Restaurant Reviews for news
Costa Mesa, CA - Karl Strauss Breweries - Only a week old in Costa Mesa, there are growing pains (hopefully that is all). Good service, weak drinks. The spicy bloody Marty was bland and when asked the flavor of a beer the server answered it was 'lite'. The baby back ribs looked good and I was told that they were OK (not fabulous). The French Fries tasted and were textured like McDonalds fries found in the bag later - soggy.  The breaded Calamari starter was more breading than Calamari. The Manhattan clam chowder was more like thin Minestrone with seafood substituted for veggies (that was a not so special 'special'). The Shrimp and pasta special was a lunch-sized portion.  Will, let's give them a chance to do better, OK?  www.karlstrauss.com

Glendale, CA - Clancy's Crab Broiler - What a delicious experience. Always busy but SUPER customer service. No wonder so popular, so long. Owned by the same people who own JAX Bar & Grill with Jazz every night, the Black Cow in Montrose and several others. The trout was very good, just a bit overcooked. (We'll know better next time to qualify). The oysters (fresh) were oh, so good. The mussels were prepared just right in an incomparable sauce. The drinks were reasonable and ample.  

Pasadena, CA - Beckham Place Food and service are both poor. Noisy ambience. Management is not consumer friendly.  Owned by the same people that own Shakers where they care.

Los Angeles, CA - Los Feliz area- Vermont on Vermont at Hollywood.  Very trendy. Food is excellent. Good value. Try the lamb shank. They actually give you two for the price of one! They know how to cook a filet mignon.

Santa Ana, CA - Ferdussi - a taste of Persia.  Try to sample everything.  So ample - so good!  Sometimes they have entertainment.

Glendale, CA - New Delhi Palace The food is quite good for a restaurant so close to the Galleria.  Very quiet. Bring Friends

Pasadena, CA - Café Bizou An inexpensive treat. A nice degree of intimacy

Montrose, CA  - Stoners -The old-timers hangout. OK prime rib. Check out the early bird specials.  They actually SMOKE in the bar! Can you believe?

Marina del Rey , CA - Washington St. Bar & Grill.  Some of the best fish in town.  Behave because you never know who you'll bump into

Hollywood, CA - The grill at the Magic Castle - The menu has changed, the chef revitalized and it is the in place to entertain.

Southern California - COCO 's has upgraded its menu and the quality of the food.  It is back on our list of OK places to meet for lunch.

Santa Ana, CA - FAVORI  French & Vietnamese Still one of the best buys.  A dinner for four for less that $50. Try the Five Courses of Beef or the Mussel Kebobs. 

Breckenridge, CO - Pierre's Riverwalk Café.  A real sleeper.  For lunch try the lamb salad.

Breckenridge, CO - The Dredge - Don't bother.  You will 'Dread the Dregs'

San Francisco, CA - ANZU - in the Hotel Nikko.  Excellent food, service and follow-up. Definitely have the 'Floating Island' dessert.

San Francisco, CA - McCormick & Kuleto's.  Great Fresh Seafood.  East coast oysters not so good.  Kind of a noisy, yuppie location.

San Jose, CA - Blakes - I was there for a lunch meeting, food terrible, very noisy, poor acoustics.

San Francisco, CA - Harris' A great steak house, good atmosphere, a place to go when in SF

Sausalito, CA -Horizon - Under new ownership.  Don't believe the guidebooks.  Service, food and ambience are excellent.  A great place to dine, enjoy a libation and sit on the pier overlooking the bay.

San Luis Obispo, CA - MADONNA INN - certainly a throwback to the 60's.  They do know how to keep the customers happy, especially the older ones. Don't trip over the Flamingo's

Glendale, CA - Cinnabar - Revisited.  Food OK.  Place is getting as rundown as the owner looks.

San Francisco, CA - Hyatt Regency - Eclipse Café - Don't waste your time.

San Francisco, CA - Hilton Hotel - Coffee Shops - 'Tis better to eat on the street.

San Francisco, CA - Campton Place Restaurant - Food, service and ambience are excellent.  A great value. Just don't dress like a slob. Good for business entertainment.

Los Feliz, CA - Los Feliz Café & Jazz Club.  The last restaurant in this location across from The Derby died.  LF lacks value.  The food is OK but over priced as is the cover on the attached jazz club.  The idea is great but needs massive reengineering.

Pasadena, CA - Twin Palms Sunday Brunch is an off the menu affair.  Sit back from the stage so you can have a table conversation. The eggs are so-so.  There are many other restaurant choices.

Manhattan Beach, CA - Pancho's - if you like lots of good Mexican Food, this is the place to go.  A gourmand's delight.

Los Angeles, CA - CHAMEAU on Hyperion Ave. Excellent cuisine, Mediterranean. Acoustics are poor for intimacy.  Rating: PPP/BBB

Glendale, CA - FRESCO ristorante.  This delightful, intimate Italian ristorante in the midst of the Brand Blvd of Cars is a must. There is no happy medium.  It is either packed or empty but the food is good and consistent.  The specials are just that!

Palm Springs, CA - Alfredo's at the Holiday Inn - Breakfast is reasonable, the menu is very extensive but the kitchen doesn't know it. Four kinds of cheese on the menu but only one available. The omelet was as filling as Chinese food ½ hour after eating.

Palm Springs, CA -  The Great Wall is of course Chinese.  A bright airy place with good fresh Chinese food.

Palm Desert, CA - Hedi's Hide-a-way. The chef owner has a fragile ego and excuses for why the food doesn't measure up. The leg of lamb was good.

