Ultimate Restaurants 2006

[Mr Grub]

Time again for LA hounds to vote for your favorites in our annual Ultimate Los Angeles Restaurants survey. The concept is simple: everyone is asked to list, in rank order, your top 5 restaurants in LA County that you would recommend to houndly out-of-town visitors or to chowfriends for a special occasion. Since we worship at the altar of deliciousness, your ranking should be based 75% on food and 25% on everything else.

To join the fun, reply with a list of ONLY your top 5 choices. Responses with more than 5 choices will not be included. Replies with fewer than five choices will be tabulated. Your entries will be weighted arithmetically, 5 points for your #1 choice; 4 for #2, & so forth. A simple list will suffice, but any & all explanation is welcome.

More than 100 hounds responded last year. The more replies we receive, the more useful are the poll’s findings, so please do reply. We’ll keep the polls open until December 22 & publish the results shortly after the new year.

For openers, here’s the Grubmaster’s top 5:
1. Providence – #1 last year; clear #1 this year
2. Spago – still the reigning champion of the Champions Tasting Menu League
3. Babita – Who knew Mex could make your taste buds tingle?
4. A.O.C. – mellower, but just as tasty
5. Hungry Cat – doing what they do perfectly

Last year's results:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/76226...

[David Kahn]

1. Langers Deli
2. Lucques
3. Mi India Bonita
4. Providence
5. Tacos Baja Ensenada

[Schweinhaxen]

1. Sushi Zo
2. Spago
3. Mastro's Beverly Hills
4. BLD (Breakfast Only)
5. Langer's Deli (#19 Sandwich)

[TomSwift]

1. Urasawa
2. Providence
3. Langer's - pastrami only
4. Valentino
5. Spago

[ipsedixit]

1. Cut
2. Sea Harbour
3. Babita
4. Spago
5. Dai Ho

[Lawn Wrangler]

1. Spago
2. Mastro's
3. Bay Cities Deli
4. Hungry Cat
5. Joe's

[estone888]

Providence
J&J Shanghai
New Concept
Babita
Water Grill

[jcwla]

1. The Grill on the Alley -- the epitome of consistent excellence and superior service
2. Urasawa -- L.A.'s one world-class restaurant would be #1 if Hiro replaced some of the starchy early courses that weigh you down too soon
3. Peppone -- the dark, homey, always delicious Italian perennial that will make anything you want however you want it
4. R-23 -- the one place in town that has consistently surprised and impressed my jaded East Coast friends
5. A.O.C. -- one of the few truly innovative restaurants in town, the original and the best in "small plates"

[kingkong5]

Mr. Grub,

Great idea and I see that this is a great chowhound tradition. Would you mind if I set up a similar poll for those of us in Orange County?

We don't have as many nice places or unique experiences as you do up in LA, but I think it would serve as a great resource not only for us in the OC, but also for you Angelinos if you ever come down this way.

[Professor Salt]

Somebody usually does. If you're handy with Excel and willing to take on the work, why not you this year?

[Wilde]

1) Langer's
2) Monte Alban
3) Wat Thai Temple
4) Meals By Genet
5) Tacos Baja Ensenda

[hrhboo]

1. Providence
2. Opus
3. Guelaguetza
4. La Buca
5. Orris

I have only had Sunday Supper at Lucques so I don't think I can accurately judge the restaurant, and I (shamefully) haven't made it to AOC yet.

[BrookieStyles]

1) Mastro's
2) Lucques
3) Katsuya (Valley NOT Brentwood)
4) Providence
5) Dan Tana's

[BabyLitigator]

1. Grace
2. Sushi Zo
3. Monte Alban
4. Enoteca Drago
5. Kiriko

[jenngen]

1) Grace
2) A.O.C.
3) Kazu
4) Vincente
5) Cut

[Debbie W]

1. Spago
2. Urasawa
3. Babita
4. Kiriko
5. Jar

[Reeter1]

These are not ranked in order of preference, it's just five:

1. Bistro K - South Pasadena
2. Opus - midcity
3. Din Tai Fung - Arcadia
4. Phong Dinh - Rosemead (where else can you eat ostrich or snake?)
5. Sushi Gen - Little Tokyo

There's so many great places to eat in this town, but we are regulars at these five!

