Restaurant Resolutions in 2009

[mollyomormon]

Last year, I had the resolutions of trying a new restaurant each week, or 52 new restaurants for the year, and I was able to accomplish it! Still, I didn't get to some of the restaurants I had resolved to try on my list last year. This year, I'm resolving that at least half the new restaurants I try will be ethnic food and I especially want to explore the offerings in Torrance and Gardena and the SGV in more depth. On my list:

Babita
Moles La Tia
Shin-Sen-Gumi
RH Andaz
Ricky's Fish Tacos
Grace
J&J
SinBala
Horon
Mochica
Lazy Ox Canteen

there are a ton more, but I need to put some more thought into it. I'd love to hear what others have planned.

[degustateur]

In alphabetical order:

Animal
Au Pied du Cochon (Montreal)
Break of Dawn
Gjelina
Incanto (San Francisco)
Mori Sushi
Palatte (Wednesday’s “Offal Good” Tasting Menu)
RH Andaz
Ricky's Fish Tacos
The Bazaar
The Dining Room at the Langham
Via Veneto

[nachosaurus]

good one. i'm copying moles la tia and babita. babita has been on the list for too many years now. i like the 1 new restaurant a week rule. that seems almost doable.

[mollyomormon]

yeah, it's surprisingly doable and it's pretty amazing to live in a city where there are 52 new restaurants to try every year! as i thought more about this, i came up with some others that i need to add to my list:

akasha
alcazar
auntie em's
bld
cache
chameau
golden deli
kiriko
kobawoo
la casita mexicana
phillips bbq

[nachosaurus]

i know! we are so lucky to live here.

wolfgang's steakhouse
cut
elite dim sum
el parian (i've tried before, but can't find it!)
random bbq in el segundo (do they cook out on thursdays in a parking lot or something like that? i'll figure it out.)
michael's in santa monica
drago - one of them.
vito's pizza
rivera and comma ca cocktails

i don't know if it's wrong to say - but i'd skip akasha but kiriko is mmmm.

[mollyomormon]

no, any advice is much appreciated!

the bbq you're talking about in el segundo is from Big Mista's which is at the el segundo farmer's market on thursdays. It's amazing.

if you're chosing a drago, i'd put in a vote for drago centro downtown.

also, not sure if you're set on elite for dim sum, but we did sea harbour over the weekend and it was really great. it's order off the menu, so might not be what you're looking for if you want the whole dim sum cart experience, but i preferred the dim sum to elite.

[nachosaurus]

ok. i thought i was all good with elite - it seemed like the winner on chow. . . but i'll try either depending on what happens!

mmmm - drago centro seems like it will be so good. how is the one in santa monica? worthy?

and yay - big mistas! thanks so much for the extra info. i was going to look into it, but you made it that much easier!!

[RicRios]

el parian (i've tried before, but can't find it!)

1528 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
[phone]

On Pico Blvd, half block east from Union, south side.
Located in a mini mall.
Pico Blvd door always closed (but not locked), parking in the back.

Beer served ONLY if you sit on the west side of the restaurant.
Menu consists of basically 3 dishes: tacos de asada, tacos de carnita, birria estilo Jalisco ( or as I call it, the exact same dish Isaac got before giving the blessing to Jacob/Esau ).

[nachosaurus]

nice. thank you!

[New Trial]

Chameau appears to be closed "for remodeling"--I hope that is true as I enjoy its take on Moroccan cuisine...though, if true, I might miss some of the funky decor (the camel's eyelash in the ceiling comes to mind) depending on how thorough a remodel it would be.

[peppermonkey]

still have to finish up the gold list from '08 and '09 before I am willing to try any other recommendations

[mollyomormon]

good call.

[sel]

I'm hoping to win the Mega Millions Lottery (or start a new project at a rediculous high pay scale) so I can afford all those places that I've only read about here and elsewhere! Especially that Japanese place in BH that some of you bloggers describe with both words and food porn pics, it's torture!!!

[Servorg]

I intend to eat my way through the whole menu at Break of Dawn http://breakofdawnrestaurant.com/ in Laguna Hills OC (it's a dirty job but somebody has to do it... ;-D> ).

[bruinike]

I love this post. I am proud of myself as I really ventured out in 2009 and averaged about 2 new places a week (new to me that is). This year I hope to hit AT LEAST the following:

Sushi Zo
Ruen Pair
The Tasting Kitchen
Chabuya
Josie
Pizzeria Ortica
Bulgarini Gelato
Babita
Ramen California
Marche LA

There are ton of more for me as well and this doesn't include all the new restaurants due to open - Hatfields, Osaka, The District, Waterloo & City, First & Hope and all the great ones I discovered that I want to return to or old favorites. Fun and daunting at the same time!

[maudies5]

Bouchon. Sounds good, although a "destination restaurant.
No "destination" restaurants. They don't seem to last very long. The neighborhood ones are the keepers.
Non-molecular restaurants (foam free-please).
No offal, please
Quiet. Conversation-friendly.
Guess I'll not be visiting Bazaar or Animal. Honestly, every time I read a review of Animal ..... never mind. To each his own.

[SauceSupreme]

Bazaar
Horon
Animal
Copa D'Oro

[mollyomormon]

If they're still serving the Saur Kraut cocktail, you have to try it! I'd be really interested to know what you think.

[SauceSupreme]

I just found a recipe for the Sour Kraut. Looks like it's a Delilah cocktail, plus mustard and orange marmalade. It isn't on the Copa D'oro menu anymore, but I'm going to have to make it tonight as I'm incredibly curious.

[westsidegal]

i'll be starting the year off with:
Flaming Clam Grill of Cheongdamdong