Palm Desert, CA - The Club House.  Quite a surprise. The Cobb Salad us more than just a bunch of veggie's and meats on top of each other.  It is well blended.  Great cheese-burgers.  

West Hollywood. CA - Cyrano - Upstairs on Beverly Blvd. overlooking the mountains is a sleeper.  A tad expensive but the food, service and ambience are worth the price.  Make certain you order the chocolate soufflé'.

Pomona, CA - Scoreboard "America's Sports Grill". A great lunch place. Big juicy burgers and the salads are also good size.

Marina del Rey , CA - The Warehouse Restaurant.  A delightful view sitting on the terrace watching all the boats just sitting there. Oh, the food. The fish wasn't dried out and the Cioppino was lacking in size but was hot and tasty,

Pasadena, CA - Holly Street Bar & Grill.  A new menu includes buffalo filet properly broiled and a delicious smoky flavored salmon. Try it soon as the crowds of the past weren't there when we were. And who knows how long they will be there.

Pasadena, CA - Sorriso Trattoria Cucina Italiana. Instead of a really heavy Sunday brunch (a gourmands delight) stop by and have one of their excellent afternoon entrée' salads.  The seafood one is a must. Prices are quite reasonable considering both the quantity and the quality of the food. Sitting outside is quite a voyeurs delight.

Los Angeles, CA - L'Orangerie - One of the HIGH CLASS French restaurants. The chef is manageable. The Tasting Menu is quite interesting. For the price the value is just not there. There is a lack of attentiveness that takes away from the menu.

Los Angeles, CA - Tam O'Shanter Inn (One of the Lawry's Restaurants) Their food is always a consistent value. They have a limited menu so check out the specials.  The prime rib is oh, so good.

San Diego, CA - The Gathering on Washington. Menu like CoCo 's but much more character.

King City, CA - Keefer's Restaurant (On the route between San Francisco and Santa Barbara).  Quite a surprise in this sleepy town of 10,000.  The Salmon was excellent and they cooked a rare New York Steak right the first time.  Probably the best place in the whole town.

Newport Beach, CA - Pleasant Peasant is a delightfully bright airy, quiet restaurant near John Wayne Airport.  Their lunchtime salads are tasty, pleasing and inexpensive.

Los Angeles, CA - The Palm Court at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel at LAX.  What an extra-ordinary airport hotel restaurant.  The salmon was moist, the NY strip was rare (the first time) and they have great cheesecake - I don't mean the waitresses. And it's reasonable.

Jerusalem, Israel - Pesto Italian Restaurant.  Stranded on a Friday or Saturday evening and can't get a hot meal?  This is the place to be.  Serving from noon-midnight 7 days a week their food is quite palatable and cooked with a Middle Eastern flair.

Israel & Russia - El Gaucho is a very interesting chain of restaurants serving Argentinean Kosher meals.  Try the Gaucho special steak.  Quite good and if you ask they will prepare it YOUR way.  Dinner with wine, sides, dessert and scrumptious fries about 200 shekels.

Tel Aviv , Israel - The Hilton Hotel dining room.  We weren't able to try the King Solomon restaurant as it was closed being a victim of the Palestinian disturbance.  However I had one of the best Filets at $12 and the very full dinner buffet was $28.  Quite a surprise for hotel food.

Tiberius, Israel - The Pagoda is a Kosher Chinese restaurant that when dining al fresco has one of the most gorgeous views of the surrounding environs.  It appears to appeal to the locals, not just the tourists.  And the food was quite excellent.

North Hollywood, CA - GOLAN - serves delectable Middle Eastern fare, including Chinese.  A vast selection of choices.  It is Glatt Kosher. On Victory Blvd., it is worth the drive.

Burbank, CA - RIBS USA Just kind of a down home redneck sort of place with peanut shells on the floor and do it yourself beverages.  The baby back ribs are better than the beef ribs. I think that the beef ribs come from really old cows.

Glendale, CA - T-Time The name doesn't do this very new restaurant any service.  Speaking of which, was terrible. In November they were 3 weeks old.  Major kinks in food and service.  We found the place pathetic at best; both of our visits: First and last. Our advice - don't bother.

Glendale, CA - Max's of Manila near the Glendale Galleria. Parking is valet, only $2.50.  Oh, the restaurant.  The beef ribs were fatty, the oriental dishes were at best, bland. Both visits, first and last!

Los Angeles, CA - LA Prime atop the Hotel Bonaventure. The food is a gourmand's delight (quantity not quality) and it is quite pricey. Save it for that special occasion.

Glendale, CA - The Blue Pyramid is an excellent choice for either a quick bite or a more relaxing meal.  Items that aren't on the menu (rack of lamb or the Chilean Sea Bass) are always an excellent choice.  The owner, Sarkiss, is a fount of restaurant information. The food is always consistent.  Become a regular and see how well you are treated.

Studio City, CA - The Out Take Cafe - A very interesting and eclectic menu. It has been around for almost a decade. Quantity makes up for quality.  The lamb is better that the fish. P gives it thumbs up and B kinda-sorta sideways.

Newport Beach, CA - The Alley - Sitting on the bay it is still one of the noisy favorites of locals. Sunday brunch is entrée based.

Las Vegas, NV - Pinot Brasserie at the Venetian. Quiet, good food - a break from the Sands Convention Center Commotion.

Las Vegas, NV - Café Bellagio at the Bellagio Better than most typical LV hotel 24-hour café's. Great food and excellent service.  It is to be noted that Las Vegas is home to over thirty 5 star restaurants.

Las Vegas, NV - Sam's at the Bellagio - Steak and Rack of Lamb flavorful even without the excellent sauces that accompanied the entrée.