[slbear]

1. Spago
2. AOC
3. Providence
4. Kiriko
5. Mastro's

[russkar]

#1 PROVIDENCE (best meal of 06',Lunch 12-7-06)
#2 URASAWA (what else can be said about the finest Japanese cuisine in the land?)
#3 SPAGO (TM twice last month, absolutely amazing)
#4 MELISSE (should be a One Star Michelin)
#5 VALENTINO (best Alba White Truffles)

[Grog]

Thanks for doing this again Mr G.

1. Providence
2. Go's Mart (Sushi)
3. Bistro K
4. AOC
5. Z Sushi

[wakko11]

1. Sushi Iki
2. Providence
3. Langer's
4. Spago
5. King's Fish House

[JAB]

1. Osteria La Buca
2. Bistro 561
3. La Terza

[LAfoodfiend]

1.Providence
2.Opus
3.La Buca
4.Mozza
5.Hungry Cat

[DanaB]

1. Providence
2. Mozza
3. Canele
4. A.O.C.
5. Babita

[mc michael]

1. Cut
2. A.O.C.
3. Hungry Cat
4. R23
5. Red White & Bluezz

[Newkie]

1. AOC
2. Grace
3. Spago
4. Angelini Osteria
5. Ortolan

[sunnygordy]

1. Hatfield's
2. Literati II
3. Hungry Cat
4. Sanamualang Cafe
5. Lucques

[Moomin]

1. Krua Thai
2. Langer's
3. Jay Bahrat
4. Zankou
5. Monte Alban

[mc michael]

Not to turn this into a horse race, but a cursory view suggests Providence, A.O.C and Spago are in the lead. (And no votes yet for Tito's.)

[Nicole]

1)Providence
2)Jiraffe
3)Josie
4)Matsuhisa
5)Mako

I'm sure about #1, but the order of #s 2-5 was harder to decide, and I'm leaving off some older favorites that I haven't been to as recently (e.g, Water Grill, AOC).

[Diana]

*sigh* third tries a charm? c'mon guys, I'm NOT saying it!

1. Providence
2. Spago
3. Asanebo
4. Rahel

[markn]

1 Spago
2 Mako
3 Jar
4 Asanebo
5 Grace

[njr]

1. Providence
2. Bistro K
3. Hungry Cat
4. Langer's (pastrami only)
5. Daikokuya (Ramen only)

[webb]

1. Sushi Zo
2. Babita
3. Chung King
4. Opus
5. Sona

[SauceSupreme]

1. Grace
2. Angelini Osteria
3. Lucques
4. AOC
5. Spago

[mcsmcs]

1. Angelini Osteria
2. Lu Din Gee
3. AOC
4. China Islamic
5. Babita

[ks in la]

1. Providence
2. AOC
3. Kiriko
4. La Casita Mexicana
5. Attari Sandwiches

[chica]

1. Spago
2. Matsuhisa
3. Saddle Peak Lodge
4. CUT
5. Din Tai Fung

[kikyo]

For it's definitely:

1. Providence
2. Angelini Osteria
3. A.O.C.
4. Angeli Caffe
5. Jar

[RicRios]

I must paraphrase here LA's restaurant scene with something a professor once said, after a PhD candidate defended his research paper:

"I can see here a lot of good work, and a lot of new work. Unfortunately, the new is not good, and the good is not new".

Well, as far as I'm concerned, even the old trustworthy is becoming worn out. Too many disappointments this year. Places that used to be very reliable, being abandoned or disregarded to shift emphasis on the flashy showy brand new.
Too many excellent reliable kitchens going out of business. Unrelentless pursuit of hype, entire disregard for the soul.

Sorry folks, this year I must abstain.

[jcwla]

Great quotation, Ric.

[Griller141]

OK, at the risk of appearing depressed, and after much thought, 2006 is a year that I, too, cannot offer much in the way of "great" in LA. First time in 8 years on this board. Now, ask me about New York or SF and I can provide a list with the only difficulty being limiting it to 5. Spago's tasting was great in 2003, 4, and 5, but it's hard to for me to get excited after the first four times. Providence is a little too far out for my taste; Sona is way too wierd. AOC too frenetic and under delivers. Maybe the Ritz Huntington in Pasadena, but irregular service and not quite ready for prime time vibe. Will try Cut soon.

