cimero's Profile
Need restaurant near Century City but not the most expensive restaurants
Need a restaurant in Century City/Beverly Hills that's good but not as expensive as the places usually recommended i.e. Cut, Mastros, Craft etc.
There are lots of other restaurants around like Cafe Roma that while not making anyone's top ten list; they're not bad either. This is for a visiting New Yorker who already has access to great restaurants..so I'm looking for places that might be more unique to LA. I'm thinking about Frida's (Dan Tanas is too crowded and uncomfortable) or restaurants more in that type price range. $50 per person is what I'm looking to spend.
Help! There have to be more good little restaurants around this town!!
Dinner in or near Mission Hills?
About 5 years ago I went to a place called the Safari Room that had decent prime rib for a really reasonable price....you may want to check that out.
Suggestions for a good business lunch restaurant on the West Side.
Visiting New Yorker, has appointment in Beverly Hills before and after lunch, meeting with colleagues from Santa Monica. Last year's visit, we went to Wilshire which was perfect. Looking for something along those lines...suggestions?
Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced oceanview restaurant buy-out in Santa Monica?
Check out the Penhouse restaurant at the Huntly Hotel. Gorgeous room, fabulous beach views and I'm guessing on Saturday not so busy so they might work with you. Also Lowes hotel has some nice spaces with great views. Both of these places have the style and class of The Lobster and should be much, much less.
best pastrami
I won't say it's necessarily the "best" pastrami, but I LOVE Greenblatt's in Hollywood and don' think anyone has mentioned it yet. Great pickles too! And go at night and you'll almost always catch comedians from the comedy club next door so good odds of a celeb sighting too.
Wolfgang's Steakhouse (Beverly Hills): A Classic American Steakhouse [Review] w/ Pics
And if you're craving a steak house experience on a budget, they will serve their $20 burger from their lunch menu at night. An exceptional burgher, and the best part, no having to choose between fries or onion rings, it comes with both! Add a well martini during happy hour ($7) and don't forget the basket of complimentary home made chips....you'll be sated and cholesterol clogged for just around $30.
Nice dinner in Santa Monica
I've had lunch and dinner on the top floor restaurant at the Huntly Hotel (the aptly named, Penthouse). Food is seasonal and both times excellent. Last night I had the moules frite and was blown away by the quality of the dish and the portion was surprisingly huge! I had expected a few mussels in broth in a flat soup bowl, but I received a large terrine with a perfectly balanced broth (just the right creaminess), and a side of crispy, nicely browned pomme fritte (again, a heaping side plate (although served in a small fry basket). Tuna tartare was also very ample for an appetizer portion, with a hint of lime and a few button-sized home made potato chips for a light crunch. Steak tartare was also nicely done with a quail egg and very generously portioned (again for an appetizer...it was the size of what many restaurants would serve as an entree at twice the price). It would have been better if it had two quail eggs instead of one, considering hte size. Prices were $18 for moules frite, and (I believe)$14 and $15 for the tuna and steak tartare's respectively. It's a beautiful all white restaurant with dark wood floors and one of the best view restaurants in L.A. I am definately going back!
The Ivy or The Palm????
I agree, Ivy for lunch and Palm for dinner. Please do not expect good food at the Ivy, it's heavy, cloying and inconsistant. And I can't vouch for the star gazing, I haven't seen a serious star there in years (the hey dey for this place was eons ago). The Palm is at least good, consistent Steak/Lobster House.
Two weeks in Santa Monica...what to eat, where to eat it!
I second Frito Misto!!!! Wonderful pasta!!
Strip Mall Hidden Gems in the San Fernando Valley and West Side?
I couldn't agree more that Pho 999 (across the street from Ranch Market) is MUCh better than the Pho place next to Ranch Market. (Love the Sam Woo duck place though; we're talking about the other side). Food quality at Pho 999 is excellent. I had a beef Pho at the Ranch market place and we had to feed it to the dog it was so fatty! And while I can appreciate the family dining style, Pho 999 is so much more ogranized and you can get a nice big booth instead of being squished in to tables at the other. Once I dined at Pho 999 I'll never go back to the other again (and I shop at Ranch Market all the time).
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Sam Woo Cafe
727 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Strip Mall Hidden Gems in the San Fernando Valley and West Side?
Looking for really good Mom & Pop shop-type restaurants generally found tucked away in strip malls (although strip mall not absolutely required if you have a good place!).