Good value and a great chef.

Santa Clarita, CA - Restaurant KOTOBUKI is an excellent choice for Japanese cuisine. U-T, the sushi chef, and Jack, the owner, will cater to your every whim.  Just let them select for you from the freshest of the fresh. Make certain you sit at the sushi bar. And, the prices are reasonable.

Pasadena, CA - The Gaucho Grill - a little bit of Argentina almost on our own backyard. Some very tasty and reasonable salads for lunch and, I understand, very good steaks. Worth checking out.

Monrovia, CA - La Parisienne - a pleasant surprise. An excellent French restaurant with an eclectic menu. Venison, pheasant, canard and fabulous escargot.  The best part, besides the excellent food and service, is that it won't cost you an arm and leg.  It is in the Entertainment Book.

From Terence G. Craig:

SF Restaurants:

 Hayes Street Grill Traditional SF restaurant (Herb Caen ate here regularly). Specializes in fish although you can get a steak here. In my over 20 years of going here the food has been uniformly excellent. Price $14 - $25/entree (high medium). Call for reservations. Serves the Opera House/Symphony Hall crowd in the evenings: hard to get a reservation on those nights before 7:45 pm.

Postrio (Wolfgang Puck's SF restaurant near Union Square). Food is ok, but grossly overpriced: lunch for 3 was over $100. I ordered lamb roast and got three pieces about the size of my thumb for $17.00.

Pacific (in the Pan Pacific hotel). Very quiet (because sparsely attended). However, food is good, if pricey (typical hotel entree pricing $16 -$28). Because of the quiet atmosphere a nice place for dinner conversation.

Chapeau! (in the avenues). Pleasant storefront French. Highly rated (Zagut), but we found the entrees variable in quality, not living up the hype.

Glendale, CA - Aoba Japanese Restaurant - Tempura, Teppen and Sushi Bar. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner. Food mediocre and really not memorable. Been there - done that.

Los Angeles, CA - Century City - Russian Roulette. A Russian night club - open on weekends only.  You really need to pace yourself through the appetizers and salads that are in total abundance in order to leave room for the entrée.

Van Nuys, CA - Charlie O's is a delightful jazz club with a great food menu. It is a place to which we have to return.

La Crescenta , CA - Olive Branch features Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. What a find - what a treat. The food, from the lamb shank to the kebabs to the appetizers, is well-portioned, cooked to perfection and is one of the best values we have come upon.  Even Haro, the one-man band, provided an aural ambience that just added to our pleasure.

Los Angeles, CA - The Overland Café' - a rather eclectic place with surprisingly good food at reasonable prices. The servers don't hide to avoid taking abuse. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Pantry without the grease. It doesn't look like much but a change from CoCo 's.

Pasadena, CA - \patakan\ The Thai Restaurant - a very busy restaurant with a high number of Thai's enjoying their excellent cuisine. A very extensive and reasonably priced menu with good service to boot.

Hollywood, CA - café des artistes - in an alley off Sunset and Highland - what a very unusual menu.  Excellent food and good service.  If you like to be a part of the art-scene this is the place to be.  Check out the champagne cocktail and martini menu. Wow!

From Steve Itzkowitz

Austin, TX - Rudy's Country Barbeque -- It ain't fancy, but it's good food at good prices.  There are several locations around Austin.

Austin, TX - Manuel's offers very good eating in an upscale environment with down to earth prices.

BB Rover's Cafe -- this is a friendly place to have a beer and kick back after a hard day.  BBs offers over 100 different labels of foreign and domestic beer and ale.  While the kitchen prepares an eclectic selection of wholesome food, don't look for anything fancy.  There's a pool table and a couple of dart boards (with their own Texas style dart game) and a back room where you'll often find David Patrick Dunn, one of the owners, pickin' his guitar and acting as the emcee for some pretty good local talent.  

Los Angeles, CA - LA Prime atop the Westin Bonaventure - serves excellent steaks. Reservations a must. Order a side vegetable and it is sufficient for the entire table. Dinner only.

Glendale, CA - Carousel a restaurant, a night club.  On weekends they have a price fixe menu. So much food. All sorts of Middle Eastern appetizers and great kebobs for the entree'. Then there is the show - live music for listening and dancing, vocalists add so much more and then the dance troupe doing all the Middle Eastern routines.  Carousel does have a dress code.

Glendale, CA - LA CUBANA a very inexpensive Cuban restaurant with an inexpensive wine list. A number of locals show up there. Only open from Thursday-Sunday. Been there-done that.

Los Angeles, CA - The Pantry.  The only similarity to the Pacific Dining Car is that it is open 24 hours. The Pantry, owned by mayor Riordan, is what gives greasy spoons their name.  You see everything there.  Cash only.

Costa Mesa, CA - The Atrium at the Costa Mesa Hilton - Very reasonable Tournedos and OK French Onion Soup.  Booths are not designed for adults.  A great place to eavesdrop.

Costa Mesa, CA - La Cave' is still one of the better steak houses. Good meat, cooked properly without paying Ruth Chris or Morton's process.  They even have a selection of fresh fish. The only thing missing when they bring the steak selection to your table is the branding iron. Shades of Chicago's Stock Yard Inn.

Beverly Hills, CA - Nate 'n Al - Killer food. In fact that was how I felt 5 hours after eating there. And for the price of a Rueben you could have a decent steak somewhere - anywhere else.

San Francisco, CA - Roy's of Hawaii is now in San Francisco and what a treat it is.  California cuisine with some Thai thrown in.  Excellent fish and seafood and the portions are large enough that they offer half portions.  