[mc michael]

That's a pretty good list of 5.

[Griller141]

Ritz Huntington last night was ok, though expensive. Might be an entry to the list. I guess I did list five, but I would not want to be quoted as saying they were great. Next year!

[ckbear]

1. Spago
2. Sona
3. La Cachette
4. Lucques
5. Sasabune

[janelle]

1) Hatfields
2) A.O.C.
3) Jiraffe
4) Lucques
5) Sona

[nimo]

1. Angelini Osteria
2. Providence
3. Mako
4. Sushi 4 on 6
5. Normans (RIP vote)

[Maxmillion]

1. Lucques - for when we want a top notch, superb dinner out;
2. Ortolan - haute cuisine for special occasions;
3. A.O.C. - for good wine, excellent late night snacks and a lively scene;
4. Ruth's Chris (Bev Hills) - for consistently fantastic steak, great service and celeb spotting;
5. Mozza -- my new fave Italian joint (their pizza trumps Mama Buca's, and those stuffed, fried zucchini blossoms -- oh my!!)

[sku]

1. Sona
2. Cut
3. La Fonda Anteoqueno (Colombian)
4. Mastro's
5. Langer's

[New Trial]

Mine is weighted primarily toward the more recently opened places--not that I haven't had wonderful, memorable meals at older favorites but it was the discovery of the new that, this year, really made me go, AHH! I briefly debated reversing the order of Providence and Hatfield's but decided not to skew the results of the poll just for the sake of a Chowish acronym (and if we were to throw Mozza into the mix in just the right place. . . .).

1. Cut
2. Providence
3. Opus
4. Hatfield's
5. Sushi Zo

[lizziee]

1. Urasawa
2. Providence
3. Spago - tasting menu
4. Secret Japanese Beef Place
5. Il Grano - summer tomato menu

[banquisha]

Mastro's
Mako
Angelini Osteria
Jiraffe
Matsuhisa

[LAeater]

Campanile
Jar
Literati II
Providence
Izayoi

[pleasurepalate]

1) Golden Triangle
2) Alejandro's
3) Babita
4) Sa Rit Gol
5) La Casita

[JBC]

1) Saddle Peak Lodge
2) Matsuhisa
3) Mako
4) Chinois on Main
5) Normans (R.I.P.) *

* Now Closed, but was opened for most of 2006 (Is that within the rules? Or does it still have to be in operation on 12/31/06 ?)

[oddasiangirl]

1. Providence
2. Angelini Osteria
3. Asanebo
4. Osteria La Buca
5. JAR

[meganinlosfeliz]

1. Providence
2. AOC
3. Angelini Osteria
4. Azami Sushi
5. The Hungry Cat

[rastan]

1. Chung King
2. Babita
3. Meals By Genet
4. La Buca
5. Roy's

[foleydog]

1. Providence
2. Sushi Zo
3. La Buca
4. Pupuseria del Valle
5. My Secret Recipe

I'm so glad to see that folks are going to Monte Alban. New Times LA reviewed it about 5 years ago, and it's always great, and cheap.

I don't understand the Hungry Cat and AOC. No matter how hard I try I just don't get it. I can't leave these places without a faint feeling of nausea. And all those new H'Wood places (Citizen Smith/Magnolia - aarrggh).

[mc michael]

Different strokes.

[Reeter1]

I'm with you here. I've been going to Monte Alban for the past five years and am always wowed by their moles! And I've tried Hungry Cat a couple of times, but never ate anything that really stood out. The food is good -- no doubt about it -- but no better than a dozen similar places around town.

[mikeop34]

1. Spago
2. Jar
3. Harvest Inn
4. Locanda Veneta
5. New Concept

Harvest Inn is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the LA area. It's located in Glendale, so it doesn't get the same Chowhound action that SGV places do. Relatively upscale, and their chef uses much finer technique and ingredients than most SGV and Chinatown places.

