AMBER EATS LA

Township

2012-02-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

Township Kitchen Americana and Saloon is a rustic-chic watering hole that celebrates all-American food and drinks. With American classics like chili cheese fries, Chicago style hotdogs and fried chicken you're bound to find something comforting and delicious. With a long list of American craft beers, rye whiskeys and bourbon you can also swing by Township for an old-timey beverage. We ate the chicken with creamed corn and the Charleston shrimp and grits.

Township Kitchen Americana and Saloon

6612 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90028

www.townshipsaloon.com

Pann's

2012-01-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

According to my friend Ryan, Pann's is famous. Now, I've lived in LA my entire life and have never heard of this place but that said...it should be famous, or "more" famous rather. With an old skool vibe and a menu similar to Roscoe's, Pann's is a delight. On our way to the airport we stopped through here to grab some breakfast for dinner. Their fried chicken is awesome and pie is to die for. Check it out!

Pann's

6710 LaTijera Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90045

www.panns.com

Fraiche

2012-01-19T17:26:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how often, but every once in a while Culver City has an art walk...and that's what brought us over to the westside this night. It's not often that we venture west of La Cienega but this was worth it! After roaming through galleries we worked up an appetite and stumbled into this adorable spot. This fun and classy restaurant covered in chalkboard walls has two locations, both on the westside of course. We're hoping they'll bring one closer to us eastsiders!

We ate the oysters, clearly...steak frites, mushroom risotto, and I think that first photo is of some papardelle bolognese. We loved it all.

...and no, Vivian and I did not dress alike on purpose.

Fraiche

9411 Culver Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90232

(310) 839-6800

and

312 Wilshire Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 451-7482

www.fraicherestaurantla.com

Bodega Wine Bar

2011-11-30T23:55:00.000-08:00

Lookin for a place to grab a drink that has decent bar food? Check this place out. Bodega is a wine bar, perfect for an after work happy hour or a late night drinks date. Not for the wine aficionado, it's just a casual place made for a relaxing, fun time. The wine list is split up by price and type to make selection easy. When we were there we had this pepperoni & mushroom pizza they were playing House Party on the tv.

Bodega

290 Sunset Boulevard (@ Vine)
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.464.3400

www.bodegawinebar.com

India Sweets and Spices

2011-11-16T21:25:00.001-08:00

So I wouldn't so much call this place a restaurant as it's more of a cafeteria/grocery store. Definitely a more non-traditional place for Andy and I to get Sunday brunch, but why not!?

I honestly couldn't tell you what we ate but, whatever it was, it was delicious. Maybe one of you Indian readers our there could help me identify what I ate!!

My favorite thing about this place was the fact that I could see all the food just like in a cafeteria so I felt comfortable experimenting. I love Indian food but usually I stick to what i know: chicken tikka masala, pulao rice, garlic naan... This place got me to try new and exciting flavors!

India Sweets and Spices

3126 Los Feliz Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90039

www.indiasweetsandspices.us

The Mercantile

2011-11-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

This salad was billiant. Burrata, homemade croutons, grilled peaches...done. Awesome.

The Mercantile is a sweet spot in LA that serves lunch, dinner and a killer weekend brunch. I think this salad was a special menu item that may no longer be available but none the less you should still check this spot out. I've had their brunch croquet madam and it's just rediculous. Would be a great date spot too!

The Mercantile

6600 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 962-8202

www.themercantilela.com

Aroma

2011-08-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

A valley hot spot for lunch is Aroma. If you live in the valley, you've been to Aroma. If you don't and you haven't, you must. Pretty sure it's the sister restaurant to my fave The Alcove in Los Feliz. Similar menu and feel but not quite the same. I had their special summer salad and it was to die for. Grilled peaches, chicken, cashews, goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. To diiiie for.