LAST 8/2001

Studio City, CA - Pasion is an Argentinean restaurant that offers an extra. The Tango! While enjoying well-prepared dinners you can either be a voyeur or a participant in the tango action on the dance floor. The meats and fish are excellent and offer a good value.

Studio City, CA - Gangadin Indian Cuisine - Less than attentive service, Indian chicken soup is more Greek.  The food is much better than the service and is very reasonable.

Santa Monica, CA - P. F. Changs China Bistro.  They are all over and, surprisingly enough for a chain, they are quite good. The food is hot, tasty and served quickly. Worth a visit.

Glendale, CA - FRESCO ristorante is a delightful locale for a pleasant, not inexpensive lunch.  The specials are just that. Drinks, ample and the ambience is muted with very attentive service. Steaks are a bit malnourished - but then, they are not special.

Colorado Springs, CO - Armadillo  This chain offers an interesting and eclectic menu.  Almost like a pseudo Tex-Mex.

Colorado Springs, CO - Chicago - a microbrewery with salads and burgers.  Looks like it should be called the Gold Rush Tavern

Colorado Springs, CO - Zio's - This very huge facility offers Italian food for the masses. Nothing outstanding - just put the meat on the ribs

Colorado Springs, CO - Outback Steakhouse - As always an outstanding chain. Their food is consistently good. Steaks are prepared as you like them.

Glendale, CA - Conrad's - a nice, quiet coffee shop with a more 'down-home' menu than CoCo's. Reasonable.

Los Angeles, CA - The Milky Way - It was Purim and Leah (Steven Spielberg's mom) wasn't there.  Our group had the restaurant to ourselves. A nice new menu with nouveau, dairy kosher Cal-Mex cuisine.

Blintz', potato latkes, matzo ball soup (in season) are available. Good and fresh.

Brentwood, CA  - Toscana is a very busy place on a late Saturday night. Lots of noise, a good menu and the place to go for people watching. The food is quite tasty and well prepared and presented.

Newport Beach. CA - Le Bistro at the Lido Marina Village. Quite a treat to enjoy the warm sun, looking at the Newport Bay and enjoying their very excellent, reasonably priced salads.

Glendale, CA - Thai in L.A.  Just another Thai restaurant. Nothing really notable.  Maybe it should return to LA because it is not a standout in the Glendale restaurant scene.

Pasadena, CA - Sorriso is an Italian Trattoria. We were pleasantly surprised at the excellent quality and great service. Even though it was quite crowded we were able to have good dinner conversation.

Glendale, CA - Cinnabar (revisited)  Just can't keep away. There is a new chef and the food is coming back. The lamb shank was probably the best ever and the bouillabaisse is spiced to YOUR liking, not the chef's. If Flame is there - ask HER is there is anything the kitchen or pastry chef is holding back. Conversation is difficult when they are busy as the acoustics make for lots of noise. Try the Cinnabar Negroni.

Glendale, CA - DAMON'S Steak House has been in the area since 1937 and in the present location since 1980. The prime rib comes in three sizes - big, huge and humungous and, would you believe, the meat is cooked YOUR way. The dinner salad is enough for three. The meatball soup is loaded with vegetables and you don't have to look for the meatballs. There is a full menu, besides.

King City, CA - Chef Rick's in Orcutt, about a mile west of the 101 turnoff to Orcutt.  New Orleans type food, great wine list, in a strip shopping center next to a Lucky's but worth the stop. From: Henry Leavitt

Palomino is a Seattle based chain with locations in Westwood, Palm Desert, La Jolla, San Francisco, etc. Spanish Mediterranean. The food is wonderful and the service and attention are top notch. Try the Paella and the desserts. Casual but professional attire. Thanks to David Alpern

Los Angeles, CA - Carousel The original on Hollywood Blvd. Mediterranean style food. Quite reasonable. Local's favorite. Not quite the ambiance of the Glendale location.

Dana Point, CA Bonjour cafe and Bistro - very authentic

French bistro, casual with wonderful baguettes

Balboa Island (Newport Beach), CA - Wilma's for breakfast - coffee shopish but great omelet's and very fresh Peet's Coffee.  Thanks to Lynn Greenwald

Los Angeles, CA - Farfalla in the Los Feliz area. Great Italian place, sumptuous pastas and pizzas, a very charming atmosphere. Good food and service - even at lunch.

Studio City, CA - Wine Bistro - A revisit. A nice Italian place with sarcastic waiters. You'd thing you were in New York. The salmon - a bit dry; the NY Strip very good with the garlic butter; the lamb shank with penne pasta looked sumptuous. The scallops good. Escargot and the French onion soup were tasty treats. No room for dessert. Drinks were quite ample.

Glendale, CA - Zono Sushi provides an excellent selection of sushi, sashimi and other Japanese delicacies.  Service is very prompt and courteous.

Irvine, CA - JACKshrimp (actually a small chain, I understand) offers some great Creole cookin' including Jambalaya and other victuals you would find in the South. Service was as fast as fast food, but I suggest you may want to give it a try.

Glendale, CA - Café Bahar is a brand new restaurant. Small, intimate and you can sit outside and watch the traffic. Bring a latte' from next door. Their lamb chops for $10 were spectacular. They bill themselves as 'Specializing in Gourmet Mediterranean Healthy Food'. Certainly worth a try.

North Hollywood, CA - BARSAC Brasserie - a hidden treasure for 11 years. Good ambience (a little noisy) great service. Waiters at your beck & call without hovering. Swordfish special was really that. Grilled to perfection, not dry and flaky but moist and flavorful. The T-Bone was done right the first time.

