noshie's Profile
Seeking One Good Dry Aged Steak Alternative to The Steakhouse
Although I really love The Steakhouse in Circus, Circus, I am looking to try something new. I did not like Golden Steer or Craftsteak. I liked AJs but it's gone. I don't want to pay Carnevino/Cut/Prime/Charlie Palmer prices. An atmosphere more like The Steakhouse than Craftsteak (old school versus austere or hip/posh) is preferable but something in between would be ok too.
800 Degree Pizza Falls Flat
The Stella Rossa truffle pizza is $13.95 versus 800 Degrees $11.65 truffle pizza and Stella Rossa is, in my opinion, scads better.
There were three groups of families with young children in there for early dinner (5ish). They need more high chairs, so moms with toddlers won't get shot nerves seeing the 2 high chairs in use and wondering if they are going to have to eat their pizza with a squirmy toddler in their lap. High chairs stack on each other like cups so there is not a room issue.
Neither is really good for any kid who gets squirmy waiting in a line, there was like a half hour wait at 5ish (I would recommend that anyone who would want to bring their toddler here should go for a stroller ride and let someone else wait in the line and call on the cell when they are up at the counter).
800 Degree Pizza Falls Flat
My experience here was not so good. I had the mushroom and truffle oil pizza. I could not taste any truffle oil, the cheese they use did not match with the taste of the scanty mushrooms and the crust was too soft even though we asked for it crispy. The vegetarian pizza was totally forgettable.
In my opinion there is a full grade difference in quality between this place and Stella Rossa. I won't be going back. They also need to add more high chairs, they only have two for the whole place and both were in use until we got to the very end of the line.
The only highlight was the chopped salad which was very nicely prepared and old style, and I actually preferred it to Stella Rosa's.
Dim sum at King Hua: A Pictorial Essay
King Hua has a lot more variety than Elite (although last time I was at Elite they seem to have added more steamed dumpling items, although I did not like the ones I had, the wrapper was too thick). King Hua's spicy pig ear (with green onion, chili oil and a little shaved celery) is terrific as is their pan fried chicken buns. I also like their lettuce and fish ball jook.
Stella Rossa-Fab by Any Name But Turn Down the Volume
Return visit. Truffle mushroom pizza unfortunately lighter on the truffle oil. Sausage pizza only so so. They need to tread lighter on the balsamic for their brussel sprouts.
The music was at the same volume, but at least it was Social D's "Bad Luck" so no complaints this time.
Stella Rossa-Fab by Any Name But Turn Down the Volume
Sat up at the pizza making bar, cozy. Arrived at 7pm and already a 45-hour wait for a table, but that pizza bar was fine.
We had an Italian chopped salad which was nice traditional like but I would not order again due to its not being so special overall and the celery in it that was not mentioned on the menu.
We also had two pizzas, the Shaved Mushroom and the Bloomsdale Spinach (with that purple kale). The Shaved Mushroom pizza was TERRIFIC. It says it has black truffles, I just tasted truffle oil which went so well with the rosemary on the pizza, just divine. The Bloomsdale Spinach was very good as well, I loved the yummy slightly brussel sprout taste of the browned kale, was not as wild about the spinach (I think it was spinach) below. Overall, very good but the Shaved Mushroom pizza was a knockout, really nice.
The music was loud a la Pizzeria Mozza, although perhaps a tad quieter, had to sit through Huey Lewis and the News, yikes. What is it about this new breed of pizza places and their need to play loud music? Anyway, they should turn it down, and they should also get rid of that big screen TV playing sports, it gives it a cheaper, sports bar feel.
Overall, I would go back in a hearbeat for that Shaved Mushroom pizza, would try one of the "red" pizzas (maybe the organic sausage, that sounded nice) and I would go for the purple kale salad.
KOREAN BBQ - soot bull jeep or chosun galbee
Soot Bull Jeep and Parks are both good but expect long waits, especially with Parks.
