italianstallion's Profile
Good Girl Dinette: What's Vietnamese diner food?
Been twice now. Still can't believe that a fantastic place like this is in our neighborhood.
Apps are good. Crispy tofu and the fries are excellent. Mushroom imperial rolls were superior to the chicken ones, which were a tad greasy. They're a bit stingy with the lettuce, though.
Chicken pho was VERY good, and the chicken curry was too. Pork sandwich was also very nice.
I'm usually too hungry to brave the 30 minute wait for the chicken curry pot pie. (I may actually call ahead next time we go.)
While the food is really solid, the service is only OK. Food is a little slow getting to the table, but not awfully so. They're still finding their groove it seems.
Minimalist space and atmosphere, but that's OK. It seems BYOB is OK - others were doing this last time we were there.
A welcome addition to the neighborhood. Far better than either Vietnamese place in Eagle Rock and just good enough (and uncrowded enough) to keep me from driving to Gingergrass.
Dinner and Drinks Downtown Los Angeles?
Taking some USC colleagues out to dinner this evening (a Monday night). Looking for an inexpensive to moderately priced Chow-ish place for dinner AND drinks. My standby, Sushi Komasa, is closed on Mondays. Looking for suggestions in the Downtown/Chinatown Area - any type of food.
Shamshiri - WORST SERVICE EVER
Beef and lamb kebabs and also the lamb chops, which were the best of the three.
Frankly, I think Pita Kitchen in Sherman Oaks (not Persian of course) has better kebabs. We should have gone there instead!
Shamshiri - WORST SERVICE EVER
Yes, busy but no one was waiting for a table. There's really no excuse.
POLKA POLISH....
I tried Polka for the first time last week for lunch. Man, am I sorry I didn't try it sooner. Super friendly service, adorable atmosphere and outstanding food (we had the spinach soup, tasty salad, stuffed cabbage and the pierogis). Good beer too! I will definitely be back.
And Warszawa? Meh. I think its very overpriced for what it is.
Shamshiri - WORST SERVICE EVER
Just back from an extremely disappointing dinner at Shamshiri.
We hadn't been to Shamshiri in many years, but wanted to take an out-of-town friend out for Persian food.
Granted, it was a Saturday night and they were rather busy (no wait to be seated though). Our server was friendly, but it took a quite a while for her to get our wine and appetizers to the table. We did notice she was handling a lot of tables.
Good thing we ordered two appetizers because it took almost ONE HOUR for our entrees to arrive. Several tables that had been seated after us had received their food. During that hour, no one returned to the table to bus the appetizers, refill the water glasses, the bread basket or check in on us. Not once. The hummus sat for so long it developed a skin. When we finally got our server's attention, she offered no explanation except to say that she was very busy and had indeed put the order in.
Another patron (who had received his food) commiserated with us about the bad service.
We called the manager over. He offered no apologies, but then proceeded to yell at the waitress in front of us. When the food finally arrived, we had to call someone back and ask for silverware. Still, no offer of refills on the bread, water, etc. The food was OK (not great), and the evening had already soured.
When the check arrived it was for the full amount. I put my credit card down, but no one returned to run the charge. Furious, my partner walked it over to the manager and demanded that he give us a break in light of the outrageously lousy service. In the end, they did comp our drinks and gave us a "family discount," which amounted to about $30 off the bill. It was still $90 for three people.
On the way out, the manager asked us to come back again so that he could make it up to us. We said no thanks. He then asked us if we thought he should fire our server!
I'm astonished. I understand that from time to time things go wrong in restaurants (as they do in all other businesses). OWN IT, apologize and then make an effort to make it right. Nobody did that.
Moreover, we weren't the only ones receiving bad service, and they are clearly under-staffed. My recommendation is to STAY AWAY. Far away.
Bistro West in Carlsbad - Skip it
Yup. Bistro West is pretty bad. Went there last night while visiting for a family occasion. After perusing the unfocused menu and the wine list populated by grocery store wines, I didn't exactly have high hopes. The vast majority of the dishes we ordered had very heavy glazes and sauces on them - a tell-tale technique for masking mediocre preparation. The tuna tartare appetizer was passable, but the rest of the food was really weak. The mac and cheese was downright inedible and the service was extremely poor. At $40 per person it wasn't highway robbery, but its still too much to pay for bad hotel food.