Hollywood, CA - The Hollywood Canteen - revisited. The owner of four years said, "if you complain because your food isn't the way you want, and the server is surly, don't come back." And we won't!

Palm Desert, CA - La Paon Restaurant - This is always a treat. The owner is there (needs to lighten up) to greet you and the service staff has had years to perfect the food handling. A rather dressy place - what you would expect from the area affluence. The food. The veal was like butter and the seafood crepes were quite superior. Ice cream was 'home-made'. Worth the trip.

Palm Desert, CA - Bananaz Grill and Bar. The kind of place the local, younger set hangs out. The food was OK but we'll try some other place the next time around.

Palm Springs, CA - LePeep Grill. Part of a small chain that is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch only. They grind their own coffee. Interesting ambiance and good service. It is difficult to mess up ham & eggs.

Glendale, CA - JAX Bar & Grill - the food is passable but the Jazz is memorable. A trip to the past.

Santa Monica, CA - Jake & Annie's - a very reasonable and eclectic restaurant. Food was cooked properly (correctly) and service was superior.

Burbank, CA (and other locales) - The Elephant Bar - Cute servers, OK drinks and inexpensive 'food'.

Hollywood, CA - The Pig'n Whistle is a very old restaurant that is part of the Hollywood renaissance. Very trendy, great food and service and ample drinks. If you want to eat in bed, you can! Beds are provided. Worth the visit. To avoid the traffic (Hollywood on a Saturday) try taking the Metro. The Hollywood Highland station is just two short blocks away. A great adventure.

Culver City, CA - Café Roberto. Northern Italian Cuisine. A local family place with OK prices (which include a live crooner), A one-pound chunk of salmon that was good the second day. The veal (scaloppini with mushrooms - not funghi) was a bit tough from overcooking. The white wine helped. The waiter said there were no anchovies for the Caesar (heavens what would they had done if someone wanted them on their pizza), however the owner found some magnificent ones and they were pro bono. He asked us to come back when he was fully staffed. Oh, the service left a lot to be desired.

Beverly Hills, CA (near Century City ) Thai Bamboo - the food was excellent, a good value. Service a bit poor. Four hours later the opinion on the food just wasn't the same.

Albany, Oregon - Sizzler.  Prime Rib at Sizzler?  Yes, a nice cut and well cooked too. With fresh steamed broccoli and crisp fresh salad from the salad bar.  The Salmon was good too - not overcooked! What a surprise!

Portland, Oregon - Buffalo Gap.  Looks like a regular sports bar, but menu is creative.  One of the best hot bacon dressings on spinach salad I have had. Big and sloppy patty melt.

Madras, Oregon - Brown Bear Inn. This is one of a small chain of coffee shops in Oregon and N. California that has only been around since 1995.  Large portions of standard fare.  A good choice for a stop on a road trip.

LaPine, Oregon - LaPine Inn Restaurant.  Just south of Bend.  Try to stop in Bend if you can - food here is okay, but only if you have to.

Ashland, Oregon - Plaza Café.  So many good restaurants in this town of 20,000 people.  The food here was fresh, well cooked and the menu on the "healthy" side. 

Los Angeles, CA - Carlitos Gardel Argentinean with an Italian Flair. A very pleasant surprise. Excellent food, good service. Even on a Saturday night when they were quite busy there was no rush as the four of us enjoyed our conversation and the meal for three hours. The salads are gargantuan. Order one and share for two. Three of us had the medallions of beef. Each requested differently - medium, medium to rare and bleu. As busy as they were, each came cooked as ordered. The white chocolate dessert is the best.

Sherman Oaks, CA - Spazio Jazz Club and Restaurant  ( www.spazio.la ) What a find! The music is the best, the menu quite eclectic, atmosphere, service and all is a pleasant surprise when you consider the location. You can dine al fresco as well. Their prices are surprisingly low considering the value and the entertainment.

Las Vegas, Nevada - The Peppermill -The food is a little more expensive than the typical coffee shop.  But the portions are huge, the food is great, the atmosphere is the best you will find in the coffee shop category...especially in the bar, and yes, they do serve cocktails.  Even if it is late and you are just up for a dessert, they have a good offering.  They serve from the breakfast menu all day... and night, if you have that craving                                      From Jeff Bassler

Montrose, (Glendale) CA - Oceanview Bar & Grill. Actually the only ocean you see is the street - or you need to have a super imagination. But the entrees are great. Pasta, fish, veal, and of course beef (cooked right the FIRST time). The steak salad is an excellent choice as is the white fish. There is entertainment. Hit the Montrose Farmer's market on Thursday evening and then head over to this B&G.

Hollywood, CA - Gaucho Grill (Multiple Locations) - This Argentinean restaurant has a delightful menu, good steaks and salads. The prices are reasonable and the service is excellent. I am given to understand that this store on Sunset was the first.

Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz) Vida is quite a unique place - owned by Fred (Fred 62). On Wednesday nights they have a price fixe menu. Call ahead to see if you want to try what Fred has selected. They have a private room where you can sit on the floor - who knows could be fun. Kind of pricey on Wednesday. Service is excellent.

North Hollywood, CA - Athen's Royal Garden Restaurant - Excellent Mediterranean food, reasonably priced. The owner has been in the business for years. Help him make this place a success so that he can provide better service. The ambiance is totally different. The diners are sort of in a birdcage and there are bid cages filled with songbirds to serenade.

Los Angeles, CA - El Cholo on Western. This oldtime Mexican restaurant is just that. I would think that it is trading on a past reputation.

