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LA has the best sushi outside of Tokyo, so I would recommend that. Take them to Sasabune or Sushi Zo. High quality sushi like that is just not commonplace in other cities, unless you pay huge prices.
I would skip Urasawa. I have never been, but I honestly object to paying that much for dinner. Is the sushi at Urasawa really three or four-times as good as the sushi at Sasabune? I find that tough to believe. Urasawa seems to exist as much for the high quality food as the opportunity for a diner to announce to the world that they can afford to pay $300+ per person for dinner.
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If you want to take them somewhere small, out of the way, intimate but with unexpectedly great food, take them to Bistro K in South Pasadena. The food is fine dining, but it's a lot less money that Cut or AOC. Bistro K is a tiny jewel of a place, very charming, with highly artistic cuisine at prices your San Francisco buddies will be in shock over. They don't have a wine license, so bring your own--corkage is free! It's easy to get to from Burbank, too. Just go down the 134 to Fair Oaks, turn right, and go about 2 miles to El Centro, turn right and it's about two blocks down. Bay Area folks will be amazed at the free and abundant street parking! (Be aware that service can be slow. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours there.)
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How about a "Modern take on Moroccan Cuisine"? Check out the link on Tagine and the slide picture report link:
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If you know a really good Thai restuarant that would be a good pick because SF Thai is kinda boring, one note. Lawry's might be good if they like old school. AOC sounds like a good bet, especially if they are foodie types. The upscale Mexican seafood sounds like an interesting place, that is also underrepresented in SF (home of the taqueria and overstuffed burrito.)
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Take them to CUT... Wolfgang Puck's new place that is red hot right now... if you can get in.
http://wolfgangpuck.com/rest/fine/cut...
Another cool place that is always a winner with visitors (and the chow is very good too) is the restaurant at the Getty Center... can book on Open Table... nice setting/view too.
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No disrespect to poster-Scotty, but do you realize there are a several thousand places to eat in LA, representing just about every cuisine, culture & dining level in the world. And you really expect to find the perfect recommendation with such general info ?
Price range?
Locations?
Atmosphere?
What cuisines do your guests like?
Details. Details. Details!›1 Reply -
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Das Ubergeek
Oct 16, 2006 10:11 PM
My go-to place for the "can there possibly be chow outside the Bay" people (not suggesting that this is the case for you, just it seems to be for me) is the original La Serenata de Garibaldi in Boyle Heights. Wonderful, upscale Mexican fish and seafood in a really gritty neighbourhood. I posted an extended review about it a month or six weeks ago.
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AOC is upscale tapas paired with various flights of wine...a blast. and great food. depends on what you are looking for though? if you want the best sushi in LA...by my count...that is unpertentious, but always manages to have a star sighting (Nicolette Sheridan was there last time i was at dinner)...Asanebo (in Studio City)...just incredible. But if you want to go closer to you, AOC derfinitely is fun (more formal). I am a big fan of wine bars (hence AOC), so little places before dinner like Lou on Vine or Bin 8945 in WeHo (or even for dinner) are always fun. Good Luck
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jcwla
Oct 16, 2006 09:41 PM
Urasawa is the only restaurant L.A. can really brag about in terms of being a world city. A.O.C. was revolutionary in its own way. Spago is a good idea, mostly for what it once represented.
There are other ideas -- R23 is a place people from out of town will remember as much for its funky location and cardboard chairs as for the great food, The Grill on the Alley is tops for service and selection, Peppone is the old-school Italian of nostalgic reminiscences...
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Kitchen Queen
Oct 16, 2006 08:00 PM
I would take them someplace that's unique to L.A. and different from what they are accustomed to. L.A. has so much to offer..French, indian, lebanese, african cuban, great steaks and seafoods.....Narrow your pathways a little. What area do you want to be in?
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re: Scotty
Kitchen Queen
Oct 16, 2006 09:29 PM
But, Scotty, from where are they coming??? Midwest? East Coast, Cyprus? ..............If they're coming from the midwest for example, I would offer a place near the ocean. Many from the midwest have never seen the ocean before.
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re: Scotty
Kitchen Queen
Oct 17, 2006 06:56 AM
Well Scotty, SFO is a tough place to beat! However, maybe you can entice with something like Little Ethiopia -Rosalinds, Nyala, Meals by Genet?? http://www.mealsbygenet.com/
If I was to entertain, I'd choose something off the beaten track. If Ethiopian is too funky, how about Saladang in Pasadena? Make sure you go to the larger of the two places and sit outside among the large palms. It's really a treat. Try a special of the day and a seafood something. Always winners! Had a seafood curry about 2 years ago that I still can taste on my lips! Last, on past posts, I saw a new place in Koreatown that made headlines: Mongolica - Mongolian cuisine which is unique to most folks anywhere. If they're not foodies well, it's a grab bag. I love Pasadena - It's fun to walk around in the evening and find a dining spot in old town. There's plenty. Good Luck and let us know what you decide :)KQ
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