Staying at Beverly Wilshire tomorrow night

[FattyDumplin]

any restaurant recs assuming i'm on an expense account and open to any cuisine, although not looking for fine dining (i.e. white tablecloth) type stuff? i'd actually really like korean bbq if that is easily accessible? thanks in advance! i looked through old posts but don't know the LA area well enough to know howfar things are from where i am staying

[stiritup]

If you want the best prime rib L.A. has to offer then go right down the street to Lawry's. Best call ahead though to make sure you can walk in.

[BSW6490]

But be aware it is as touristy as it gets. IMO there are many better choices - absent a craving for prime rib.

[Ernie]

Yes it is touristy, but their prime rib is excellent

[Servorg]

What is most interesting about Lawry's (beyond the food) is that, even as a life long local resident of L.A., going to Lawry's always makes me feel like a tourist (in a good way) when I'm there.

[coffeebrownies]

Bazaar is 10-15 minute cab ride depending on traffic and is interesting and expensive. Animal is unique--very odd for LA combination of meat and trendy (say as opposed to Urth cafe LA trendy) and is 15-20 minute cab ride. Both of these would be pretty quick to get to by around 7 pm, but you would hit traffic any earlier. At Animal, if youare travelling solo, you could easily squeeze in at the bar without a reservation.

[miwine]

I agree with Animal. This will be unlike any food you know. A steak is a steak (Cut is very good). Animal is a dinning experience. Red Medicine is another food experience that you will not find in another city.

[FattyDumplin]

just read some reviews of red medicine and that sounds fantastic. unfortunately my co-worker has already ruled out japanese and i think rm falls into that category but i am definitely adding that to my list of must trys in LA. the pics and descriptions in porthos review sound unbelieveable. i think i'm going to end up at cut. which sounds like a great steakhouse, but ultimately a steakhouse is a steakhouse to me and i wish i could try some of hte other selections on this thread so far. that's why i usually dine solo but got cajoled into a co-worker dinner :(

[Ciao Bob]

I think you will find Cut several cuts above the "steakhouse is a steakhouse" notion. The appetizers (Bone Marrow, Austrian Oxtail Bullion w/ Bone Marrow Dumplings, incredible salads) and sides (Potato Tarte Tatin) are unmatched. The non-meat offerings are divine. And the 35 day Dry Aged NY is the best steak I've ever had (I am not much into wygu/kobe but if you like that richness you will be rewarded).

[kevin]

i love their cheesey gouyeres if they still dole those out ???

[andytseng]

Red Medicine is definitely not Japanese... unless your co-worker is one of those old, "set in his ways" guys who means any sort of Asian when they say Japanese.

[BSW6490]

Red Medicine is not Japanese. Far from. And skip cut and go to Mastroes or IMO Da Tana's. Both much better and far more fun.

[FattyDumplin]

Went to cut. I didn't think the steaks were on a par w the best in NYC but the quality of the meat was very good. The sides, desserts and breads were much better though. We had the mushrooms and peas w ramps. Thoroughly enjoyed them. My chocolate souffle was sublime. And the pretzel rolls and gougeres were the best I've ever had. My steak (dry aged ribeye) was ok. I asked for rare plus nd it probably came medium rare plus. The result was also more char Han I typically like. To the waiter's credit, he offered to retire, which I declined and he comped us dessert instead which was nice. I had a nice time but probably won't go back. While I really enjoyed the non steak items, the steak itself was a letdown and I can't overlook that flaw at a steakhouse.

I probably shod have gone to rm, but my ooworker wanted steak.

Edit... The waiter offered to refire the steak, not retire...

[perk]

I was really impressed that the waiter offered to retire.....smile.
Now THAT'S dedication.

[FattyDumplin]

ooh, these sound interesting... i did bazaar last time i was here and really enjoyed it. will have to look into animal and red medicine.

[BSW6490]

Just did Red Medicine last night. It was outstanding.

[latindancer]

I'm eager to try it.

Being you and I are big fans of Il Piccolino on Robertson I appreciate your input. We'll go this weekend :).

