I'm looking into making a reservation at a group of restaurants, which includes L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. L'Atelier is very convenient for us, I've heard wonderful things, and the current tasting menu peaks my interest. But as it's in the MGM Grand, I'm worried about whether the smoking environment of the hotel/casino (through the ventilation, tapestries over the years, etc.) bother even the most sensitive of noses.

2 places come to mind based on my experience:

Cafe O'Lei on a recommendation from some locals - Great local restaurant with a kitchy little bar that would work well for solo dining. They have amazing uni (probably the best I've ever had, including in Santa Barbara and all the best sushi spots in LA) and to-die-for mahi-mahi.

Maui Tacos - A fast-food joint on the recommendation of some executive chefs associated with the hotel we stayed at. Amazing tacos and salsas, especially the avacoda one which spice just lingers and lingers and gets hotter and hotter after you've already swallowed.

There are other great places that I could recommend but not so much for solo dining. Other places that I have not yet tried (and thus unsure about solo dining) but have heard great things - Mama's Fish House and Nick's Fishmarket.

Colori Kitchen's new space did not end up working for us, so in search of another restaurant that can accommodate about 20 people preferably on a fixed menu. Any type of food, looking for a cool vibe in downtown or the Silverlake/Los Feliz area. Unpretentious, easy, casual. Price point about $25-40/person with drinks or a great BYOB policy.

Emailed Lazy Ox Canteen yesterday but no response yet, and getting pretty close to the date we need.

Thanks all!

I live in Los Angeles and will be in Cancun for 24 hours before heading to Playa del Carmen. I'm looking for seafood/Mexican only (unless there is something else that is very special and not to be missed), with an atmosphere/experience that is cheap, local, and casual. Any suggestions on the road to PDC would also be very appreciated.

I've been going through some threads and see many mentions of Los de Pescado or Los Pescadillos for the pork tacos - I can't tell, however, which one the consensus is about as I've also seen people confused about different spelling variations.

We will be a party of 4 with one of them being an out of town friend who doesn't like small plates and out of the box creativity with food. If it wasn't for that, I would have chosen Ink, my current favorite LA restaurant. Price is not a concern.

I've narrowed it down to these, some of which may conflict with the out of towner's preference. This is from my personal list of restaurants to try that I've never put too much effort in crossing off my list but I feel I should try at some point in my life if it's convenient, and this might be one of those convenient times. If a few of you who have been to any of these could help me narrow it down further based on the out of towner, I'd appreciate it.

Providence - I'm really hoping this one will work based on others' knowledge about their plates.

Osteria Mozza

The Tasting Kitchen

Son of a Gun - I've been to Animal and thought the plates were pretty good size especially when you share a bunch of them.

Cut - I know for sure this one will be good for the out of towner.

No need to suggest alternatives since my secondary goal is to go somewhere that I've never been but have wanted to try. Thanks!

Oh wow. I was planning on going tonight on the way to the gym, but no longer needed to because I got produce near work. But still sad.

I agree about sometimes being a hit or miss with some fruit, and I wish they had more organic berries and fuji apples. But they are a regular neighborhood stop for me and my husband.

I really liked Paul Martin's salmon salad the one time I've been there. I'll try the french dip next time. Thanks!

Agree with the change since SBE took over.

I recently went to a dinner party where the theme was Vietnamese comfort foods. One of the dishes was called Thit Kho, it's basically rice and carmelized braised beef with whole cooked eggs. In this dish, the hostess used quail eggs. She said her mother who is Vietnames prefers using regular chicken eggs for this dish, but the hostess likes the presentation of the dish with the smaller sized eggs.

It's a delish dish, and I plan on making it soon myself. You can find recipes online for Thit Kho.

I was hoping to hear about the Peninsula's from someone who has done it as I'm on a similar hunt, and I've always been curious about their tea and food. I've seen ladies afternoon tea'ing it on numerous occasions on my way up from valet to the spa. My only observance from those passings by is that the Peninsula's afternoon tea looks pretty formal.

Does anyone know if Bazaar at the SLS Hotel still has one? It's not described on their website.

Glad to hear the butterscotch budino is still that good! I loved it the last time I dined there, but that was a few years ago. I remember the bartender served it with a cocktail pairing. I can't wait to try that again. thx for the review!

I've done the research myself, and settled on Julienne in downtown for our 1 open night. You'll probably see a lot of posts already about that restaurant.

I agree! All of the Hillstone Group's french dip sandwiches are SO good.

