I've been to Marukai (West LA and Redondo Bch Blvd) and Nijiya-Sawtelle.
Nijiya was about 20% more. I thought the best fish (Hamachi and Tataki) were at the Redondo Marukai.
What do others think, and what other options are there?

Just had one experience at Doma in Feb. and it was uneven at best. Table of eight. Although the host from Toscano remembered us and treated us like family, no one was ready to go back and try it again until things get worked out.

When I grew up in Pittsburgh there was really solid Italian food in Bloomfield and East Liberty. I know those days are long gone!
What are some really solid places for classic stuff - bolognese, eggplant parm, veal millanese, etc.
Grazie!

First visit tonight and VERY disappointing. Perhaps I adulterated the virtures of the Margharita by adding mushrooms and carmelized onions, but the combination virtually had no taste. The Tartufo was OK, but the Six on PIco has a much better version. The Ceasar was meh. Perhaps I ordered wrong, but this was basic stuff and was really underwhelming.

I live 5 minutes from Juniors and have eaten there far too many times because it is convenient and decent enough. Although a good batch of their cabbage soup is excellent, and a grilled dog there is as good as you'll find anywhere.

Went to Lenny's for the first time. 80% the same deli counter guys and servers. I asked the deli guys and they said all the recipes are the same and nothing has changed, as did my favorite server.....except for the owners, whom they are still checking out. Everything in the deli, prepared foods and bakery cases looked the same.

Got the usual staples...cabbage soup, cole slaw, turkey breast, mac n cheese and bagels, to go. Maybe dining in will reveal something new, but at this point it tastes and costs the same and seems like Juniors with a new coat of paint.

westsideal, I think I have agreed with every post I have ever seen from you, but my experience at Chef Hannes is very different. Of about ten dinners & lunches in the past 6 months, I have had one mediocre pasta meal there, and five or six very good meals (in particular the sea bass). I was there twice in the past three weeks. Last night the front and side rooms were full at 7:00 pm and there were three parties in the back room, and a few weeks ago the front room as full at 7:00. I've spoke to Hannes a couple of times and like him, so that's why I'm responding.

For good, "interesting" food at a great price go to Chef Hannes on MAin Street in El Segundo. I've seen the food called european, and the menu is pasta, fish and meat dishes with an italian slant.
I've been for lunch and dinner and it ranges from good, if unremarkable to very good. The sea bass, soups and pastas are consistently great for the price. Well priced wine list and great strudel!

Langer's, Jeff's "old fashioned" ad the Pastrami Nosh are the top of my list. After that I find Canter's terribly under rated. It's better than Brent's and far better than any other Westside deli. It has real pastrami flavor and great texture. Since Langer's hours are a constraint, and the ambiance of Jeff's leaves something to be desired, Canter's is my go to pastrami.
Plan Check's Pastrami fries are killer!

My expereince with a party of 7 last night was somewhat different from maudie's.
After reading so many good reviews on CH and yelp, I chose Doma for some discriminating out of town guests. We received a very warm welcome from Francesco, who knew two of our party very well. Francesco explained they were still in the soft opening. Our waiter then sang the praises of Doma, Chef Tanni and it's superiority to Toscana. We were quite excited.
Apps of carmelized pear pizza, a couple of salads, and calamari were very good. Eggplant, fine, but nothing any different from anywhere else.
The entrees were good at best, and in some cases left much to be desired. The swordfish milanese a bit dry, but tasty...of four orders of the rigatoni in beef sauce, two were undercooked and under sauced....the $51 veal chop was about 10 oz. and lightly breaded, not a meaty grilled chop as expected for the price....only the steak was really satisfactory.
We had only coffee, no dessert. We had caf and decaf coffee, and a cappucino. All were weak and we left them unfinished.
Francesco graciously comped the rigatonis, and was surprised at our comments about the coffee. I wondered, how could he not know the coffee was mediocre, it wasn't just one, but three different types.....unless they were just having a bad coffee night.
Anyhow, there is a lot to be worked out at Doma during the remainder of the soft opening. We brought our own wine, and if the rigatonis had not been comped our bill would have been almost $500 + tip. Not a deal for what we had.
p.s. The room was very good looking, sophisticated and felt like Milan.

Have not been to any of these and want to try some new italian. They all sound different, but who has the best food and ambience, where you could hear yourself talk?

Ciao Bob - did not take your comment at an endorsement
Thor - Joss looks pretty pricey these days, and I hear "artisan" portions.
Pirate - I do not post on Imgur....what is it?

The dinner guests arrive on Wed, so still have a few days to obsess about it!

