It's Artichoke Season - Who's Got 'Em?

[aching]

My husband and I absolutely love artichokes, so I'm wondering - which LA restaurants are serving great artichoke dishes? We recently had some great ones, grilled, at Houston's (of all places) - they had a gorgeous smoky flavor. Please share if you have any to recommend!

[Motherhubbard]

Gulfstream across from Houston's in Century City Mall has great artichokes.

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Gulfstream
10250 Santa Monica Blvd 656, Los Angeles, CA

[aching]

I think Bandera and Gulfstream are both Hillstone restaurants, as is Houston's where we had such a good one a few weeks ago. Hillstone apparently knows their way around an artichoke!

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Gulfstream
10250 Santa Monica Blvd 656, Los Angeles, CA

[compucook]

Our favorite would be Bandera in West LA. Their smoky grilled artichoke is heavenly!

[angelini17]

If you are willing to drive to Orange County, The Wild Artichoke in Yorba Linda has artichoke confit and other artichoke dishes> Nice intimate setting too. You can go to their website by googling The Wild Artichoke Restaurant.

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The Wild Artichoke
4973 Yorba Ranch Rd Ste A, Yorba Linda, CA 92887

[Bugg Superstar]

Has anyone spotted small/baby artichokes? if so, where? thank you!

[senzanome]

We found some at our local farmer's market. Also saw some at Stater Bros. and Albertson/s.

[rumdad]

Walt's Wharf in Seal Beach does it for me

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Walt's Wharf Restaurant
201 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740

[OCnoms]

Yum, Walt's Wharf always serves up a nice grilled choke. A little farther south is Durty Nelly's (hate the name, we just call it Nelly's) by the John Wayne Airport. They do a nice steamed, meaty 'choke and serve it with drawn butter and (tastes like Hellman's) mayo. Simple, lovely, satisfying, and more affordable than Walt's Wharf. Good for the 'choke folk. Plus, they have free wi-fi and a friendly, attentive staff.

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Walt's Wharf Restaurant
201 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740

Durty Nelly's
2915 Red Hill Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[aching]

And now I'm starving. Serves me right for starting this thread! Gjelina and Pizzeria Mozza are two of my favorite restaurants - I must have these dishes!

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Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[carter]

Why do artichokes have to be served with cheese to be good?
Plain, or slightly modified, sans cheese, are so good, and in at least one opinion, cheese lessens the enjoyment of an artichoke.

[Scotty]

I love to eat my artichokes cold and dipped in mayo-I guess most restaurants don't serve that way.

[aching]

*Why do artichokes have to be served with cheese to be good?*

I didn't say they did! I love them pretty much any way. The ones I had at Houston's were simply grilled and served with aioli, and they really were fantastic.

[WildSwede]

I steam them with some garlic butter. Yum!

[justanotherpenguin]

thumbs up!

[wienermobile]

Artichokes al forno with ricotta crostini at Pizzeria Mozza.

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Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[wienermobile]

at Gjelina Braised Artichokes with Burrata, Mint-Pistachio Pesto & Crispy Shallot.

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[carter]

I'd like to find a grocery store that has quality ones that I can cook at home. The selection so far this season has been terrible. Maybe with less rain and cold, things will start to improve, but so far, this season has been a bust.

[ozhead]

I bought some really excellent artichokes yesterday at Ralphs (Topanga and Ventura store). Very large, very fresh, meaty, delicious, and a buck and half each. As good as anything I have seen at the farmers' market, and considerably cheaper.

[sparkareno]

I second Ralph's. I bought a HUGE tasty one yesterday for $1.50. I might have to go back for more.

[justanotherpenguin]

not quite in your area, but in the last couple of weeks we have found fantastic artichokes in the temecula area and in san diego. at vons in san diego and stater bros in temecula. maybe you should check out your vons. (i swear that one pair that we got at stater is the best fresh artichoke that i've ever had!)

[Jase]

Any farmer's market near you? The last couple of weeks the artichokes have looked really good. Not so much before that.

[WildSwede]

I bought beautiful ones at the Monrovia Farmer's Market a few weeks ago.