Currently, Red Medicine.
Know that I can pop in to the bar late at night for small bites and a cocktail or bring out-of-town guests for a ridiculously unique meal w/ wine pairing that they'll still be talking about more than a year later.

Previously, the late, lamented, Bastide...
Such a beautiful, intimate space. Went there on several occasions when a former girlfriend would book commercial work with the owner, Joe Pytka. We'd celebrate her good fortune with dinner at his space and chat with him after if he was in the house. Dinner and lunch while Alain Giraud was at the helm. Dinner while Ludo Lefebvre was in charge (our 2nd with him, having eaten at L'Orangerie shortly after he began his stint there). And finally, a last meal there with a friend who had never been. Paul Shoemaker was the Chef; Pieter Verheyde the Sommelier. Our reservations were for 7pm; we arrived at 6:30. We were whisked to the table under the Olive tree on the West Side of the patio. M. Verheyde arrived within 2 minutes to greet us bearing a bottle of Dom Ruinart ("the oldest established Champagne house" - 1729) and poured us several glasses...
For the next 6 1/2 hours - no, that is not a typo - we were serenaded with the most exquisite tastes in the most relaxingly romantic atmosphere imaginable outside of a few hectares in the south of France while discussing Food and Politics and Philosophy... basically reliving the mythical heydays of Monticello. The conclusion involved M. Verheyde asking if we liked Congac. When we replied, "mais, bien sur".. He disappeared for just a few moments and then reappeared with a bottle, whose name I cannot recall, explaining as we sipped this nectar that this was his family's production and that there were but a very few cases available every year for his family... as the rest were dedicated for consumption at the U.N. in Geneva!
Truly sublime...

In honor of a friend's entry into his fifth decade ;) , I'm looking for restaurants in the LA area that opened in 1973.
High-end to Low-end.
I've seen lists here of the oldest eateries in LA but this is just for that specific year... Any thoughts/suggestions?

Sadly, no...

Hi All, and thanks for the recs!

The Romesco's recs were certainly appreciated and until my wife pointed out that was where we had dined the last time we were there with our CV friends, would definitely been on our itinerary.
Turf Club was Friday night and the Flank Steak was the option. Along with a couple stiff cocktails and the South Park/Golden Hill crowd, it explained to my wife why that spot reminded me of Silverlake/Los Feliz up here.
Next day, Aqui es Texcoco (after a lot of coffee) gave us a chance to explore the wonders of slow cooked Lamb's Head... Our hosts were a little leery, but we had a wonderful time. And were it later in the day - or had we no more plans impending - I would've wanted to try the "Pulque" they advertised as an accompaniment. But that's a lost weekend if there ever was one.
Finally, headed for the Zoo and managed to view an example of almost all of the animals we consumed that night at... "The Lion's Share"!
Deviled Eggs Platter
Lamb Bolognese Fries (Best. Chili Fries... Ever!)
Kangaroo Tartare (Fantastically "iron"y)
Exotic Sausage Sampler (Big fan of the Pheasant and of the Elk)
Antelope Sliders (a rave from the "I'm too full for anything else" member of our party who would gladly have eaten all the rest of ours!)
Duck Meatballs (the only thing close to a miss on our venture. Like a vaguely fowl-tasting Matzoball)
Wild Boar Meatloaf w/ Togarashi (the only Main Course we ordered and definitely a hit!)
Finally, Goat and Moose... Rather, Goat Cheese Mousse w/ Blueberries and Coulis (I believe, may have been a Gastrique). Perfect balance for an end of Meat- Meal Dessert...
Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Hope to be back down there again soon!

Ipsedixit!

Have been following you on the LA thread for years
Will see what the wife has to say about Pomegranate! Sounds great!

Anyone else?

Hi there, SD Hounds!

Heading down from LA this weekend to see friends who live in the CV area. I spent a lot of time in the La Jolla and the South Park area from '04 - '07 but haven't been there more than once or twice since. My wife wants to visit a few of spots that were regulars for me (Vagabond and the Turf Club both in SP) as well as ElTexcoco in CV but I was wondering if there were any other CHOW friendly places that we could try for small bites between those 3.