Road to Seoul is searingly loud with blaring techno obviously meant to drive you out of there in a hurry. The food was also very marginal, both as to the banchan and BBQ. It was all around a most unpleasant dining experience.
Since Sa Rit Gol closed Genwa is my personal favorite (you'll wait there too but it's worth it).
ThanksgivingWeekendPre-TheaterPre-FixeOrSimilarPriceAlaCarte
I am looking for a pre-theater or similarly well priced (under $85 pp w/out wine) pre-fixe or low priced a la carte option for Friday or Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. I am considering Le Circque or Andres but am open to other options. I loved the old Andres in downtown before it closed, but did not like the sister location up top of the Palms. I was also underwhelmed with the pricier pre-fixe at Guy Savoy (loved the bread cart though). Was never wild about Meyers offering in LA but has anyone been to Comme Ca at Cosmopolitan?
French, Italian, Spanish, whatever has the best menu (although I do not want just seafood options).
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Comme Ca
3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Sintra choices
I have not been in a few years, but the Restaurant Alcobaca had a great vegetable soup that have been unable to reproduce (it did not haze chorico and I am not sure it was caldo verde or something else, it was this thick yummy soup
Also, there was a yummy pastry shop right near it on that little street going up from the main square area. I had delicious pastries de belem type custard pastries.
Only one early London Lunch for Traditional-ish British Fare
I have not been to England (save for change in Heathrow) for about twenty years, back when Wimpy's Burgers, Pizzaland and funny tasting oil used to fry the fish and chips reigned supreme and the only decent grub was Indian.
I am looking to make a new and tastier memory, and I am going to be in London for one early lunch on a stopover (coming in late the night before). I would like to have one traditional English style lunch, with something like shephard's pie, roast beef or fish, something along these lines, relatively simple and well prepared (not wanting too fussy or fancy).
I was thinking about Boxwood, but see it is closed. Is Narrows or Wellington any good? I am not wed to the idea of a Ramsay venue, although it would be fine, but would like to have a nice well prepared and tasty lunch hopefully somewhat near an underground so we can hop back on it after to catch a flight.
I know Heathrow has nice oyster bar, good stuff but I would like to eat in London.
Many thanks for any assistance
Westside Burgers-Counter, Hole in the Wall, Father's Office Tavern, What Else?
Maybe its new. I was just there for the first time this weekend. The ketchup sign is in a plastic stand alone holder prominently placed right between the two metal boxes from which you either squeeze out their homemade ketchup or commercial ketchup. Something about no love put into the commercial one, other things on that sign too. I'm all for handmade/homegrown, but not if it does not taste good, and that ketchup did not taste good to me. Also, I went out for a burger and fries, so I was obviously not seeking out a reminder of the unhealthful aspects of the whole venture at that particular time. Anyway, I find that sign to be precious, snobby and, frankly, out of place in a burger joint, even a higher end one that serves red leaf lettuce and offers pretzel buns.
***I thought the little shampoo bottles of ketchup at Tavern were sort of silly too--they've done away with them.
I think the pickles are zucchini pickles and they were on my companion's burger.
The sweet potato fries we had were limp and not crispy.
The lady who took our order was fine, but not much interaction, you just place your order and sit down.
Westside Burgers-Counter, Hole in the Wall, Father's Office Tavern, What Else?
Sometimes you just want a nice burger and nothing else will do.
Tavern has a delicious upscale turkey burger with yummy fries with sage, but its like $17-$18. I did not like their pork burger as much, as the ground pork was spiced to it tasted like eating a sausage burger and I have not had their regular burger. Their turkey burger is tops though, although the bun is boring and not tasty.
