually tempted by other things on their menu but whenever I've had a steak there, I've enjoyed it. Get it with their thick french fries (they have two kinds, steak fries and skinny ones) and tell them you want the fries well done. Musso-Frank's, by the way, recently redesigned its menu and took off a few signature items.
But if money is no object, I pick Wolfgang's.
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Mastros Restaurant
2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Best Beef Dip Style Sandwich in Los Angeles (Long-ish)
I'm another one who likes Phillipe's sandwiches. I prefer their lamb to their beef but when I've had the beef, I always enjoy it.
The sandwich at Houston's is quite good but whenever I'm there, I'd rather have their ribs.
Someone mentioned the sandwich at Tam O'Shanter. It's good and you can get the same thing at any of the Lawry's Carvery stands in food courts,
At Canter's, the brisket dip is quite wonderful.
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Lawry's Carvery
3333 Bristol St Ste 2601, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Fried Shrimp
Amazingly, my favorite fried shrimp these days is at the Grand Lux Cafe in the Beverly Center.
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Grand Lux Cafe
121 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Five Guys in Culver City...when?
They say it'll be open by this weekend. I'd give them a few weeks to get their act together.
This is at the Fox Hills Westfield Mall.
There's another Five Guys opening on Figueroa near USC but there doesn't seem to be a date yet.
Best BACON in Los Angeles. Prepared or for Take Home
Another endorsement for the bacon at Wolfgang's Steak House in Beverly Hills.
I also love the bacon at Coogie's in Malibu.
Porterhouse Bistro Out of Business?
I've driven by Porterhouse Bistro a few times lately and found it dark in the evening.
I called their number and got a message that they number was no longer in service.
Is there any reason to think they're not out of business?
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Porterhouse Bistro
8635 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Best Italian (money no object) in L.A. area for a VERY picky eater
Madeo is great. Matteo's used to be but is not.
Last week, some friends of mine and I had an outstanding (and not too expensive) meal at Frankie's on Melrose. Granted, we ordered simple dishes but we couldn't have been happier with the food or the service.
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Frankie's On Melrose
7228 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Madeo Restaurant
8897 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Current Magic Castle advice
An entire new chef, kitchen and menu were instituted in 2009 so any reviews or messages before that are irrelevant.
I think the current cuisine is pretty good. I would recommend the Roasted Chicken with Parmesan Risotto or the Herb Seared Rack of Lamb.
Looking for brown rice and fresh veggies
I have a friend who's on a strict diet of brown rice and fresh vegetables. I'm looking for restaurants that offer that on the menu. The areas that would help are W. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, West L.A., Los Feliz and Hollywood.
The Panda Inn chain has that and so does P.F. Chang's, I think. It's amazing how many Asian restaurants these days do NOT offer brown rice.
What we'd really like to find are restaurants that are not Chinese. Does anyone know of any?
Heading to LA last minute - in dire need of Fried Chicken!
I'm a big fan of Pann's but I don't think their fried chicken is the best nor is it the best thing on their menu. On the other hand, their biscuits are terrific.
Roscoe's is still quite wonderful. Golden Bird is great but often a little greasy.
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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Mastro's or CUT for best steak in LA?
Just going by Beverly Hills, I think the steak at Mastro's and Wolfgang's is equally good but I find Mastro's overpriced and noisy and when they're crowded, they will often seat celebrities ahead of ordinary people who've been waiting. I also think the side dishes (especially the German fried potatoes) are better at Wolfgang's.
I've only been to Cut twice and I found the food to be fine but somehow less interesting. My choice of the three would be Wolfgang's.
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Mastros Restaurant
2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Favorite Meals Under $5
The small spaghetti with meat sauce at Andre's in the Town & Country Mall at 3rd and Fairfax. It's $5 and includes garlic bread.
What's So Great About 5 Guys?
Good hamburgers and you have your choice of quite a few free toppings, including sauteed mushrooms.
The best french fries I've ever found in a fast food chain.
Free peanuts in boxes and barrels around the place.
Not much else but that's plenty.
West LA Chinese Take-out?
Others will post that there's no decent Chinese food in West L.A. and that you have no taste if you think so; that to get good stuff, you have to go to Monterey Park or even New York. Some will probably tell you there's none outside of China or maybe even there.
