I like this one from Fine Cooking. I also lighten it up by brushing the eggplant with OO and baking it. Great dish for a buffet because it tastes better the next day, so you can make it ahead, and it tastes good at room temp. Very easy and it's vegan.

http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/eg...

Used to love Caffe Luna's pumpkin cheesecake with espresso sauce.

Another example of how NOT to handle the situation. Our party of 6 arrives on time for 8pm reservation. We wait for 25 minutes for our table, the only one open/large enough, where a mother sits talking to her two small children. No food/drink/check in front of them. She is facing us (no waiting area) and can see us. They are not interfered with. We wait and say nothing. At 9:40 hostess approaches and whispers that she needs our table and points to another party behind me. We are all eating dessert! My party is stunned. I look at her and whisper back: "We waited for this table and now they will wait for it." 15 minutes later, we leave. We have gone back, but only because it's the only resto of its type in our area.

Second the rec on Hinano. It's one of the last dives and we're glad it's still there. Thanks for the tip on Mercedes.

We really, really want to like Tsuji No Hana - it's right around the corner from our place. We have eaten there twice and both times it was only all right. Not bad, but not particularly notable or worth recommending. However, we will try again, but only because it's right around the corner and hope springs eternal.

I was thinking of the Courtyard Marriott as well (near Lincoln/90 freeway). If you're at the Admiralty Way Marriott then you are much closer to places in Venice. We sometimes go to the Pasta Factory on Washington/Via Dolce. It has the same menu as Alejo's - it's the resto that Alejo started after his wife received the original place in the divorce. (He has since died.) I find it far more comfortable and pleasant than the original, which we get takeout from. We have also liked Tajrish, a middle eastern place in the Killer Shrimp mini-mall at Washington/Ocean, but haven't been there in a while. Killer Shrimp also isnt' bad. Some people like Akbar on Washington up towards Lincoln, but I find the food bland. We loved it when the old man was still alive. There's also good middle eastern at Gaby's on Washington near the beach, which costs very little money for LOTS of food. They don't have a liquor license, but will discreetly point you toward the closest liquor store. We also like the tiny Thai (Siamese Hut?) next to Baja Cantina. My husband loves the crathongtons. A year ago we had a very good lunch at Mercedes grill on Washington, but haven't been back.

Not sure if these recs are too expensive, but: we like Wharo Korean BBQ on Lincoln just south of Washington. Food is good, not too pricey. Two people can eat there for $30-40 without alcohol. You'll pay more than in K-town, but it's still reasonable and I believe it's the only Korean place in the general vicinity. Also we recently tried the new branch of Tlapazola which advertises itself as "southern Mexican." It's upscale casual, and not super-expensive. We ate there Sat. night; cost was $62 (not including tip) for two entrees, one ceviche app and two glasses of wine. Desserts looked good, but we did not indulge. Be sure to ask the cost of the specials. My yellowtail (served with two delicious mole sauces on a bed of haricots verts) was $20. While this is not terrible expensive, it was considerably more than the $12.95/13.95 for the carnitas and carne asada. Wine list is small, but OK. Corkage $12. The resto is small and attractive, the service very sweet. We intend to support this neighborhood place. It's on Lincoln south of Washington near Benny's BBQ and the car wash.

How about: I once knew a guy (early 30s) who would not eat anything that had what he termed "goo" on it. "Goo" included salad dressing, sauce, including pasta sauce, soy sauce, etc., pancake syrup, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, even butter. Would boil pasta noodles, drain and eat. Relished an absolutely naked baked potato. Would not eat Indian, Chinese, Thai, etc. When he was in law school he sometimes ate 3 meals a day at McDonald's, waiting the extra time for his special order with no special sauce, ketchup, etc. He would eat pizza, though only cheese.