Thanks Kevin :) I do tend to stick to my own neighborhood, though. I swear Titos is ground beef? Other taco faves include Lares and Gilberts (both for your basic, hard shell, chicken tacos) - hardly under the radar, and not necessarily chow-worthy, but hit the spot.

I decided to revisit a childhood favorite that I hadn't been to in years, The Talpa (Pico just west of Barrington), for the ground beef tacos.

It was as wonderful as I remember - old family recipe (the restaurant is owned by sisters), the tacos my family from the Arizona/Mexico border used to make - ground beef crunchy tacos. The ground beef is perfectly flavored, lots of onions, peppery, delicious. It's simple, served with just lettuce, tomato and cheese on a homemade fried tortilla.

It's messy, very greasy (yet still very crunchy!), and oh so good. Can't wait to go back, don't know how it dropped off my radar, was as good as I remember (and way better than Tito's ground beef taco).

Echoing Rivera

Nate n Als

Warzsawa is on SM and Lincoln, you're at SM and 5th. The others on your list (like Bar Pintxo) are 5 blocks away, at Ocean, rather than 3

Yard is now called Craftsman, so is on his list. Would add
Chloe
Patio at Warzsawa
Tinga

It's the neighborhood (Santa Monica) Olive Garden. If you're in the mood for creamy sauces, overcooked pasta, heavy handed flavors but thrifty portions of added chicken (or any of the add-ons), then I recommend it, as well. There are times I do want my pasta take-out when getting off the 10. Oh, and they have a great salad with walnuts, tomatoes and blue cheese crumbles (good vinaigrette).

No reason to drive.

Eat at the bar at Hillstone. Bar at Chez Jay (not for the food, for the crowd, although the Fiondella Steak is good). Bar at Stella Rossa, Capo, Casa del Mar's Catch.

I find the new menu tough to like, and have left after having a drink in the bar to go elsewhere. Each dish has an added flavor that turns me off (short ribs with strawberry, for example).

It's no longer on the menu, you have to ask for it, and there are limited quantities available each night.

Rivera

Having lived in Madrid, I can say with authority that the only place I've found that comes anywhere near the authentic Spanish tapas found on the Calle would be Bar Pintxo.

Only in LA within walking: Catch, Tar and Roses, Chinois, Umami

Laptop: any Peets or Starbucks

Steak at R+D on Montana is also fantastic, and less expensive than the one at Bandera.

Umamicatessen is next door. New Moon around the corner, as is Tiara Cafe and Parish, Wood Spoon and Pattern. Up 7th is Bottega Louie, Mo Chica, Mas Malo. Along Broadway is Alma, Baco Mercat. I could go on and on, depending how far you want to walk.

Catch is what I thought of, first, when I read your post.

Catch at Casa del Mar. Fantastic view, fantastic food. Menu is varied for all price points. Or, Casa del Mar lobby by the windows - same chef/kitchen, bar food prices and sized plates.

I was there last night and they had the meatballs as one of the specials! Yes, you can get it without the spaghetti, or with very little spaghetti, as I did last night (and it was moist, tender, oh so good). I asked Vito why Thursday? He said he's been getting so many phone calls asking if it's meatball night that he's decided to have them every night until the end of the month!

Been many times, too many to count. It's quite good and very popular with the older locals.

Penthouse has a limited appetizer menu and very expensive drinks, but gorgeous view. Catch is still very much there, with great food in a fantastic room with views.

Echoing: Gjelina, Nobu Malibu, Spago as what I think should be your final three.

Especially tonight, since the 405 is closing at 9PM

New Moon on 9th Street at Los Angeles. They're now open for dinner on Thu-Fri-Sat (was always only open for lunch)

Absolutely - sit at the bar, have a drink and spaghetti with meatballs. So good.

All veal no pork. And it's actually more than 3" circumference. Vito says he'll have it all month on weekends for meatball month for chowhounders.

First, I wonder why you would bother to move from Universal to Hollywood, or actually why not stay in Hollywood then move to Santa Monica? Really, if you want a real LA experience, you want to stay in town and at the beach. Universal and Hollywood are side by side, one metro stop from each other - there's no reason to move from one to the other.

Head to Loteria in Hollywood. Don't miss Bottega Louie's brunch on the weekend. Go to Gjelina in Venice. Hungry Cat in Hollywood or Santa Monica Canyon. Head to Malibu for Nobu on the beach.

Yay, my favorite!

Anyone who's read me, knows I'm a big fan of Vito (Ocean Park and 28th). One of the main reasons is that meatball. It's an enormous (about 3 inches round) veal meatball - but here's the catch: It's only available on weekends, and not every weekend. Call ahead.

The spaghetti and meatballs comes with two, the insider secret is that you can get a half order. But I like to take one home, it's even better the next day.

Vito. I have others for special occasions that I would call favorites, but Vito is my favorite pair of jeans.

Umamicatessen has a rotating chef series on now:

http://www.umami.com/umamicatessen/

Casa del Mar Hotel lobby bar.