I was pleasantly suprised at what it calls the Singaporean noodles at the chain restaurant Chin Chin's. It really reminded me of the noodles at this Singaporean hole-in-the-wall in the Kensington neighborhood of London. I used to eat those noodles in London maybe 3 times a week during the summer I was there. And when I had the noodles at Chin Chin's, it reminded me a lot of the noodles in London.

Casablance on Lincoln is a semi-quirky hole in the wall in my opinion. I think it's a Mexican restaurant, or at least that's what it looks like to me, and have a Sunday brunch that's pretty cheap in my opinion with fresh homeade tortillas an bottomless sangrias and other drinks. And you get flan at the end.

I second Colori Kitchen, although some people may think it's in a bit of a sketchy part of downtown.

I'd also recommend Bottega Louie. It's a beautiful restaurant with decent pricing for your per diem. Must tries in my opinion are the portobello frieds and the lamb appetizer. Skip the souffle that I think they oversell.

Too bad no car this year, there are a few great new ones in the last year that are outside of downtown. But you should be good with the reccs here.

I ate there a month ago for the first time in years. It was a Friday or Saturday night and I was surprised that it wasn't so busy, at least not like I remember where it was packed on the weekends during normal dinner hours. The garlic chicken, beans, and plantains were still as great as I remember.

I really agree. I love Clementine's chocolate chip cookies. They are made exactly the way I like - thin and very chewy without being soft and gets crispy on the edges. The only thing I don't like is how greasy they are, but so so good.

There's also Napa Valley Grille with a patio area or Bibigo for Korean food. Both within walking distance.

Ramen Yamadaya on Washington because the broth is very flavorful and the spicy ramen is actually spicy! As I write this though, I'm wondering if other ramen shops have the spicy paste to add like Yamadaya does. I can only recall getting chilli oil whenever I ask for my ramen to be spicy, which absolutely does NOT to the trick.

Also, I'm not a ramen connoisseur and don't travel far just for ramen, so this is limited to the westside.

This is all great info! Thanks so much!

hi all,
I think the title says most of what I am looking for. I do want to add that my husband and I will be there only for 3 days and 2 nights. So we just need the best reccs for lunch or dinner nearby, and some wineries not too far. Any cuisine, any price range, looking for must-try amazing. We may have breakfast at the bistro at the Bacara and dinner 1 night at Miro, the fine dining restaurant at the Bacara, if there don't seem to be any must-try amazing places around.

thanks!

Taking my hipster cousin out for dinner, and she loves everything but Chinese. Near Fairfax/Melrose or not so far south or west of that area. Somewhere lively and not bank breaking (limit is $40pp without drinks, tax, tip). Trying to avoid Red O. Was thinking Luna Park, which I used to frequent but stopped maybe 5 years ago - I went recently and the food was not good.

Some of these sound very similar to my friends "fried" version, which is mashing the yolks with a splash of milk, salt, pepper, EVOO, mustard, garlic, and parsely. So I may just go with that version and just not fry it.

Thanks everyone!

Does anyone have a deviled egg recipe that does not include mayo (I hate even writing that word)? I have a good non-measurement recipe for a type of "fried deviled eggs" using mustard, but not sure if it will be good not fried.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I actually forgot that Animal and Tasting Kitchen were ones on my husband's list to try next. I will also look into Red Medicine.

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Red Medicine
8400 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Really wanted to take my huband to dinner for his birthday at INK, but the days around his birthday are booked. Can you recommend another nice restaurant with a lot of great buzz about the chef/food? I'm looking for something fairly new, maybe open the past year as I'd like to take him someplace new. Any kind of food, staying in the LA area (not greater LA area).

If I can't find something else, thinking about Cut.

I dined at the Marina's SugarFish and was so impressed by their sushi - was clean, so fresh, and I'm loving the warmer sushi rice. I think I could do wtihout the seeds on the salmon sushi though. Although the blue crab handroll was no match for Echigo or Zo.

I'm contemplating between the Brentwood one (never been) and Nagao for lunch today. I haven't been to Nagao in a while, and I realy miss it. So I'm doing my search on Nagao now...

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Nagao
13050 San Vicente Blvd Ste 110, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Echigo
12217 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 201, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Mizu 212 for shabu shabu on Sawtelle, inbetween Santa Monica and Olympic. They also have organic veggies, and most of the seating is counter ordering.

If anyone has dined since it opened, please post a review!