Aroma

4360 Tujunga ave.

Studio City, California 91604

www.aromacoffeeandtea.com

Hukleberry

2011-08-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of the cutest places in Santa Monica. This little bakery and cafe has some of the best looking pastries I've ever seen. I was salivating...salivation station. The sandwich was one of the best ever too. A Marinated peppers & burrata sandwich with prosciutto. Burrata is everywhere right now, and for a reason. If you have yet to try it, do yourself a favor and get on it! It's so soft and melty, ahhh. Anyway, I will be going back to this place. I can't wait to try their lemon pistachio cake!

Huckleberry

1014 Wilshire Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90404

www.hukleberrycafe.com

Little Dom's Deli

2011-08-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

Most people familiar with Little Dom's know about it's awesome dinner menu and Monday night supper (a fixed 3 course dinner for $15 plus a bottle of wine for only $12!) but they aren't familiar with the little room next door: Little Dom's Deli. This is a great place to pop in and pick up a freshly made deli sandwich and side dish. The sandwiches we got were fabulous. Hearty and delicious. We weren't too keen on the potato salad, but it won't deter us from going back and trying another salad! They also have fresh margherita pizzas with different toppings, and a ton of different pastries for those looking for a quick morning bite.

Little Dom's

2128 Hillhurst Ave.

Los Feliz, CA 90027

Hours:
Breakfast, Lunch all day, 8am - 3pm
Sunday-Thursday, 6pm - 11pm
Friday and Saturday, 6pm - 12am

OlivA Trattoria

2011-07-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

Family Night! We went out to dinner to our favorite little Italian restaurant nearby. They have the best tomato soup ever! This place is great for family outings or a romantic dinner for 2. Everything is pretty Italian, including the waiters. They're friendly, knowledgable and fast! That's what I look for in a restaurant. Good service! Check this place out!

Mom had the tomato soup

Dad had the salmon

Chyna had the lobster pasta special

I think I had the pappardelle special with sausage...I think..

(sorry about the bad photo!)

OlivA Trattoria

4449 Van Nuys Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

(818) 789-4490

www.olivarestaurant.com

Fig & Olive

2011-07-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

Words to describe Fig & Olive: cool, crisp, clean, fresh, airy, bright, light, relaxing. The high ceilings, white walls and an abundance of rosemary plants create an atmosphere unlike any other restaurant I've been to. I felt like I was on vacation. A small hustle and bustle and a 50 ft bar make it a place to have fun too. We went for brunch, but I'll definitely go back to try some other menu items.

FIG & OLIVE

8490 Melrose Pl

West Hollywood, CA 90069

(310) 360-9100

http://www.figandolive.com/locations-reservation/melrose-place/

Hostaria del Piccolo

2011-07-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

This place is adorable inside. Everything looks as if it's made with recycled driftwood. The walls, the tables, the ceilings... it's awesome. The food was good too. My friend Vanessa and I went there to grab lunch and ordered their two gluten free pizzas. They were super healthy, covered in veggies, but also delicious. We ate every crumb. I'd love to go back here to have dinner on their back patio. It looks relaxed and fun out there :)

Hostaria del Piccolo

606 Broadway Street

Santa Monica, CA 90401

www.hostariadelpiccolo.com

Best BBQ I've Ever Had!

2011-07-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

birthday party bus!

birthday boy

we ate too much!

I've never been to a restaurant where every thing I tried blew me away, until I went to Porky's. This is hands down the best BBQ I've ever had. My friend Brenden tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and decided he wanted to go back for his birthday and have all his friends try it too. There were 16 of us who shared a value platter which has pretty much everything on the menu...and then we ordered a few other things! Be warned, it was a lot of food and we had tons leftover. Everything from the dirty rice, to the greens, to the pulled pork was fantastic. I can't wait to go back!!!!

