665928 Mon Nov 09 15:26:25 -0800 2009 16 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5168334 So I am sure you are really tired of answering all the tourist threads, I get tired of all the people looking for crabs and crabcakes in DC. BUT I have been looking at a lot of different threads and have some information, but I need a little more help. I am coming out for a long weekend and staying with a friend in Grad School (note grad school budget) who lives about 15 minutes from the Burbank airport. I apologize I don't know the exact neighborhood. She has a car, but is from DC so she gets lost easily, will do my best I have a good sense of direction and an iphone. I land Friday around lunchtime and leave Monday before dinner. I know the itinerary includes Santa Monica and The Getty. Also there will probably be a day we drive down to Rodeo Drive and that area since I have never been to LA before. I am more into enjoying the outdoors, the food scene, the culture and my wonderful friend who is hosting me than the sceney Hollywood star thing (truth be told I could be nose to nose with most any star and probably wouldn't recognize them). I am looking for some casual and moderately priced eats in those areas (entrees below $20, lunch below $20 total without drinks) and one nicer restaurant to take her for a thank you dinner (below $50 pp with a glass or maybe a cheaper bottle of wine). We both really like casual and eclectic places. She really loves beer so I thought about Father's Office one night. And any suggestions on a couple fun places to go out at night that aren't clubby would be nice (maybe some live music? or maybe I am just crazy?). I have heard good things about Pizzeria Mozza, and I love pizza so that might be on the list if I am nearby. I have been putting places of interest on a Google Map which I can open on my iphone as a tiny URL so I can see what is nearby. Bay Cities looked like a worthwhile stop to pick up some sandwiches for lunch maybe? If possible I would like to find some good dumplings as we really don't have that in DC. We have really good Vietnamese and Korea food, so I can skip that. Also is the Central Market worth a visit? Thank you for your help in advance, and if you come to DC I will tell you where to get crabcakes and go eat near the museums. Mon Nov 09 15:26:25 -0800 2009 92426 ktmoomau 1 5168591 I can't speak for everyone, but I really only find these requests annoying when they're vague. Yours is very specific! Here are some random thoughts, based on where you're coming from, where you're going, etc. For the Getty, you can certainly eat there (I haven't though), but for some chowish options maybe a Oaxacan place in east Santa Monica (Monte Alban)? If you're into the outdoors *and* need to satisfy someone who wants to star-gaze, bring those sandwiches from Bay Cities up PCH to Temescal Canyon or Malibu Lagoon for a picnic + a walk? At Rodeo Dr., it's Beverly Hills, and the restaurants are a really mixed bag, like really cheap and really expensive, but not much in the middle. It gets panned, but I still like Barney Greengrass (Jewish deli) inside Barney's for brunch/lunch, not really for the food, though the food is fine. Don't bother w/ pizza/Italian coming from DC. For drinks and music, check the L.A. Weekly to see who's playing that night, but maybe look into (Club) Largo? That stretch of Fairfax also has some very well-reviewed eats (like Animal, also pretty L.A.-unique). Village Idiot on Melrose in the same general-ish area for beer selection and sort of L.A.-hipster-pub scene (hey, your gonna be a tourist anyway, might as well embrace it!). Dumplings are going to be tough along your route. Go see the Huntington Library, or do a hike at Eaton Canyon and then hit Dumpling House coming down Rosemead Blvd.? That's enough to get you thinking anyway - someone else can figure out the rest, but there is no shortage of "impress your host" places to dine. Enjoy! Mon Nov 09 17:02:31 -0800 2009 5168334 15494 cant talk...eating 2 5170147 Another idea in Beverly Hills--the "Bar on Four" in Neiman Marcus. It's right in the middle of the fourth floor....they have decent food....excellent drinks. And it's kind of a kick... a very eclectic crowd.....from folks in the entertainment industry to ladies who lunch to everything in between. If you're in Beverly HIlls at the end of the day, McCormack's & Schmidt does a happy hour menu with reduced drinks and (pretty sure) $1 cheeseburgers that are really pretty good. And they have an outdoor seating area. The food at the Getty restaurant is really pretty good, so I'd consider that as a possibility for lunch. It's not cheap...but not outrageous. Tue Nov 10 09:39:28 -0800 2009 5168591 11375 perk 1 5168639 If you are starting near the Burbank Airport you might still be in the San Fernando Valley somewhere. As a former DC resident and frequent visitor [I'll be there next week] I know you guys don't have decent Mexican food there. A place you might want to try is Amaranta Cocina Mexicana. It is an Upscale [but not too $$] restaurant in the Westfield Topanga Mall. Entrees for diner are $12-18 They offer some Traditional dishes which you might not find anywhere else except Abuelita's kitchen like coliflor capeada which has the Cauliflower fried in an egg batter and paired with a wonderful tomato sauce. