Ultimate Los Angeles Restaurants 2007

[maxzook]

The Chowhounders have spoken ... and all things considered they haven't really changed their opinions very much. For the second year in a row, Providence remains L.A. Chowhounders' favorite restaurant, with 73% more votes than its nearest rival, Osteria Mozza.

Voting declined for the third straight year, both in terms of the number of people voting and the restaurants they voted for:

2007: 76 voters, 135 restaurants
2006: 95 voters, 147 restaurants
2005: 104 voters, 214 restaurants

In the system originally devised by Mr. Grub, each restaurant to receive a first-place vote got five points, each second-place ranking got four votes, third places got three, fourth place two and fifth place one. To keep the voting balanced, this year I asked each voter to vote for exactly five restaurants.

There are four newly opened restaurants in the Top 20: Osteria Mozza at #2, Fraîche at #10, All'Angelo at #11 and Comme Ça at #15. Campanile climbed from #34 last year to tie with All'Angelo at #11; Ortolan, Water Grill and Max are also new to the Top 20. Besides newly opened places, the highest ranked restaurant that is new to the list is Father's Office at #17.

Last year's #11, Langer's Deli, is the highest-ranked 2006 pick to receive no votes this year. Other restaurants to take a plunge in the rankings from 2006 include Sona (from #10 to #40), Babita (#14 to #42), Opus (#15 to #41), Mastro's (#18 to #35) and Jar (from #9 to #21). Not having been to any of theses restaurants this year, I leave it to others to judge whether these restaurants have declined of if they're just the victims of a smaller sampling.

Mr. Grub's 2006 poll results are here:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/357211

And his 2005 results are here:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/76226

For those who care about such things, I used a slightly different ranking system than Mr. Grub. He ranked by total votes only; I ranked first by total votes, then by the number of voters, and then by the number of first-place rankings.

The first number after each restaurant is the total votes. The first number in parentheses is the number of people who voted (if more than one); the number after the slash is the number of first-place votes (if any). The number in square brackets is the restaurant's 2006 ranking, if any. So, Providence received 111 votes from 29 voters, 10 of whom gave it a first-place ranking.

1. Providence: 111 (29/10) [1
] 2. Osteria Mozza: 64 (18/5) [NEW]
3. Lucques: 62 (18/4) [5]
4. Pizzeria Mozza: 61 (19/7) [16, as Mozza]
5. Urasawa: 51 (11/8) [7]
6. Hatfield's: 39 (10/4) [13]
7. A.O.C.: 33 (10/2) [3]
8. The Hungry Cat: 27 (9) [19]
9. Angelini Osteria: 25 (7/3) [4]
10. Fraîche: 24 (8/2) [NEW]
11. All'Angelo: 23 (7/3) [NEW]
--. Campanile: 23 (7/3) [34]
12. Grace: 23 (7) [6]
13. Spago: 18 (7) [2]
14. Cut: 18 (6/1) [8]
15. Comme Ça: 17 (8) [NEW]
16. Ortolan: 17 (4/2) [33]
17. Father's Office: 15 (5)
18. Water Grill: 14 (4/1) [38]
19. Max: 14 (3/2) [35]
20. Sushi Zo: 13 (5/1) [20]
21. Jar: 13 (4/1) [9]
22. Bastide: 13 (3/1) [REOPENED]
23. Melisse: 12 (4/1) [22]
24. The Foundry on Melrose: 11 (3/1) [NEW]
--. Mako (Beverly Hills): 11 (3/1) [17]
25. La Buca: 10 (4) [12]
26. Vito's Pizza: 10 (4) [REOPENED]
27. Canele: 10 (3) [35]
28. Lou on Vine: 9 (4)
--. Orris: 9 (4) [36]
29. Go's Mart: 8 (3) [43]
30. Clementine: 7 (4) [48]
31. Asanebo: 7 (3)
--. La Terza: 7 (3) [29]
32. Josie: 7 (2/1) [21]
33. Oinkster: 6 (4) [48]
34. Table 8: 6 (3) [45]
--. Valentino: 6 (3) [44]
35. Mastro's: 6 (2/1) [18]
36. Capo: 6 (2)
--. Violet: 6 (2) [42]
37. Elite Restaurant: 5 (3)
--. Joe`s: 5 (3) [48]
38. Kiriko: 5 (2)
--. La Botte: 5 (2)
--. Nook Bistro: 5 (2) [45]
--. Shiro: 5 (2)
39. Athenas: 5 (1/1)
--. Bashan: 5 (1/1)
--. Beacon: 5 (1/1)
--. Chiba Sushi: 5 (1/1)
--. Hiko Sushi: 5 (1/1)
--. Izayoi: 5 (1/1) [48]
--. Kazu: 5 (1/1) [45]
--. Matsuhisa: 5 (1/1) [24]
--. Sushi Gen: 5 (1/1) [42]
--. Sushi Sushi: 5 (1/1)
--. Tasca: 5 (1/1)
--. Toscana: 5 (1/1)
40. Bin 8945: 4 (2)
--. Craft: 4 (2)
--. Sona: 4 (2) [10]
--. Totoraku: 4 (2)
41. Al Gelato: 4
--. Blue Velvet: 4
--. Chez Mimi: 4
--. Don Antonio's: 4
--. Granville: 4
--. Hals Bar: 4
--. Il Grano: 4 [44]
--. Ondal 2: 4
--. Opus: 4 [15]
--. Park's BBQ: 4
--. Pecorino: 4
42. Babita: 3 (2) [14]
43. The Apple Pan: 3
--. Arnie Morton's: 3
--. Bistro Provence: 3
--. Cafe Du Village: 3
--. Katsu-ya (Studio City): 3 [45]
--. Le Petit Bistro: 3
--. Loteria: 3
--. Mei Long Village: 3
--. Musha: 3
--. On Sunset: 3
--. Piccolo Venice: 3
--. Santouka: 3
--. Spanish Kitchen: 3
--. Sushi 4 on 6: 3 [34]
--. Tsukiji: 3
--. Wilsons: 3
44. BLD: 2 (2) [35]
--. Din Tai Fung: 2 (2) [33]
--. Terroni: 2 (2)
--. Vincenti: 2 (2) [47]
45. Abode: 2
--. Asia De Cuba: 2
--. Azami Sushi: 2
--. Bar Marmont: 2
--. Boa: 2 [41]
--. Carlito's Gardel: 2 [48]
--. Chinois on Main: 2 [47]
--. Dino's Burgers: 2
--. Drago (Santa Monica): 2
--. Il Capriccio Pizzeria: 2
--. Jiraffe: 2 [25]
--. Lala's: 2
--. Messob Ethiopian: 2
--. Metro Cafe: 2 [45]
--. Patina: 2 [47]
--. Sakura: 2
--. Tama Sushi: 2 [47]
--. Via Veneto: 2
--. Z Sushi: 2 [46]
46. Axe: 1
--. Baby Blue: 1
--. Bollini's Pizzeria Napolitana: 1
--. Carnival: 1
--. Chameau: 1
--. Denzer Witwin: 1
--. Dong Il Jang: 1
--. Hugo's on Riverside: 1
--. India Oven: 1
--. Khun Khao: 1
--. Las Delicias: 1
--. Mario's Peruvian: 1
--. Mori Sushi: 1 [45]
--. Paco's Tacos (Centinela): 1
--. Rainbow Bar and Grill: 1
--. Sasabune: 1 [48]
--. Shima (Venice): 1
--. Sushi Dan: 1
--. Sushi Ike: 1 [40]
--. The Wiener Factory: 1