Porky's BBQ

362 W 6th St
San Pedro, CA 90731

(310) 521-9999

www.ribs123.com

Little Next Door

2011-05-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Croque Madame
(w/egg, sunny side up)

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

Spinach Omelet
Spinach, tomato confit, goat cheese and pesto

This charming restaurant serves breakfast and lunch in a small French bakery and coffee shoppe atmosphere with a beautiful front patio covered in green vines. It's dinner spot next door, Little Door, is easily one of the most romantic places in town and this spot is a close second. With real French waiters, you'll feel like you stepped into a little Parisian restaurant with delicious food that takes you straight to Paris.

Little Next Door

8164 West 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90048

http://www.thelittledoor.com/lndcontact.html

Simple Things

2011-05-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

banana cream pie

cherry pie

pork philly

quinoa & eggs

sausage benedict

veggie #2 sandwich

Thanksgiving sandwich and chicken salad

NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT! It's ADORBS, I wanna live in it. Everything from their yellow mugs, glass coffee cups and grey tufted seats to their food is perfect. Simple Things is a sandwich and pie shop in West Hollywood perfect for a long lunch with friends. 4 friends and I met here for lunch last week and had the best time. Everyone loved their meals and left happy! Definitely the best pie I've ever had in my life. TO DIE! :)

Simple Things

8310 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048

(323) 592-3390

www.simplethingsrestaurant.com

Brunch @ AOC

2011-05-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

The ladies who brunch

duck confit and wild mushroom hash with
poached eggs and aged balsamic

hangar steak and eggs - over artichoke hash
with black olive hollandaise

soft-scrambled eggs with fontina,
crème fraîche and chives

toasted brioche with gruyère, prosciutto,
frisée and egg

Better known as a place to go for fine wine and dinner, AOC is now serving up my favorite meal, BRUNCH! I couldn't believe how delicious this food was. The menu is divine, serving things like wood oven baked pancake with blueberries, pistachio and candied meyer lemon; and wood oven baked frittata with hook's cheddar, young broccoli and gremolata (no idea what that is). I can't wait to go back and try it all! Do yourself a favor and check this place out, and don't forget to order their grilled berry bread and butter!

AOC

8022 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 653-6359

www.aocwinebar.com

Monday Night Supper at Lou

2011-04-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

These pictures pretty much sum up our evening. I think we went out to celebrate something, but I can't remember what. It was a pretty memorable dinner though! I love prefixed menus. They force me to try things I wouldn't otherwise order. In this case, it was the pan-fried sole. It was in a delicious pea tendril broth that almost out-shined the fish! This hidden restaurant in a strip mall next to a laundromat has an extensive menu of wines by the glass and a weekly Monday night supper! Check it out.

Lou

724 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 962-6369

www.louonvine.com

Native Foods

2011-04-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Last week I met my parents and sister, Chyna, for lunch at Native Foods in Culver City. I think this place is great. It's a fun, funky place that serves solely vegan dishes inspired by foods from all around the globe. They have everything from sweet potato taquitos to Greek gyros to portobello and sausage burgers. We got their Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger, Spicy Meatball Pizza and Baja Surf Tacos. We all left happy and satisfied :) This is a order your food and take a number kind of place, so no need for reservations! It does get busy during lunch hour though, so be warned. Oh, and be sure to try their lavender lemonade. It was delish!

Native Foods

9343 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-3601

www.nativefoods.com

Recess

2011-03-06T12:23:00.001-08:00

For a quick lunch, check out Recess Eatery in Glendale. It's an adorable little place with a mini bakery of course to add to the cuteness! They have a great selection of sandwiches, wraps and salads. You can also B.Y.O.B and there's no corkage fee! I had the Pig Headed sandwich: prosciutto, arugula, fresh mozzarella, oil and vinegar. We also ordered the Benny's On Brand, basically eggs benedict, and an omelette.

Recess Eatery

1102 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91202-2504
(818) 507-0592

www.recesseatery.com

Off Vine

2011-03-06T12:08:00.001-08:00

What better way to eat comfort food than in the comfort of a home. This converted old hollywood house built in 1908 is now an adorable restaurant that serves nothing but comfort food. I went there for weekend brunch but I can't wait to go back for dinner. For starters, they bring out homemade banana bread. I know, brilliant. For brunch I had their breakfast pasta: rotelli, turkey sausage, eggs, mushrooms, parsley, garlic, mozzarella & olive oil. Andy had the veggie breakfast burrito. We finished it off with warm, sticky cinnamon buns. Highly recommended!