Counter is a good call, but it's loud and their fries are too good so I end up eating too many
Did not like Father's office burger, the roquefort/blue cheese tasted too strong
Just tried Hole in the Wall. I found their turkey burger a bit too seasoned and did not like the topings (some yellow pepper looking thing). I thought that the regular beef burger was quite nice and the bun was good. Big complaint was their homemade ketchup. Its nice that they do their own, but to me it did not taste good and their food snobby sign next to the regular ketchup talking about how its all unnatural was a turn off. Their sweet potato fries were limp (and tasted bad with the natural ketchup, better with the ranch and regular ketchup).
Where else should I go within relative spitting distance for a burger place with turkey/chicken or veg burger option? Preferably on price point end of Hole in the Wall/Counter, not Tavern?
I have to lose some pounds what's a foodie to do?
Nagao is quite yummy, the salads being filled with burdock, different types of seaweed, spicy tuna, sauces, some with greens. I wish I could get a restaurant.com coupon for it, I don't see it on there.
You might also try some of the grilled chicken bun at Le Saigon, there are not that many of those rice noodles and I'm sure they could add more lettuce instead if you asked
Boccali Ojai and Taqueria Tepatitlan Ventura
Ok, to get it out of the way, Taqueria Tepatitlan was not good at all, really marginal burrito, terrible salsa. There has got to be many better in Ventura, if not, I would just take a pass and head up to SB.
Then, had a terrific dinner at Boccali's in Ojai. Their menu is somewhat limited, but don't let that keep you from going. Terrific old style Italian American food from childhood. Yummy garlic bread just like I remembered, homey meatballs (very dense with meat, not a lot of breadcumbs going on). Loved the antipasto plate (peppers, red onion, garbanzos, black olives, lettuce, green peppers, salami, terrific, just terrific. Loved their Topa Topa Syrah. Like an old style diner, friendly red and white checked tablecloth and cute pizza clock on the wall. I can see how it would be fun to eat outside in summer (they had heat lamps, but it still was cold). This is a very nice alternative to Suzanne's, much more casual (although I love Suzanne's on the patio for lunch)
Did not eat at Farmer and Cook, but stopped in for a cream cheese brownie which was very good. The Vegan Mexican wedding cookie was only so so, the whole place smelled great though, looks like a terrific lunch spot.
Rochester Mayo/Kahler Accessible Eats
Jasper's-You can almost get there through the subway and skyway, its right across from the Hilton Garden Inn. Had a very nice choucroute garnie with a nice wine and TERRIFIC bread (this place is apparently related to Daube's). I did not try the desserts (too much bread), although I hear they are the highlights.
Pescara-I had the fish tacos for lunch. They were nice, although a bit on the subtle side and, frankly, I could have done with two more. The almond rice that accompanied them was very good.
Carroll's Corn-yummy Chicago mix, quite a treat after a day of appointments and I love how you can just get a small amount (although I kept going back...)
Michael's-I took takeaway avogolama (sp?) soup and gyros. Was pretty marginal, especially the soup
Panneckoken-uninspired breakfast
Angelini Osteria
Not romantic, but lovely trattoria with crowded tables. Very nice marrow bone dinner and trofie (small twirly pasta with shrimp, spinach tomato, could have been a bit more spice to them), wonderful mussel/claim with garlic and tomato sauce
Vegan Thanksgiving
Second Native Foods in Westwood. I am neither vegan nor vegetarian, but found it to have very good tasting food, their vegan chicken sandwich was great and their sweet potato fries were better than Breadbar's or the Counter
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Native Foods Restaurant
1110 1/2 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Native Foods
26705 Aliso Creek Rd, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Where can I find Heavenly Hash ice cream
I think that Vons or Albertsons may have carried a Heavenly Hash, even a low fat one at one point. It was a yellow carton. Love that flavor, they have it in the South
Gjelina Sunchokes
I had to wait a few weeks for a 7:00 weekend reservation, super trendy scene, we found street parking however. Our server, a man with long brown hair, was very nice, did not have any of the service issues noted on prior posts. We had the charcuterie plate (wild boar terrine stood out, they would not sub out duck rillettes which I never like, these were no exception, nice few slices of sausage, nice duck liver pate, 2 kinds of mustard and some sweet jam like thing). The French bread they served with the charcuterie had some sort of oil on it, I think they should serve it plain.