[BSW6490]

Im sure you will.

[BSW6490]

If you like Il Piccolino you would probably like Sotto a lot as well.

[Ernie]

Red Medicine for very inventive Vietnamese fusion done deliciously. Skip Cut – it is overpriced and overrated.

[TailbackU]

Agreed. If you want high end steak, walk across the street to Mastros. My recent trip to Cut will be my last time after another average experience.

Red Medicine is indeed a good suggestions and probably a 10 min cab ride away. Different stuff that no one else is doing right now.

[Bob Brooks]

Cut is in you hotel for a very high end steak experience. Also, of course by WP is Spago. Then there's the Grill on the Alley for great quality classic American fare. Mastro's is another great steak option. And you've also got Bouchon. All of these are an easy walk from your hotel. If you have a ride, also consider Craft. It's walkable but maybe more than you'd like.

[perk]

The OP said he/she is not looking for "fine dining/white tablecloth"....which I would think includes Cut, Spago, Mastro's, Bouchon...and probably Craft.

[FattyDumplin]

by fine dining, i guess i'd better describe it as i don't want a "stuffy" atmosphere. Will all of those be like that?

where would you go to k-town for a great bbq experience?

[Bob Brooks]

None of the places I suggested are stuffy. They're just very good, high end, and a great meal on an expense account.

[andytseng]

It's pretty rare to find a stuffy atmosphere in any restaurant in LA these days.

[Ciao Bob]

This is true for the most part. Bouchon, however, feels pretentious and stuffy to me. Ironically, as I understand it anyway, it was designed to be Keller's more laid back concept compared to Per Se and the Fr. Laundry. Yet, the outpost in B Hills is glitzy, expensive and serving mediocre food...stuffy in the worst kind of way to my likes.

[kevin]

wow, based on your estimation of the joint, i'm glad that i haven't visited yet.

[latindancer]

I agree with you, Ciao Bob....

However, I am a fan of Bouchon Bakery.

[Ciao Bob]

Koreatown is 25-35 mins away (after rush hours) and not really worth the time and expense to get there (as a visitor), IMHO, unless one has never had good Korean BBQ. If you go there Parks is considered by many to be the best in a cleanish atmo, and Soot Bull Jeep to be the best in a dark smoky way. I love Ham Ji Park but it is for pork ribs and pork-neck potato soup - their BBQ is not the best.

In B. Hills itself I would go to the brand new Austrian joint Bier Biesl http://www.bierbeisl-la.com/ which is decidedly unstuffy (in a stuffy part of town), and it makes Wolfgang Puck the second best Austrian chef in town! Really good stuff - but not stuffy

Bouchon is average and quite stuffy.

Cut, cuts both ways - a weird combo of glamorous and laid back. I really like it but it is very, very expensive.

Sotto is fairly close by and doing some creative rustic Italian in a low key space with a coolish crowd.

[FattyDumplin]

this is great. thanks all! for Cut, how do rank their steaks with the best steakhouses? Are you paying for ambience or are the steaks really that good?

[Ciao Bob]

I think they are really that good. And then some.

[nosh]

There are a lot of reviews of Cut on this board, mostly positive. It is Wolfgang Puck's steakhouse, and as such you can expect excellent service and, among the reviewers, some backlash and envy. It is known for offering the expensive, exclusive kobe beef. It is also known for better sides than the usual high-end steakhouse. It is very convenient, you are on an expense account, and there is a possibility of some star-sighting there -- why not?

Here is one of two or three reviews of Cut by a local blogger, Kevin Eats:

http://www.kevineats.com/2009/03/cut-...

You can find his other visits on his site, as well as his experiences at Spago and some other high-end places you might consider. Note that most of us are in awe of his appetite and his wallet.

[Bob Brooks]

Well said!

[BSW6490]

Sotto is really good. As is its upstairs neighbor Picca.

[westsidegal]

iirc, the beverly wilshire provides some kind of car service for it's guests.
might be worthwhile to see how far they'll take you.
the korea town area is pretty far from beverly hills.