Off Vine

6263 Leland Way
Los Angeles, CA 90028-8207
(323) 962-1900

www.offvine.com

21 Choices

2011-03-06T11:01:00.001-08:00

No, not 31 Flavors, 21 Choices...It's much better. It's like Coldstone where you can choose what you'd like to put in your ice cream, but it's frozen yogurt or sorbet and they have way more than 21 mix-ins! This cheerful little yogurt shop always has a line around the corner. The people who work there are patient and friendly, so don't feel like you can't take your time figuring out what to put in your creation. And if you don't like it, they'll make you a new one! My go-to creation is vanilla yogurt with cookie dough, circus animal crackers and cheesecake bites. But during that special time of year, GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME, you better believe they have those to put in there too! If the choices are too overwhelming for you, they have a menu that changes daily of suggested flavors created by previous customers.

21 Choices

85 West Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91105-1927
(626) 304-9521

LA Mill Coffee

2011-02-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

If you LOVE coffee, you MUST go here. LA Mill is one of my favorite places to tell friends to check out. They have a list of coffee from around the globe that can be prepared a number of ways...I don't know what they're called but they're all great!! Ask for the one that looks like "the science experiment." There's a Bunsen burner of sorts involved. Also, their food here is good. :)

LA Mill Coffee

1636 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

www.lamillcoffee.com

Desert Rose

2011-02-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

So, I know this place is a Mediterranean restaurant but I only went here for breakfast...so that's all I can discuss. My food was great. Just a chocolate croissant, a fruit plate and a latte but it was delish. I really liked the laid-back vibe in here. There's a large terrace for outdoor dining on a beautiful day, otherwise you can eat inside and catch the latest soccer game on tv. I'm definitely gonna go back for lunch one day. I wanna try the grilled vegetable panini! They also have a vegan menu :)

Desert Rose

1700 North Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027-4419

www.desertroserestaurant.com

Osteria La Buca

2011-01-26T22:10:00.000-08:00

If you're joansin for some delicious Italian cuisine, try this place; Osteria La Buca is a hip, brick lined restaurant in a pretty awkward part of Hollywood (I guess they call it Mid-Wilshire). Down Melrose at Wilton is this contemporary Italian restaurant with a bar to serve those waiting for a table and an upstairs room to seat larger parites. Be sure to make a reservation before going here, it tends to get booked up quick! With a menu filled with handmade pastas and pizzas, this place will fill your tummy and leave you satisfied. The staff is super nice too! Expect to pay at least $30 for a normal dinner...

Osteria La Buca
5210 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 462-1900
www.osterialabuca.com

Original Pantry

2010-12-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

This is one of the strangest eating experience I've ever had. This diner in Downtown LA feels like it hasn't changed since the day it opened. Accepting cash only, with no menus, only food options printed all over the walls and open 24 hours, this place is like stepping back in time, specifically 1924... a much simpler time. Coleslaw is served as a side with every order. YUM! We ordered ribs, the pulled pork sandwich, the roast beef dinner and a good ol' NY steak. Besides the strange sweaty man that spent the entire time we were there going in and out of the bathroom, this was a pretty cool place! I'd definitely go back.

The Original Pantry Cafe
877 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
www.pantrycafe.com

A Local Silverlake Spot

2010-12-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

On a casual day out I'd recommend checking out Local. A place known for their savory crepes and vegetarian friendly menu. Sit outside at picnic tables or order your food to go. Just like Forage, Local cooks with locally sourced, organic ingredients. During this visit we ordered the Ginger Orange Tempeh Vegetable & Brown Rice Bowl and Albondigas Ground Pork Burger. These were pretty decent, but the crepes come highly recommended. They're listed up on the chalkboard above the salad bar when you enter the restaurant. It's one of those where you have to order your food at the register then take a number and find yourself a seat. If you like that sort of thing, check out Local. Oh, I also want to try their Whole Wheat Cast Iron Banana Walnut Pancake!