[radman123]

1. Mozza
2. Sushi 101
3. Asanebo
4. Norman's
5. Langers

[dim2000]

1. Sona
2. Norman's
3. Sushi nozawa
4. Angelini's
5. Mike and Ann in South Pasadena

[Ciao Bob]

1. Providence
2. Luques
3. Chung King
4. Ham Ji Park
5. Giogio Baldi

[emosbaugh]

1. Spago
2. Jar
3. Hatfield's
4. La Buca
5. Angelini Osteria

[VealParmGuy]

1. JAR
2. AOC
3. Table 8 - The off menu salt roasted porterhouse is a thing of genius
4. Nozawa
5. Vivoli - Sentimental favorite

In previous years, would have voted for Sona, Asenabo but didn't eat there in 2006

[Epicure]

1. Mako (I would kill for the pesto basmati!)
2. Josie
3. Christine (worth driving to Torrance!)
4. Lucques
5. Chaya Brasserie

[gearoy]

From among places I actually ate in 2006:

1. AOC
2. Canele
3. Angelini Osteria
4. New Concept
5. Hungry Cat

[redvines]

Sona
Nozawa
Angelini Osteria
Lee Kum Kee
Hatfields

[cvc]

With my added caveat of having dined at each of these restaurants at least once in 2006 and three times overall.

AOC
Hatfield's
Max
Il Grano
Clementine's

[SauceSupreme]

I'm hoping that's the case with all of these lists, otherwise it's a bit disingenious.

[ChineseChou]

1. Grace
2. Bistro K
3. La Buca
4. Mako
5. Trattoria Tre Venezie

[The Chowhound Team]

Just a reminder that this is a fun activity driven by one of our members and is not an officially sanctioned Chowhound survey. Nobody is expected or obligated to participate.

[calabasas_trafalgar]

BOA(Santa Monica)
La Paz
Shaab
Engine Co. 28
Shinsengumi Yakitori

[WHills]

Ruth's Chris
Full House
Shibuya in Calabasas
Shiensengumi Yakitori
Summit House

[Getting Fatter]

Cut
Hungry Cat
Orris
Angelini Osteria
AOC

[thegrifter]

1. Providence
2. Cut
3. JAR
4. La Buca
5. Sona

[donnival]

1. Lucques
2. A.O.C.
3. Nook Bistro (more of a non-occasion but still awesome)
4. Providence
5. Yongsusan

[piper2674]

1. Sushi 4 on 6
2. Brent's Deli - Northridge location (puts Langers to shame IMHO)
3. Josie
4. Saddle Peak Lodge
5. Mastro's

[Marco Polo]

1. Providence
2. Urasawa
3. Angelini Osteria
4. Spago
5. Jar

[sloanedone]

Angelini Osteria
AOC
La Terza
La Buca
Mozza

Do I like Italian much?

[hbbio493]

1. Christy's - Long Beach
2. Frankie's - Melrose (LA)
3. Cuban Bistro - Alhambra
4. Las Fuentes - Reseda
5. Mulberry Pizza - Ventura (cant have a list without the pie in it).

Happy Holidays!

[RacerX]

Hey awesome, finally some love for Frankie's on Melrose! It never seems to get a mention on the board but I love the shrimp fra diablo and their steak au poivre.

My list:

1)Lawrys
2)Langers
3)Din Tai Fung
4)Tama Sushi
5)Frankies on Melrose

[Obessed]

1. Angelini Osteria
2. Hatfield's
3. Vivoli Trattoria
4. AOC
5. Oinkster

[ziggy99]

1. Providence
2. AOC
3. Mozza
4. Angelini Osteria
5. Jar

[socal boy]

1.Spago
2.Melisse
3.Jiraffe
4.La Terza
5.Chung King

[herculesmulligan]

1. Lucques
2. Grace
3. Metro Cafe
4. Beechwood
5. Jar

[Pali]

1. Angelini Osteria
2. AOC
3. Melisse
4. Josie
5. La Terza

[roastingjoe]

1. Whist at the Viceroy - nails on the entire tasting menu
2. Opus - the previous posts speak for themselves
3. Jitalda - the most consistent and friendliest Thai restraurant in Thaitown
4. Honey Pig - very underated K-town star
5. Jiraffe - consistency deserves reward

And may I commend the above posters...nary a mention of Campanile, the most over-rated restaurant on earth.