Thanks Hound. Unless I'm misinterpreting this thread, Mandarin Kitchen seems to be the winner on the Westside. Although short on ambience, it looks like many are saying it's definitely the best food for the money. While my guests love those celeb sightings, a $$$ meh meal certainly detracts. I think the last time they were here we went to Xian and I was not impressed.

Yes, it was a $235 room charge in addition to our spend. The reason was that would compensate for what they would miss on the turns of the tables at that time.

Sorry, Gelson's has creamy....no crunchy in Century City.

Have been looking since the original post and just found it tonight for the first time at Gelson's Century City. $6.39 a jar, and enjoying it at this moment.....straight out of the jar!

Have to agree with the consistency issue at Plan Check. I've had the pastrami sandwich a number of times....ranging from "game changer" to sending it back because it was grisly and served cold. We ordered a few things as I was considering a dinner party in the private room. Given the mediocre meal, (two apps were nowhere, although the chicken was very good), and the $235 room charge for the private dining nook on Sunday night at 7:00 (seats 10), I opted out.
Fortunately the following Monday night was Fried Chicken night at Bouchon. Had a delicious dinner there, and through some fanagaling with a very gracious sales person got the private room for no charge!

I don't eat much Chinese food, and I have guests coming from the East coast who love it. They also do not like driving far distances in LA, so even Chinatown is a big deal for them. What is the west side of town's best Chinese?

Junior's has the best cabbage soup in town, and for that alone will be sorely missed when I have a craving.

Has anyone had the roast chicken at Bouchon? I haven't. but they feature it for their Sunday Night dinner. Love Fired Chicken night on Mondays!

Thanks Capy for the correct analysis of my apparently unclear post.
Randy's - Great fritters and chocolate old fashioned.
Stan's - Been going downhill.
DK's - A rising star and my current favorite.

Unfortunately I work 3 minutes from Randy's and have had FAR too many apple fritters and chocolate old fashioned chocolate donuts over the past year. Both are excellent.
Unfortunately the quality at Stan's has gone down as the prices have gone up over the past two years.
My new favorite shop is DK's Donuts at 16th & Santa monica Blvd in Santa Monica. It looks like the kind of donut shop I would never go into, but it's great. Their peanutbutter & chocolate is better than Stan's, and their cream filleds are heavenly.

Had my first disapponting meal tonight. Took my wife for the first time. We had the veggie chips ( tasteless and very oily except for the guac that came as dip for the chips). The sweet potato fries were crisp, but over salted. The fried chicken was delish! And the biggest disapoinment was the pastrami sandwich.....it was not the delicious perfection I have come to know. The pastrami was a bit dry, it was assembled in a sloppy manner, and it was not hot when served. This may or may not have been due to our indifferent server. I took my wife for the first time, and of course there was a high expectation. Her comment, "Tasty, but mediocre experience overall."
Has anyone else had inconsistent food here....or is the Sunday night chef a B player?

Ate at Smoke City tonight. The moist brisket was disappointing. Good meat but little taste. The beef ribs however were incredible!!!! Four of us were in agreement on this. The ribs were tasty, done really nicely and big.
For sides we had mac n 'cheese, potato salad, slaw, baked beans and chili. All very strong except for the beans, which were bland. If you order right here, you can have a great meal. GIven that Hogly Wogly has been on a downhill and inconsistent trend for a few years, I say it's Smoke City for dining north of Inglewood.
Also, totally authentic Texas q, right down to the butcher paper and white bread.

Had great onion rings tonight at Huggo's On the Rocks. Will try Mahi's.
Had great thai at Krua the other evening....and wonderful gracious service.
Best surprise so far, Mi's Italian Bistro near Captain Cook. Killer ravioli and veal picata...with great home-made bread.Chef Morgan knows what he is doing!
Big Island Grill strong as always for lunch.

Just got here for two weeks of heaven! Heard there is a new Marriot (Where the King Kam used to be) with pretty good food. Anything else new in the past six months to try out? Mahalo

+3

I was looking for it today at WF in Westwood and there was none. WF and Gelson's CC are my usual spots for Santa Cruz Dark Roast.....the best!
My other favorite indulgence, PeanutButter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams, also was not on the shelves at two Whole Foods in the last week. What's up with that?

A hot dog on a King's Hawaiian bun just might get me there.....although I have found Tub's chili pretty underwhelming.

Just saw a Groupon for Pop's Hotdogs on National.
Anyone been there?

Had my first pastrami sandwich and it was heaven!
I'm sensitive to salt, and had no issue.
Also had a great IPA....crisp and bold.
Been daydreaming about the truffle burger.