Local
2943 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90266
http://www.silverlakelocal.com/

Larchmont Bungalow

2010-11-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

My best friend works down the street from this place, so we we're there a lot. Their menu is pretty extensive, so anything you're craving they'll most likely have. Larchmont Bungalow is a new restaurant in my favorite part of town. Their indoor/outdoor seating and delicious coffee are just some of the reasons to check this place out. It's got a vibe similar to Urth Cafe for those of you familiar with that place. Some of my favorite dishes there are their breakfast sandwich, fish tacos and their stir fry vegetables.

So check it out, and don't forget to order a slice of Princess Cake!

Larchmont Bungalow

107 N. Larchmont Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90004

www.larchmontbungalow.com

My Neighborhood Pizza Joint

2010-10-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

Robbie Mac's is my local corner pizza shop, and it is yummmmmmy! My friend Aynsley and I couldn't think of a place to eat one afternoon and thought pizza sounded good, and we were not let down. We also had those delicious garlic knots. I mean... you can't go wrong with garlic knots. Amazeballs. I guess this place is also good to go to for happy hour and to watch sports games. They have lots of TVs...ya know, if that's your thing.

Robbie Mac's

14502 Ventura Blvd

Sherman Oaks, CA 914033

Figaro

2010-10-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

mussels and french fries

ravioli

scallops

steak tartare

salmon

My sister said you can tell if a restaurant is French if they have tiny tables. Now I'm not sure that she's 100% right about that, but Figaro definitely fit the criteria. This adorable Parisian restaurant full of tables for 2 has a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner menu you must try. But honestly my favorite thing about this restaurant is the outdoor seating. I love me some people watching!

Figaro

1802 N. Vermont Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90027

323-622-1587

www.figarobistrot.com

Forage

2010-10-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

So I guess urban farming has been going on for decades, but now you can eat some of that locally grown goodness in the comfort of a restaurant! Forage, a new spot in Silverlake has recently created something called the Home Growers Circle. They encourage people who have gardens in their back yards to grow produce that the restaurant can buy and serve to it's customers. So genius, right!? You can read more about it on their website foragela.com. Forage, sadly closed Sundays and Mondays is quite a small space but the food is big in taste. The fresher the yummier. We had some flank steak, brocollini and quinoa and an avocado sandwich with jalapeno coleslaw on it. DELISH. Check it out.

Forage
3823 W. Sunset Blvd
Silverlake, CA 90026
www.foragela.com

Boa Steakhouse

2010-10-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Our waiter tossing our caesar salads

mmm.. caesar salads

chopped salad

blue cheese wedge

Chilean Sea Bass. The best fish I've ever eaten.

ahi tuna

macaroni & cheese and asparagus

NY Strip

petit filet

truffle cheese fries

petit filet with chimichurri

some sort of awesome dessert with berries

I think this had the word s'mores in it. Delish!

A few weeks ago I had a business dinner at Boa. I don't remember who chose the restaurant but, god-bless them. This place was incredible. I've dreamt about the fish I ate every day since. I can't wait to go back. I loved how they made a simple caesar salad into an event. They toss it table-side for you and with a little dash of tobasco, they've created the best caesar I've ever had. We all loved our meals, especially the dessert. I couldn't recommend this place more!