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dommichu/4040291943/ They also have an excellent version of Cochinita Pibil a stewed pork dish. Their Tortillas were above average for LA in both the Corn and Flour versions If you can get to the North Hollywood Metro Station It Will Give you some opportunities to try a few places Without Driving . it would be worth it to get to Grand Central Market off the Pershing Square Stop or @ MacArthur Park for Langer's excellent pastrami or Tamales from Mama's You can get more Ideas from this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/436632 For Dim Sum it probably be better if you skipped Chinatown and Headed east for the San Gabriel Valley. If you have never had A Dim sum Cart Experience then it would be fun for you to Try it. My Rec would Be for Empress Harbor in Monterey Park That's it for now, Have fun in LA - P. Mon Nov 09 17:14:43 -0800 2009 5168334 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 2 5170055 I second Mattapoisett's recommendations and would add that next week the new Linea de Oro (the Gold Line to East LA) opens, which gives you more transit-friendly food options, like the the folks at 4th and Chicago (cross streets where some street food vendors set up), Moles La Tia, or La Serenata de Garibaldi, not to mention Little Tokyo. Tue Nov 10 09:11:50 -0800 2009 5168639 10811 Das Ubergeek 3 5170100 Note: If the OP is coming this weekend, the line opens on Sunday and It will be a mad house for the first few days Tue Nov 10 09:24:38 -0800 2009 5170055 12588 Mattapoisett in LA 1 5168856 If you're going to eat in Beverly Hills, you might try Urth Caffe. Very well priced, nice outdoor seating to people watch, good soup, sandwiches, salads, teas, pastries... In West LA, yes you might like Bay Cities, Father's Office... you might also consider Monte Alban for Oaxacan, and Mariscos Chente for Mexican. You might like Pizzeria Mozza... agree with the rec for Animal. For music, though it might be too expensive, you should check out Vibrato Jazz & Grill in Bel Air. Mon Nov 09 18:44:49 -0800 2009 5168334 15572 Emme 2 5170058 Just a note that the link in Emme's post isn't Mariscos Chente. This is the real Chente. Stupid auto-link fail. Tue Nov 10 09:12:37 -0800 2009 5168856 10811 Das Ubergeek 3 5171753 thanks DU! stupid auto-link! Tue Nov 10 20:38:22 -0800 2009 5170058 15572 Emme 1 5169287 Bay Cities might not be worth the effort of the huge crowds. I get subs that are almost as good at many sub shops in New Jersey--but Santa Monica is a lot closer than New Jersey, which is probably why Bay Cities is always packed. I am surprised that nobody mentioned Portos Bakery in Burbank yet--right by the airport and cheap. To give you some reverse perspective, a family member leaving for an extended stay in DC just complained that he was going to be saying goodbye to great Mexican food--So, in your travels around LA you might want to focus on the vast array of wonderful regional Mexican food we have here. And while you are at it, our amazing (and shockingly inexpensive by East Coast standards) Thai food. And lastly, do hit the Original Farmers Market and Phillippes--both of which are deservedly famous as great Los Angeles destinations. (And both relatively cheap!) Mon Nov 09 22:45:39 -0800 2009 5168334 200803 coffeebrownies 2 5171696 I agree that Bay Cities is not a good rec, only b/c parking is horrid and it is constantly packed with East Coast transplants that long for old style Italian food / grinders (subs) that is lacking in LA. Also, wouldn't recommend Father's Office either, unless you want to endure a mediocre neighborhood bar with a Soup Nazi appeal. Jitlada in Hollywood is the best Thai food in the states, IMHO. Animal is awesome, but stick to the small plates to stay within grad school budget. And you don't need to travel to the Westside for awesome Mexican when East LA is literally a stone's throw from where you're staying. El Tepeyac, Phillippe's and Musso & Franks are all original old school places worth a visit, it's like a time warp. And skip Pizzeria Mozza, unless you don't mind the prices - you get better pizza where you are from anyway. But they do have takeout now, if you don't mind driving and negotiating LA traffic, parking and arriving home with cold food that would need to be heated up. Just my two cents. Tue Nov 10 19:54:08 -0800 2009 5169287 90755 Phurstluv 2 5171758 Porto's! How could that get omitted? Good call! Tue Nov 10 20:39:22 -0800 2009 5169287 15572 Emme 1 5170972 Hi ktmoomau, You might consider Animal on Fairfax. It's about ~9 minutes from Rodeo Drive, and features some fun, casual, sexy cooking. :) Then right across the street (literally) is The Golden State, where you can enjoy a good selection of micro brew beers and some delightful Scoops ice cream. :) Tue Nov 10 14:15:02 -0800 2009 5168334 113442 exilekiss 1 5177579 Ok so I missed the mark on where she lives, apparently it is La Canada which looks like it is near Covina and Glendora, anything near there worth a try? And also we are going to go down to Newport beach for a day what is good down there? Thank you all I have pegged all the recs so far. I hadn't asked about Mexican because I had read a bunch of threads, but I appreciate all the extra names of places near where we will be. Thu Nov 12 19:56:07 -0800 2009 5168334 92426 ktmoomau 2 5178707 La Cañada isn't really anywhere near Covina or Glendora... in afternoon traffic it's about 45 minutes from Covina and a good hour from Glendora. Places near La Cañada with chow-worthy places to eat: Pasadena, Glendale, Montrose, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park/Lincoln Park. (Sorry for the lack of specifics... it's been some years since I ate regularly in Pasadena or Montrose, so I don't want to recommend things that may be gone or have gone downhill.) Fri Nov 13 09:03:14 -0800 2009 5177579 10811 Das Ubergeek 3 5178972 But if you do find yourself in Glendora, get thee to Donut Man, which serevs the best doughnut (particularly with the ones with fruit) in California, and perhaps the entire West Coast... Fri Nov 13 10:11:58 -0800 2009 5178707 11933 J.L. 2 5182003 If I were staying in La Canada Flintridge, I would definitely do the East LA thing, and find some awesome Mexican, then go to downtown where lots of great new places have opened up. Church & State is a phenomenal french bistro in the industrial area. Make reservations now. Great food, wine & beer, very well thought out. Drago Centro, Bottega Louie, Corkbar wine bar & Rivera are some fun happening places to stop in for decent meals or just cocktails & apps. Sat Nov 14 16:21:21 -0800 2009 5177579 90755 Phurstluv