daftpunkxl's Profile
How Are These Mexican Restaurants in Santa Monica?
Gilbert's is super-Americanized, but a nice family-owned joint. I know a lot of the faces on the walls from when I was a kid. Not super into their margaritas.
Lares is more grown-up, but still easy-going. Delicious camarones.
Don Antonio has my favorite chips and salsa, and my favorite fajitas. Plus, you get to sit in a room that looks like a cave, and they have great trivia cocktail napkins.
I've had birthday parties at all three, so it's hard to choose. I guess, go to all of them. And then go to the Daily Pint on Pico & Cloverfield for one of the best beer and scotch selections in town.
-----
Don Antonio's
11755 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Daily Pint
2310 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
HELP! Need best Japanese fried chicken (kara-age) in LA!
Bincho's good, but it's all about the chicken at Torihei.
Another half vote for Musha as well.
-----
Musha
1725 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501
Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Torihei
1757 W. Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90501
Lebanese food in West Hollywood, or perhaps close by
Sunnin in Westwood is a good bit closer, and awesome.
-----
Sunnin Lebanese Cafe
1779 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
A question for the ramen experts...
Yeah, and the lack of flavor is astounding. I went there a couple weeks ago and it was gross. Seems like they're under new management. A few years ago when it first opened, it was so good--fresh pork, great noodles, and a rich, flavorful broth. Now I wish I'd just gone to Asahi or Ramen-ya.
Westside Burgers-Counter, Hole in the Wall, Father's Office Tavern, What Else?
Gotta say, the burger I had a Rush Street a couple months ago was completely inedible. Stale bun, overfilled, flavorless patty, limp toppings. Gross.
Houston's is fine, but I could never really imagine why someone would casually elect to go to Houston's unless they had an office lunch or something.
My vote is for Rustic Canyon.
-----
Rush Street
9546 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Lawry's Beverly Hills - Saturday Night Meating
Dude. Serv. Seriously. I had a Jim Brady cut my first time there and while I took down the whole prime rib, I couldn't even make a dent in the sides. Now I don't even mess with anything beyond a Lawry's cut.
You are a machine.
Who makes a really outstanding roast (or rotisserie) chicken?
I recently had some AWESOME rotisserie chicken at Westside Tavern. Jiraffe in Santa Monica also has stellar roast chicken. Crisp skin, and is served with great succotash.
-----
Westside Tavern
10850 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Santa Monica Restaurant Suggestions
Also love the Pint, but they don't serve food. Barney's Beanery on the promenade will probably be really really busy, but could be fun. Ye Olde King's Head has great Fish and Chips, which could be a good thing to grub on.
Rick's, Finn McCool's, and O'Brien's would also be fun.
-----
Ye Olde King's Head
116 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Finn McCools
2702 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Giorgio Baldi fans --- what do you order...
Wouldn't say I'm a "fan," but I had the slow roasted veal chop, which was really good.
We went there for my girlfriend's birthday in November, and I have to say, for a "fine dining" meal, it was EXCEPTIONALLY quick. We had our pasta course on our table no more than 5 minutes after ordering, and the main courses came out almost immediately after that first course was cleared. It is possible we weren't in the restaurant longer than 70 minutes.
I understand that the so-called snobby "scene" restaurants like this, and Capo, may not give you the best service if you just go and order a pasta dish and a glass of wine. But we had three courses, bottle of wine, the whole 9. Maybe we looked young? I don't know. But at least at Capo they treat us with respect and value our patronage.
That said, the food at Giorgio Baldi was tasty.
Moving To Santa Monica and searched a lot! Check my list?!
Wilshire Restaurant is probably the happy hour vibe you're looking for, though there is a burgeoning scene at the Sonoma Wine Garden on the roof of the new Santa Monica Place... at least, that's what I'm told.
Middle Eastern:
My personal vote is Sunnin, but as people have mentioned, Alcazar Express is awesome, as is Attari sandwich shop. Zankou Chicken is also good and quick.
-----
Wilshire Restaurant
2454 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Zankou Chicken
1716 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA
Sunnin Lebanese Cafe
1779 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Attari Sandwich Shop
1388 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Alcazar Express
1303 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Moving To Santa Monica and searched a lot! Check my list?!
Yeah, I think you're missing some of the best Italian in the area, which is concentrated around Brentwood. Vincenti is the best of the bunch, but Osteria Latini and Palmeri are also very good.
In Santa Monica, Il Forno holds a special place in my heart.
Sushi King is gross, but definitely add Takao to your list.