Boa

9200 Sunset Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 278-2050

http://www.boasteak.com/balboa/index.htm

Brazilian Cuisine

2010-10-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Bossa Nova is one of LA's best restaurants (in my opinion, this is my blog after-all!) They've got an extensive menu of fairly inexpensive, delicious brazilian food. They've got some of the best salads in town too. My friend Ashley and I went there the other night and decided to indulge a little. We got

Rafael's Pasta
Chopped salami, bacon, gouda cheese, sundried tomatoes, fresh garlic and red onions in a lightly spicy white cream sauce. and

Chicken Stroganoff
Flavorfull chicken breast tenders sauteed with mushrooms, onions and seasoning in a creamy homemade pink sauce (freshly cooked to order) with mashed potatoes.

Little known fact, Bossa Nova's Sunset location is in the Original Famous Amous Cookie factory building!

Bossa Nova

7181 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 436-7999

685 N. Robertson Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

(310) 657-5070

www.bossafood.com‎

The New K2

2010-10-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

I few weeks ago I told you all about Kokomo cafe and their new location in Silverlake, K2. Well, i checked it out and it's great. We got the Eggs Lafayette, Power Breakfast, Catfish & Eggs and some yummy coffee cake to top it off. K2 is a cool bunch spot in a fun part of town.

3916 W Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029

www.kokomo.com

Love At First Bite

2010-10-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Last night I met my new favorite hamburger: The Six Weeker from Stout in Hollywood. This perfect little burger comes adorned with camemebert, fig jam, mild jack, arugula and caramelized onions. It was sweet and savory all at once. Just perfect. Andy had the Stout Burger: blue cheese, emi gruyere, rosemary bacon, caramelized onion and horseradish creme. Loved it. Stout specializes in burgers and beer but if you're a vegetarian or don't eat red meat they've got options for you too :)

STOUT

1544 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028

www.stoutburgersandbeers.com/

Girls Night Out

2010-09-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

blue iceberg salad

beets & haricot verts salad

the best thing EVER. scallops on bellinis!

sides: parmesan truffle fries and mac & cheese

petit filet

another petit filet

fish

dessert

dessert all gone

s'mores donuts with graham cracker ice cream

I know I don't need to say much more than, you must eat here. This place is fabulous, a dinner favorite of mine. Their steaks come with the option of adding toppings and sauces: chimchurri, horseradish, bearnaise sauce, blue butter, peppercorn crusted, foie gras butter, lobster, shrimp, black truffles, crab and foie gras. Aside from the great menu, the decor of this place is awesome. STK is a great place for a group outing; the dining area is filled with booths made to seat 6 or more (I'm all about ambiance). We also saw Mario Lopez there! haha

STK

755 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069

(310) 659-3535

www.stkhouse.com

Brunchtime!

2010-09-13T22:34:00.001-07:00

There's not too much to say about this place other than Kokomo is also known as The Peach Pit on the new series 90210. It's a cute breakfast/lunch spot with a pretty interesting menu. They have something called a Red Eye: original buttermilk pancakes with a shot of espresso and chocolate chips. We didn't venture out of our comfort zone this trip, but we will next time! We just had a Blackened Catfish Sandwich and a Croissantwitch. They also have a new location in Silverlake I can't wait to check out.

Kokomo

7385 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90036

3916 W. Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029

http://www.kokomo.com/

CHEEEEEEESE!!!

2010-09-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

Say Cheese is an adorable little cheese shop in Silverlake that has a superb sandwich menu. We stopped in for a quick lunch, ordered The Griffith Park - a turkey sandwich, and The Ortolano - a vegetarian sandwich with sundried tomato pesto. Any sandwich with sundried tomato anything..I'm all about it! They also gave us a free coffee! A+

Say Cheese

2800 Hyperion Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027

www.saycheeselosangeles.com

Fancy Mexican Food

2010-09-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

A new spot just opened up in LA called Red O, so of course I had to try it out. It's Mexican cuisine by celebrity chef Rick Bayless. We had a nice little double date with our friends Justin and Melissa...sat on the patio at caught up (If you want to sit inside, be sure to have reservations!). The food here was pretty good! We all liked our meals, some more than others :) The restaurant is beautiful though. A great place to go with friends, relax and talk.