I'll start off with a little Portuguese Bakery (or so I thought). It's called Natas Pastries at 13317 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks (right next door to Casa Vega) A couple of tables outside, but not being a bakery person, I never paid much attention. From the outside it looks like a casual cafe for breakfast and lunch, but then driving by there was a sign that said $10 dinner specials. Now I was curious so I checked it out.
As you approach, all you see is basically a tiny little shop with a bakery case (and the pastries all look terrific -- but as I said, I'm not a bakery person), but THEN low and behold, through an archway to the left, the cutest little dining room!! Done beautifully with Portuguese tile, I was SHOCKED at what a great little dining room this was. And fairly elegant for what appeared to be a little cafe.
I had the $10 special (also available at lunch) which was half a chicken, salad and baked fries. The fries were actually rosoemary red skin potatoes that were cubed; not fries at all and they were not very good....too much oil and not cooked in a hot enough oven to get crispy. But the chicken was good and the salad, typical side salad stuff. The toasted homemade bread in the basket was exceptional however; and a neighboring table was slurping down a Portuguese vegetable soup that certainly looked very good. Menu items are intersting and large entrees ranged between $12 - $16. So while I can't say it's a home run on exceptional food quality yet....the jury is still out, I'll definately go back and try other things on the menu. The ambiance was certainly wonderful. Beer and wine are available.
And on the other hand, went to a little pizza place that looked like it could be a gem, Santino's NY Pizza on Woodman (jusst in from the corner of Ventura) and it was AWFUL! Now we did NOT order pizza and after seeing reviews on other sites, maybe this is the only thing they can do (but a lot of complaints on the pizza front too). We had a ceasar salad that was basically a bowl of romaine lettuce with crutons that tasted like they came out of a box at Ralph's. Totally worthless. I ordered eggplant parmesian...there was no parmesian! A few slices of breaded eggplant (dry!!!) sitting on a pile of spagetti with red sauce. The red sauce was ok, but the eggplant is clearly held on the side so it can either go on a plate or on a bun. My husband's chicken parmesian was dry and partially burned as were the cookies in the case on the counter. Santino clearly has no sense of quality, I think he'll just shovel anyting out to unsuspecting custoemrs. So ignore all the celebrity photos on the wall and avoid this place!
Let's hear what the other hounds have to say!! Let's find some great places!!!
Bamboo in Sherman Oaks - Never Again
I live nearby on Beverly Glen and over the last 10 years have been there about 5 times. Each time I go, I vow never again. The food for me has always been totally mediocre and if you are there late the wait staff will practically shovel you out the door. So totally no reason whatsoever to go there. It's too bad because there are so few upscale Chinese restaurants. Chi Dynasty is where I go for a nice setting, but definately Sepulveda or Chinatown for the food quality.
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Chi Dynasty
12229 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604
GREAT new Italian Deli/cafe in Torrance of all places!!!!
I'm a huge fan of Bay Cities in Santa Monica and Monte Carlo/Pinochio in Burbank, and I am happy to report a new fabulous find in Torrance (right in the heart of the old section) called Daniela's Italian Deli.
It's more cafe than deli, although there is a counter to order cut meats and cheese, and you can take out anything on their extenisvie menu. We had a meat and cheese deli tray, home made soups (lentil and chicken noodle), Italian sausage and peppers and a margarita pizza. Every bite was delectable!
The soups were authentically home made, delicious and fresh and made Italian style. Instead of a weak yellow broth, my chicken soup was a rich amber with evidience of tomatoes, definately an Italian version of the soup. The lentil soup was briming with vegetables and a rich beefy taste.
The sausage was one of the best I've ever had in LA, and the sauce thick, rich and hearty. The pizza, had one of the best thin crusts I've ever had in LA and I'm including all kinds of upscale expensive restaurants. And the prices here are just CRAZY!! Not only is it way less than any Italian restaurant, but we're talking a fraction of the cost of Bay Cities (about 1/4 to 1/3).
All you hounds got to get this place before it get's discovered and the lines are 10 deep (like Bay cities). It's a true gem and well worth the trip to find it.
Daniela's Italian Deli
1231 Cabrillo
Torrance, CA
(it's a little hard to find; we stumbled on it) -- across from a place called "The Firehouse" and in between two Japanese restaurants in an apartment courtyard. Right in old town (on Cabrillo, which is across from that huge Honda building). GREAT PLACE to go when you're in town for the antique show once a month!
