La Frite Sherman Oaks -- My Kitchen Nightmare

Neta,

I spoke to one of the managers and was told the show contacted the restaurant this time. I'm not sure what to believe myself since you are correct about how it usually works. The show filmed several Los Angeles area restaurants at the same time (including La Frite), so, maybe the manager is right.

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La Frite
15013 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

La Frite Sherman Oaks -- My Kitchen Nightmare

I spoke with the manager of the Woodland HIlls location and, yes, the property where it is located was recently sold, and, the restaurant is currently renegotiating its lease. I understand nothing is for sure until a new lease is or is not signed, but the restaurant has no plans to close at this time.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

La Frite Sherman Oaks -- My Kitchen Nightmare

valleypizzaeater,

Do you have any further details/proof about the Woodland Hills location closing? Are you saying it will be closing Summer 2012?

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Chicago Deep Dish in Sherman Oaks

Yes, Brooklyn Pizza is next to the old location for Fab's. It's not the most fantastic pizza, but I really don't like Pizza Hut, Domino's or Papa John's, so, Brooklyn Pizza is great to bring home or have delivered. Silly trivia - when Norm's Guitars was on the corner of Tampa/Vanowen, Beatle George Harrison went there to look at guitars and then ate a slice of pizza at Brooklyn Pizza. Wonder what he thought.

Barone's seems to have its own thing going when it comes to Pizza. It tastes good to me and my wife, though. I've tried other things on the menu and, so far, have not been impressed.

Servorg, posting comments, for me, means there's always a chance I'll misunderstand where a thread was or where it's going and anything inbetween. So, you have nothing to be sorry for.

As far as pizza goes, I find even the places I like can go bad. Sometimes they change cooks or style or something and I just don't like it anymore. I wasn't too impressed with the Encino Mulberry Street. or Red Ball on Topanga Canyon.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Chicago Deep Dish in Sherman Oaks

Yes, Servorg, I understand your point, but it is the same location for both. I don't know if the family who owned the old place have any financial interest in the new place. They were always very nice to me and my wife.

Yes, I was surprised too, reality check. Personally, I didn't like their pizza (I love pizza, by the way). My wife and I always ordered entrees. They did make both thin and deep dish pizzas and I knew several people who loved their pizza. It just wasn't for me. Currently,I like Barone's (the restaurant, not the express version), Caioti, Pizza Cookery (Woodland Hills), Rosti's, and Brooklyn Pizzeria (near corner Tampa/Vanowen), though I'm always open to new suggestions.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Chicago Deep Dish in Sherman Oaks

Carter,

Just to give more detail about the change. Nothing has remained from the old menu of Georgio's California Pizza and Pasta. It's an entirely new restaurant. The chef, Gary Robins, is from New York and is cooking there himself for the month of December. What happens after that, I'm not sure.

Everyone can read more here:
http://www.laweekly.com/2010-11-25/eat-drink/yes-georgio-s/

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Chicago Deep Dish in Sherman Oaks

maxzook,

I wasn't commenting on your original post. It seems as the thread went on with more replies, there seemed to be a question by poster Kevin - something about two different restaurants.

I liked the old restaurant a lot for its entrees. My favorite being linguine with mussels (they served the green ones - most restaurants serve the black ones). I always requested they substitute the marinara sauce with the fra diavolo. It got to the point where the staff would ask if I wanted the usual.

Giovanni's in Woodland Hills (Ventura Blvd/Topanga Canyon Blvd - at the large strip mall where Jerry's is) serves this dish the way I like it.

I'm glad we're both inclined to try the new Georgio's. I have no problem with their menu - it will be interesting to experience the food and the atmosphere.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Chicago Deep Dish in Sherman Oaks

Let me restate. Georgio's California Pizza and Pasta no longer exists. It is now Georgio's Cucina (www.georgioscucina.com).

I have no further information. The menu is definitely not the old Georgio's and it is more expensive. Whether this part of Studio City/the Valley will support this restaurant, only time will tell.

I never had a problem finding parking since It's a fairly large lot and it's a short walk from wherever you eventually find parking.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Chicago Deep Dish in Sherman Oaks

Yes, it is now Georgio's Cucina. I have no information about the previous owners or staff. I frequented the old restaurant a lot, so I am interested as to what happened. Georgio's Cucina has remodeled and changed pretty much everything. It is the focus of one particular chef, whose name escapes me. The prices are also what one would expect from an upper scale restaurant. I will try it someday soon. Right now, I really miss the old place, so, I hope the new place ends up being worth it since I can't expect anything from the past..

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Any, I mean any good restaurants in Burbank?

Funny, how one person's interpretation can be so diffent from anothers. I believe you, JackonCrack, that your experience is as you state, but I have enjoyed Michael's and have never had to send food back. I recommend the gumbo and the jambalaya. My wife likes the shrimp etouffee. We both like the beignets.

Having said that, I sure do miss Homer & Edy's from back in the day on Robertson Blvd.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Someone try and convince me to go to La Frite again....I dare you

I am unimpressed with extreme views negative or positive. Restaurants have their ups and downs; it can be the food, the service or even the customer. The interaction between a restaurant and its customers is fluid and subject to many possible fluctuations.

La Frite is a restaurant I and my wife frequent because it's convenient (everyone should have a neighborhood restaurant they fall back on) and more times than not serves a decent enough meal.

We like the choices: always the specials (found on the inside front page of the menu - soup specials are a must for me, they can be and I like adventurous), the mixed greens salad, the onion soup, the crab bisque, the lobster ravioli, the la frite burgers, the "meg" pizza (though my wife prefers how it's made in Sherman Oaks), the filet mignon with bernaise, the seafood quiche, the chocolate souffle, and the fries.

We also like the atmosphere of both restaurants.

The service is usually very good, and, occasionally spotty. I don't get too hung up on this stuff. I speak up when I need to, and, enjoy when it's going right.

Yes, sometimes I'm disappointed, but I feel I stepped up to the plate (pun intended) and tried something.

On the chicken issue, I tend to refrain from eating chicken at any restaurant (though I plead guilty to the occcasional El Pollo Loco or KFC). Why? I am one of those who is of the belief it's an inexpensive meat to buy comparatively; why pay restaurant prices for it. My wife and I can cook a pretty decent chicken at home, or, purchse a whole rotisserie chicken from Costco. It's not a meat I would choose to partake of in a restaurant. Also, the chicken breast has to be one of the dryest meats. For me, this is where a sauce or gravy is important. I would consider eating a chicken breast in a restaurant if the sauce or gravy sounded appealing, but it would take a lot (there are places that definitely serve chicken to my wishes - Roscoe's, Knott's Berry Farm, etc.)

I don't know about frozen vegetables. I have usually enjoyed the carrots, string beans, asparagus, broccoli, etc. Occasionally, my criticism would be that they are over-cooked.

Oh, and I like the dinner rolls.

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area

Any, I mean any good restaurants in Burbank?

My wife and I prefer the Gourmet 88 in Glendale (originally same ownership, but now under different ownership from the one in Burbank) at the cross streets of Colorado and Brand.

Barry

bbrownlie in Los Angeles Area