Exciting New Places In Sherman Oaks/Studio City?!

[foodguymark]

Hey there,

I am planning to have a dinner with a group of my friends in the Studio City/Sherman Oaks area on Wednesday evening. Are there any new, exciting places you've been to or have heard good things about? We were going to go to Romanov, but they are not open on Wednesday. Your suggestions have helped me out before, so I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks,

Mark

[FortyDeuce]

I have lived in Studio City for most of my life. I moved away am back in LA (not Studio City). I havent tried a lot of the new places mentioned.

One place that blew me away the first time i tried it was Ca De Sole. Truly delicious food.

[Cheezy Beefington]

Yuta is a great small-plates Japanese restaurant in Studio City. It is in the unfortunate location where Vineyard Terrace and Saigon Annie once lived. There is very little parking on that block and it's hard for any restaurant to survive without it. However, Yuta is worth a block or two of walking. The night I went, I sat next to a woman at the sushi bar who was there for the third time that week.

[justanotherpenguin]

has anyone checked out "nick's grill" (was briefly zin chi, or something like that) on moorpark, just east of tujunga, in studio city?

[Jwsel]

My understanding is that Nick's Grill is the same restaurant as Zen Chi. They just changed the name.

[justanotherpenguin]

has anyone been there?

[Maxmillion]

Nick's Grill *IS* the formerly named Zen Chi. Apparently they got sick of people expecting sushi at their Asian Fusion Grill place...

I liked it, but there was nothing majorly exceptional about the food. Basic, fairly interesting and good. Priced just right, too.

http://la.foodblogging.com/2007/03/06...

[Hughlipton]

A new restaurant has opened on Ventura Blvd near Eureka, where Vineyard Terrace used to be called Friedel and has what appears to be a very interesting Carribbean menu. I'm going to have to give this one a try. Very interesting note on another front. Chef Ueli how used to operate the Matterhorn Chef is now the Chef at The Mikado on Riverside Dr. in Studio City. Checked out the revamped and seemingly mid-priced menu on the internet and it also seems worthy of checking out. Will report back.

[Diana]

tell us how it goes..I wondered what was going in there. I'll miss VT, but new places are always exciting!

Can you add a link on here to the site?

[Hughlipton]

The ad I received does not show an email address but the menu shows curry goat, oxtails, Jamaican Pepper Pot Steak, Jerk Chicken, Spicy Tangerine Chicken, etc.

[carter]

Hugh - Friedel is in the minimall just west of Nozawa, while Yuta, yet another Japanese restaurant/sushi place, will be opening in the former Vineyard Terrace location.
And, ps, both Friedel and Ohana across the street are for sale.
Good to hear of where Ueli turned up. Have been wondering about him, especially since the Lowenbrau Keller on Beverly is being sold - thought he might have pulled a Hortobagy and moved to the other side of the hill as well.

[Diana]

Skip Romanov, the food has been reviewed to be not so good. I've been looking for new places in the area, myself. I'm now settling for new to me.

For Example:

Simon's Place in Sherman Oaks
Tyfoon right next door to SImon's Place
Boneyard Bistro (hubby went with buddies, didn't take me!)
Risotto
Bollywood Cafe
Vegan Plate
Ca De Sole
Eclectic Cafe

and so on.

[foodguymark]

I've been combing through the local restaurants...How about Bird Cage? Your thoughts?

[carter]

Is Bird Cage even open any more?
Just around the corner from it in the former Hortobagy Hungarian location is Lal Mirch Indian Restaurant(www.lmdining.com) which I have not tried, but have heard it to be a bit different from all the rest on the street.

Diana - had a terrific bbq prawn/succotash/peach dish again sunday night at Boneyard with all kinds of southern nuances. Superb if that sounds interesting.

[Local]

Sounds very interesting.to me, even if I'm not diana ;-)..would that be designer succotash or the real thing with baby lima beans? bistro or bbq side of the menu?

[carter]

No limas, but lots of other goodness that make you forget limas might have ever been a part of this entree. Truly a great addiction at I believe $28, and it is on the bistro side of the menu.
And not a nut in sight!!!

[carter]

Yet now it is no longer on the menu!!! Gotta move fast to keep up with Aaron's changing of mind and direction. Always experimenting with new items.

[Diana]

Carter: Oh yum, it sure does!

[Cheezy Beefington]

Bird cage is closed.

[juliesad]

bird cage SUCKS!!!! do NOT go. it's AWFUL, i wouldn't serve that food to my dog, much less spend that kind of $ on it. the service is terrible, they ignored us, the food took over an hour, the steak was over-cooked (we ordered it rare), bland and they "upgraded" us to a wine hookah which was a total jip. i can't wait until this place goes out of business frankly, don't waste time or $ on it esp with so many great other restaurants in LA. maybe it's under new management and used to be good but seemed like russian mafia to me.

[Jwsel]

I assume you mean Simon's Cafe, south of Ventura on Sepulveda.

By Tyfoon, I assume you mean Tufaan, the Indian place that was in that same strip of restaurants. Tufaan has been closed for several months.

[Diana]

What's the sushi place up there? Why do I still see the big Typhoon sign (and it does say Typhoon)

[krez]

The sushi place is Sushi Fukyo. The Indian place is closed, but there is a sign that another one is opening soon.

I dined in Simon's recently. The food was fabulous (Moroccan), but the service was terrible. I didn't mind because it was a laid back night and we just talked. It may have been an off night, not sure. There was only one waiter - I'm sure it's been touch and go because of all the construction there. Anyway, the lamb tagine, couscous salad, and hummus were all delicious.

[Diana]

One question..were there nuts in the couscous? Did you have the royale?

[krez]

Oh my, I can't recall, but the chef is very friendly and comes out and talks to you. I'm sure if you're allergic he'd make it without. The royale? With cheese or?

[carter]

Diana - here is the menu, and no nuts are mentioned for any item, although I did not do a painstaking search. And of course, not every ingredient is mentioned on every menu, but at least it's a start.
http://www.simonscafe.com/

[Diana]

Thanks!

[TomSwift]

We just got back from dinner at Sushi Fukyo tonight. Very good but Mas was out of Uni and Ama Ebi. He confirmed that the new restaurant in the old Tufaan space will open next month. He didn't know the type of cuisine.

[teach]

I second Boneyard Bistro!

[magdrumgrl]

And I'll third it!

[ashlee]

Fourth! I'd say we have a winner as far as votes go.

Had the BBQ pot stickers...yum. We ate a host of apps and ordered a couple of the dinners that sampled several meat options. All were good. Plus it happened to be half off wine night! Meat and wine....how can you go wrong! ;)

[Maxmillion]

Why say skip Romanov if you haven't eaten there yourself? I have (under Chef Mark Murillo -- formerly of Saddle Peak -- but who has since moved on) and I thought the meal was exceptional -- especially the Beef Stroganoff.

Romanov is a swanky place that would be a good choice for a special event dinner in luxurious surroundings. I am taking my husband there on Friday eve for his birthday.

I'll let you all know how the new chef compares to Murillo!

(Taking one for the 'houndz!)

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/384467

[Diana]

Because I read the reivews in the imes and LA magazine and such. I have a system

Good Reviews: Probably good, give it a try

Mixed reviews: could be good, worth a try

All Bad reviews: Go somewhere else.

Romanov has been reviewed, and EVERY single one has said the space is amazing, and the food is bland, overpriced, and not worth it.

If you want swanky, well, i guess you can go to Romanov, or Yamashiro at that. Me, I prefer good food for my dollar to swank.

When I want Expensive swanky, though, there are much better options!
There are better Russian places.