[DeskPotato]

1. Swan - Thai, North Hollywood
2. Frankie's on Melrose - Italian
3. Bay Cities - Italian deli
4. El Tapatio - Mexican
5. King's Fish House - Seafood

[Baby Ruth]

Of the places I've eaten this year:

1. Grace
2. La Cachette
3. Melisse
4. Patina
5. Saddle Peak Lodge

Grace gets number one for overall consistency, and multiple visits over multiple years. La Cachette utterly blew me away with their tasting menu. Melisse was a first visit and a very close third on this list. Patina was a repeat visit after several years, and I loved it. Saddle Peak is an old favorite that is still going strong.

[yumo]

1. Sona
2. Angelini
3. Sushi Gen
4. Yakitori-ya
5. AOC

[mayjay]

1) El Parian
2) La Cachette
3) AOC
4) Luques
5) Josie

[Babette]

1. Josie
2. Spago
3. Osteria Angelini
4. Water Grill
5. Providence

[OrlandoChef]

1. Providence
2. Spago
3. Urasawa
4. Water Grill
5. Hungry Cat

[mistertoast]

1. Lucques
2. Grace
3. Langer's
4. Orris
5. Jiraffe

[dokle]

Sona (Los Angeles)
Matsuhisa (Los Angeles)
King taco (East L.A.)
Sanamluang (Hollywood)
Nazam (Los Angeles)

[Tom P]

Granted I have yet to try Jiraffe (I keep trying to get there, but have been sidelined a couple of times), here are my picks for this year:

1. LUCQUES - always dependable, always wonderful.
2. BLAIR'S - for being a very consistent neighborhood place, and in particular for their
Lamb T-Bones, perhaps my favorite current dish in LA. Wow.
3. DAN TANA'S - Controversial I know, but if you order the Garlic Bread, the Caesar, The
Dabney Coleman medium rare and a side of the Diavalo Pasta, it is the perfect
meal. I had it four times this year and it was excellent every time.
4. CUT – The meal was very good, the service great but what puts this on the list for
me is the sommelier, Dana. She lifts the restaurant into the stratosphere.
5. PHILIPPE’S – they do what they do and it is amazing. Pork with Blue Cheese is my favorite,
with a large dollop of the spicy mustard. And where else can you get
incredible wines by the glass for such ridiculously low prices?

[banquisha]

yay for Phillipes!!!!! I LOOOOVE that place!

[ostudio]

Urasawa
Providence
Babita
Langers
Angelini Osteria

[JudiAU]

Spago
Lucques
Opus
Campanile
Chung King

[mc michael]

It's looking more and more like Providence for #1.

[carter]

Hatfield's
Max
Lucques
AOC
Carlito's Gardel

Most disappointing restaurants
Mozza
Providence

[zack]

I'll agree with Mozza as disappointing but certainly not the most of 2006. It couldn't have possibly lived up to the hype and rave it initially got.

What didn't you like about Providence? Overpriced, food quality just didn't cut it? I was just there last night and while it wasn't as excellent as my 1st experience, it ranks right up there in my top 10.

[ladymonty]

BLD
Spago
Jar
La Buca
Grace

[PhoShizzle]

1) Providence
2) Opus
3) Violet
4) Mozza
5) La Buca

[russkar]

Jan 2nd 07'
And the winners are?????????????????

[Mr Grub]

???...to be announced soon. Patience, Grasshopper...

[dkawai]

1. Shibucho (OC)
2. Sona
3. Celestino
4. Triumphal Palace
5. Mama's Kitchen

[russkar]

Stop teasing me and the rest of the Hounds!

Inquiring minds want to know were to eat in LA in 07'. Without your list we won't know where to go?

Mr Grub, isn't it time to say?:
Now snatch the Pebble from my Hand.

[Baby Ruth]

i agree. inquiring minds want to know ...

[Kenny T]

josie
water grill
opus
whist
tlapazola

[Griller141]

As Nimitz wired to Halsey (10/25/44), "The World Wonders..." Updates?

[montgomeryrossmore]

BLD
Jar
Spago
La Buca
Sushi Ike