Second courses were three vegs, sunchokes with yummy salsa verde (garlic and green struff), raddichio and cauliflower. Liked vegs in that order with the sunchokes in the lead, raddichio (wonderful smokey grill taste on them, they could have had a lighter touch on the balsamic however) not far behind, not loving the cauliflower, the cauliflower on my first visit to Church and State was better.
2 pizzas after, the mushroom goat cheese and truffle oil and a carmelized fennel and fennel sausage pizza (very little carmleized fennel, some pieces of frond and some wafer thin shavings of fennel). Have to say that the pizza at Pizzeria Mozza was better, better crust, although I prefer the atmosphere at Gjelina a tad better (both restaurants are loud, Gjelina at least we were outside so a shade softer on the rock music, can't wait for this trend of playing old college dorm rock to pass. Our mushroom pizza was served sometime after the fennel pizza, and it would have been nice to have them at the same time.
No room for dessert, 1 glass of wine only (pricey $15 or so chard), and we were out of there for like $99. No bread served with the meal (other than with the charcuterie, had to ask for ice for the table water.
Great sunchokes, definitely the highlight, nice wild boar terrine. Not sure I'll be back though, did not have that same must return feeling like I did at Church and State.
Possible Paleta shop in N. Sonoma (town)
I had their pink pinenut ice cream and it was quite yummy
LA "Serious" Mexican Trip-- Additional Suggestions?
I think Monte Alban is closed too and I also like El Sazon Oaxaqueño and El Texate better.
You might think of adding La Casita Mexican in Bell for chile en nogada or chilaquiles (great moles there) for a breakfast/brunch or lunch, and if you have time to swing by Don Felix Meat Market for a lengua burrito would be good. Also, El Abajeno has great big carne asada burritos (will fill you up though) and nice carnitas too. Also, how about El Parian for birria or carne asada burrito?
I have not had the chilaquiles at Pepe's (I think Mar Vista bowl, right?) but want to try although technically not ful Mexican restaurant there I think?
Mariscos chente is great, you might want to mix it up with that--some ceviches or spicy shrimp might be nice foil to all the sweet Oaxacan.
La Indiana has nice tamales
Best Middle Eastern in West LA?
Where on Venice? A long time ago I got some merguez from a Halal butcher on Venice, maybe brought some harissa there too?
Alcazar Express is very nice. Their Shish Tawook was quite wonderful, not dried out at all. The lamb tongue "salad" was great. Very nice babaganoush and samboosik (sp?-meat pie things with pine nuts). Their falafel balls were salty, not so good to me. Also, their pita falls flat (literally, quite flat, not warm, actually sort of sweet tasting?). The pita triangles covered wtih a red sauce and onions that came with the chicken were quite flavorful, I would definitely return.
Fremont Diner (and Others More Dear But Not as Dear to Me)
Just got back from an extended weekend with lots of eats in Wine Country.
1) Fremont Diner. This place is just the tops. Charming atmosphere. Wonderful pulled pork sandwich, LOVED the padron peppers with gremolata (had those twice. we stopped near closing time after a disappointing sandwich from Jimtown, had peppers, shake and tried the corn fritters which were yummy too), great vanilla bean shake, great peach baked (not fried) pie, nice and not oversalted beans and hock. Burger was ok fries were nice, go for the pulled pork sandwich instead with those yummy peppers. Nice people, nice dogs, screen porch seating inside, picnic tables outside. Just the best. I only wish it had been open Sunday and Monday of Labor Day (was closed both days) and that I could have tried the fried chicken too.
