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Ushuala Argentinian steak house in the old Drago spot at 26th and Wilshire - room nicely redone but growing pains abound with service and cramped tables BUT the food was delicious - empanadas, black pudding with polenta and simply wonderful steaks and sides - Mme Zoe and I split a NY steak which came with four sauces. Good wine selection but we had a Marx Bros scenario with one guest getting a stoli instead of a dewars with a twist and then having the order repeated a second time (we drank the two stoli's). Warm welcoming owners .
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chicken pot pie from Republic of Pie in North Hollywood.
It has seriously changed my mind on chicken pot pies.
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re: carter
First time there, but I think it's better take home if you care to do it right....
They appear to make all their savory pies in the morning. They ask you when you purchase if you would like to reheat.
If the answer is YES, the whole thing goes to the microwave.
Now, the take-home version...
They throw the whole thing into a togo container. It maintains its' shape (ie crust is whole on top). When you take it home, carefully remove the top. Throw the top in the toaster. Throw the rest of the pot pie in the microwave. When everything is ready, reassemble.
The results using this method was phenomenal.
Other notes:
The NoHo cold brew tasted terrible, but the mocha was quite good. I'll try their pour over next time.
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re: ns1
Appreciate the immediate answer.
Could the whole thing be assembled once at home and just placed in a preheated toaster oven for X amount of time?
Would seem easier than doing the 2-stop assemblage.
Portion size - for 1, 2, or ?
I am not a big eater, and one the size of the smaller ones you could find in your local grocery store would be sufficient for me.
Or are they family sized?
And they do coffee? What time do they open in the morning? Might be an interesting stop after going to the gym nearby.
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re: carter
1. You could probably 1step it but I guess that would depend on how warm/hot you want the CPP to be
2. Me and the GF split it. It's about the same "fullness" as splitting a #19. It didn't seem like a lot but heavy/hearty ingredients = filling
3. Not sure, they have a full decent coffee bar, with V40 pour overs and all that jazz. They're trying to build out a community spot. Me and the GF will probably walk over every once in a while for some pie and coffee at night, leech the free WiFi and whatnot. Dog friendly too. I think it's the most "high class" coffee in that neck of the woods.
(3.50 for normal pourover, 4.00 for siphon, 3.50 for noho cold brew)4. I would say it's definitely worthy of a stop, pick up a chicken pot pie and some key lime pie togo (the pies are legit too, we tried the lemon curd and key lime)
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re: Hypnotic23
I have driven past it a couple of times in the last couple of weeks and wondered about it. But both times, I got food elsewhere for lunch - Umami Burger and then Polka on my way back to work. Both meals fabulous. I will need to check it out.
Best meal last week? Toss up between chicken from Dino's and potato pizza at Settabello (although my friend got The Settebello and that was fabulous, maybe even better!).
Thanks!
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Went back to Mother Dough in e Hollywood last sat nite..2nd excellent pie, sausage and my companion had a margherita, i've had there in the last month..Neapolitan style, which means a softer crust, "wet" center, which i love...the Owner/pizzaiolo, Bez Campani, toured Italy and was inspired to recreate their traditional pizza. I have to say that, tangible or not, when the chef is making all the pies and doing everything himself, as opposed to a trained hire, i appreciate the control and devotion to the product. friendly staff and except for an annoying, bawling baby, it was a great meal.
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re: lapizzamaven
Isn't everyone baking pies themselves? Who isn't? Olio has Kent, Stella Rossa has Mahin, Anthony Carron himself bakes pizzas at 800 degrees. Settebello is corporate so that's nixed.
MD's the most obnoxious of the current LA Neapolitan infestation. The watery center & highfalutin menu bug. Unsliced moist dough means you end up with a pizza train wreck on a plate every single time. It's like they want to be a*holes about it.
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re: TonyC
You really don't like Neapolitan style pizza do you? If you don't like the wet center, stick to the hundreds of places that don't do Neapolitan style pizza.
I'm a fan and I'm glad LA is finally getting its own Neapolitan pizza renaissance. NYC and SF got theirs 5-10 years ago. It's about time we got ours.
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Rustic Canyon...