Need an inexpensive restaurant in Hollywood, West Hollywood area....thai, chinese...anything?
Any recomendations for the Hollywood, West Hollywood (dare I even venture - Beverly Hills) area? West LA is good too....looking for recomendations for anything Asian, or just any place that's fairly reasonable. One of our people is on a budget, but not so cheap as to torture everyone else!!
Most importantly, pretty darn good food! Thanks hounds!!! (Did I mention this is for tonight!!!)
Need help in duplicating an unusual Chinese duck sauce for egg rolls..
Hi ShaLeah, I'm the original poster of the message (formerly hail from Penn Hills). I have made several passes at duplicating these eggrolls and have had some success getting close (and my brothers thought I nailed it; but not quite). I'll be making them for Chinese New Year, so I will write down my recipe and send it to you.
szechuan peppercorns?
Anyone know where I can buy these? I've checked several asian markets (Safe & Save on Sawtelle, 99 Ranch on Sepulveda in the Valley, Farmer's Market across from Jon's on Sepulveda)....can't seem to find them anywhere which surprises me considering it's such a staple in Chinese cooking.
Thank you!
Help! Need a really good bakery in the valley for a cake on Sunday!!!
I'm in Sherman Oaks so I'm looking for something not too far away (I have a good bakery in Beverly Hills and the West side but I didn't want to go that far on a Sunday).
I need a really good, high quality cake for a fellow foodie and I wanted to pick it up Sunday afternoon to be sure it's really really fresh (and I have no where to store it, so I wanted to get it right before the party).
After checking other bakery posts, Leda's Bakeshop on Woodman seems to be gone and Helen's decorated cakes doesn't answer their phone. Any tips? Any and all advice is appreciated. She wanted a chocolate cake with real butter cream frosting. Thank you!!!
Are There ANY Good Italian Delis in the Valley?!
I'm from New York/Connecticut too (born in Pittsburgh though) and I really vote for Monte Carlo in Burbank as as the best Italian Deli. Their prices are amazing compared to the others and the food is fresh, fresh fresh because everyone goes there. Bay Cities is also excellent for quality but the prices are a lot higher! (I work 2 miles away and I will go to Monte CArol for my stuff only because I'll save $50 in the long run.). Although Bay Cities is only a mob scene during the window of lunch (noon to 3pm), otherwise it's pretty tame. And they do have great selections of stuff.
Need Las Vegas advice, haven't been in ages!!!
I was surprised to realize there's no Vegas board...especially after being featured on Top Chef!! So what the do the LA Hounds have to say about Vegas...I'm game for any and everything from the best buffets, best bangs for the buck, best high end restaurants (that are worth the big bucks), and best hole-in-the-walls that only the locals know about types of places.
We're staying at the M Resort but have a car and can trapse all over. Thank you hounds!
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Las Vegas Bar
2343 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA 92704
Looking for a romantic (dark and quiet) restaurant near Sofitel hotel....any ideas????
Don't want to go in the hotel itself, but somewhere in the vicinity? Thank you!!!
Post Funeral reception Culver City
Hi Hounds! I'm desperately looking for a little place to have a post funeral reception (about 15 people) in the Culver City area (Slauson Avenue) on Friday.
Unfortunately I need to watch finances so I was wondering if there is a little mom & pop shop type restaurant in the area that might have a small back room. Would love Italian, but deli/sandwiches is fine too.
Anyone have any ideas? We're not familiar with the area at all. The funeral is being at Holy Cross Cemetary, but traveling 5 to 10 miles wouldn't be a problem either.
Thank you!
Italian market in Santan Monica other than Bay Cities
To Mnosyne & Yogachik, THANK YOU, Thank you, Thank you for giving some good instructions about this store. I have looked for it several times (with the address no less) but your clue about not approaching from the north (because of the dead end street) and that it was behind the Salvation Army (and easy to miss -- no kidding!!!) finally got me through their front door!!! What a find this store is! While Bay Cities ay have a huge selection, this store has an amazing selection of truly superior products at very reasonable prices. But tryuly some super gourmet stuff here....and products I've never seen before (and troll all the Italian delis in LA). Again, thank you!
Anyone remember "city chicken"?
In the early sixties in Pittsburgh, it would be for sale in the meat section, little chunks of meat (usually veal I think) on little wooden skewers that I think my mother floured and fried. My memory is rusty on this and I would love to recreate it. Can anyone help me out?
