59303 Thu Mar 25 21:00:09 -0800 2004 12 2 Los Angeles Area 0 312013 hello, fellow foodies -- you guys are (and this site is) truly awesome! looking for a great "mediterranean" meal -- in the loosest & most inclusive sense of the world. place doesn't have to be fancy, but should have integrity & also be very good...any suggestions?! also i've read the israeli thread below, so maybe suggest other cultures & ethnicities... i appreciate it!! Thu Mar 25 21:00:09 -0800 2004 0 mr.foodie 1 312038 After learning that I had no taste, among many other things, after my Patina post several weeks ago, I decided that I would no longer post negative reviews on this board (though it's really no effort to find places that deserve positive reviews in LA). I have to throughly agree with your sentiments about this iconic venue, and also have to wonder yet again about S. Irene's objectivity. Thu Mar 25 22:44:49 -0800 2004 312013 0 Griller141 1 312042 Sorry, I got so carried away that I mistakenly posted a Patina reply under this heading (see "Patina for group lunch", below). Thu Mar 25 22:50:50 -0800 2004 312013 0 Griller141 1 312044 There have been good posts on the board in the past for Sham. Sham Restaurant 716 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310) 393-2913 Thu Mar 25 23:18:26 -0800 2004 312013 0 WLA 2 312401 Yes, Sham is a good bet. They are Syrian. The dishes are similar to other 'middle eastern' places around but the spices are subtly different and in some cases, the dish names are not the same (for example, the baba ganoush at Sham is what other places often call moutabal (pardon the spelling) and the reverse is also true). Good food, large portions and low prices no matter what you call the actual dishes! Mon Mar 29 13:23:56 -0800 2004 312044 0 igj 2 313541 Sham is a really incredible Syrian restaurant in Santa Monica. The mezze are really incredible, with many items on the menu that are not commonly found outside of the Middle East. The imported baklava is the best I have ever had. Breads are baked fresh. Definitely a destination restaurant (for food only--good for a picnic!) for anyone who enjoys Middle Eastern food. Mon May 03 20:28:50 -0700 2004 312044 0 Anonymous 1 312049 I've been to Pita! Pita! in Pasadena many times and taken many friends there. We've always had very tasty meals there. They have one dish I could eat every day -- pieces of chicken in a delcious yogurt sauce with rice pilaf -- mmmmmmmm. I WANT to try all their food, but it's hard to get past that chicken dish . . . Pita Pita (626) 529-0004 37 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105 Thu Mar 25 23:59:04 -0800 2004 312013 0 Dorothy 2 312133 I used to love this place, too. But they closed the Fair Oaks location and opened up a fast food store up on Colorado. We went into that one once, and turned right around and left. It just wasn't the same. I miss the old one. The food was great and the owners and servers were terrific. Fri Mar 26 15:10:44 -0800 2004 312049 0 lil mikey 1 312056 Start with Marouch, on Santa Monica Bl. in East Hollywood. Lots of acclaim on this here board. Fri Mar 26 00:59:26 -0800 2004 312013 0 PayOrPlay 1 312082 For a very pleasant French/Mediterranean menu in a somewhat un-known neighborhood try Bistro Verdu in Montrose-N.Glendale. Wonderfully executed and very inexpensive. 3459 N.Verdugo rd. 818.541.1532 Fri Mar 26 12:10:38 -0800 2004 312013 0 ted 1 312800 My girlfriends and I went to a place called Noura's on Melrose (?) near the Beverly Center last weekend. The restaurant has been there for three decades, according to one server. They have falafel plates, veggie plates, and a variety of mid-east combo plates, from around $8-$12. Plus, they have mint tea, baklava, and an assortment of wines by the bottle. Very decently priced. The best part-- the back room has a large round table, that has fire dancing across ashes, kind of like a surreal fire pit, with space around the edges for your plates and drinks. I thought it was a nice place to spend the evening. The food was not exceptional, but the wine made us all want more. Wed Mar 31 20:47:26 -0800 2004 312013 0 Kathy Koupai 2 312803 As Kathy states, not the best Mediterranean food around (I think the Noura folks are Lebanese), but it is serviceable, with pretty good falafel, and the rooms and back patio are very cool. Stay away from the cold salads (tabouleh, eggplant, cous-cous), as they are all nasty. Located on Melrose, just East of La Cienega, North side of the street. Nice for an informal, if not especially Chowish, date... Wed Mar 31 20:54:37 -0800 2004 312800 0 Eric Archer 1 313427 I forget the name, cute little family owned restaurant on 3rd street promenade, closer to the Wilshire end. Anyone know the name of the restarant that I am talking about? Mon Apr 05 22:54:21 -0700 2004 312013 0 Jen