Crispy White Polenta w/fried egg, Fried Cauliflower, the best Chicken in town and Bran Cake w/ salted vanilla ice-cream for dessert...incredible...all of it.
I want to live there.›2 Replies-
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re: maudies5
This group of eateries is pretty amazing.
Rustic Canyon, Milo and Olive, Huckleberry and the incredible ice cream at Sweet Cream...they definitely know what they're doing when it comes to food.
I'm going to go try the Lemon Meringue...anyone who knows how to make it right deserves a 5 star.
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After eating at Providence last night - can report that our best meal this week was as Natas, the Portuguese restaurant in Studio City: great ambiance, warm service and delicious food - seafood soup, great pastries plus a bakery to do takeout for bread and sweeties (Mme Zoe has a tremendous Danish sweet tooth for that stuff for breakfast).
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I just had a great meal at a great new restaurant..from the people who brought us Huckleberry, Rustic Cyn...Milo & Olive..wow! awesome pizza...@Westsidegal..we seem to share a similar pizza aesthetic...get thee to this place...i know you love Mozza...thats all im gonna say!
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re: lapizzamaven
I have been singing the praises of Milo and Olive since the day it opened and have been there at least twice a week since then.
Every dish I have had is remarkable.
I see that they are now preparing cauliflower in the way that they prepared the green beans. Should be fantastic. Josh and Zoe should give lessons to all of the would-be restaurateurs who spend millions of $$ and make everything so la-de-da. These nice people offer great food, great service, warmth and fair prices. Truly, a pleasure going to any of the Josh and Zoe restaurants/ice cream parlor. -
re: lapizzamaven
i will get there for sure.
not only have you recommended it, (which, by itself, in my book, is more than enough evidence that the place rocks) but my favorite charcuterie guy, Eric at Fig restaurant, is also enamored with their offerings at Huckleberry.
can't ignore such well-sourced recommendations.
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re: Ernie
Just like Paris sitting outside on the terrace at MEET gazing at the Boulevard, eating moules and drinking a great Riesling out of a beautiful wine glass, warm and toasty with heat lamps on a chilly Saturday night - twinkling lights, attentive service and I forgot to mention the creme de fennel soup served in a cauldron (to keep the heat in). Oh and we saved two grand on the air fare to France.
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Meet French Bistro
9727 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232-
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re: kevin
Don't know when it opened - friends who took us there had been several times before; the St, something is St,.Amour arguably the best Frenchy restaurant around with wonderful owners cooking wonderful stuff (PS I am not related/friends with them) just a happy client who has had numerous great meals there,
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Meet French Bistro
9727 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
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Red Medicine. It reminded me a little of noma in Copenhagen, but with an Asian twist instead of Nordic. It's not as polished and perfect as noma, but it's very good. The Brussels sprouts were amazing. The rhubarb dessert was the best dessert I've had in a very long time, even better than the beignets at Hatfield's.
Slightly less fantastic were the leeks - I felt the raw turnip didn't quite fit in with the rest of the dish - and the Chinese lion peppers - except for the one unusually spicy one I got, they were too mild for the accompanying dates, which overpowered them. My friend felt the same about the rabbit and its accompanying five-berry compote or whatever it was called. But the rabbit itself was excellent, and every dish was enjoyable.
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re: mrhooks
Red Medicine also. Went back again last night. I can't get enough of the brussel sprouts and the amazing rice porridge with uni. The long beans that come with the maitake mushrooms are also pretty delicious with its smokiness. I'll have to try the rabbit next. So far for entrees, I found the lamb belly pretty good and the pork stellar.
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Ate at the wonderful Buffalo Inn in Upland.Great Buffalo burgers and Buffalo chips and salsa!!A must for anyone who like a "roadhouse" kind of place.It's so good my dog loved it !!
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re: maudies5
dolce isola is the Ivy bakery,correct? down about a mile and a half down robertston, what you have there??? for some reason, the prices at dolce isola are almost too reasonable especially considering that they are stemming from the Ivy, which has notoriously high prices.
And now, I'm sold on it, I'll have to try Milo and Olive.
Also, I don't know if you are a fan, but Farm Shop in the country mart is not half bad. I really enjoyed the eye of Beef with horseradish salsa and crispy potatoes.
