Silverlaker's Profile
Any good Mexican food in Silver Lake?
I love Mixto and eat there once a week (at least). It's not authentic Mex -- healthy'ish Mex. Terrific tacos and whole wheat burritos. A better version of Hugo's Tacos.
Christmas Dinner, Santa Fe
We'll be in Santa Fe for the holidays and looking for a mid-range restaurant for our big holiday meal. Would like something on the traditional end, food-wise. Thinking Bishop's Lodge buffet or Table For Two -- thoughts?
A few years ago, we had a fantastic buffet at Hyatt Regency Tamaya for Thanksgiving -- and I usually detest buffets! Does anyone know how Bishop's Lodge's buffet compares w Tamaya's? (We want to stay local to Santa Fe on XMAS, otherwise we'd go back to Tamaya).
Open to other suggestions, thanks!
NEW RESTAURANTS in SANTA FE?
We're doing our yearly pilgrimage to Santa Fe for the holidays and wondering if there's new eats -- looking for high-end and just "good eats." Thanks.
P.S. We know Santa Fe well -- so just looking for new restaurants, thanks!
Hubby bday -- wants to go somewhere on the Westside
I just called the Tasting Kitchen for a reservation in 2 weeks and they don't have a good time -- plus I got a bit of tude. It's annoying when you say you want a 8pm reservation, that they answer back with a "I have 7pm and 10pm." Guess what the courteous reply is. "I"m sorry, but we're pretty full. I only have a 7pm or a 10pm, but will put you on our waiting list and be sure to call you if we get your time." That's good customer service. Oy.
Anyway, I may check out Gjelina, but it may be too sceny for us. Wilshire isn't near anything walkable, right? My husband wants to take a nice walk after dinner -- which is why I'm thinking of Abbot K, Main Street or SM proper -- or Montana, but there's nothing really good there, right?
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Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Hubby bday -- wants to go somewhere on the Westside
I think we're going to go here. I did more research and looks good. Thanks for the rec!
Hubby bday -- wants to go somewhere on the Westside
Their menu is rather hard to make out -- what are their specialties?
Hubby bday -- wants to go somewhere on the Westside
$120-150 dinner for two (we're not big drinkers, btw). We esp like CA cuisine and Italian. Also upscale Mex like Babita or Riveria (which we did last year on his bday). Thinking about:
FIG
TASTING KITCHEN
GJELINA -- worried that we'll be rushed.
Hubby wants somewhere where we can walk after dinner -- like Abbot K, Main Street or SM, proper. We're east-siders who used to live in SM and haven't been back in awhile. We're not into "the scene", per se, but very into good food and having a nice, leisurely dinner.
Thanks all!
Annoying service at Cafe Stella in Silverlake
We walked out a few months ago when they wouldn't let us order the burger at the main restaurant when the bar was full. They lost $60 for their "integrity."
Hubby bday -- wants to go somewhere on the Westside
Santa Monica or Venice. What's new and fabulous? Not that interested in Indian, Thai or Japanese (we eat a lot of the later). Thx!
Trip to LA food report
I just have to add about doing cuisine research when traveling -- my husband and I travel quite a bit (he's away on location a lot) and one thing I ALWAYS do is go to the local Hound site and do extensive research. I often don't even have to post. But this takes TIME. It's worth it tho, I get a healthy list of places where the locals go and it's pretty amazing, we've NEVER been disappointed. My husband always comments how thankful he is for all the research -- we end up saving money (by going to affordable places that the locals frequent) and it's an authentic and enjoyable experience.
We do use YELP as a supplement when we're traveling -- specifically when we're on the road or just want to grab a casual bite on the run. Very good for that.
Getting back to the OP, not to keep on ragging on him, but if we knew you were going to the Farmers Market, we'd all probably suggest for you to ck out the pretty well known LOTERIA GRILL over the French place, which is fine, but not amazing. In fact, LA really isn't known for its French restaurants -- we have a few, yes, but that's not where I'd personally send you (nor would I think most locals, esp if you were coming from a city that had more noteworthy French restaurants).
Santa Fe and ABQ - what's new these last two years...?
It's been two years since we've visited, what's new and good?
Where to take hubby on his b-day?
Thanks for the recs! We've gone to all except Drago and the Laxy Ox. I think we're going to try Rivera -- a bit confused about the diff rooms but we're going on a Sunday night and I don't anticipate it will be too busy for us to change if we want.
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Drago Restaurant
2628 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Where to take hubby on his b-day?