Los Angeles, CA area - THAI DISHES is a small chain of four restaurants, each serving freshly made reliable Thai dishes at very reasonable prices. LA, Pasadena, El Segundo & Santa Monica. Open 7 for L & D

Beverly Hills, CA - Avalon Hotel - Pricey, Trendy, mediocrity sort of sums it up. Great for voyeurs. Food - yuck and small portions, too.

Beverly Hills, CA - Manhattan Wonton Company - A very trendy Chinese restaurant and bar. Food is quite good as is service. It is not pricey. Quiet.

Hollywood, CA - Musso & Frank - been here for years. Food is quite good. Place is old - refurbishing in line with the Hollywood redevelopment would be appreciated. A bit pricey but they do offer some down-home type dishes.

Los Angeles, CA - Yang Chow in the heart of China Town. Fresh tasty food. Three entrees can feed 4 easily. Plan to spend some time just looking around at the stores and shops in the area. Good for the pocketbook.

Glendale, CA - Rusty Pelican - Fridays nights they have 2AZZ1 body and soul - jazz. Mary and Craig Durst. Great entertainment. No minimum, no cover. Some very reasonably priced appetizers.

Los Angeles Area, CA - (also in Florida) Jerry's Deli - a bedsheet menu full of good treats. Nice place to meet and eat. Reasonable. Interesting story about the ownership. It went public - wasn't treated well and the owners took it private. The owner's wife is the most downloaded pix on the Internet.

Burbank, CA - Mi Piace - Excellent and reasonable Italian food. Chicken, Veal and Pesce. Ah, so good. Worth a visit. Also in Old Pasadena and Calabasas.

Marina del Rey, CA - Tony P's Dockside Grill.  Sitting at dockside, enjoying the summer breeze and watching all those boats sitting at anchor gives you an appetite to enjoy the food and service offered by Tony P's. Lunch menu is full of delectable treats and is worth the drive from whereever. Moderate prices.

Westminster, CA - Riviera Restaurant at the Fireside, late of South Coast Plaza. For many years Riviera was hidden away on the lower level of South Coast Plaza. It has been resurrected at the Fireside along with the 50's décor (red banquettes). Even though it is hidden away they serve reasonably priced, more than passable food - fish, lamb, veal and beef. If you can stay away from the starters and the desserts the check will be affordable. Looking for flambe's? This is the place!

 Venice, CA - Lilly's French Café & Bar. Atypical French Restaurant. Small portions and not very big prices. The Mussels were so numerous they couldn't be eaten - even with help from the party. The entrecote was OK the second time. The French onion soup was barely passable. The endive salad was wondrous. The soup special was very French. Two spoonsful and it was gone. Good and reasonably priced house wines.

Los Angeles, CA - Tangier (in Los Feliz) Limited menu, reasonable prices. By the time you read this they will be serving lunch and Sunday Brunch as well. Sunday nights, in the back room, there are classic movies. Full bar - with many attractive distractions.

Costa Mesa, CA - The Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza . The former Riviera has been upgraded. Probably the place to see and be seen. (Kevin Costner may show up.) The swordfish needed a saw, but couldn't find anyone from Home Depot to get me one. Pauline had lamb and it was very good.

Carlsbad, CA - The Four Season's. Quite a surprise. Usually hotel restaurants don't cut it. The rare Ahi was almost the size of a filet mignon. Midrange of hotel prices

Los Angeles (Los Feliz) CA - Chi Dynasty  - Chinese, old and resting on laurels. Sizzling rice soup didn't sizzle. 

W. Hollywood Le Dome, - Joining those who were power-lunching or just "doing lunch" was very pleasant.  They have an excellent grilled vegetable salad with chicken, but their Cobb salad looked a little sparse - though apparently was tasty.  And to top off a delightful experience, prices were pretty average!

Los Angeles, CA - CIAO Trattoria - If you can get past the poor service, the incorrectly prepared meals, it isn't really bad. Very little in the way of accommodations for ADA.

San Diego, CA - LaVache French Casual Bistro. A very nice quiet French Bistro. Prompt service and tasty food.

  Los Angeles, CA - Porterhouse Bistro - One item on the menu. Porterhouse. 22 oz. Cooked right the first time. There are three other daily entrees. Fish. Lamb and Pasta/Sea Food. Sides and soup/salad are extra. Good food, good ambience, good service. An order of fry's is sufficient for the whole table.

Long Beach, CA - King's Fish House - If you like fish - and seafood - this is the place. It is related to 555 East in Long Beach, Ocean Ave. Seafood & I Cugini in Santa Monica, Water Grill in downtown LA and Clearwater Seafood in Pasadena. Kings has stores in Calabasas, Orange & Laguna Hills. Their prices are comfortable and they guarantee you will like it. The service is excellent. BTW - when I was growing up Oysters were not available in months that contained no 'R's. Kings had some scrumptious oysters in June. Ask for the sampler plate. Maybe two of them.

Malibu, CA - Paradise Cove - the founder of Gladstone's 4 Fish is the proprietor here. While waiting for seating, you can take a delightful walk on the beach. They may run out of certain fresh seafood on the weekends and holidays. I had a cold seafood sampler. It was excellent but they ran out of OYSTERS

Glendale, CA - Maurizio's Italian Kitchen & Bar. Also weekend JAZZ! We were warned away but went anyhow. It was well worth it. I like my meat RARE (Bleu) and we ordered the prime rib special. The server came back and said that the meat wouldn't be to my liking and instead brought a 12oz Filet Mignon that was absolutely perfect. We'll be going back.

 San Diego, CA - Croce's in the Gas lamp district. Yes Jim Croce's widow operates it. Good food, good service and (if you get your timing right, Jazz every night. Only problem is that it is the only one.