And the dark chocolate tart was pretty good too. Though neither fit the description of exceptional. Good enough for the week? Yes. But sadly, the prices at Farm Shop are very spendy.
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I had pasta so I can only comment on the pasta entrees. The pasta here is great and I am definitely a big fan. My guests at the table had the calamari and pesto pasta and all loved it. Ago is a classic West Hollywood restaurant. Very stylish, trendy, sexy, and also intimate. The setting is very classy and stylish. A great place for a business dinner or entertaining of good friends. www.keithgilabert.com
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Ago - West Hollywood
8478 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069 -
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Had a really great dinner here after walking over from the Landmark 'theaters - great room, warm lighting and very welcoming owner/staff - fish curry was the peak of deliciousness - also chicken korma, eggplant, rice and peas + garlic naan. Simple meal but lick the plate for flavor delivered. Mme Zoe and guest each had a Bass ale, I had mango lassi. Bill: $60.
This place never fails to deliver›5 Replies-
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re: kevin
www.miloandolivecom
Eastern end of Santa Monica . Wilshire and Harvard, about 3 blocks east of 26th street
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Chong Qing Mei Wei Szechuan Restaurant in Irvine one day and then A&J Restaurant in the center across the street the next.
At Chong Qing I had some fried meat with hot peppers, I forget which meat, but it is was probably lamb and it was amazing. Also had short ribs, stir fried pig intestines (much better tasting than it sounds) and noodles. Overall just a great meal.
At A&J I had xlb, cold noodles in hot and sour sauce, pickled cabbage and spicy wonton. One dish after the other was better than the one before it.
Can't wait to go back.
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Had an impressive lunch at Musso and Frank Grill in Hollywood. Ordered their Tues. special of Corned beef and cabbage. Mrs. had Sand Dabs. Never had corned beef that was so tender and easy to cut with just a fork. Don't really need a knife. The Sand Dab was also excellent with a touch of lemon. However, those large cut french fries that come with the fried fish was just too much.
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re: kevin
Had a great dish tonight at The Hungry Cat in Santa Monica Canyon....Scallop Pot Pie...
Oh my, it was delicious. Warning: Share this dish. It is one big delicious pie. A very special dish, indeed.and enough for 2. It was a menu special tonight.-----
The Hungry Cat
100 W Channel Rd, Santa Monica, CA 90402
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gorbals - specifically the glt, which i had for the first time and think it might be one of the top sandwiches in the city, and the roasted lamb's neck on creamy oats.
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re: TonyC
I had a piece of gribenes and gorbals, and that one piece made me not want to get a the gribenes version of the blt at all.
didn't think it was good at all either.
though i did like the smoked apple sauce that came with the latkes, and the 5 onion burger.
although for some reason, after two visits, i have no desire to go back. though i did go twice in one month i think. just the flavors on recollectioin felt a little off to me.
just my two cents on the matter.
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Great surprise this AM ---- Wood; at corner of Washington & Inglewood. Menu is better than ever, very creative and interesting. Excellent "farmers market" quality foods, prepared with taste and attention to detail. All at very reasonable prices. They are now open for dinner and the menu looks great - can't wait to try it.
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best DISH i had this week was last night when i went to Mariscos Chente's/Coni'Seafood.
i like acting as a guinea pig for Sergio's new dishes.
he served me a camarones dish made with chipotle chile and mango with onions and peppers.
OMG›2 Replies -
Been to Farm Stand in DT El Segundo now for two weekends in a row. A little detail since there's very little mention about this place in CH-LA. The name is kinda deceptive in that it's not so much like food from a farm stand, unless it were one located in California and was owned and operated by a love child from a Persian and French couple. If you're familiar with Persian cuisine, you'll notice the rice, stews and some of the meat dishes are decidedly Persian in influence. Some of the menu items feel French bistro, but are Italian and Mediterranean as well, with a Cali-touch (e.g., linguine w/ meatballs, ancho chile cream sauce).
