wutzizname's Profile
Restaurant on Robertson that serves Fried chicken in the vien of Cynthia's ???
What is with the picture on their website??
http://surrestaurantandbar.com/
Nothing has ever made me less interested in visiting a restaurant.
Real, Traditional Club Sandwich in LA?
I frequently get the club sandwich at Canter's, Swinger's, and the 101 Coffee Shop on Franklin. I believe all 3 are unadulterated versions of the classic (unless I'm forgetting something), and all three are entirely decent, although I think the 101 may be the better of the 3.
Looking for French Haute Cuisine pressed duck, anywhere in the L.A area.
In fact a 'find-a-food' search of menupages.com yields but one errant result, Almond Pressed Duck at Hunan Taste on San Vicente, which I trust is not what you want. Alas.
Best brunch around Farmer's Market?
Assuming you mean "the" Farmer's Market on 3rd & Fairfax, and not one of the many "real" farmers markets around town...
At the Market itself...
I'd avoid DuPar's, though it's (debatably) fine for what it is, I wouldn't choose it for a "best brunch."
There's the new Short Order, which has gotten mixed reviews in general (mix of raves and pans) but they have an actual Brunch menu and is probably your best bet in the Market for something that really resembles brunch.
There's also the French place, Monsieur Marcel, which may be your next best choice, particularly if you want more of a view of the Market itself.
Or if you want to dive in entirely, the juxtaposition of the Loteria Grill and The French Crepe Company stands offers a nice combo of choices for the group, and very decent food.
Otherwise...if you are interested in places that are near the Farmer's Market, but not necessarily within it, there are a lot of choices in the vicinity (Quality, Little Next Door, Black Cat, Tart, House, Cooks County, Eva, Playa, BLD, etc.) but depends how far from the Market you want to cast your net.
Let us know more about what you're looking for, in terms of food, vibe, and proximity, and we can hone some recs.
best bakeries?
Short Cake at the Original Farmers Market at 3rd & Fairfax
http://www.shortcakela.com/
And Sweet Lady Jane
8360 Melrose Avenue, LA 90069
http://www.sweetladyjane.com/
The Sandwich at Roma Deli
Afraid I had a very similar experience. Love the place, love the man, love the charm -- and I was a pretty big fan of the bread too -- but the sandwich in total...eh.
The Sandwich at Roma Deli
The Cookies?
http://www.tatesbakeshop.com/c/product-cookies.html
West Hollywood/ LA Bars
It's tough to know what you (or anyone) might consider "posh," as everyone's definition will vary based on their own taste. That said...
To my mind, The Roger Room is pretty freakin' posh. If you don't get there by a certain time it turns into a velvet rope situation. Although once you are inside, it's a very nice experience. The highest end cocktails, at like $15 a pop. But it's a tiny room. And there is not much else around that immediate neighborhood. So unless you happen to be staying across the street at the Sofitel, I'm not sure I'd make it a top destination.
El Carmen and Rainbow Bar are probably near the opposite ends of the spectrum. Very casual dives, particularly the Rainbow. Depending on what night you hit El Carmen, and at what time, you'll either find a mellow little local bar with an excellent tequila selection. Or a raging packed place with a lot of cheesy pick-up going on.
The Village Idiot is not a bad recommendation at all. Mid-range kind of spot, not really a dive, but still pretty casual. Has a bit of a New York industrial feel. And you can walk down the street a few blocks to the Snake Pit to see what a real local dive looks like.
I'd also recommend you consider a visit to Bar Marmont. It is a little on the posh side, but it's a great local experience. Not as much attitude as one would expect. Go a little early, sit at the bar, order some snacks, and you will meet a great mix of locals, visitors, and celebrities.
Another possibility, back on the dive side of the spectrum, is the venerable Barney's Beanery. An L.A. institution. Like a real American road house, right in the heart of L.A.
Lots more recommendations to come, I'm sure. But geography can be a real factor here, when getting around by cab, etc., so let us know where you're staying and we can tailor the recommendations closer to your hotel.
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Bar Marmont
8171 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Snake Pit
7529 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
HELP! First date restaurant tonight in or near West Hollywood
C&M is indeed closed. Drove by yesterday and saw them doing work on whatever the next incarnation will be.
food trucks
I'm surprised to hear you say that about Coolhaus. I've only hit their truck twice, but both times I was notably impressed with how quickly they produced my order. Like instantly. Like..."How did you make that custom order so fast?" -- But maybe I just caught them on a good day. Anyway...
food trucks
I like Shrimp Pimp and Egg Slut and Flying Pig. And CoolHaus for dessert.
Fun/weird / hole-in-the wall / hidden gem spots for brunch or lunch???
Don't know when y'all were last at Gladstone's, but since SBE took it over the place has really turned a corner, maybe not 180-degrees, but significantly. Menu is fully revamped, and I can't really make a bold endorsement as I've only eater there once since, but I was generally impressed that the food had been upgraded significantly. It is definitely worth another try, if you haven't been there since the long gray years.
