luswei's Profile
Persian: Javan, Shamshiri, Shaherzad
Shamshiri Glendale has such poor service that my friend and I vowed never to go again. We used to meet there regularly for lunch so it isn't one off day that could and should be forgiven as nothing is perfect and we're all fallible. This last time, every other patron got a broiled tomato...When we inquired why we didn't get ours, we got snotty attitude about tomotoes and salmonella. Does this waiter think we're blind? So blind we can't see the table in front, to our side and in back of us?
Lot 1 - Echo Park, Review with photos
i loved Opus when centano was there, was so excited when he moved closer to our neck of the woods and told a lot of people about his cuisine....but we find it very aggravating that Lot 1 is never open when we go, they don't answer or return phone calls. do they know how to run a business and take advantage of a following, or do they not?
Post-play dinner, Burbank or Glendale?
just thought of another great place that will prob be open late, eight eighteen in toluca lake, small plates, wine bar, yummy, on riverside drive. eight-eighteen.
Post-play dinner, Burbank or Glendale?
Arnie Morton, Savannah, Third and Olive (new and in the Media Center, opened my Miki, chef/owner of Bistro Provence, friend went and said it's great but I haven't been yet), McCormick & Schmick's, Palate (933 S Brand Blvd @ Chevy Chase), Granville (casual gourmet on San Fernando), Three Drunken Goats (Honolulu Ave, in Montrose), Fat Dog (Honolulu Ave in Montrose, late night happy hour during wknights).
Anyone tried Andiamo in Silver Lake?
went there for the first time last Sunday with a medium size group. ordered three pizzas -- one w/no cheese as we had vegans among us, the margherita (my fave) and the greek pizza. service was wonderful. we would all go back again.
Luscious Dumplings - Closed?
Last time we went, there was a sign posted that they are taking their annual vacation for a week in May. I can't remember the exact dates but I believe it was the early to mid May. We just called to see if they're back.
Tomato Pie Opens in Silverlake
i love Tomato Pie! Garrett is very sweet, accommodating, friendly. Have had Grandmother's pizza, eggplant, pesto. The cucumber salad is refreshing.
Three Drunken Goats
Want to add, if anyone from 3 Drunken Goats is listening and cares, would love to see some vegetables on the menu. Roasted asparagus? The paella with roasted vegetables did not do it for us. The butter lettuce salad sounds great but cabrales (blue cheese) makes us wretch.
Three Drunken Goats
We were part of the soft opening of this new restaurant, Three Drunken Goats, in Glendale. A welcome addition!
The chef used to work at Cobras and Matadors so the menu was very familiar to us. In fact, we asked about the chef because it was so eerie as we are regulars at Cobras and Matadors. No problem for us, we love Cobras and Matadors and the wine list at Three Drunken Goats very reasonable, as in cheaper!
Three Drunken Goats were not expecting such a hot welcome so they were out of many wines which the owner apologized for and substituted a more expensive wine for what we ordered. They will have wine tastings soon.
We ordered braised pork shank, paella with roasted vegetables (mezzo mezzo), grilled octopus(better at Cobras), crispy striped bass wtih fennel two ways (belissimo!), flatbread w/mushrooms and three cheeses, garlic prawns w/pocha beans.
Look forward to going again. The space is airy. Open kitchen. Warm woods.
2256 Honolulu Ave
Montrose, CA 91020
818.249.9950
Bashan for Dinner...Cocktails Nearby?
Rosso Wine Shop is nearby, walking distance from Bashan and has wine tastings. Further up the street, opposite side is New Moon Cafe that has bar. Up the street, to your left is Honolulu, Montrose, with lots of establishments, stores.
Best Dim-Sum in Chinatown (downtown)
Ocean Seafood. Eleven of us dim summed there for Chinese New Year of the Rat. Everyone loved the food, ate to their heart's content for $20 apiece which included a generous tip.
Best Happy Hour for Food and Drinks...
Chadaka Thai, San Fernando Rd, downtown Burbank
Sakura House last night
Went to Sakura House Sat night for a BD celebration and it was so yummy, worth the long drive. Gingko nuts, string bean maki, mushroom stuffed with potato, okra maki, shishito peppers, chicken livers, chicken wing.
Bashan (Glendale) Guide
We went again to give it another try. We've sampled all the appetizers, most of the main courses and the cheese course. Food tastes good, pretty presentation. but extremely expensive for the skimpy portion sizes and the cramped space. We were totally unimpressed by the pork belly dish. It was our least favorite dish.
