swojahn's Profile
Best Omakase in Los Angeles for $100?
I second (third?) the Hiko recommendation. I live in the neighborhood and eat there often. The sushi is absolutely mind-blowing every time. He puts all his money into the fish. You will not be disappointed and can easily spend under 100 dollars for lunch.
Casual Business Lunch in Santa Monica
Skip El Cholo. Border Grill, even Houston's is pretty good for lunch. We like the patio at Lula (on Main). La Petit Cafe on Colorado (plenty of street parking except Thursdays). Also Il Moro on Purdue, just south of Olympic has a great patio and very nice lunch menu.
Four days in LA--your top picks?
Fish taco Friday's are celebrated each week at Lares, on Pico in Santa Monica. It is my favorite fish taco anywhere and nice, family run place. Wonderful Savanitas too.
Spago Bev Hills is still wonderful. Cozy, friendly and delivers every time.
I also love the beautiful, small dining room at Capo, Bruce Marder's place on the beach in Santa Monica. Nice seasonal menu, expensive, star-sightings.
Santa Monica by the Pier recs please
Lula and the Galley on Main, Tacos Por Favor at 14th/Olympic, Houston's is a chain, but decent value and tasty. If the weather's nice, it's hard to beat a piece of pizza from Perry's and watch the world skate by on the boardwalk down by Ocean Park . . .
PLEASE POST YOUR VOTES HERE: Ultimate Los Angeles Restaurants 2008
under:
Tacos Por Favor (SM)
Clementine
Father's office (Culver City)
Le Petite Cafe (SM)
Lula (SM)
over:
Capo
Craft
Hiko Sushi
Patina
Saddle Peak Lodge
Is there a better sandwich place than Bay Cities???
just tried it last Fri evening. Couldn't have been more enjoyable. Small, neighborly, wonderful small charcuterie/cheeses and a nice spicy lamb panini. Almost like being at a vibey house party. Terrific.
as jerry seinfeld would say, "what's the deal with ford's filling station?"
I'll stand up. I love to sit on the patio, have a couple glasses of nice wine with the charcuterie/salumi plates. It's always wonderful. Burger is very good, too.
Best Mac n Cheese In LA?
For upscale, nothing beats the truffle laced mac and cheese at the Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel. You can even get it in the bar. Also, has anyone mentioned Aunt Kizzy's in the Marina?
Favourite Cheeseburger in LA
Yes on the shack! Second the Houston's and Josie (for upscale). For downscale, hard to be the Fatburger with a fried egg on top.
Where to buy a Chef's Knife in LA or SGV?
I have owned many 'name" brand knives over the years. They are nice, still I advise against expensive chef's knives. Yes, you get what you pay for, to a certain extent, but if you go into any professional kitchen you'll see plenty of plastic handled knives of the type you can find at Surfas.
Favorite places to eat at often
Give Enzo & Angela a try. Small trattoria upstairs at Wilshire/Barrington. Lots of fresh specials and friendly, husband and wife run place. Also Nic's in BH has a new 3-course $21 price fixed menu on Mondays. One of the best oyster dishes in town.
Looking for good malts
I work often near Cafe 50's and we order in malts for clients even when lunch comes from somewhere else! Terrific and old fashioned.
Best breakfast burrito in LA??
La Flama in West LA on the corner of Barrington/Pico next to the mattress store. Very small taqueria with a meat market in the back. Owned by the same family that runs Monte Alban in SM. They serve a fantastic, fairly spicy machaca breakfast burrito with egg/chilis ( I add avocado). Big enough to serve 2. Always a hit.
Best Burgers in Los Angeles
Father's office in Culver City is a home run. Counter-not near the best. Inventive and fun, but go for the sweet potato fries instead. No one has mentioned Josie on Pico/24th in Santa Monica. High dining but an incredible buffalo sirlion burger stuffed with gruyere and truffle fries to boot. Absolutely killer.
Taco Tuesday for a group?
Don Antonio's has Taco Wednesday. But the patio is klller any day.
Milanese torta at Tacos por favor
I live and work near TPF and eat there frequently. Items of choice include: Chile Verde plate, soft tacos (especially chorizo and al pastor) and the always varied and often under-replenished marinated carrots. Excellent (off the menu) chilaquiles too!