Links are provided to the top 20. Enjoy!

-----
Angelini Osteria
7313 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028

AOC
8022 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Father's Office
1018 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Fraiche
9411 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Water Grill
544 South Grand, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Grace Restaurant
7360 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Pizzeria Mozza
6602 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Providence
5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Cut
9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Hatfield's
6703 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Sushi Zo
9824 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Campanile
624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Max Restaurant
13355 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Ortolan
8338 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

All' Angelo
7166 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046

Comme Ça
8479 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069

[TailbackU]

Great work! Thanks for putting this together.

[nick_r]

Thanks maxzook! But I don't think I understand the methodology. If Providence received 111 votes from 29 voters, does that mean that some of those people voted several times? Or am I missing something?

[DanaB]

I think that would mean it received a *score* of 111 -- 1 vote for first place is 5 points. Max might be using "votes" and "points" interchangeably.

[maxzook]

Good point, I'll make the distinction from now on.

Providence received 111 *points* from 29 voters, 10 of whom put it in first place (5 points).

[Foodandwine]

Maxzook, If I hadn't voted.. I would of suggested that you copyright your material! Great compilation! You have outdone yourself. Do I text Maxzook and enter "food" for further updates?

[Nicole]

This is a great resource to have. Thanks for pulling it together for us!

[fdb]

Thanks for a job well done, maxzook!

[SauceSupreme]

Thanks for all the work, maxzook.

You know, I like Max, but I'm a little surprised by its high placement. I thought Jar and Melisse would rank higher. And of course I'm glad to see Hungry Cat in the top 10.

[hpcat]

I know that this hound didn't vote because I just don't have the bucks to try out many high-end restaurants, so I don't feel like I can pick the top 5 in L.A. Maybe if the parameters were expressed differently to ask for an individual's favorite based on food only, then I perhaps would have voted. But 25% on ambience? None of my places qualifed by that standard, including Langer's.

[ipsedixit]

I think you've missed the point of this poll, hpcat.

It's the ultimate restaurant list based upon your individual experiences, be they of the haute cuisine type, or the hole-in-the-wall, or the greasy spoon diner variety.

It is not a list reserved exclusively for the "high-end restaurants". Heck, just look at who made the who's-who this year ... Weiner Factory???!!! And no one in their right mind would mistake Oinkster, or Ondal 2 or Lou on Vine as "high end".

As to ambiance, I would say that Langer's has a unique ambiance all its own ... where else can you pick up hand-cut pastrami and then turn to the customer next to you and pick up a "green card" as a souvenir? :-)

Suffice to say, I think you should vote next year.

[Servorg]

Not to mention Paco's Tacos, Metro Diner and Dino's Burgers (chicken maniaco @ $4.00 a plate)... lol

[Tom P]

Agreed! I love Langer's ambience. Both Taylor's Steaks and Musso & Franks have been on my top five before (they are always in my top ten) and their ambience - which ain't chic - has a huge impact on my dining experiences at both. Please do vote!

[DanaB]

Excellent work, maxzook! Thanks for taking the time to put the list together -- it's a great resource.

I think it's interesting that voting has decline. Hmmmm! Otherwise, it looks like a pretty good list to me.

[nimo]

Is it just me, or does this year's list seem disappointingly predictable? There's not much to differentiate it from the usual hype-driven magazine and online listings. Two Mozzas in the top 4? Give me a break.

[ipsedixit]

Great work maxzook. Thanks.

The Weiner Factory, eh? Hmm ...

[maxzook]

Only on Chowhound would the Oinkster tie with Valentino.

[Servorg]

The Wiener Factory: 1 (RIP) was a vote of an outraged conscience I'm sure. Perhaps an Anti Pinkberry vote and the nostalgia factor of the passing of a place near and dear to a true hounds occluded heart's vessels.

Thanks for all the hard work maxz.