Gift Certificate for Fantastic L.I. Restaurant?
For the holidays this year, I'm looking to share the gift of "chow" while minimizing the carbon footprint of the gifts I give. I no longer live in the area, but would like to send gift certificates to local restaurants to many of my relatives living in Long Island.
My relatives are Italian-American baby-boomers mostly and live between Eastern Queens and Western Suffolk Counties. They all like a good meal, but aren't foodies and aren't super-adventurous. Italian places are welcome, but I'm sure they get plenty of that. Medium to semi-premium price range. Any good recommendations?
El Arco Iris - What's the story?
we returned to Arco Iris after a period of not going because of consistently bad service. their california burrito is FANTASTIC and lured me back (everything else i've tried there is not exceptional). we went last night and once again the poor service set me off (no discernable waiter, long wait for food, inept, unfriendly, etc.). needless to say Arco Iris is OFF the list once again.
Need suggestions for GOOD meal home delivery
my partner found Susan's Healthy Gourmet. we've been doing it for about two weeks now and absolutely LOVE IT.
we're pretty hard-core foodies, but my partner and i are both busy at work and have grown tired of the chore of cooking every night. we were spending a lot $$$ dining out at places that we don't love while our groceries were rotting in the fridge.
i was more than a bit worried about eating microwaved dinners from a tray, but to my surprise everything tastes extremely fresh and is exceptionally well cooked/prepared. the convenience is terrific - we eat when we're hungry - and the variety is quite good - the menu doesn't repeat for 5 weeks. we've had some real standouts: salmon croquets and turkey lasagna. the veggie sides are terrific too.
its not cheap: $15 per person for dinner each night. BUT, grocery shopping has been reduced to coffee, milk, cereal and whatever we chose to cook on the weekends. AND we're not going out to eat as much. when we do, it feels a bit more special.
and even though the diet angle was not our priority, i've lost 3 pounds and my partner 5! WIN-WIN!
to ALL who recommend CHANDRA in Pasadena
thanks for the rec, chef. i'll try suriya thai next time.
i still can't understand the love for saladang or the cool reception for patakan thai on these boards.
it would be wonderful if there was FANTASTIC thai to be had on this side of town, but i'm happy with GOOD, reliable standbies. Chandra was memorable, but only in the sense that i'll remember NOT to go back.
Mike and Anne's (So. Pas.)...Any good?
Yup. This place is awesome. We finally gave it a try this weekend, and can't believe what we've been missing. Ricotta-stuffed Zuchini Blossoms!!! Angus burger with sweet potato fies. Yum. Can't wait to go back and try EVERYTHING else. The best part: from check in to check out, simply the best, friendliest and most competent service we've had at any restaurant in Los Angeles. EVER.
to ALL who recommend CHANDRA in Pasadena
I'm a big fan of Patakan Thai on Fair Oaks. We go there once or twice a week and the food there is consistently VERY good (not great) and everyone there is absolutely lovely.
I was looking to mix it up a bit, so we went to Chandra on Arroyo Parkway last night. We had always just driven by and finally decided to give it a try based on the (often glowing) reviews that I've seen here on Chowhound.
I wasn't bothered too much by the tatty '80s interior or the Soviet Constructivist-inspired chairs (that would easily slice your toes off if you made the mistake of leaning back and forth in them). And I certainly wasn't expecting a fine dining experience, rather I was hopeful that we would another tasty, independent ethnic food destination based on word of (chowhound's) mouth - that's why many of us are here, no?
Anyway, I was REALLY shocked by how UNBELIEVABLY AWFUL the food was. We began with completely tasteless spring rolls made with little more than iceburg lettuce from a bag and served with jarred mustard and peanut sauce. The Tom Ka Kai soup was salty beyond belief and full of rubbery chicken and Costco "fancy cut" frozen carrots chunks. The yellow curry chicken was a little better but far from good. It was positively the WORST THAI FOOD I have ever had, bordering on completely inedible.
So, I just don't get it. There are those on this board who rave about this place. What's up with that?
BTW - I wholeheartedly agree with others here that Saladang Sang is over-rated. It is, and the food is not that good. But a lot of people said this place was better. YIKES.
