Yes. Why does this list never change?

I am also in the Valley, and have had some great lunches. I recommend Bistro Orient, in a strip mall in Woodland Hills but some of the best, freshest Vietnamese seafood I have ever eaten, Itzik Hagadol in Encino, skip the food and order ten-15 of their assorted salads for a cheap and amazing meal, the Neiman Marcus Cafe in Woodland Hills for the ladies who lunch atmosphere, and Paradise Cove, because nothing feels better than sand between your toes and a glass of wine at noon, food quality be damned!

That sounds fabulous. How many courses did you get for that price with wine?

You won't be dissapointed by any of those choices. I have had the tasting menu's at them all, minus Osteria Mozza. I think it depends on your choice of atmosphere. Melisse is the most elegant, for instance. But hands down Saam is the most fun. If you want to keep it under $500 inclusive for two though, be careful what you drink. I think at Saam we spent $1600 for three, with wine pairings and the recommended bottle of white, and coffee.

Thank you so much for the tips! I can't wait to try them out.

I am so sorry to ask this, as I feel strongly that if I knew where to look I could find the thread! But there are so many sushi spots, (including of course "The Sushi Spot) in the West Valley, and I would really love to hear what is good now. We live in Woodland Hills, and are big Sushi fans, but have expensive tastes and haven't been out for a meal together for a while. I am not terribly interested in "roll" restaurants, or places known more for their portion sizes than the quality of their fish. And I would prefer somewhere a little less expensive than Icki. In the past our favorites were Shibuya and Brothers. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

Read the whole post, can I really be the only one who is grossed out by bananas?

Can't believe no one has said caviar yet. Sustainably sourced of course! And I would have a wall of champagne like on AbFab!

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OK, I know the desert round is the toughest one. But I think there needs to be some sort of moratorium on "Pain Perdue" or "French Toast" in round three. Do the contestants not watch the show and not realized how predictable and boring that choice is? Or do they watch the show too much and now the dish and the round are inextricably bound together in their heads, so that in that moment of pressure it is all they can think of?

jhopp, I do not indulge myself, but your mother does sound like the reason I voted to legalize medical marijuana. She may be very uncomfortable with the concept, but you can get it in pills, which may be easier for her to, forgive me, swallow, than the idea of smoking a joint. Good luck, and I hope my kids take as good care of me as you do of your mom. She must be a great lady.

I was really more playing devils advocate. To many of us "Trust the Chef" is an exciting way to dine. I don't go out to eat to experience the same tastes over and over. However, the only thing more irritating than a fellow diner at a fabulous spot ordering only dry salad, is rude servers being unnecessarily curt. Did the server decine the changes with a smile, and suggest something else on the menu that might be more appealing? Cause while yes, there will be people lining up for the soup nazi if the soup is good enough, I won't be one of them. (Kudos to them though, for all the press!)

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Trust the chef is fine, but at the end of the day not always a great business model. Even Ramsay on his many shows, after spitting out the chef's food, is accommodating, sometimes I feel over accommodating, to his guests. I think that the philosophy can work in a small space, Sushi Nozawa for instance. I personally only went there once and was far too irritated to return, but they only need to hold on to a core clientele to succeed. But the restaurant biz is tough. Today's "It" spot with no name over the door is selling half priced groupons tomorrow. While I applaud the chef for sticking to his principles even with slebs, I fear that he may eventually regret not "holding the dressing." Also another poster mentioned that temperatures on proteins were also pre-set. What if he insisted on well done meat? How many chowhounds would return? At the end of the day his insistence on his way or the highway is bound to end in tears.

Chow needs a "like" button.

Alliegator, can you please post a follow up? I am dying to hear how the evening went! Thanks for such an interesting thread.

If you have the budget, try Brandywine. Fabulous old-fashioned French.

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Brandywine Restaurant
22757 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364

THanks everyone fokr the tips. Think I 'll try Thai and I first!

Living in Woodland Hills my choices for Thai are few. Thai BBQ is good, but I am seriously ISO something GREAT. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I am willing to drive, but not over the hill, I already all the great spots over there!

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West Valley Cafe
5353 Balboa Blvd Ste 101, Encino, CA 91316

This was an AMAZING meal and an incredible bargain. We bought something similar for Onyx at the Four Seasons Westlake. Not expecting the same star wattage as there was in BH, but hoping for for great food again just the same.

In Germany once I went to a new friend's home for dinner, and we were served chicken legs in some sort of a hardboiled egg sauce, and canned peach halfs with heavy cream poured on top. It was very, very 1950's Betty Crocker. That was over 15 years ago and I stil remember it for it's oddness. Oh, and while at a VERY highbrow wedding in Japan, I was amused to discover jumbo prawns with the heads still attached as the protein in the kids meal! I ate them, they were delicious. My kids were scared.

And really, the "wild" meat was farmed. Would it have been OK if it had been culled locally? Instread of farmed abroad? Or is that worse? And does anyone watch "the Last Restaurant Standing?" One of the contestants was ridiculed for wanting to open a restaurant that served only local food. For much of the world only local only is simply not possible. This discussion could go on and on. Rick doesn't cook fish at risk of extinction. Cudos to him for that!

In the late lamented "Good Family" animated program, their version of Whole Foods had melon, organic melon, organic sustainable melon, and local organic sustainable melon all available, and of the price went up and up with each choice. I would bet that a majority of Americans, (not of chowhounds of course!) didn't get that joke, and most of them have no idea what "sustainable" means. I am glad that the topic was brought up in such a public forum, and hope is is being discussed across the country, and not just being debated by foodies who disagree on the semantics.

Chef June, I was so happy to read what you said about Marcus's charity. I thought the chefs were all brilliant, but I was especially thrilled at all that money going to such a wonderful cause.

One of the most enjoyable evening's of my life. 23 courses, not every one was perfect, but it was fun fun fun and worth every penny.

We are off to Saam tonight, thanks for all the help fellow chowhounds!

Trader Joe's and Costco's Orange Chicken I think are better than Panda Express.

Morton's does them sometimes, check their website.

LOL now I really can't wait to watch!! I have it on Tivo for tonight.....

We started with two beers and a cocktail, then had the full nine courses paired with wine. And that price included tax and tip, so the bill must have been closer to $800 before, which makes sense I guess if you paid $400 for 2. The chef came out after and sent us home with breakfast, but the really funny thing was that our Japanese guest got hungry and had a bowl of noodles when we got home! The Japanese influence made it a poor choice for us, IE we were served Wagyu, which although a treat for me was just not for our guest. Not that he eats it every day but it just wasn't that special for him. I think I am going to try Saam, Spanish sounds like a perfect choice.