Thanks! I was just doing a search on Rivera as we speak!!! My husband loves Babita, what room do you suggest? I'm confused!
Where to take hubby on his b-day?
We've been out of town these past few months and don't know what's new and good. We're east-siders but will go anywhere. Looking for upscale but not outrageously pricey (dinner for two $100-150, not big drinkers). We're open food-wise. Thanks!
Iteniary (and logistical) questions for upcoming Chicago weekend trip
Will definitely do!
Iteniary (and logistical) questions for upcoming Chicago weekend trip
Wow guys/gals thanks so much! If ever in LA, will return the favor. Really appreciate it -- we're only in town for 2 1/2 days which calls for everything sch'd.
Here's our plan: Perennial on Saturday night, Mercat a la Planxa on Sunday night (we don't have a lot of Spanish tapas options in LA) and hoping to do brunch when we come in on Saturday at Mundial Cocina Mestiza (and take in the Mex museum). We were in town over Thanksgiving and did Frontera, one of the well known pizza joints (forget which one) and David Burke for Thanksgiving dinner. The high-light was the German festival near our hotel (Hotel Burnham).
Again, many thanks -- looking forward to our weekend!
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Mundial Cocina Mestiza
1640 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Iteniary (and logistical) questions for upcoming Chicago weekend trip
Thanks for the heads up on the show! I'm going to move our resies earlier to 6pm. Do you like Perennial? Any other restaurants on the way or nearby you can recommend? Nsxtasy gave us a list of restaurants nearby, nothing really knocked my socks off, so thinking of a restaurant on the way -- think that puts us around Lincoln Park (we're staying at Hotel Burnham). We're going to take a cab.
Iteniary (and logistical) questions for upcoming Chicago weekend trip
Thanks again, nxstasy. I wrote this before I did the research on Wicker Park, Pilsen and now know that they are still considered in the city and not true suburbs. On our last trip to Chicago in Thanksgiving, we were just focused "in the loop," this trip hopefully we'll explore other neighborhoods.
Are there any other interesting restaurants that you think will be open for lunch on the 4th? We have gastropubs in our neighborhood back home and went to Pizano's last trip (pizza for lunch is a bit too heavy for us). We'll be back from our CAF tour at 1pm and then going to Second City at 4pm -- wouldn't mind something near SC if that neighborhood is interesting.
Thanks again for all your help, our time is very limited on this trip wh leaves us little wiggle room.
Iteniary (and logistical) questions for upcoming Chicago weekend trip
Thanks all! Yes, we are planning to "cab it" (is that right vernacular? I'm such a LA person). We have no problem w cabs, coming from LA it's fun for us (I know, sounds lame, but it is..).
Question -- should I move the Perennial resies earlier? OR choose a different restaurant? We really liked the menu. I was considering North Pond, but that menu really didn't interest me, esp for the price-point.
For lunch on the 4th, not sure if The Gage is open on the 4th plus, we really want to get in a Chi dog or try an Italian beef sandwich (and something casual).
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North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Iteniary (and logistical) questions for upcoming Chicago weekend trip
Thanks for your patience here. Our itinerary keeps on evolving. So w the help of nsxtasy (thank you!), here's what I've come up with:
SATURDAY:
-Driving into town from Michigan. Would love to explore the burbs. Thinking about: WICKER PARK or PILSEN -- have some options for Pilsen restaurant, need some lite lunch options for Wicker Park.
-6:15pm early dinner at Perennial (seeing the Aaron Sorkin play that night)
SUNDAY, 4th:
-Doing a CAF bus tour in the morning, thinking of having lunch at Portillo's -- looking for an authentic, Chi experience that will be open on the 4th and nearby CAF (224 S Michigan Ave).
-Seeing 4pm Second City Show, then back to hotel burnham to change for dinner
-8:15pm dinner at MERCAT A LA PLANXA. Walk down to Taste of Chi and hopefully see some fireworks -- somewhere:). We know it'll be hectic. Whatever.
Monday:
-We're going to be heading back to Detroit (we're from LA, hubby is working there) and would love a fantastic place for breakfast or lunch that would be open on a Monday (I know, difficult)... maybe along lake front? I think that's the street that runs along the lake, I forget, oy! Guess who is in charge of directions/maps on our vacas -- not me:).
NOTE: this is our second trip to Chi in the last seven months... did a lot on our first trip. Thanks!!!