We've covered almost half the dinner menu (but no desserts - the entree portions are large), and we've enjoyed just about everything so far. I think my only minor quibble was with the fries that came with my "naked" burger. They were really skinny - I like big/bigger fries - and I tasted oil that seemed a bit past its prime - pretty much in line with more average eateries. Their herbed ground chicken or beef is pretty much a koobideh shaped more like home made oval-shaped burger patties - it's very good. The "lemon" chicken breast undersells itself - it's their own riff on a Persian Jujeh kabob - big portion that's very tasty and comes with a generous portion of rice pilaf heavy on cherries. Don't let the word, "lemon" preceding chicken, or "breast" succeeding it turn you off. It's good.
Wine list is not short for a place of this size - the house pinot noir is on the sweetish side but surprisingly goes well with the food. The pilafs can be slightly sweet, so a more tannic, less sweet red wine might come off bitter. The beers on tap are all non-Bud/Coors/Miller. Skrimshaw pilsner, Red Seal Ale from North Coast Brewers, Allagash White, Green Flash IPA; I think eight beers like these on tap. It's a nice place to drop in for a real good meal in a casual setting that is in a quieter part of a sleepy town.
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re: wienermobile
NYC Seafood on Garvey in Monterey Park may have a B rating but our Tuesday lunch was triple A: Big bowl of broth with lotus blossoms, so crunchy; salt pork chop, scrambled eggs packed with huge shrimp and chicken chow fung noodles - all for under $20 and the noodles went into three other meals.
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Manhattan Beach Post. Wonderful and creative small plates. Loved their Moroccan BBQ Lamb Belly with creamy semolina, weiser farm tiny carrots. So tender and tasty. More please.
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Manhattan Beach Post
1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266›8 Replies-
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re: maudies5
info on the veggie burger at the veggie grill--
there are two main categories of veggie burgers: those that are made to resemble the texture, flavor, and appearance of meat, and others that make no such attempt and are simply vegetable/legume/grain patties.
the veggie burger at the veggie grill is the meat-resembling type.
they do a good job within that category.
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Chef's tasting @ Mar'sel, in Terranea resort, of all places.
Chef Michael F (who interned with Michael Voltaggio during culinary school?) is doing some pretty excellent things to animals. The roasted branzino was nearly perfect, the Spanish octopus with piquillo peppers rivals anything coming from Cube/Mozza. The ribeye cap was probably the finest piece of beef I've eaten all year, and the young carrots with raisins served with the ribeye cap were little morsels of earthy heaven.
The dessert, choco/hazelnut cremieux, was on par with RH, and was, obviously, adored by all the women at the table.
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mar'sel at Terranea Resort
100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275›2 Replies -
Best place I ate at this week?
Place Yuu. They're serving some incredible matsutake mushroom dobin mushi right about now. It's seasonal, so go get some now. The rest of the menu is not too shabby, either.
The kaki fry (fried oysters) are great, and the yellowtail is fantastic now. Also, the Osaka-style battera (pressed sushi) goes great with a bit of alcohol. The shishito peppers are perfectly cooked, too.
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Place Yuu
2101 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025›2 Replies -
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The Spice Table - house-made head cheese (which they brine for 10 days); fried califlower with fish sauce; kaya toast with coconut jam and coddled egg with a touch of soy sauce and white pepper (unreal sweet/savory combo); lamb heart satay and catfish claypot. Unreal. Cannot believe we made it out of the place without getting the pig's tail! Soon little pig's tails...soon
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The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA -
sushi zo last tuesday night was divine.
lunch on wednesday at hosteria del piccolo was terrific.
dinner tonight at mariscos chente's/Coni'Seafood was wonderful. (ceviche made with shrimp, scallop, and sea snails as an app. then pescado zarandeado for a main)so far, this is working out to be one of my best eating weeks ever.
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Hatfield's. Excellent charred octopus salad and stellar pork belly.
Marche Moderne. Summer truffle tasting menu. Risotto with truffles and porcini and scallops with langoustines and truffles. Both dishes literally blanketed with an obscene amount of shaved black summer truffles.
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Marche Moderne
3333 Bristol St 3001, Costa Mesa, CA 92626›2 Replies-
re: Porthos
Bouchon (the Bar) as the Bistro Upstairs was already closed :(
But got to try the Salmon Rillettes with the croutons which was amazing, and the Quiche Lorraine! Yummy... Their House White Wine in the Carafe can't be beat $25 for 1/2 litter, perfect for 2 people, and very crisp, refreshing wine... Loved it...