Pit Fire Pizza
I love their organic pumpkin, swiss chard, nueske bacon pizza. Yum yum yum.
15 Restaurant in Echo Park
First of all, their website
www.restaurant15.com
We've been there twice. Both times our food was way oversalted. A shame. We liked our waiter, the space, the concept.
Seeking high-end loose teas -- PLEASE HELP
Also recommend Takashimaya. When my hubby worked for the Japanese consulate, many of his colleagues enjoyed the tea purchased here.
http://www.takashimaya-ny.com/teabox.php
Seeking high-end loose teas -- PLEASE HELP
I just received a e-letter from America's Test Kitchen and they recommend MAIL ORDER TEAS FROM UPTON AND STASH
My wife and I drink a lot of tea and use loose teas purchased from Upton. She loves a basic Ceylon or English Breakfast; I am addicted to the smoky, “stinky” as she might say, Lapsang Souchong. They also offer many samplers so you can try a wide range of styles without being stuck with a 500-gram tin. Sure, there are lots of places to purchase loose tea but we have always been happy with the quality and service at Upton. You can purchase tins or packets from 15 up to 1,000 grams. However, they don’t sell our favorite after-dinner tea, Linden Flower, which is available from Stash Tea. We serve it with a splash of Orange Blossom Water and a half-spoon of honey. Just the thing before “lights out.” Stash also sells cast iron teapots from Japan that are enameled on the inside—take a look at the Dragonfly Tetsubin Teapot. If you pre-warm them with hot water, they keep tea hot for a long time.
www.uptontea.com
www.stashtea.com
The York, gastropub in Mt. Washington
Tried this place for the first time last night. FREEZING. Have they heard of heat? People were eating with their parkas on. The people who worked there were mostly in T-shirts. A few people left because it was so cold. The potato leek soup was great, but served lukewarm and with freezing temperatures, the soup would just get colder so we ate it fast instead of returning it. We were that hungry and hoped the soup would warm us up. Burger and fries delicious, Cuban sandwich too salty, and pricey considering -- which you'd think could cover the heat. We left as soon as we finished b/c our feet/toes were ice cold.
Looking for restaurants open on Christmas...
One year, we went to Empress Pavillion in Chinatown. A lot of families. We ate lobster and peking duck. We loved it.
Pho - in Glendale/Burbank?
gingergrass in silverlake, on the border of glendale also has pho
www.gingergrass.com
Pasadena Whole Foods - wow!
I had the smoked brisket sandwich. It was yummy! But I had to linger and look longingly at the meats to get someone's attention. After I ordered, people started lining up.... There was no pulled pork the day I was there.
We asked if we could eat our meats at the wine/tapas bar since it was the closest seating area...and we'd order a glass of wine or beer to go with. The bartender was perfectly amenable, friendly.
favorite lentil dish?
OMG, hadn't realized how many people love the crispy lentils with serrano ham at Cobras & Matadors. sometimes that's the only reason i'm there. i had no idea i liked lentils until i went there. either did some friends from santa barbara. they weren't too keen on the dish but after one bite, they said let's get another. i would love to know how they make that dish. sometimes it has too much balsamic or too crispy, sometimes just right.
Sakura House - Washington Blvd
sakura house is one of my favorite restaurants! if only we lived closer! they bragg that their briquettes come from japan. we love the gingko nuts, okra maki, green bean maki, eggplant, stuffed mushroom, chicken wing, chicken liver, quail egg. they have lots of daily specials too. did the chef/grillmaster look like a surfer dude? often when we're there, the grillmaster is bare-chested under the japanese style robe top with his long hair in a pony tail.
Good dinner at Vietnam House
Thanks for reminding me to return to Vietnam House. We were impressed by the 7 course beef dinner as well and keep vowing to go back, but since we frequent Luscious Dumplings at the same plaza, we get into this mindframe where we say we can't go back twice in one day.
Looking for a good special occasion spot on the Peninsula.
I fifth the Village Pub. Lots of charm and elegance. The menu's expanded since I've been to include charcuterie, cheese, bar food. You can always get the yummy pub burger and steak frites.
Lunch at Nami nami Mountain View
Lunch menu is limited, couldn't get that pork belly that the SF Chronicle raved about. We loved the nami nami bento box which came with a lot of superb little dishes like the homemade silken tofu. Service is a little too laissez faire for lunch when you don't want the meal to stretch over hours, but the food was great.