2) La Sallette. More of a soulful meal than Ad Hoc. Charming patio with twinkly liights on plants and heat lamps, nice dinner rolls. The caldo verde was ok, tasting platter chourico was nice, did not like the octoupus but loved the Portugese sheep cheese with honey. Very nice sea bass on collards, also quite tasty Feiojada. They could use a little more spice in the piri piri fries (or maybe a side of piri piri sauce) Had no room for dessert. Great service.
3) Ad Hoc-Steak night. Nice but small portioned salad with small gems. Fab spiced cashews, I only wish my portion had more than the very (too) few on the plate, nice green beans very toothsome, perfectly done, great sweet corn. Thought the blue cheese dressing was a bit over the top. Smashed small potatoes were great as was the sauteed savoy, the steak however was rather bland and mine was sort of cold (I did not complain, should have). Not wild about how the first course salad came before the wine. Butter was too salty. Portion of the cowgirl creamery cheese was too small. Pear buckle with creme anglaise was nice, homey dessert. Felt somewhat rushed, not much time between courses.
4) Ubuntu. Ok, I know this was supposed to be a transcendent meal, but it just wasn't. I am not a vegetarian, but am veg friendly and the thought of an all veg gourmet experience was quite exciting. Unfortunately, Ubuntu did not live up to expectations. We had the 3 sampler of marcona almonds with lavendar salt and sugar (probably my favorite dish all night and I almost did not get it), fried chickpea fritters and a humous with very greasy fried chip like things. Second courses were vegetable patties that tasted a lot like falafel which were over a sweet corn puree that tasted like creamed corn and heirloom tomatoes with buratta. There were air dried corn crumbles in one of those dishes too. Passed on the $20 special house salad of what looked like leaves and flowers. Two mains were gnochettis with an overly rich and overly salty mushroom sauce and what looked and tasted like veg bacon curls and grits with goat cheese (or milk), whey and green tomato jam. Overall , there was a mushiness to the dishes (and a general lack of solid pieces in what we ordered) and the fried ones were somewhat oily. Bussers also seemed to try and whisk everything away even when some sauce was left on the plates (maybe because the tables are so small?) Dessert was pain perdu with berries, honey ice cream, was missing a zing, and the pain perdu itself was bland. The butter was nice. This was my least favorite of my three dinners.
Best Pho in the Westside?
I thought Le Saigon's Pho Ga was ok, not the biggest bowl on either their bun or pho and not the most herbs. I liked the bun at Pho 999. Guess I will try Pho Citi if I can find parking (Pho 99 parking lot a pain, Pho Citi's looks worse)
REVIEW: Yunnan Garden, Hacienda Heights
Well I did not drink much of the oi once I realized what I was drinking, I put pieces of the fish and veggies on top of the rice. I know star anise and five spice, I think the answer must be in the huajiao.
Is the cold bar standard in other restaurants and if so where else would you recommend (I've seen the things on there in plastic containers in the Chinese market,, but its nice to have the varierty of picking three to a plate)? That was quite a highlight, there was a football game on and lots of people were eating from the cold bar quite a nice combo I would think with a cold beer. I also saw people taking the cold bar stuff to go.
REVIEW: Yunnan Garden, Hacienda Heights
I was just there and tried almost same things as Das Ubergeek, minus the chicken clay pot and my twice cooked pork (which was more like bacon) and which had green onions but no mushrooms and was sort of salty. I also had bean sprouts with green onion (not so exciting). I thought the fish was good but the broth was SO oily--I gave up trying to drink it, just ate the fish and veggies in it (think cabbage and celery, not a big fan of cooked celery)
Had six things from the cold bar: peanuts, cucumber, soybean and what looked like mustard greens, tofu, gizzards and pig ear. All very nice, I thought there was a spice I'm not wild about on both the hot fish dish and the pig ear, its like this almost efforvescent taste.
Anyway, very nice although I thought that fish was sort of oily, good price, early 40s for dinner including tip. Everyone was getting the house special noodles I noticed after we had already eaten.
Don Felix: Not Just for Tacos Anymore
Their lengua burritos rock. I always wondered about that chicken
