1st time to LA - where are the must try places?

[Aberndt]

my husband is a huge food fan. It's always an important part of our trips. Chain restaurants are never OK with him unless it is a local chain. We are taking our 12 year old son also. We will be at The Redbury in Hollywood for 2 days & in Malibu for 3 days. Would love recommendations for those areas plus Santa Monica, Venice or nearby. We will have a car. Must haves are pizza- he will drive anywhere for amazing pizza-Mexican and margaritas, sushi (for me- guys won't eat it so maybe a place w/ other choices for them), good buger,local flare, etc.

Is Lawry's a must try? Also hubby mentioned a place that dips their sandwiches in au jus???

Thanks so much!!

[PaulF]

The "dipping" spot is called Phillippe's ( http://www.philippes.com/ ).

I'll throw out one, really random recommendation:

On Venice Beach there is a spot called Sidewalk Cafe It looks like a "tourist trap" but it isn't. The food is really good, especially the breakfast. And it's the best "sideshow" in Venice -- the whole "human zoo" (and I mean it in a good way) will walk by. There's a pretty good classic rock band that plays right across the path, lots of Clapton and Santana.

[wienermobile]

LA's Original Farmers Market on 3rd and Fairfax is open everyday and is a true taste of LA all in one place. Dozens of food stalls from tacos to gumbo to donuts and everything in between and everyone can try something different and still eat together. Great for people watching and right next to the Grove mall that is just free trolly ride away.
http://www.farmersmarketla.com/

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Farmers Market
6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[chezwhitey]

Is Lawry's a must try? Depends. Where are you guys coming from? If it were 10-15 years ago, I'd say yes, these days not so much. But I guess it depends on what makes him happy.

[wienermobile]

If Prime Rib is what you are looking for Lawry's is still a treat.
http://www.lawrysonline.com/lawrys-pr...

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Lawry's Prime Rib
100 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

[chezwhitey]

If they were coming from another city with a lawry's, the one in la isn't that much different. I guess what irks me about lawry's is that they've become very "corporate" in the last several years. They've begun to cut corners, like no cherry tomatoes on their salad anymore. It's a small thing, but if they are doing that on something that obvious, who knows what else they are doing, like sourcing their meat, and ingredients etc. They've also been pushing their house wine a lot too which seems kind of tacky. I prefer house of prime rib in san francisco. But if they really want prime rib in l.a., sure, go to lawrys.

[westsidegal]

<<Is Lawry's a must try?>>

if a hunk 'o roasted red meat with the usual fat-laden side dishes is what turns you on, then Lawry's will do the trick with style. it's the kind of meal that my father, rest-his-soul, equated with financial success.

if a meal that contains varied fresh produce (after all, this is california, not the midwest), and cooking that involves complex combinations of flavors and textures is what does it for you, then skip Lawry's.

[BSW6490]

I think you need to have Spago in Beverly Hills on the must try list. The patio is really nice. They have some very creative pizza as well. My favorites are the smoked salmon pizza and the duck saussage.

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Spago
176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[BSW6490]

Oh and Lawry's is not a must try.

[scottca075]

Personally I love Philippe The Original and always get the lamb "double dipped". I think it is an LA essential.

If I was going to do a Lawry restaurant in L.A. I'd rather go to the Tam O'Shanter Inn, but if he is a college football fan, Lawry's is who hosts the "beef bowl" between the Rose Bowl teams every year and it has some old LA cache.

Nobu in Malibu is good for sushi, certainly good enough so you shouldn't have to drive into LA proper even if there are better sushi places. If there isn't enough on Nobu's menu for the guys you could go to Matsuhisa when you are in Hollywood and it has a more extensive menu.

Amazing margaritas, I'd say Marix Tex Mex Cafe in Santa Monica, but you'll get less than stellar food. Border Grill in Santa Monica does a nice job with modern Mexican food, but it isn't the down home atmosphere and flavor of a Guelaguetza Restaurant.

Pizza, Pizzeria Mozza or Caioti Pizza Café, but neither is especially close to SaMo or Venice. Stella Rosa in SaMo does a good job with fresh ingredients.

Rustic Canyon is probably worth a look too.

I agree that the Original Farmers Market would be fun and interesting.

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Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Matsuhisa
129 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Caioti Pizza Cafe
4346 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA 91604

Nobu
11357 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

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

Marix Tex Mex
8350 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069