Dinner Near Greek Theater -- Advice?

[cittner]

Hi All--

I'm looking to do something fun for dinner tomorrow night near the Greek Theater, pre-Wilco. I don't get over to the Los Feliz / Silverlake area often at all and I'm sure there's some gems over there so I thought it would be a good opportunity to try something. I am very adventurous with food (not that strange stuff is a requirement) and don't mind places that are a little more spendy.

Those of you who get over there more often than I do, your recommendations would be heartily appreciated. Thanks in advance--

Charlie

[smonkey]

My two cents:

First - I love Chi Dynasty too... I alwasy get the Buddha's delight vegetarian dish, and it's fresh and plentiful. They also make a good vegetarian version of a hot and sour soup if you ask. I'm not vegetarian any more, but I still prefer this soup to the original...

Additionally, I like San Sui, which doesn't get a lof of love on this board, but has always made me happy (white tuna sashimi...)

Farfalle is decent and I like the wine bar, but haven't had any luck at the Brazillian place. Il Capriccio is good, but makes your walk a little farther than if you stay north of Franklin. And I would recommend walking - it adds to the experience!

[dansk]

what about mexico city on hillhurst? and you can walk up to the greek from there.

[hungry_monkey]

Speranza - 2547 Hyperion (Silver Lake)
Simple Italian food at reasonable prices with an outdoor patio. Most pasta dishes come with the option of fresh pasta for small incremental cost of $4.00. BYOB. There's no liquor license and no corkage fee.

[Emme]

Or, hit up Thai on your way over at Jitlada Thai or Sanam Luang.

[maxzook]

Linked; I'll throw in Bamboo House which is my second-favorite Thaitown after Sanam Luang.

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sanam Luang Cafe
5170 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Bamboo House Thai & Chinese
4852 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

[maxzook]

For takeout food to eat at the Greek, consider Zankou for chicken or Il Capriccio for pizza.
vermont is a nice little Italian, elegant but not stuffy.

Linking ...

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Il Capriccio di Carlo (was Il Capriccio Pizzeria)
4518 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Blair's Restaurant
2903 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Zankou Chicken
5065 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Gingergrass Silverlake
2396 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Malo
4326 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Vinoteca Farfalla
1968 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Farfalla Trattoria
1978 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Sansui Restaurant
2040 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Vermont Restaurant
1714 N. Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Cobras & Matadors
4655 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Chi Dynasty
1813 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

[Azizeh Barjesteh]

I know this thread is a little bit old, but you can't bring food into The Greek. I don't know if that's a new rule or it's always been that way, but it says so on the website. I'm going to a show there this upcoming Sunday and the site says you can pre-order one of their picnic baskets or you can eat at the Pink's hotdogs they have.

[maxzook]

It's been a few years for me, but there used to be plenty of park benches and picnic spaces outside the theater for you to eat any food you've brought.

[Chandavkl]

Yeah. You can't even bring in a bottle of water.

[luswei]

Cobras & Matadors (in addition to Gingergrass, Blair's, Farfalla) on Hollywood Blvd, Vermont on Vermont, San Sui on Hillhurst

[tatertotsrock]

I love CHI DYNASTY on HIllhurst just south of Los Feliz...no, it's not hip, no it's not super -cool and trendy, but the food is good and they make some amazing Mai Tais which get you in the perfect mood for a show a The Greek.
I love the Aromatic Shrimp; Pork Pot Stickers; Sizzling Rice Soup; Minced Chix lettuce cups; braises green beens....the list goes on.

[TV Tom]

Though another poster recommended Farfalla's Brazilian sidekick, I heartily endorse Farfalla for really great Italian. bring wine if you want ...I think corkage is around $14. a bottle. Great food and vibe and real close to the Greek.

[Chandavkl]

I second Farfalla. In my opinion, Chi Dynasty is awful and should be avoided.

[tatertotsrock]

Chandavkl, what happened to you at Chi Dynasty?

[Chandavkl]

Don't remember what I ate (I think it was a noodle dish for lunch) except that it was memorably bad, particularly given how much I paid. Granted that it is Americanized, and not authentic, but I do eat a lot of Americanized Chinese food too (on the theory that I should try every Chinese restaurant at least once lest I miss out on a hidden gem), and it is one of the few (along with Grandview Palace in Pasadena, Kung Pao Kitty in Hollywood and Pei Wei Diner in Torrance) that have stuck in my memory for negative reasons. (Actually there have been a few others, but I only had 99 cents invested in those meals.)

[JPomer]

i agree. Chi dynasty's food is awful, and btw - i live in the 'hood and drive by it constantly, and for the longest time they never had above a 'B' rating, and to me that just signals something's not right

[ostudio]

Blairs's on Rowena for a nice preshow dinner.
http://www.blairsrestaurant.com/

[Chowpatty]

I recommend either eating at Vinoteca Farfalla, a nice wine bar with food by Tropicalia, the Brazilian restaurant next door, or at Tropicalia itself, which is fairly informal and with more Brazilian dishes than the wine bar side. Or there's the original Farfalla next door for Italian.
There's really not much worth spending your money on along Vermont or Hillhurst or nearby, with the possible exception of Canele in Atwater, which doesn't take reservations so maybe not good for pre-concert. Might as well spend it on wine at Vinoteca, and if you find a parking spot around there, you can walk up to the Greek and save money on parking.
The above suggestions of Gingergrass and Malo are a bit farther from the Greek, but also solid. Neither are spendy, unless you go wild on the tequila selections.

[mrshankly]

I second Vinoteca as well. Not a huge menu selection but enough for a nice light meal prior to the Greek.

[nick_r]

In that area I'd recommend Gingergrass (Vietnamese) and Malo (trendy festive Mexican). Gingergrass is definitely the foodier pick of the two, but Malo has the booze.