-----
Vincenti Restaurant
11930 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Palmeri Ristorante
11650 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Il Forno Caffe & Pizzeria
2901 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Osteria Latini
11712 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Takao
11656 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Donde estan los (where are the) taco trucks/stands?
Thanks, I'll check them out. The people at El Paladar have just always been so nice!
Donde estan los (where are the) taco trucks/stands?
Barry Ave, just south of Santa Monica blvd (El Paladar Oaxaqueno).
Awesome truck, parked next to the Vons, every night after 7:30 or 8. I think tacos are actually $1.25, but they have real al pastor on a spit, so it's worth it. Awesome cabeza, too.
Mori Update
Takao on San Vicente in Brentwood is still serving blue fin, for better or worse. Haven't been to Mori in almost a year, but this sounds awesome. They did the two styles of uni then, too, and I absolutely loved it. Thanks for the report!
-----
Takao
11656 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Need alternatives to Animal!
Take a look at Lazy Ox Canteen. Totally rad, and very similar in attitude.
-----
Lazy Ox Canteen
241 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Lazy Ox Canteen
241 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Bazaar? Hm...I'd rather go to Providence or Melisse.
Yeah, the egg caviar was definitely a "moan" dish. I may or may not have actually moaned while eating. Though thankfully the rest of the room was distracted by the amazingly hilarious fight going on at the table next to ours.
MAY is National Burger Month(?): any suggestions (current please)?
+1 for Hole In The Wall
-----
Hole in the Wall Burger Joint
11058 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
reasonably priced sushi to impress the out-of-towners
Molly--aren't they both in strip malls?
And I heard that Michael Ovitz owns Hamasaku, which would begin to explain the idiotic names of the rolls.
-----
Hamasaku
8360 Melrose Ave Ste 100, West Hollywood, CA 90069
reasonably priced sushi to impress the out-of-towners
+1 on Takao, but you have to be careful with their special fish. They can get really expensive. That said, they're always amazing. This is my favorite a la carte sushi bar.
-----
Takao
11656 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
reasonably priced sushi to impress the out-of-towners
Agree with froggy, the omakase isn't very expensive, though in line with more expensive places. you just get fewer orders in the base menu.
And that "tacky" bar is sadly closed (Del's Saloon, RIP).
looking for suggestions in Santa Monica
5:30?!?! Yeah, you have to wait at F.O. a bit, but on a non-weekend night, at it's busiest, it'll take like, 20 minutes to get your food. Tops.
My suggestion is Rustic Canyon, on 11th and Wilshire. Fan-tastic.
Heading to Santa Monica Tomorrow, Don't Get There Often, These Recs?...
They should name this offspring "Meatball."
True To Its Name - Tavern (Suzanne Goin) [Review] w/ Pics!
Ex,
I'll second Takao (though we do love Tavern, as well). The fish is of excellent quality, and Omakase is priced like Matsuhisa/Asanebo ($60/70/90/110+)
I have found the croissants to be very consistently amazing, and they've become a weekend breakfast staple for me, along with the chorizo and eggs.
But yeah, I really want to know what you think of Takao. I'm a huge fan of their traditional sushi, but like most any place that isn't Mori or Zo, I don't really care about the other dishes.
Best sushi in Santa Monica?
I have found the fish quality at Takao to be as good as anything I've had in town (haven't been to Urasawa or Hump, though). Just be sure to sit at the bar, and inquire about what they have in special. Had fresh octopus sushi last week and it was a game-changer for me.
Best steak - Santa Monica
Best steaks in town are, in order,
1. Capo (expensive, but not absurd)
2. Wilshire
3. Drago's bistecca alla fiorentina
[then a pretty big gap]
4. Boa
5. Pacific Dining Car
If you have an 8 o'clock reservation, it'll only take you about 20 minutes to get to Beverly Hills from Brentwood, so why not Mastro's or Cut?
Best steak - Santa Monica
You must have been walking, in that case. Sorry, didn't mean to be mean.
How are you all getting reservations for totoraku?!?
the best SANDWICH in (Los Angeles) period.
I know this was a while ago, but I really hope you've changed your tune.... many people have died and/or been late for important meetings in order to savor the godmother....
A better Holiday Ham. Recs?
I love Honeybaked ham, and it's not the holidays without one. BUT.... is there a better alternative from a more artisan producer? Preferably something on the westside? I roast turkey and beef, but not ready to tackle a ham with all the glazing and whatnot.
Please help!
Suggestions for a New Yorker visiting Los Angeles/West Hollywood area for Birthday
If you're using Opentable, take a step back, and call. It seems they only use OpenTable to fill very early and very late reservations.