San Diego, CA - The Bristol House across from the Greyhound Station is a new small well-appointed hotel. Try it when you are visiting San Diego. A real treat. This new chain operated three other boutique hotels, San Francisco, Palo Alto and a second in San Diego.

Glendale, CA - Chaiyo on Brand is an excellent place for Thai food. Tasty, reasonable and delectable. The service is good and they don't mind packaging your take home.

All Over - Outback Steakhouses - if you are a fan of Crocodile Dundee, this is the place to go. Steaks, Chicken, Fish, Lamb, Pork but NO BEEF RIBS or Kangaroo meat. Cute, long wait but much ado about nothing.

Van Nuys, CA - Sherman Room - Really old restaurant. Just starting taking credit cards three years ago. No one under 21 allowed. Your basic old-fashioned steak house. Two steaks (good sized sirloins) salad, potato and garlic bread is under $20; don't look for veggies on your plate. 1 thumb up for Barry and 1 down for Pauline.

 Los Angeles, CA - All roads lead to Rome! We didn't take advantage of their well-advertised FREE dinner for 4. Twice a double truck in the Times and the offer was good for six days. We will check it out. Just can't believe it. The lines went for blocks. They did charge for beverages. Wow!  But we did make it there for dinner after the rush. Service and food were excellent and reasonably priced - can you imagine that only 50% of the people who had a free dinner didn't even leave a tip.

Bel-Air, CA - Bel-Air Bar & Grill  - an upscale one at that. Menu is quite comprehensive, Fish, Seafood, Pork, Lamb, Steaks and excellent soups and salads. Appetizers are quite delectable as well. Good wine list and competent service. Worth a repeat. Good people watching. Chick Hearn was there.

Newhall, CA - China Palace - obviously Chinese. Cheap, tasteless (unless you are really into corn starch). For $4 more you can go into the China Inn in Glendale. It was a hunger driven expedient as the local Italian restaurant had only one entrée' that didn't have wheat flour.

Los Angeles, CA - La Original Adelita - Great if you have to hang around Superior Court On Hill St. Cheap daily specials. Chicken fajita has cut up celery to make it crunchy - if you like crunchy fajitas. It did have an "A" from the County Health Department

Newport Beach, CA - Tommy Bahama's Tropical Café. Great ambiance, good service, food mediocre. Very rich chicken dish and a skimpy shrimp with pasta. Been there, done that.

Glendale, CA - Gauchos Village - Brazilian. A small, intimate Churrascaria. Not popular yet. The meats served from the skewer were quite dry. Overcooked, as there isn't sufficient turnover to use less warmed meat. Also I guess they realize that the food isn't as good as it could be so they tack on a 15% tip when there are only two dining/

Burbank, CA - PICANHA Brazilian Bar & Grill. The restaurant was packed the meats were far superior the Glendale Gauchos Village. A much better experience. A larger selection of meats. A bit noisy, but who cares!

Los Angeles, CA - Madame Matisse - An extremely inexpensive continental restaurant. Bring your own wine. Inside or outside. A really nice find.

Los Angeles, CA - Carlitos Gardel - this Argentinean Restaurant has an excellent menu and always some very tasty specials that re off menu. Make certain you have a reservation. Prices are reasonable.

Del Mar, CA - Jakes lunch or dinner right on the beach. Really lively place. Seafood chowder quite tasty and thick. Salmon was well prepared and well presented. Calamari steak sandwich was worth the price/

Del Mar, CA - En Fuego Cantina & Grill.  Quite a lively place. Tasty Mexican food. Ample drinks. Don't fill up on the chips!

Palm Springs, CA - Thai Smile Restaurant reasonably priced Thai food. Good service. Worth a visit.

  Chain - Tony Roma's Famous for Ribs - As I enjoyed my 'bountiful beef ribs' I thought of the number of Tony Roma's I have been to (numerous) and I reflected on how they have the consistency down to a science. Maybe that is why they are always busy. The only thing that is inconsistent is the attitude of the servers. Most are great and some are OK. Never a bad rib!

Glendale, CA - Flames Restaurant. Just a month old. Excellent Middle Eastern food (shish kabobs) and other delights. Lots of tasty appetizers. Lunch and dinner only. Entertainment and an upstairs sports bar. Worth trying.

 Hollywood, CA - Dresden Restaurant - This 60-year-old restaurant has survived its heyday. Food was mediocre. Escargot seemed to have been frozen and thawed. Tasteless. The garlic bread covers up for lack of flavor. Sort of lackluster. There us a lounge but the local street denizens take it over and the restaurant diners just can't get it. Next time we'll eat at one of the other nearby restaurants and wander in for the music.

 Burbank, CA - Smoke House Restaurant another old restaurant since 1946. So enjoy if you are a nostalgia buff. Food reasonable and tasty.

 Costa Mesa, CA - (and other locations) INKA Grill Peruvian Cuisine a pleasant treat when one wants to sample the cuisine of the world. The food is quite flavorful, inexpensive and worth trying.

 Santa Monica, CA --- Ji Raffe -- French influence.  Reasonable prices.  Gourmet food. Fresh and tasty.  Service is rather slow and no frills.  I like it. Lunch weekdays only. Dinner only on weekends. Thanks to Marjorie Fierstadt

 Venice, CA  -- Lily's French Cafe.  Great food.   Very French.  The chicken livers pate is divine, with aspic and all the trimmings.  Great bread and plenty of it.  Reasonable prices.  Has nice patio or inside. Lunch and dinner.  Service is a little slow but not bad.  Thanks to Marjorie Fierstadt

 Hollywood, CA - Greenblatt's Deli since 1926. Good deli sandwiches (triple decker) and quasi Jewish food is quite tasty and voluminous - a gourmands treat

 West Hollywood, CA - Mustache is a very eclectic restaurant. It caters to many tastes. I liked it because the beef tar tare was properly 'cooked' (prepared). The BBQ duck salad was excellent and the lunch rack of lamb was only $16/ Certainly worth a visit.