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
Paper or cardboard breathes, especially if there's a vent in the closure. Technically it may not stay hot as long, but quality will be preserved SOME in comparison with an air tight steam job.
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
Good point. Even if you eat in, you've got to pull those burgers out asap and unwrap.
It's also one more detail to support that Five Guys belongs firmly in the In-N-Out fast food category, and not in the sit down world of The Counter, et al. At Five Guys, EVERY order is packed in a brown paper bag, whether you're taking it to go or not. At least In-N-Out asks, and gives you your food on a tray for dining in.
I'm not sure if that's true at every Five Guys around the country, but on my 2 visits to the new one on Wilshire, that definitely seemed to be the case.
Fun/weird / hole-in-the wall / hidden gem spots for brunch or lunch???
Two more...
The Nickel Diner
http://nickeldiner.com/
John O'Groats
http://www.ogroatsrestaurant.com/
Fun/weird / hole-in-the wall / hidden gem spots for brunch or lunch???
Or...if you're up for a ride south, Gaffey Street Diner might be a good call.
http://www.gaffeystreetdiner.com/
Fun/weird / hole-in-the wall / hidden gem spots for brunch or lunch???
You might consider Nick's Cafe, a quirky breakfast shack set off by itself, just north of Chinatown.
https://sites.google.com/site/nickscafela/
Or Philippe's, of course, if she hasn't been yet.
http://www.philippes.com/
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
Is the "special sauce" the same Thousand Islands they use on the burgers? Or something different?
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
Also Five Guys burgers range from $3.89-$6.89 (max). The Counter burgers start at $8.95 and go up from there.
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
Yes, but the In-N-Out patties are much thinner. Don't have exact weights, but I'd venture that the Double-Double is a quarter pound (pre-cooked) which is probably on par with the Five Guys "Little" Cheeseburger (single patty) which is only $4.49. So still a little pricier, but not that much.
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
I think Fat Burger is a fair comparison. Never heard of Hamburger Habit. Apple Pan costs a lot more than Five Guys and Fat Burger though, and they're not a chain so probably not the best reference. But is Five Guys really that much more expensive than In-n-Out? I haven't been to the latter in a long time, so I'd have to check, but Five Guys prices seemed pretty low to me...especially for the portion sizes and quality.
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
Same concept? I don't think they could be much more different...within the burger world, at least.
One is fast food, in the league with Burger King and In-n-Out. The other is sit down fast casual with table service and a bar, more in line with TGI Friday's.
And The Counter has a comparatively huge menu with tons of options, and loads of "creative" toppings. Five Guys has a tiny menu with only the most basic of traditional burger toppings.
And for what it's worth, Five Guys has been around since the 1980s. The Counter opened their first store in 2003.
Until they get it together, go 3 blocks west to The Counter
I had the opposite experience, on their 2nd day, but then I was there at about 3:30 pm.
For it being their 2nd day, I was hugely impressed how well everything seemed to be humming along...took my order efficiently, got it relatively quickly (quicker than In-n-Out), no mistakes, and really enjoyed the food, as did everyone around me seem to be.
Obviously they're brand new, so not that surprised that you hit service issues, but averaging together with my experience, I'm still pretty impressed. Beats the hell out of the giant service mountain Short Order has been struggling to get over since they opened.
Oh, and as for the burger's temperatures... Five Guys is definitely in the In-n-Out fast food league, where one temp is supposed to fit all, and I think the prices reflect that.
Pastries at Short Cakes???
I've tried about half of their items so far, and I've loved about half of those. The others weren't at all bad, just a little less exciting.
Some of my favorites have been:
Sesame Date Scone
Hazelnut Croissant
Jam Crumble Bar
Brunette with Pine Nuts and Thyme
TCHO Brownie
And some kind of shortbread cookie.
But I'm surprised how many "too sweet" references appear in the small handful of posts here so far. Tastes do vary, but to mine, Short Cake seems to offer the least-sweet baked goods I have ever found in a bakery of its kind. Across the board, every item I have tried has been distinctly and pleasantly under sweetened.
Jersey-style Italian Hero (AKA Sub)
This may be the day when I miss my GIANT New Jersey hero the most. Hmm... Where to go, where to go?
Jersey-style Italian Hero (AKA Sub)
Finally made it out to try Eagle Rock Bakery, as a few here have recommended, and thought it was a real contender. Great crusty rolls. Solid ingredients. And low prices too. I neglected to ask what "everything" entailed though, so next time I would "hold the mustard and mayo" and just stick with the oil and vinegar (even though they used balsamic, when basic red would be better). But I'll definitely be back when I'm on that side of town. Baked goods looked worth trying as well.
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Eagle Rock Italian Bakery
1726 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate
Any other great chocolate ice cream ideas. in addition to Carmela's?
Late Night Eats & Drinks -- on a Wednesday
Jones also sounds like a possibility. Haven't been there in eons. Not sure how late the kitchen is actually open, but I'll check. Thanks.
