Bic's Profile
Paradis ice cream Montrose
Just came back from the Montrose section of Glendale (not too far from Descanso Gardens off the 2 Freeway) and discovered this Scandinavian ice cream place called Paradis. Wonderful ice cream, almost like a gelato, light, smooth, and really good flavors. I'm an ice cream/gelato fan, and this is one of the best I've had in the LA area. And I"m not affiliated in any way with the store -- just happened to be walking by after a visit to the Gardens.
Check it out:
http://www.paradis-icecream.com/
What do you like at Farfalla in Los Feliz?
Terrific neighborhood trattoria. I've been going for 20 years and it's still one of the best. Pastas have always been al dente (salmon farfalle is great, but rich), salads large enough for 2, sometimes 3, pizzas are thin crust and more like you would get in Italy. In fact, visitors from Italy gave it their seal of approval (unlike the ones in the Olive Garden ads!!). Extensive wine list, since it's shared with the Vinoteca Farfalla a few doors away and the Brazilian Tropicalia also on the same block (same owners). Perhaps not as special as Angelini Osteria, but it's a very good neighborhood spot as you would find on a small side street in northern Italy.
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Angelini Osteria
7313 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Vinoteca Farfalla
1968 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tropicalia
1966 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA
LA suggestions for New Yorkers?
Thai Patio on Hollywood to give a nice overview of ThaiTown (be sure to stop in the Thai dessert place a few doors down). Great for out-of-towners. (And for gelato, I prefer Pazzo Gelato on Sunset in Silver Lake).
Garage Pizza - Any good?
It was good, but not great. And expensive, although you can buy by the slice. For Silver Lake/Los Feliz area, I hear that Tomato Pie on Hyperion is more like NY pizza, although I haven't been. I liked Nicky D's on Rowena. Farfalla's pizza is more like you get in Italy. Any one try Lucifer's on Hillhurst yet? What about Cruzer pizza (behind Desert Rose). Can anyone compare all these?
speranza hyperion
I still think Farfalla on Hillhurst is the best Italian in the area. Visitors from Italy even said it was like a neighborhood trattoria back home. Domenico was good, but pricey. Michelangelo was mediocre. I've had uneven meals at Lil Dom's (once had to send back pasta that was clumped together in the bowl!). Aroma was over-sauced and salty. Capriccio was better when it occupied the space of Speranza and the original owner/chefs were there. That's my two liras (euros?) worth.
Domenico Silverlake, we have Italian (short)
Aroma is not that great. Too much sauce, salt, gloppy toppings. For my money, the most authentic trattoria food is Farfalla on Hillhurst. I even brought some visitors from Italy there and they thought it was pretty authentic (unlike the ones you see in the Olive Garden ads!!)
Domenico in Silverlake?
No charge for bringing your own wine. Funny how some places, like The Park, on Sunset in Echo Park got into trouble for BYOB and Domenico has not. In any case, the food was good, a bit pricey, excellent bread. Our braciole veal was a little dry, and the Orecchiette pasta dish could have been a bit more al dente. The scallop appetizer was expensive (I think it was $15) for two medium sized scallops. Great interior, simple white walls with abstract paintings, outdoor seating (although beware, smokers allowed and it's a small outside space).
Desert Rose in Los Feliz
Ate there the other night. Great wine list, nice atmosphere, decent food (kebabs, fish, pasta, salads, etc.). Appetizers a bit pricey, entrees from $15-$30. Can't say it jumped out at me in terms of flavors but enjoyable. Just opened, so let's see what kinks get worked out. Down side: most of restaurant is outside, so when it's cold or rainy, it might be less fun. Also, they should start a non-smoking outdoor section, since it's big enough, or just ban smoking (as Alcove does in its outdoor seating).
French Laundry reservation through AE?
I'm on Open Table but cannot find the "search for next available reservation" button. Where is it?
What makes LA a foodie city? Tell Me
Read Jonathan Gold at laweekly.com -- his take on food of all sorts in LA will not only show you why he won a Pulitzer Prize, but also why LA is a foodie city.
Hortobagy closed?
Someone said that the owners of Hortobagy have taken over Csardas on Melrose, renaming it DUNA CSARDA and remodeling it. Is this true?
Oakland tips wanted
Staying at Marriott downtown -- please suggest a couple of good lunch spots and a couple of dinner places -- prefer walking distance of Marriott Oakland City Center, 1001 Broadway,
ITALIAN food and then a wine bar - any suggestions?
Farfalla on Hillhurst in Los Feliz area is like a neighborhood trattoria in Italy. Good, decent, well-done food, extensive wine list and great pizzas and pastas. Just a few doors down, by the same owners, is the Vinoteca wine bar (which shares some of its food items with Farfalla and next door Tropicalia Brazilian restaurant).
nice and even perhaps upscale near Broadway theaters
Esca is overrated -- decent food, overpriced. We were there last week in December and the service was spotty. The music in the background was bad rock music -- bizarre for this type of restaurant. The waiter pushed high priced items (special olive oil for $8 with burnt bread, the most expensive glass of white wine, etc.) -- never told us that the fish we ordered (fluke) was fried, not grilled as we assumed.
Hollywood Gelato Co in Los Feliz: Now Open!
The gelato at Hollywood Gelato on Hillhurst in Los Feliz is imported from Michigan. It's thick, flavors not particularly strong or distinctive. The biggest problem is the staffing -- been twice and neither person behind the counter could tell us what was in certain flavors that were otherwise not obvious by the name. Their answer when asked was "do you want to taste it?" This could be a problem if you're allergic to peanuts or some other mystery ingredient. The manager/owner should be training the staff with information about the flavors. In addition, someone needs a spell-checker -- at least 4 or 5 were misspelled, suggesting again a not very concerned management.
Stick with Pazzo Gelato (on Sunset in Silver Lake) or Scoops (on Heliotrope, just north of Melrose behind LACC).
