My upcoming restaurant pics for my LA trip

[AYSConsulting]

Ok, so heres where im going:

101 Coffee Shop (I love nothing more than an old school coffee shop).
The Tar Pit
Red O
I'll eat at least one meal at the Gordon Ramsey restaurants at the London Hotel
Toast for a brunch

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?

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101 Coffee Shop
6145 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Toast Bakery Cafe
8221 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood
1020 N. San Vicente Rd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

The Tar Pit
609 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Red O
8155 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

[AYSConsulting]

I used to live in LA for a bit and I visit usually at least twice a year, so I like to try different stuff each time. I love toast (before entourage made it popular) and we go pretty much every time we are in town. I agree that it's not the BEST brunch spot, but it's fun enough. I usually stay at the London, hence Ramsey and I am a Rick Bayless fan Hence Red O this time around. 101 looks like it could be fun, but I'm definitely not expecting a gourmet experience by any stretch. Unfortunately each time were in town it's only for three or so days so time is pretty limited. Panns looks ok, but again, coming from the NY/NJ diner heaven area, I don't expect too much. I like Mels too, for that matter, as touristy as it is heheh.

Sometimes we make it out of the WeHo / Hollywood area to SM and Venice area, but I don't think on this trip.

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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Red O
8155 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

[Servorg]

I guess now I am forced to say, why did you ask for our thoughts, comments and concernsa regarding the places you had chosen (given your comments in this post)?

[AYSConsulting]

curious to see what people think versus how I experience it.

[Servorg]

Then all you have to do is report your experiences, post visits and others will be sure to comment about them. If, on the other hand, you ask before going about what folks think of your intended choices I would hazard a guess that we are replying under the impression that, if there are better places to be had, you are open to other suggestions. That wasn't the case as far as I can tell at this point.

[mc michael]

Mel's--at least the Sunset Blvd. location-- is better than 101.

[wienermobile]

I wouldn't pick Gordon Ramsay at the London, but if you really want to go they are part of Dine LA week, along with many other better restaurants (including Spago and Craft) at the end of January and early February with a special $44 per person menu.
http://discoverlosangeles.com/restaur...

[mc michael]

The 101 is erratic. The most consistent things are the interesting patrons and the juke box. For better food, I suggest you go to Victor's over on Bronson or to Roscoe's Chicken N Waffles nearby.

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Roscoe's House of Chicken
1518 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[wienermobile]

For your classic coffee shop you might try Pann's, a wonderful 1950's diner. Pann’s has received The Los Angeles Conservancy’s Award for best example of “Classic 50’s Coffee Shop” in our city and the food is great.
http://www.panns.com/

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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

[bulavinaka]

IMHO, for anyone who wants to experience what coffee shops in SoCal used to be and look like in the late 50s-60s, Pann's is a given. They have some real winners on their menu as well. The wait staff is very accommodating, and the googie-style architecture takes one back to a much different time.

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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

[coffeebrownies]

Last time I went to Pann's with a friend from New Jersey, neither of us wanted fried chicken, and absent fried chicken, the menu seemed pretty weak. I was, in fact, kind of embarrassed about the quality of the dinner-as compared to diner food in NJ. Did we order wrong? What else is great at Pann's besides the chicken/biscuits and the atmosphere (which I love)?

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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

[Servorg]

One of the best patty melts in LA. Great split pea soup and their biscuits and gravy are also quite good.

[wienermobile]

I second that patty melt.

[westsidegal]

imho, avoid the waffles, avoid the grilled cheese and avoid the shakes at Panns.

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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

[bulavinaka]

I haven' t been to Red O, but I'd consider a few alternatives:

LA's the right town for Mexican cuisine, so consider places like Babita, Chichen Itza, Guelaguetza, La Serenata De Garibaldi, Moles La Tia, La Casita, et al, for classic/regional Mexican cuisine in a more formal setting. None of these places have hipster cache but
the food is very good to excellent.

Rivera in DTLA is another option that might stand up well to Red O in its design, tequila/cocktails/wine and atmosphere. The food isn't Mexican IMO - it's pan-Latin. Rivera's menu is done with a lot of thought, focus and imagination. Their presentation is very formal and imaginative as well.

Red O seems pretty hipster from what I've gathered. Rivera can feel hipster, but I think it passes the Chow test as well:

http://exilekiss.blogspot.com/2009/06...

Poster exilekiss is very respected for his in-depth coverage of eateries. His blogsite is worth reading through for some ideas/alternatives for your trip out here. For every consideration you've made, you can probably find at least a couple of other choices on his blog that would be considering.

Time may or may not be a consideration for you, but this town obviously abounds with great Mexican eateries that are worth trying. You can quickly edit your recs by offering specifics, i.e., where you're staying, how far you're willing to travel, desires in terms of regional, specific dishes, etc. Enjoy your stay and I hope you score a lot of tasting victories...

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Chichen Itza
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

La Serenata De Garibaldi
1842 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033

Moles La Tia
4619 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022

[thehungrything]

I'm looking for a memorable lunch with my mom for an upcoming trip to LA. I checked out exilekiss's review of Rivera and that may be the place I will choose. The food and cocktails look amazing and the space is hip and "of the minute" but it looks beautiful.

[Tripeler]

Oh my gosh, when you wrote "pics" I thought you were talking about photos, and I wondered what sort of camera you have that can shoot into the future.
When I read your post I realized you were talking about "picks". Silly me.

[AYSConsulting]

hahah good point. Sad how used to auto-correct I have gotten. Sorry folks, I am not a seer and they are just picks, not pics. hahahaha

[Servorg]

How (or why) did you select Red O as one of your "pics"? It has received lukewarm (at best) reviews here.

[cls]

I think the same goes fro Gordon Ramsay. Toast lives on it's Entourage cache more than food and service IMO too.