EricDC

Off the Beaten Path Breakfasts

For my money, there's just no better breakfast than at Cora's Coffee Shop in Santa Monica.

on May 18, 2012

Best Sushi at "Odd" Hours (Midnight, 4 PM, etc.)? Westside Preferred!

Not to be rude, I hope, but, can we get back on topic to the OP's initial question about places that are open at odd hours?

Because I, too, often find myself craving sushi and the like at 10 PM and later, and I'd love to have a quiver of sushi arrows to dip into...

on May 13, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Cheap Lunch in Santa Monica?

* There's a Thai place on 4th just below Wilshire.
* The diner, Cafe Crepe, on the edge of the third street promenade at Broadway is good and cheap. (Swingers, near Bay Cities, is likely above your price point.)

If you have a car or are willing to walk slightly farther, there's also:

* Big Jo's Burgers on Broadway and 20th.
* 18th street coffee house on Broadway and 18th, which has good food.
* a great bagel place - NYBD - on Wilshire at 22nd. (Bagel Nosh and the two kosher-style delis, also on Wilshire, are skippable.)

Good luck.

on May 09, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Umami Burgers....Worth the price ??

Not worth it. The burgers are just OK, and certainly not worth their price point.

To wit: Father's Office charges the same, and the burgers there are MUCH better, IMO.

Umami burgers are no better than an average burger place. They just throw on a few more fancy toppings. IMO: skippable. Save your money.

on May 09, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

I have never, ever, had a bad meal at ____________and I have eaten there over a dozen times!

To me, the food always reminded me of my college dining hall. Always the same; never terrible, but never something you'd choose if you could go elsewhere.

And I don't think I've ever been present when there were not also loud and/or crying children. Double negative for me.

on May 07, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

I have never, ever, had a bad meal at ____________and I have eaten there over a dozen times!

Comme ca
Bay Cities
Santouka

Literally the only places I've ever gone that many times, at least that I can think of... a dozen?

Although, I guess that is testament to the places they've forged in my heart.

on May 04, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

I have never, ever, had a bad meal at ____________and I have eaten there over a dozen times!

I'm sorry - SOUPLANTATION?! You've never had a bad meal at Souplantation?

Yikes.

on May 04, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Giant XLB's reviewed by J.Gold - Wang Xing Ji

After all the chatter I've been reading, I went ahead and checked it out today.

My diagnosis: DEFINITELY worth checking out. Both interesting and tasty. I was pleased.

We ate: regular XLB; the huge XLB; scallion pancakes, pork belly rice, cold cucumber in garlic sauce, and cold fish.

All good. Fish and the XLB were definite favorites. We even ordered seconds of the regular size XLB. NOTE: more people there were eating the cold fish than the XLB! I guess it's a specialty there; it was quite good.

Next time around, gonna try the sesame noodles and the salt and pepper puffball things. So, that's saying I'd surely return, and I do recommend it.

on Apr 29, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Best Frisee Salad in LA?

#1 best frisee aux lardons in LA, IMO: Comme Ca.

Not only is it near you and not only is it awesome, but if you ask them, they'll put a SECOND deliciously poached, runny egg on top for you.

Perfect if you're, say, splitting the delicious salad with a loved one.

(And damn, are their lardons excellent.)

on Apr 25, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Mislabeled Sushi reported by the LA Times- should not surprise anyone......

Hear hear. Hell, remember the huge "Chilean sea bass" craze of a decade ago?

That Patagonian Toothfish ain't no relation to any sea bass I ever heard of....

on Apr 19, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Marina del Rey- First Timer

Funny, I think their Bockwurst is #1....

That said, I'm not sure I'd pick Wurstkuche as a "must-do / best of the area" lunch place. For me, that would have to, be without question, Venice Ale House.

Right on the beach, better food than Wurstkuche, better drink selection, better view, same price point. So it wins on all fronts. At least, IMO.

on Apr 13, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

In LA for work Sat - Tues.....where to eat alone?

Here's a second rec. for Bottega Louie!

on Apr 12, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Kid Friendly Non-Chains: Santa Monica/Westside?

There's a ton of great rec's on this thread.

That said, I'd advise against both the Counter and Zengo's. Not as an attack against their recommenders, it just strikes me that these two don't really fit with your parameters, as (a) they are both in fact chains, and (b) they are arguably sucky. (Or, at least, I won't go to them, as I would argue that they do, in fact, kind of suck.)

on Apr 10, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Dining near Kyoto Grand Hotel in LA

I remember years ago going to - and quite enjoying - the Japanese breakfast at the Kyoto Grand Hotel.

Do they still have it? Did you try it, and if so, was it any good?

on Mar 26, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Authentic French bistro/brasserie (not fine dining) Westside to South Bay preferred

Madame Chou Chou is relatively expensive, but everyone in there always seems happy with what they're eating..

on Mar 26, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

LA's Oldest Still-Thriving Restaurants

Chez Jay in Santa Monica has been around since the 1950's.

And hasn't the Golden Bull in SaMo been around since the golden age of television?

on Mar 22, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Great places to grab lunch/dinner on the road from LAX to Palm Springs on I-10

Two great casual places near the airport that are frequent bring-alongs for me when I pick up new folks in town are:

Johnnie's Pastrami - a great over-stuffed sandwich place, serving only three things of note, in my opinion: huge pastrami on rye, huge corned beef on rye, and thick-cut fries.

Dinah's Family restaurant, just north of LAX near the Howard Hughes center - the best Chicken and Waffles anywhere. Leagues above Roscoe's or just about anywhere else I've ever had them. I've never eaten anything else there, and I wouldn't (except maybe to add eggs to the chicken and waffles). The single best execution of a west coast standard that I know.

on Mar 15, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Gravy Ramen at Kanpai Sushi - anyone tried it?

Nobody? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? ... Frye? Frye? Frye?

on Feb 15, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Restaurant on Union near SC?

I like this place. Have been a handful of times. Great small plates, and I am not usually a small plates guy. Very good wines by the glass, too, and I'm not usually an order-wine-out guy.

Man, from the look of this post, I'm not much of an anything guy. But, be that as it may, I do like Bacaro. Great cheese selection, good small plates (scallops, beef are two well-made dishes I recall and would eat again). Not a large place by any stretch, but still quite nice.

on Feb 15, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Gravy Ramen at Kanpai Sushi - anyone tried it?

After all the talk on this board about Kanpai Sushi, I went to try it the other night. I agree: pretty solid, a bit overpriced, but a good place to have around.

That said, I noticed that they don't serve ramen until after 10 PM, which would have been fine... except that they had something on their menu called gravy ramen, which totally intrigued me.

Has anyone tried this? Is it like ramen in Curry Rice sauce? What's it like? Is it delicious? I am unbelievablyq curious.

on Feb 14, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area

Need a Good lunch place near USC

Here's another vote for the on-campus Fig.

Langer's is great; the neighborhood around it looks shady and the restaurant is very much a throwback inside, but the food is undeniable. So that's a good choice as well that I'd second.

If you want to take him downtown, Bottega Louie is pretty hip, attractive, tasty and tasteful.

on Feb 12, 2012

EricDC in Los Angeles Area