Peepingpalette's Profile
Looking for Studio City Fav's...
I have sushi covered for Studio City but am looking for Chowhounders' Favorite places to go in Studio City (including delivery & take out)... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Joe's in Venice
NAspy is right on the money about the soup... even with ingredients I don't like it just doesn't matter... OUTSTANDING and yes there's no cream in any broth - hard to believe it's so creamy!
I hate to tell because they run out enough as it is but the Joeseph Miller (owner of Joe's) offers a sauvignon blancthat is beyond heavenly and reasonably priced by the glass... actually all the wine is outrageously good and the price fix lunch ($20) is a gourmet value I brave the drive in from the Valley to enjoy... so worth it. Oh, and the service is ALWAYS professional and personable no matter what you wear... a true class act! Run don't walk to Joe's... brunch is the only thing I found they fell down on.
Used to love the Dim Sum at Empress Pavillion. Where should i go now?
Liu, THANK YOU for even more Dim Sum places and locations. This is so much better than Zagats it's nutty! Brilliant, keep it coming!
Cheap seafood in the valley??
I care not about appearances either but the Oyster House's food is a perfect match to their decor... both are awful... went there and could not have been more disappointed with the food... don't believe the hype... i'm sorry but there is no excuse for seafood that tastes frozen in this town. Now the friend who made the recommend Loved the place but he also likes Barones (yuck)... maybe it's more for the older crowd? I just don't get how people can like it?
Best places for french fries?
Thank You Bobbyperu... as a Canadian transplant that is fantastic news about poutine being as close as Silver Lake. I was given a bit of a talking to about old threads but your poutine report made it worth the slap on the wrist... you have no idea how happy you've made this hoser!
Used to love the Dim Sum at Empress Pavillion. Where should i go now?
Wow... Ta for the stunning breakdown! Will follow like the Tora...
Used to love the Dim Sum at Empress Pavillion. Where should i go now?
Went to Ocean Seafood last weekend... it was good but I'm ready for something new... the garlic shrimp and pork buns are yummy but where else has as good if not better Dim Sum in L.A.?
Best places for french fries?
The best fries I've had in L.A. are at Carnivale in the Valley (Moorpark & Woodman just north of Ventura). They are irregular in size because they are hand cut... OUTRAGEOUSLY good to the point where I would say they are even better than my Mom's. It's not a burger joint - it's Lebanese (very very good Arabic salad and falafel too) and it is the only FF I'll eat now. It's just that good!
Nozawa
Nozowa's sushi is high quality but I never get the chance to taste and savour it because it's such an obnoxious money grab there. Unbelievable! Their sushi is not good enough to be so caustic to a clientelle willing to pay the coin... You do not get what you pay for when your not even close to empty sake gets ripped off the table along with the sushi we had not even finished only to have the bill slammed down. They should be arrested by the RUDE & MEAN Police... NEVER give those greedy meanies your money... who cares about the food when they pollute any chance of happy digestion. Tried twice and will NEVER go back. Neither are we slow eaters... quite the opposite which made it that much worse.
Hungry Cat: hot or hyped?
Way hyped. Ate there twice and now you could not get me to go back even if I wasn't paying... very boring food. I've much had better shrimp than what they offered. A letdown indeed. And the atmosphere made me feel like I was trapped in some cheesy Universal City restaurant... yuck.
Why the hype on Mexicali?
What a relief to read all these bad reviews for Mexicali's... it is nearly impossible to get a buzz off either the mango or watermelon margaritas and the chicken is dry dry dry... never had anything on the menu I remotely enjoyed except for the black beans. The servers are full of attitude. Used to sit on the patio (the reason I went at all) but after such spotty service and crappy food I just could not justify it again... I will NEVER go back. They have a tourist today gone tomorrow approach to food and service that infuriates me. Casa de Vega might be dark enough you need a flashlight and offers no patio but it is heads and shoulders above Mexicali's pretend Mexican food and pretend margs... they pretend everything except to care. Try the strawberry Margaritas at Casa... dare you not to feel launched after just one. Carne asada and cheese enchilada plate is great for spiltting too. They aren't rude either at Casa Vega. Oh and fantastic sangria... WAY better than Senior Fred's which went from fabulous eats and drinks to hopelessly bad menus and so so cocktails.
HamaSaku review
No doubt it's a pricey special treat but if you sit at the bar and tell your Chef to take care of you it wil be a special experience. Sat at a table once and didn't enjoy it nearly as much.
elegant/comfortable lunch to linger Saturdays in Sherman Oaks/Studio City
If you are looking to linger then do not go to Cafe Cordial where their name is an oxymoron. I sat on their 3/4s empty patio one day and was rushed to order and rushed to leave... the service was so cranky I will never go back. Food is average at best... okay club sandwich and stick to basics like fresh tomato pasta if you HAVE to go... Good Luck having a good time there - you will need it!
boneyard bistro sherman oaks
Living in Sherman Oaks can be a real challenge for a chowhound so when Boneyard Bistro opened it looked promising. When they first opened the food was good (nice salmon and very good cobb salad) and the service was pleasant. It took about 3 seconds for this place to get all atiitude-y. I would agree with the comment about reservations but lately as I walk by the patio is empty except for some screaming kids (it's not a kiddy restaurant) and it was nearly empty inside. Maybe they shouldn't have been so rude to those without a reservation because it doesn't look like getting in is a problem now. I don't mind being turned away from a full house but they did it in such a snobby manner... maybe someone should remind them they're just an average rib joint not Spago.
Toronto Sushi
The sushi pizza at Nami is something I dream about all the time and I live in L.A. where excellent sushi abounds. I know it sounds wildly bad but it is not anything like pizza. It is a rice patty that tastes like heaven with a crispy finish topped with maybe the most perfect spicy mayo I've ever had... on top of that is fresh fresh salmon accented with slivered scallions and salmon roe which I didn't even like before this dish. Other places have tried to copy it with miserable results and that includes L.A. ... scary good!
Late Late Night Eats - Toronto
C'est What... are you kidding? Okay I guess if you don't have expectatiopns beyond potato skins it'll do, eh?
No no no... if you want late night eats in Toronto I have only 2 words: The Danforth (a street loaded with fantastic Greek and partying all night. If you don't like Greek go to China Town (Dundas & Spadina area) and have some awesome Chinese... if you hit the right spot (almost everywhere) they'll serve beer in tea pots after hours so you can drink all night too!
romantic L.A. - need help quick!
Via Venetto was the worst L.A. dining experience with some of the best food I've had. The manager screamed at the staff right beside our table without any consideration for the other diners. When we pointed out to our waiter that he had missed charging us for a glass of wine he came back and not only corrected it but tacked on a bottle of water he missed too. ZERO class. Also they rushed us through the meal in every way they could and brought the bill when we weren't even finished. My parents were out visiting and they left in shock that a place could be so appallingly rude. The food was truly great but my nerves were shattered and I will never go back.
The Dip
The Dip has turned out to be a 3 year running disappointment for me. EVERY time I go they are out of ... well whatever I ask for it seems... out of beef in the early afternoon? Not well organized or executed. The one time they could finally fill my order the beef was dry and the jus was nothing even approaching special. I found the salads grocery store average at best. Yesterday I was walking and I was so hot I had to stop there to grab a drink... it was 12:30 and of course when I ordered my lemonade all they could say was, "we're out." Don't bother with the Dip... it's ALL hype.