Later passed by BH Cheese shop and got my cheese fix!
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Saigon Bakery, at the intersection of Valley and San Gabriel.
Three freshly made banh mi on fresh super light bread - $2.25 a piece. We took them to the car and unwrapped them minutes after they'd been made. Ate, wrapped the leftovers and then headed to The Brewery Artwalk with happy full tummies. Divine.
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Aromatic Chicken from my favorite Chinese place in Santa Clarita. It's been an off week, culinarily speaking.
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re: kevin
I, too wondered about this. But I used the all-powerful google and simply typed in the query "China Palace Lyons Ave", the answer becomes clear... It's in Newhall.
This useful website is: www.google.com
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Went to Cole's
118 E 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014Had their Pastrami Dip with Blue Cheese and I'd have to say it was good,not the "best" I have had but none the less,good.I always like eating here when I am downtown and until I can find another "dog friendly" eatery I shall continue to eat here/
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re: MoreBeerHere
Had to have a dose of comfort food after talking to my cousins in London who are under siege so we repaired to the Mandarin Noodle House on Garvey - great won ton soup with homemade noodles and a pile of chopped vegetables, leek/onion bread - just delicious and two plates of dumplings - one beef and one fish. Nothing like the full tummy to give comfort.
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Mandarin Noodle House
701 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754
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re: bruinike
FYI. 50% Off Food/Drink at Wirsthaus (Max Discount $15) -- Deal voucher/code available through January 8, 2012 and expires February 18, 2012
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Had two good experiences:
Cold app counter at Yunnan Garden in San Gabriel. Seasonal items incl. seriously spicy beef jerky (not the normal sliced fatty beef, which is also good - there were more like sweet/hot tidbits tossed with dried peppers/seeds. Also saw this green eggplant dish that had just joined the rotation there, but that I didn't try.Also, Cucina Rustica, downtown L.A. - good maybe because I had low expectations, and had a pretty great dinner, incl. gnocchi with a rich tomato cream sauce and a spinach salad with baked trout that actually worked.
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re: cant talk...eating
The downtown branch of Rustica is around the corner from my office, (have to walk past Engine Company to get there) and it's becoming my business lunch place of choice. Prices are reasonable for the quality of food and service, noise level at lunch is not mind-bending (compared with, say, Bottega Louie).
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Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017 -
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Ol' skool: Pacific Dining Car Downtown LA: Smashingly good Filet Oscar, perfectly cooked to order the first time (you hear that, CUT?!), creamed corn, chocolate souffle.
A very close Second Place: Tasty Noodle, in Alhambra: Sea cucumbers special, and a surprisingly satisfying boiled fish & leek jiaoze.
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Pacific Dining Car
1310 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 -
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This was a pretty good eating week, which included Drago Centro, Tavern, Jitlada, Little Dom's (twice), Gjelina Take Away, and Hostaria Del Piccolo. But my favorite place by far was The Tasting Kitchen. Their tagliolini with squid, bread crumbs, and serrano peppers was to die for, and while the notion of "mixology" usually strikes me as hyperinflated, the mixed drinks at The Tasting Kitchen are to die for too.
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Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291 -
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My neighborhood's little homemade Pho shop Saigon Dish in Lawndale. The kind of local place where the owner knows everyones name. Every neighborhood should have a comfort place like this.
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Saigon Dish
15725 Hawthorne Blvd Ste 108, Lawndale, CA 90260›4 Replies-
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re: Baron
She is still there making her great hot tortillas. The place hasn't changed in 25 years complete with the Humphrey Bogart vending machine and that's what I like about it.
http://casablancarestaurant.net/
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Mariscos Chente's - the pescadero (fish) zarandeado. And it's the best thing I've eaten in quite a while and I eat a lot of great/diverse things. Make sure Sergio is the chef. I call him an alchemist. LM
Maricos Chente's
10020 Inglewood Ave, Inglewood
- Vincente (Chente) Cossio
- Sergio Penuelas




