 North Hollywood, CA - Steak Joynt. Owned by the same people as the Oyster House. They have specials and the night we were there they had a double rack of lamb. Quite tasty. Interesting ambience, Try it. 

Glendale, CA - Maurizio's what an absolute surprise and good fortune for those who are gluten intolerant and can't eat wheat, especially if they crave a pizza. Maurizio's is your place. They offer gluten free food. You just have to ask for it. How about some gluten free pasta? Just ask!

 Scottsdale, AZ - El Chorro Lodge This 60 year old restaurant in a secluded neighborhood offers excellent food, drinks, service and ambience. The outdoor setting with a cooler night breeze was just perfect for conversation and enjoyment. The baby back ribs and the filets were done perfectly.  Don't forget to have the 'sticky buns'. We asked nicely and the server brought each of us a container to take home.

 Los Angeles, CA - (Los Feliz) il Capriccio on Vermont. A great find. Storyline. First to Cyranno's in West Hollywood. Very limited menus, we were the only ones there and the place smelled like rotting fish. OK we said. Off to 'Rome' that trendy new restaurant that opened this summer giving away free food for a week. Lines around the building. Double trucks (2X) in the LA Times. Our guess about $250,000 in marketing. Out of business. We headed to Los Feliz knowing that there were some restaurants we hadn't tried. Il Capriccio was it. This was a home run. Not a strike out. The food was excellent. Service good nice ambience and one of the owners came and shared local trivia with us. We will be back! It is a 'hole in the wall' worth becoming a standard.

 Montrose, CA - CIBO! Italian restaurant. Heading for a post-lunch meeting with not a lot of time, CIBO! Was there. So we tried it. Another good find for non-chain Italian cuisine. Hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches, pizzas, pastas salads and lots of great entrees. Next time you are in Montrose, stop in and enjoy.

 Glendale, CA - Harvest Inn a more elegant Chinese restaurant. For those whose palate can discern the subtleness of ancient and far-away spices, this is the place to go. Be prepared, however, to have your food at the chef's whim, not yours.

 Glendale, CA - Café MUM is about three months old. Owned by a Japanese Investors (they have several other places but all are different and not a chain). French/Italian. Formerly a Louise's Trattoria. They have worked around the pasta and pizza by adding appetizers and new entrees. Minestrone OK. French Onion soup needs work. The veal shank was good and the Filet was excellent. The server said that the chef would love me. He has a hard time cooking steaks more than rare. Best cheese cake in ages. Made on premises and only $4.50. Ask about the $40 special. 2 soups, 2 salads, 2 entrees and one dessert--- oh, and TWO tickets to the MANN cinema next door. Well worth it!

 South Pasadena, CA - Firefly Bistro - This was quite a find. Delicious California cuisine and off the beaten path. A limited menu. I had delicious Paella. Also at the table was a Moroccan Chicken, a tempting rack of lamb. They have duck breast, a leg of lamb and other temptibles. Only B & W.

 Santa Monica, CA - (also in Beverly Hills) Provence Café is a very quaint French Country Café. Ze prepaire and cook ze food properlaie. Their prix fixe is $20. Bring your own wine. No corkage fee. Their entrecote was tres magnifique, Try zaire lamb shops.  Dinner for four about $25 pp.   http://www.provencecafe.info/provencecafe/index.html

 Hollywood, CA - Trastevere Ristorante Italiano (in the new Kodak Centre). A surprising find. Pizza, Pasta, Pesce and more. Entrees from $10 to 25. Tasty, good service and --- you never know who may show up!

 Los Angeles, CA - Tesoro Trattoria. A revisit - new menu, service good, kitchen slow. Good veal dishes, salads and antipasti. Worth a try. Free shuttle to the music center and free parking with validation and a theater ticket stub.

 Glendale, CA - Far Niente - A revisit. Better than ever. Lobster Bisque was itself worth coming back for. Swordfish was superb as well as the very tender Calamari steaks. Expensive but well worth it. A good choice for Italian. With a drink lunch was about $40 a perperson.

 Costa Mesa, CA - Arnie's Deli, It has been a long time since we have been there. The menus no longer match Jerry's nor Canter's. At least two of us were not comfortable after eating. The lack of food quality is not made up by the apologetic entreaties of the server.

 Rosemead, CA - La Vie (a recommendation of Moses Katz). This French restaurant was packed on Xmas eve. The food was excellent as was the service. And no rush to get us out the door. Only open for dinner. The rabbit wasn't hoping but, I understand, was well prepared and delicious. They have sweetbreads on the menu in a heavy cream sauce. The rack of lamb looked quite tasty. The filet was prepared properly and included a tempting sauce with sautéed mushrooms. The dinner included soup and salad. Even with a bottle of wine it was about $27 a person.

 Los Angeles, CA - FU's Palace - Mandarin Szechwan if there are enough of you, try the Mandarin Dinner for 6 - 7 includes your choice of 12 selections. As there were 6 eating we had the 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 12 (when you go there you can check it out) along with huge BBQ Ribs, egg rolls, foil wrap chicken and shrimp and sizzling rice soup. With tip about $18 pp.