Last night in L.A, Have a reservation at Hatfield's. Should we change to Little Door?

[middleagedfoodie]

We are looking for uniquely L.A. experiences and good food in the mid-price range. Our other nights, we're doing Tasca Winebar because it is light after a long flight and near our hotel. Our second night, we are making a pilgrimage to Border Grill because we just love it. That leaves our 3rd night. I tried for Animal, but it was impossible to get through or for that matter to even get them to return a call. We're doing Cal-Moroccan when we finally end up in SF (Aziza), several days later and Little Door's menu sounds similar, but that is not a problem.

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

Tasca Restaurant
8108 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

The Little Door
8164 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[condiment]

And if you don't mind eating late, Animal, or its sister restaurant Son of a Gun, are generally not difficult to get into, and are far more of-the-moment Los Angeles than any of the restaurants you mentioned.

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Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[andytseng]

If you happen to be here on a weekday, I would definitely try to just grab a seat at the bar at Animal or SoaG. Many consider them the best seats in the house.

[middleagedfoodie]

Condiment and Andytseng, just checked and Son of a Gun is across the street from our hotel. Before we head out to Hatfield's and Animal is on the way to Hatfield's. We'll see if we can get lucky.

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Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[middleagedfoodie]

Thank you everybody for weighing in. Called our hotel for help and miraculously, Animal called me to say that they had 9:15 and would put us on the wait list for earlier. Very excited. Will report back.

[middleagedfoodie]

Thanks all. Sticking with Hatfield's. Maybe try for LD for breakfast one day.

[carter]

Good choice!
little door is not comparable to Hatfield's in any way, other than both are maybe more than you want to spend.

[TailbackU]

Absolutely not. Stick with Hatfields. Those two restaurants shouldn't even be mentioned in the same conversation imo.

[ipsedixit]

Last night in L.A, Have a reservation at Hatfield's. Should we change to Little Door?
________________________________

No.

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The Little Door
8164 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[josephnl]

Don't know anything about Little Door, but we were very underwhelmed by Hatfield's recently...mainly service, which was unpleasant...and we will not return

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The Little Door
8164 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[TNT Adventures]

Had dinner at Hatfield's on Friday night and underwhelmed by the service and overall thought the food was good not great. Long waits in between courses at least 10 minutes, if not more. The waiter didn't regularly refill my water or bread. Waiter did not come by often to check in on us nor was he particularly friendly. Also really pushed us towards the higher priced glasses of wines.

[josephnl]

Thanks for confirming that our poor experience was not unique. On another thread I was led to believe that our underwhelming experience was unusual. Our treatment was inattentive, unpleasant, and bordering on rude. We had the distinct impression that they try to take care of "regulars", and could care less about others. We will not return!

[carter]

Become a regular, albeit an expensive chore, but the rewards are worth it.
A regular might be 2-3 dinners a year.
Hatfield's is truly special, and I am sorry you were not able to realize those virtues.

Love to know where you feel you get the attention, food, service, etal. that deserves your returning dollar.

[josephnl]

Patina, Water Grill, Melisse, Providence, Marche Moderne (OC), etc., etc.

We were not treated well at Hatfield's and the food we were served was good, but not extraordinary. With other better choices (imho) such as those listed above, plus many others, I see no reason to return.

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Water Grill
544 South Grand, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Marche Moderne
3333 Bristol St 3001, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[Porthos]

You don't have to be a regular. I'm averaging once a year and I'm treated as well as I would at any other mid-high end restaurant in town.

The 4 course prix fixe is a great deal. Going again end of the month.

[carter]

The 4 course prix fix is the best deal in town. Have done it on my last 2 visits, within 6 weeks of each other, and am just trying to figure out who I can get to join me on yet another visit.
Peter Birmingham has Tuesday and Wednesday off, so if you want his recs from the list, plan accordingly. But Jonathan, his "substitute" on those other 2 nights is also really good at selecting from a very good list.

[josephnl]

Sounds pretty obvious that Hatfield's is a place where being a regular pays dividends big-time! I have no problem with that, providing it is not to the detriment of others. On our most recent visit, it clearly was...and per other posts, it would seem that service is not Hatfield's strong point.

[Porthos]

Josephnl. Being a regular does make a difference and that is true anywhere. I had dinner at both Marche Moderne and Hatfields' this weekend. Service at Hatfield's was top notch, my seating request on a busy Friday night was accomodated. Food was stellar and a bargain at $59 for the 4 course. The pork belly was tremendous.

Meanwhile, at Marche (one of your favorites) my seating request for one of the booths facing the kitchen was declined even when I pointed to the empty table that I would like. That table went unfilled the rest of the night, not surprising given that I was there for the last seating on a Sunday night. It didn't ruin my night but highlights the differences between the two restaurants as I have experienced it. I have been to both about 5-6 times over the past 3-4 years.

I wouldn't be so quick to knock Hatfield's based on your one limited experience as it is the exception, not the rule.

As for cuisine, Marche is very, very good and they are very generous with their truffle shavings, but I preferred every dish at Hatfield's over my truffle blanked dishes at Marche. The cooking at Hatfield's is a notch above in my experience.

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Marche Moderne
3333 Bristol St 3001, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[carter]

Sorry it took me this long to respond to your post, but never, EVER, think service is lacking at Hatfield's. It is one of the best in the region, including Spago, and any other similar venues you want to name.
They have a staff that by and large has been there since opening, and they are well-trained and very well-versed in every nuiance that makes for a pleasurable dining experience.

[middleagedfoodie]

Sorry I missed Hatfield's. Sounds like a winner. We ended up eating twice at Son of a Gun because we loved it and because my husband's back was acting up and it was 1/2 block from our hotel. The other night was taken by our obligatory pilgrimage to Santa Monica for a dose of Border Grill.

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

Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[alison]

Little Door has a beautiful atmosphere, very LA, but I find it really expensive.
$40 for 4 scallops ??
They have great salads, beautiful cheese plate, the food is really good, but just so expensive for what you get.
Maybe try a walk in at Son of a Gun (same chefs as animal, but seafood based).
Hatfield's is very good, but more fine dining direction.
Also, you could do a walk in at Osteria Mozza or Pizzaria Mozza.

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The Little Door
8164 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[Servorg]

Little Door is a very romantic spot with decent to good food. Hatfield's has better food without the romantic "oomph" of LD.

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The Little Door
8164 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048