NYC Hound going to Taste 2nite--what to eat??

[fat parish]

Hi there. On my way to Taste on Melrose in a few hrs. Any suggestions? (or what not to order) Thanks for your help.

[Julefish]

yeah - don't go. sorry to be the big downer - but there are so many better restaurants on melrose. if you're interested post back.

[fat parish]

do tell.

[Julefish]

ah - i couldn't get back online. how was it? that was a horrible thing to do.

[fat parish]

i strongly disliked the space and the small, streetfront patio but the food was really good. great veggie samosas and blackened salmon salad.would i go back? probably not, but mainly cause of the cramped, loud quarters. we were there for a business dinner and the house music was no beuno. do u have a rec for Santa Monica tonight, somewhere 2 of us may actually be able to get into around 8:30? casual, any kind of cuisine but am kinda in the mood for great sushi.

[goodhealthgourmet]

for sushi in santa monica try 'the hump'

http://www.thehump.biz/

or head over to venice to 'chaya venice'

http://www.thechaya.com/vindex.htm

[Julefish]

sushi roku, but call - could be a fun out of towners place. tengu on ocean ave could also be fun.

[Emme]

i hope you chose against sushi roku... so loud and awful.

musha for japanese.

second the hump. also like noma on wilshire and akwa is fun on 5th st. catch is good but pricey.

[fat parish]

thanks so much. not a Roku fan but will eagerly try the others. when you come to NYC, try Yama on Carmine or Misu in Flatiron or Zutto in Tribeca. mmm...

[goodhealthgourmet]

oh no! did you go to roku? i meant to warn you to stay away. their beverly center/weho location is fine, but the s.m. one is consistently awful.

i noticed that you specifically recommended 'yama' on carmine. when i lived in nyc i always liked the one on 17th(?) & irving. is it no longer there? or just not good anymore?

speaking of places that have disappeared, one of the best meals i've ever had was omakase at jewel bako, which used to be on 2nd ave. @ 6th street. that place was a true gem [no pun intended].

[fat parish]

no, i went to Roku SM a long time ago and hated it. we also walked into the weho one last year and it smelled like a bathroom so we ran out...fast. we went to Ajisai in weho instead the other night and it was fab. very tiny but cute with delicious food. Do you know about it? Have you been?

Yama on Irving is still there and still good (as far as I know) but I prefer the space on Carmine and love the outdoor garden. I always felt a little stifled by the cramped quarters and long waits at Irving and Carmine takes reservations.

Wait, did Jewel Bako close? It's been on my list for a long time but I haven't been there yet. It seems like you talked about it in past tense. Do tell.

[goodhealthgourmet]

oops! my bad, sorry. i mis-read a post a while back...it was the spin-off, 'jewel bako makimono' that closed. the original is still open.