Burger Continental in Pasadena---What's the deal?
yup. tried this place last night because we were hungry. (wish i had checked here first.) stale chips and salsa (why?), lousy salad bar, dirty patio, weak service, so-so shawarma and burgers. and the live music so horrendously loud and awful it was KILLING me. stay away!
i strongly agree with others here that Mediterranean Cafe up the street is really wonderful. too bad that they close at 7pm.
Gaucho Grill in Pasadena
been in your shoes before and had a similar experience at that location (and others). Gaucho Grill always seems like one of the "least-worst" options in the restaurant chain world, but it the food is consistently bad. unfortunate too, because the menu is SO simple that one would think its easy to get it kind of right.
Culver City Restaurants
I'm a VERY big fan of the Double Dutch Dinette, I just wish it was open for business a little more frequently - seems like its never open when it should be. Tried it today for a Saturday lunch, but alas it was closed.
We went next door to S&W for the first time, still buzzing with the breakfast crowd well past 1pm. I had a tuna melt that was just OK and onion rings that were really terrible. And though "grease" is to be expected in southern comfort food, there was a bit more than I could stomach. Service was NON-EXISTANT. I know there's always a line out the door at this place . . . must be the low prices. I won't be back though.
We used to live a block away from La Dij. Its just OK, really. I agree with others here that their dinner is good - much better than lunch or breakfast. It seems that they put a little more effort into it later in the day.
Alejos: What's the big hype?
just came from alejo's in westchester this evening. solid pasta dishes, especially the pescador. ok wine. love the bread and the garlic. a good standby when i'm working in the neighborhood or going to dinner to/from the airport. i agree with others that i wouldn't drive out of my way to get there.
i once did take-out from the other (icky) location when i lived in venice. as much as i love the garlic i was sorry i did - my apartment reeked of garlic for days!
Dinner half way between LA and San Diego
Memphis Cafe in Costa Mesa. Not expensive, either.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/82257?query=memphis%20cafe
South Pasadena?
We too frequent this neighborhood. Wish there was more good food though.
Ditto the rec on the Oak Tree Inn. Great chinese food (if a tad salty), but the atmosphere isn't so great.
I eat at Patakan Thai at least once or twice a week. Curry, Thai BBQ Pork, Gai Koowha are excellent. Soups are OK. Ridiculously cheap lunch specials (even on weekends) and everyone there is super nice. WAY better than Solodang Song up the street.
Il Brigante is VERY nice, very authentic, and i would agree with others here in saying a bit overpriced.
Julienne is lovely.
Gus's IS awful, but we wind up there once in a while for their California Chicken Sandwich, Chef's Salad and tasty old school fries (everything else is bad). The waitresses border on charming, but the drunks at the bar can often be a little loud.
Shakers is an OK coffee shop (i'd rather be at the 101), as is Wild Thymes - though everytime I'm there i feel as if I've been transported to somewhere in the Mid-West. Maybe its the crowd, or just the country-(un)inspired interior. What's with that rocking-horse pig?
Looking forward to trying a few of the other recs here: Bistro K, Firefly, Yoshida, Yasmeen's, Shiro, Gerlach's. (that's a pretty big list, huh?)
PS - Stay away from Carmine's. I've been trying to like this place, but the food is REALLY NASTY and way overpriced: $15 linguine pescador from a can, even the pizza is inedible.
Need advice on Cliff's Edge (Silverlake)!
How's this for advice on Cliff's Edge - DON'T GO. My partner and I went for the first time last night, based on a recent write-up in LA Mag, and (mostly) good reviews from Chowhounds. The patio and atmosphere are indeed lovely, and the menu items sounded quite good. It was a saturday night and therefore busy, BUT the service is beyond horrible. Making a reservation required two separate phone calls and long waits on hold. We waited 15 minutes at the hostess station before even being acknowledged. Our waiter was attitudey, inept and rude. Drinks arrived 20 minutes after they were ordered, and the waiter didn't return to our table to take our food order until well past the 30 minute mark. Their crappy sliced wheat bread was the sum total of our gastronomic experience at Cliff's because we ultimately walked out. . . and over to Alegria Cafe, which is just a block away. The 20 minute wait was absorbed by a quick walk to the cash machine and to pick-up some drinks (its BYOB). We sat down to a (more) fabulous dinner for less than half the price and were treated to incredibly friendly and attentive service. Different atmosphere, but an outstanding alternative nonetheless.