4th of July Dinner Recs, Pulz (part 2)
Continuing this from another thread, we're visiting from LA, staying at Hotel Burnham and looking for a fun place to dine on July 4th, preferably in a fun, hip neighborhood (hubby and I are in our 30s, no children).
We have resies for Mercat a La Planxa -- we love tapas -- but concerned the neighborhood may not be so fun to hang out post dinner. Would love to see fireworks but not up for the crazy crowds. Touristy spots like Navy Pier (think that's what it's called) not really our scene. Thoughts?
NOTE: we spent last Thanksgiving weekend in your city, had a great time, and ate at David Burke, Frontera and one of the pizza joints, forget which one.
Dinner near Timeline Theatre, Lincoln Park (I think)
Wow, thanks so much for all the terrific info! We went to David Burke for Thanksgiving and enjoyed it very much. The menu for North Pond doesn't look as interesting to me as Perennial though I understand it is probably a more sophisticated restaurant. The tapas restaurant sounds up our alley for the next night (the 4th) and just made reservations. And I'll check out your suggestion for the Pilsen neighborhood, excellent!
Next time you're in LA, love to guide you on our end. We live in the Silverlake/Los Feliz area which has a lot of neat restaurants, if you ever get to that part of town. We enjoy Animal very much and yes, The Griddle is very much a LA experience -- you can see many a young actor there, mid-morn on a Saturday, nursing a hangover.
Thanks again!
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North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Dinner near Timeline Theatre, Lincoln Park (I think)
Would love other recs, doing my research you look like the authority on Chicago and it's appreciated!
We recently stayed at the Burnham over Thanksgiving so would like other options other than Atwood Cafe, esp on the 'night in question.' I'm leaning away from Mexican as we may be going to the National Museum of Mexicana Art early that day and if we do that, will get brunch in the neighborhood (btw, open to suggestions there, forget the neighborhood, but it's suppose to be Mexican central which we love).
So here's our needs:
- restaurant on the way to the theater (we'll probably take a cab, it's fun for us as we live in LA and never take taxis.)
- brunch/lunch place near the Museum of Mexicana art (Sat)
- oh, also a good breakfast/lunch place near our hotel that you think may be open on the 4th... in your opinion, should we do Taste of Chicago, or pick something nearby for dinner? Would love to get a late-night dinner w a view of the fireworks, that would be fun.
Wow, I'm asking a lot. Writing this, I realize my needs. May start another topic if it's too much --
But thank you so much! I spent hours last night doing research and just got overwhelmed.
Btw, if you're ever in LA, you must try Babita - not in the most glamorous part of town, but one of our more interesting Mexican restaurants in town and one of our favs -- in the vein of Chilam Balam.
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Taste of Chicago Restaurant
3170 S Ashland Ave Ste H, Chicago, IL 60608
Dinner near Timeline Theatre, Lincoln Park (I think)
Looking for a place more like Perennial (seems like it's on the way), just made reservations there. Thoughts?
Dinner near Timeline Theatre, Lincoln Park (I think)
Having second thoughts about the restaurant (too small, no alcohol, limited menu) -- this may be our one big meal in town and like to have more an upscale experience (and, yeah, Mexican may not be our first choice as we eat it on a weekly basis back home). We're staying at the Hotel Burnham and can eat around there (show doesn't start until 8:30pm) or somewhere on the way -- we'll have a car and may drive, if it gives us more options or take a cab. Thanks again!
Dinner near Timeline Theatre, Lincoln Park (I think)
Thanks for your response! I just realized I had the area wrong so thanks for clarifying. You're right, the menu looks really interesting for Chilam Balam, went ahead and made reservations at 6pm. Since the play doesn't start until 8:30pm and they don't serve alcohol, any nearby bars you recommend or deserty places? By chance, is the neighborhood interesting for walking/browsing?
Dinner near Timeline Theatre, Lincoln Park (I think)
Out of towner here. Have tixs for "The Farnsworth Invention" next Saturday night and looking for a place for dinner nearby -- perhaps Lincoln Park? We're from Los Angeles and like to have something good and regional (budget around $100 for 2, not big drinkers). Thanks!
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Los Angeles Cafe
280 E Haven Ave # 30, New Lenox, IL 60451
Best Kielbasa in Detroit?
Terrific, I think I had this written down in my notes -- thanks!
Best Kielbasa in Detroit?
I'm an out-of-towner visiting Detroit area for a month. Can someone recommend a good restaurant where I can get Kielbasa? I'm from LA and don't really know Polish food. Have car and will travel (staying in Birmingham). Thanks!
