bboy's Profile
Did you know that Benihana has "Endless Sushi" for $29.00?
Why would you post this? Stop assuming what we want to know and keep to yourself. Thanks for the tip, foodandwine!
Sea World in San Diego
We are taking our 2 kids (ages 4 and 2) to Sea World soon, and wondering about the special dining options they offer. You can have a buffet breakfast or lunch "backstage" with Shamu, or breakfast with Elmo and other Sesame Street characters. Has anyone done these? How is the food (better for breakfast or lunch?) How is the overall experience? Do you actually get to do/see anything unique enough to justify the expensive cost? Thanks.
REVIEW: Granville Cafe, Burbank
I guess it's all in your perspective. As a Burbank resident, I am thrilled to have a new place to eat quality food that doesn't include the words "Outback", "Hooters" or "Fuddrucker." When most of your local food options are on that level, a flawed-but-interesting place like Granville is a welcome alternative. I guess I wouldn't travel far to eat there, but when my wife and I find a babysitter to watch the kids and want a grown-up place with American food, Granville does the trick. Damning with faint praise?
Is Old Town Mexican Cafe in San Diego the place to go?
Thanks for the replies. It looks like somehow the rest of my original question was deleted. Any alternate suggestions for great Mexican in a family friendly atmosphere (I have 2 little kids, so a leisurely, 5-course meal probably ain't happening) would be appreciated. We are staying in Mission Bay.
Is Old Town Mexican Cafe in San Diego the place to go?
I should add that we do like the idea of handmade tortillas...
Sushi in Burbank
Is Nishi Ya the one at Victory and Western in the strip mall? A friend went there and raved. "Better than Nozawa!" I know some people here don't like Nozawa, but this guy meant it as a huge compliment. I've been meaning to go.
Minne&Friends Breakfast Buffet (Disneyland)?
We just took our daughter to the Minnie & Friends breakfast 2 weeks ago. It is expensive (around $25 for each adult), but if you eat around brunch time, it is enough food to carry you thru most of the day. The food is fine -- waffles, omelet bar, breakfast meats and pastries, fruit. If you don't have kids -- or aren't interested in getting 1-on-1 time with the characters -- you are paying a premium for nothing more than a decent breakfast buffet. If you are just eating there to get a big meal, you may not be saving any more than if you just grabbed breakfast and lunch separately in the park. The real reason to eat there is to get the quality time/photos with the characters. My daughter loved that part.
If you do decide to go, I recommend that you call the Disney Dining line in advance and make a reservation. Also, if you are getting to the park when it opens, definitely hit the popular rides when you get there before they get too crowded. Then plan to eat the brunch around 10-ish. If you eat first thing, lines will be forming by the time you get to the popular rides.
As other posts have mentioned, there are other buffets located in the Disney hotels. We've eaten at the California Adventure one in the past -- the food was about the same as the Minnie & Friends one, and you aren't in the park. I also think it's just open for breakfast. I believe the Goofy's Kitchen buffet is open for lunch, if you wanted to eat later.
Sushi with Brown Rice in LA area
Crazy Fish (Olympic and Doheny) used to do it -- I haven't been there in a while, so I'm not sure if they still offer it. You will get a lot strong anti-Crazy Fish rants here on Chowhound, but it has it's ardent fans, and is at least as good as sushi from a market.
Restaurant walking distance from Staples Center
The Palm is about a 1/2 block away from Staples, and is consistently good.
Memory Lapse - Pasadena eatery on Colorado
Now that I'm prompted to search for it online, it seems Scarantino's in Glendale is open. Wide open. I swear we went there a few years ago, and it was closed. Must have been temporary. I guess I know where we are eating this weekend!
Memory Lapse - Pasadena eatery on Colorado
Is this Scarantino's related to the one that used to be in Glendale? My wife grew up going there with her family, and has mourned its closing for years.
Ribs USA-Burbank? Anyone?
Ribs USA has the best wings in the valley, IMHO. You'll find plenty of threads on this site crowning Ye Old Rustic Inn's wings as the best in LA, and I think Ribs USA's are pretty close. Spicy fries are also a treat, and their hot links and spicy chicken (D's in the House) are also pretty good. Ribs are just ok, and the other sides are weak. But if wings are your thing, this place is pretty great.
Decent eating in Disneyland?
I will take a shot at defending Ariel's Grotto, at least for families with young girls who are into the Disney Princesses. No, the food isn't anything special (unless you consider warmed-over mac & cheese or hamburgers special). But we took my daughter there for her birthday last year, and she was transfixed for 90 minutes by being up close and personal with a handful of the Princesses. They came by, talked to her, took pictures, etc. It's not cheap -- about $25-$30/person. But when I saw the 2-hour wait inside the park to meet a princess, I thought this alternative was well worth it. Don't go for the food, but go instead for the time and headache it will save you later if you want to visit with some of the Princesses.