Currently, we're looking at dinner Friday at Turf then spending the night in CV. Texcoco Saturday morning before the Zoo, and then Vagabond for dinner. Need to be on the road by 9pm to get home for Easter morning stuff.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Would love to hear from anyone who's been there. Have an actual Rabbit fix to accommodate on or about the 25th of March and have been trying to avoid the more obvious choices for the pre-Easter "Lapin"...
This sounds great!

Birch Ice and Banh Mi says Red Madicine...

Only eaten there once, just after they opened, so I can't be certain but if you call ahead I'm pretty certain sure they can make adjustments to suit dietary restrictions.

With all due respect (and believe me, Servorg, there are few on this site - let alone the entire interwebs - that I have more respect for when it comes to the issues gastronomique), there is a distinct separation for many chefs as to whether their work is merely to provide what is demanded of them by their audience (customers) and whether their responsibility is to be absolutely true to their muse.
Like it or not, it is their right to decide whether or not they want to accede to customers requests or to say, "no, this is how I conceive the dish being seen, tasted, consumed - take it or leave it." The market will determine if they have the talent to maintain their intent.
In the meantime, I relish the opportunity to try their interpretation of a dish in the same way I would prefer to view other works of art or architecture (material that may or may not be necessary but certainly doesn't "require" the ornamentation of Da Vinci/Koons or Neutra/Pei) without the casual consumer calling for adjustments to suit their preconceived notions of what would 'really make it work'...
Again, said with the utmost respect.

So... This is on the same corner as Hugo's Tacos?

+1,2, and 3 to this (though I'd place it more in Montrose - waaaay up the 2 - than Glendale). Their $40 prix-fixe Tues thru Thurs can't be beat.

fwiw, nothing "loud" the last time I was there 3 months ago.
Of course, I'm a Red Medicine habitue so take that for what it's worth....
Seriously, though, no problem with a one on one conversation after 8pm... And I'm well over 40, so...

Don't hear as much about it on this site as I used to but I think Rivera is still a very solid choice for what you're seeking. Have been there for formal dinners and casual get-togethers and it's always been great!

For an additional $25, there's a wine pairing from Domaine LA. In the past, I've gone to Silverlake Wines with the menu in hand and they've put together some reeeeallly eclectic (and amazing) pairings but I want to see what Domaine and Jesse Brawner come up with...

Going on the 25th.
Unfortunately, almost all of my experiences with Chef Q involve a great deal of wine and the best I can provide as a post-summation is, "Mmmmngaaahhhhuhhhhm... (*drool*).
Not sure if that's really a Chow-worthy review... ;)

I will say, after trying both Bazaar and ink, if the term "special occasion" means there is a necessity for high-end decor or "scene-y" crowd then, by all means either one will fit the bill.
If, however, you're more interested in the best representation of the kind of food both of those places are trying to present, let me suggest you consider Red Medicine...

Lucques, Hatfield's, the new AOC?...

Thanks Servorg!

If it's specifically for breakfast, then Za'atar Factory in Burbank is the only place I can think of off the bat. Some places in the Sherman Oaks/Studio City/NoHo area that I've occasionally seen them on the table (and probably just as an off the menu - special request) are Carnival, Hayats Grill, and Mantee.
Good luck!

How do we recommend "another bakery" if we don't know which one you want to avoid?

+1 on this suggestion!

Larkin's in Eagle Rock is the first place that comes to mind...

The OP's post was looking for "fairly close to the London Hotel" so, much as I prefer Rivera, I think Playa would be the way to go of these 2 options.

To put the clarification in response to miteymike's query:
Domesticated Rabbit is to Spring Lamb as Frozen Chinese Rabbit is to Lamb as Wild Hare is to Mutton.
Just a matter of degrees.

And just announced this morning, Thomas Keller's Gift Sets.

http://store.tkrg.com/collections/gif...

Domestic Rabbit"s taste is very mild and truly similar to chicken, however the texture is more "meatlike" IMHO.
Wild Hare, on the other hand, can be more pungent although not at all as "gamey" as lamb or certainly mutton.

Or this...

http://www.aplusrstore.com/product.ph...

99 Ranch Markets and Vallarta Markets almost always have them frozen.

As to cooking, The Vongrichten/Bittman collaboration "Simple To Spectacular" has several fairly simple first-time recipes.

For their inner-Ludo...

http://www.aplusrstore.com/product.ph...

Which Farmer/Stand at Studio City Market?
Is it the Mushroom guys, 'cause I've never seen truffles there before..