Leaving all that aside, I've generally been happy with the food from Fu's Palace, which is on Pico near Robertson. That may be a little far from you. As a second choice, I've had some good meals from Hop Li, over on Pico near Sepulveda.
Best Fish and Chips?
Haven't been there for dinner yet. I'm usually not in that area in the evenings. But I'm going to try it soon.
Best Fish and Chips?
I spoke once to the owner of John O'Groat's. He says the recipe they use for their fish and chips is the same one his family used when they operated Bit O'Scotland. It didn't exactly match my memory of Bit O'Scotland but he's probably right.
I also asked him if he'd consider adding shrimp or scallops to the John O'Groat's menu. He said he didn't think they had sufficient demand for it but would try them out as an occasional special. John O'Groat's is now staying open for dinner some nights so I'm hoping he has them next time I go late.
Blue Plate Oysterette - Whole Belly Fried Clams
Could someone explain about Whole Belly Clams? Is it just that they're plumper or is the belly a different kind of clam meat?
Mastro's or CUT?
I know this is an old thread but I wanted to agree with whoever recommended Wolfgang's over Cut or Mastro's. Between those two, I prefer the service and ambiance of Cut but I prefer the food at Mastro's. At Mastro's, I get a great steak and great sides but I always wind up in a cramped table in a corner that's so loud, my companions and I can't hear each other.
At Wolfgang's, I get the best of both. Great service in a great room and the steak is as good as you'll get anywhere. The German fried potatoes are my favorite side dish in any restaurant this side of Peter Luger's. In fact, they're identical to Peter Luger's.
Damiano's Mr. Pizza - Late night love
Great food and I love their hours. But when you get a delivery, they bat around .500 at getting the order right.
Anyone know who supplies Magees with corned beef? (3d St. Farmers)
I don't know where Magee's gets their corned beef but I just wanted to agree that it's excellent.
I don't care for their rye bread, mustard, pickles or side dishes but the corned beef is as good as it gets. And yes, I've been to Katz's in New York. I would say that the beef itself at Magee's (leaving aside the other things) is just as good if not better.
Porterhouse Bistro
I go to Porterhouse Bistro about every two months. My guests and I have always enjoyed it. The steaks we've been served have always been good. There are one or two places in town where I think the steak is better but dinner for four at one of them will run at least $100 more and I don't think the steak is $100 better if you follow me. I also the onion soup at Porterhouse Bistro and have had no problem with the service.
I'm not doubting that others may have had different experiences. I'm just reporting mine.
lunch halfway between LA & San Diego?
In San Clemente, there's a great Italian joint called Sonny's. It's a neighborhood pizza and pasta place that we often visit while going between San Diego and Los Angeles.
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Sonny's Pizza & Pasta
429 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672
Best pickles
I've had pickles in all the great delicatessens of the world. I've never found any better than Bubbie's, which you can find in the refrigerated cases at most markets.
Big Mista's BBQ at your local farmer's markets
I've tried Big Mista's three times at the El Segundo farmer's market on Thursdays. My two big complaints are that I don't care for their beans and that unless you get there early, they're always out of something. But what they do have is well worth the effort. Some of the best ribs and pulled pork I've had in town.
Musso and Franks?
The steaks and chops are all great. They have at least two kinds of french fries (steak and shoestrings) and sometimes they have another. They also sometimes have a very good stuffed baked potato which is never on the menu but regulars know to ask if they're available.
I love the onion soup, the chicken pot pie (served on Thursdays) and anything braised. The scallops are also excellent.
If you're in the mood for something cheap and filling, there's a hot turkey sandwich, a hot chicken sandwich, a hot beef sandwich, etc. These are great and come with mashed potatoes. Everything else on the menu is a la carte.
The one area of the menu I'd stay away from is anything Italian like pasta. It's the one thing they don't do well.
Gladstones revamp?
I dined at Gladstone's about a month ago. My party was the personal guests of former Mayor Riordan, who is either owner or co-owner of the place. Riordan even came by and sat with us for a time.
The food was terrible and I was amazed. The clam chowder was full of clumps of flour. The lobster was caked with stale butter. There were shrimp that were utterly tasteless.
I was amazed. If it's this bad when you're guests of an owner, what's it like when you're a stranger?