Where to buy veal kidney?
Anyone know where to buy veal kidney? I grew up on this for breakfast and I'm dying for it!!! I've never seen it on a menu (has anyone?). I'm not talking beef kidney which I see on occasion, but lamb kidneys will suffice if I can't find the veal, but there's nothing like the veal!!
If it's not readily available in a store (when I grew up in Pittsburgh, they were easy to find at any grocery), can anyone recommend a butcher where I might order it?
Thank you!
Business lunch in Santa Monica
Can anyone recommend a good place for a business (expense account) lunch in Santa Monica. I know a lot of the best restaurants aren't open for lunch. Basically just looking for great food, any ideas? And where I can get a reservation at the last second, it's for today of course. Thank you hounds!!!
Does Bay Cities Italian Deli have fresh pizza dough?
I just used the Trader Joe whole wheat pizza dough on Sunday and it was fantastic (the whole wheat was my excuse for splurging my calories on it). I rolled and stretched it after coating a board and rolling pin with whole wheat flour. One batch just about filled a square jelly roll pan (not quite to all the edges, but close enough and with a thin crust) then I drizzled with a good olive oil, baked it 5 or so minutes and then added two containers of Trader Joe sun dried tomato pesto sprinkled with fresh grated parmesian cheese. It made a fantastic sort of "rustico" pizza! (and add to that a package of Trader Joe Buffalo wings with their blue cheese dressing and I had one fantastic little Super Bowl spread!)
Help! I need a restaurant downtown on Friday night...not the same old, same old...
Hi all, I'm looking for a restaurant for after MOCA Friday night...we were going to go to Yang Chow but with Chinese New Year on Thursday we're thinking it'll be too crazy. Of course there are the obvious places, Pinot, Patina, Engine Co., Ciudad....anyone have any new finds, great hole in the walls, great good bangs for the buck, great experience restaurants...if we don't think of something better, we'll probably go to the restaurant in the Omni Hotel...but I'm thinking the Hounds can steer me to something a little off the beaten path? We're three adventours gals who like anything and everything (except a mob scene in Chinatown!)
Buying breakfast sausages in bulk
If you don't have a Costco membership you can get comparable warehouse shopping deals at Smart N' Final as well. But since this is a foodie site, if you want to forgo those horrible dried out little sausages that have been frozen for god knows how long...you could get fresh, homemade Italian sausage at Monte Carlo deli in Burbank on Magnolia Blvd. If you cut the sausages into 1/2 wide pieces they fry up fast and are a thousand times better than those "breakfast" sausages. THrow in some onions and peppers (green, red or both) and you have a really classic, terrific Italian entree...good for breakfast, or anytime of the day.
Restaurant recommendations for Westwood area?
I know about Napa Valley Grille and Palomino, and there's a Mexican restaurant that makes guacamole tableside, but I can't remember the name??? Any other places that have a great dinner in the Westwood area? This is an expense account situation so price is not an issue. Thanks for hte hound help!!
Place to get an Italian lemon cake in Santa Monica area?
Well, as with all things ethnic, there are a lot of variations but when I say Italian lemon cake I'm thinking of a light, extremely moist cake with an incredibly intensly lemon flavora and white lemon icing that's on the thin side, but not a glaze, yet not as thick as regular frosting...NOT the bundt cake ring version of lemon cake, and not the kind that has lemon filling or custard in the middle. Just plain light lemon flavored cake with lemon frosting. It's simple but an absoltue perfect end to an Italian meal if you want to have a sweet dessert. Although I love lemon sorbet with a shot of lemoncella poured over it as well. Good lemon cake is hard to find, the best lemon cake I've had in L.A. was a little hole in the wall restaurant in Hollywood, in a strip mall, called Tidal Wave. They get their cakes from somewhere else, and frankly all their dessert cakes are to die for.
There are other variations of Italian lemon cake...bascially lemon is such a popular flavoring in southern Italy that lemon is used to flavor many kinds of desserts so there are lemon versions of riccotta pie (which I think is what Il Fornaio calls lemon cake) and Olive Garden does that lemon filling one for lemon cake), but to me Italian lemon cake is simply a light moist cake with really intese lemon flavor. Here's a recipe that looks to me to be closest to what I'm talking about (I love to cook, but I'm not a baker which is why I would love to find a place to buy this cake).
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/10346/luscious+lemon+cake