Burgers and Pizza
Please enlighten -- what is the difference between Chicago thin crust and NY thin crust?
Toddler-friendly dining?
Sunday nights at The Stand in Encino is like Woodstock for toddlers. Live music, and lots of little ones running around.
Restaurant eating challenges
I recently watched a show on the Travel Channel that detailed various eating challenges at certain restaurants across the country -- things like finishing a 72 oz steak at a place in Texas, a 12 pound pizza in St. Louis, and some 911-hot chicken wings in Delaware. Usually, there is a time limit, and there is a free meal or some prize for anyone able to complete the task. Does anything like this exist in Los Angeles?
Need nice restaurant in Santa Clarita
My in-laws are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary soon, and we'd like to get them a gift certificate to a nice, expensive restaurant. They live in Santa Clarita, and don't like to leave that area very much. Anything in the Morton's or Ruth's Chris category in the area? Anything fancy in the Italian or French genres? Thanks.
Is there a "real" Chicago pizza close to LA?
One place rarely mentioned is The Kitchen in Pasadena (sometimes called The Italian Kitchen, or the Kitchen Italian, or even by it's full name -- the Kitchen Italian Cafe and Pizzeria). The Chicago-style pizza there is the closest thing I've found in the general LA/Valley area. It's a deep dish pie-type crust, with lots of toppings and cheese to fill the pie. The biggest flaw -- the crust is not cornmeal, but rather a rather doughy bread that isn't at all what you'd find in Chicago. The pizzas also don't have sauce as the top layer (sauce is underneath the top layer of cheese.) That said, it's very good, and very filling in a Chicago-pizza sort of way. Definitely fork and knife!
The Kitchen Italian
78 W Union St,
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 796-9802
www.thekitchenitalian.com
LAwry's?
You can get free seconds on the Yorkshire pudding, but that's about it. Definitely worth the trip, though. We usually get the big cut -- either the Diamond Jim Brady or the Double cut, depending on how hungry we are -- and then split it. Lawry's will only charge you for the extra salad, and they will give you the extra plate so you split the meat. It's more than enough for 2.
Have you ordered from Costco's Service Deli?
Obviously, cost is one of the benefits of choosing Costco over premium delis like Brent's. For the money, I've found the croissant sandwich platter pretty good. I did not like the swiss hye roller at all, but I'm not sure I'd like that kind of thing anywhere. Regardless, I've been to lots of kids parties where both are served, and the food is devoured.
Encino Deli breakfast ... it's pretty bad
My family has been going to the Encino Deli/Bagel Nosh for years, and it has certainly gone downhill in the last 12-15 months. I believe there has been an ownership change, and somehow this has resulted in worse food and bad kitchen service (the servers are still friendly and helpful, but the orders are always wrong.) And the are apparently turning the front part of the deli -- where they currently sell take out, bagels, and bakery items -- into a pizzeria. Yes, their indifferent deli food will become more of an afterthought when a pizza place takes over half the restaurant.
Looking for Cheesecorn
Any place in LA with really good cheesecorn? Fresh popcorn with real cheese? All I've found are the ubiquitous popcorn tins at drug stores, and places online with expensive shipping and questionable freshness. Thanks.
Ariel's Grotto at Disneyland
My wife and I are taking our 3 year-old daughter to Disneyland soon, and I was told about the character dining at the Airel's Grotto at California Adventure. Has anyone eaten there? How is the food? What do you recommend? More importantly for my toddler -- are there lots of princess characters to interact with? Thanks.
Sushi-All U Can Eat by CBS Studios-Studio City?
Isn't suggesting eating at Nozowa instead a little like suggesting buying a BMW instead of a Honda Civic? Price is the obvious factor. Sometimes you just need a sushi fix on less than $80/person.
Steak! Inexpensive to Moderate $
You can't do better than Damon's for the quality and value.
Sushi-All U Can Eat by CBS Studios-Studio City?
I have been to A Ca Sushi, or as I now call it, a.k.a. Sushi. It's not very good. Fish tasted stale (though it's prepared on order) and the service was slower than slow (even for a time-limit AYCE place that is motivated not to bring out food quickly). I got very frustrated with the food quality and the service, and left hungry. The other posters are correct about Midori -- for good (not great) sushi at an afforable price, Midori is far superior.
Looking for Best Pizza in Burbank
Tony Bella's on Magnolia is very good. (I assume that's the "Tony's" your friend is referring to. Another 5 minutes gets you to Joe Peep's, at Whitsett and Magnolia. This is our absolute favorite East Valley pizza.
Scared of awful Burbank restaurants....
For Chinese, we always go to Frontier Wok (actually we go to Frontier Wok Too, which is the second location in Burbank and a nicer building.) Always good food.