And sorry, Mexican food doesn't photograph very well. :)

Red O

8155 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046-7016
(323) 655-5009

www.redorestaurant.com

Buttery Scallops

2010-08-30T22:40:00.001-07:00

As I've gotten older I've learned to enjoy seafood. I'm still not 100% there, but I do love me some scallops! My mom used to make them in the oven, wrapped in bacon but that never did the trick...what she was missing? TONS OF BUTTER. The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel has changed my life. These scallops are so buttery you don't need a knife. And they're on a bed of risotto. OH MY GOD. yes. Just go and eat them...and you'll get it.

The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel

9641 Sunset Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 276-2251

http://www.beverlyhillshotel.com/

BLD

2010-08-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

BLD, short for Breakfast Lunch Dinner, is a great local spot to eat any time of day. My friend Vivian and I went there for a little dinner to catch up recently and split the mussels, a cheese plate and the burger. The best part was the cheese plate. We asked our waiter to help choose the two types of cheese to get and he did not let us down. One is now a favorite of mine -- St. André, a French cow's milk cheese that soft and salty and rich! We ate it with a little honey. AMAZEBALLS.

I've had breakfast here before too and I'd highly recommend their Fried Egg Breakfast Sandwich.

BLD

7450 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036-2701
(323) 930-9744

Franklin Eatin

2010-08-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

A place my friends all like to frequent is La Poubelle in Franklin Village. It's a fun place to just get a drink and hang out, but their food is also delicious. It's a French American bistro that has a great selection of crepes! Sorry I don't have a picture of one, just trust me that they're good. This visit I had the penne a la vodka with shrimp (to die for) and Andy had their fish du jour, salmon.

La Poubelle Bistro

5907 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 465-0807

lapoubellebistro.com/

Vegetarian Thai

2010-08-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Obviously I'm not vegetarian, but there's nothin wrong with eating a little tempeh now and again. Bulan Thai has delicious vegetarian meals that taste nothing short of amazing. If you're one of those who's scared of "fake" meat, there's no need to fear here. Bulan perfectly spices their food to taste just like the real thing (maybe even better!). My favorite Thai dish is Panang Curry Chicken, so that's what I get here... except with tempeh. DELICIOUS. There are two locations, take your pick. They're both great.

Bulan Thai

7168 Melrose Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90046

Bulan Thai

4114 Santa Monica Blvd

Silver Lake, CA 90029

www.bulanthai.com

SPANISH TURKEY!

2010-08-14T20:50:00.001-07:00

My girlfriends and I love to have lunch at Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City. It's a quaint little wine and cheese shop that serves the best salads and sandwiches in town! Their Spanish Turkey sandwich was even listed as one of the best in LA in LA Magazine! I could easily eat this thing once a week. When we opt for something lighter, we usually stick to either the Aged Gouda Salad or their Olive and Feta Salad. Go here! You will not be let down. (And ask them for extra pickles! Mmmm..)

Artisan Cheese Gallery

12023 Ventura Blvd

Studio City, CA 91604

(818) 505-0207

http://www.artisancheesegallery.com/

Food Truck

2010-08-14T20:40:00.001-07:00

YAY! I finally got to eat from a food truck at the Downtown Art Walk!

I had already eaten before we got there so I opted for just a snack. Pastrami Cheese Fries! WHAT! I know. They were pretty damn good too :)

The Place LA

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@ThePlaceLA

Movie Meal

2010-08-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

We all know The Arclight is the best place in town to see a movie. Well right before (or after) you see a movie at The Arclight Hollywood you should check out BoHo. Owner Adolfo Suaya hired Chef Andre Guerrero to set a great menu full of items for anytime of day. Their Sunday brunch is especially fantastic. With ingredients from the local farmer's market, this guy know how to whip up a good meal! And yes, that is a Ricotta Pancake with lemon curd and blueberries. Umm, yes please!

BoHo

6372 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028-7323
(323) 465-8500

bohorestaurant.com

A Popular Burger

2010-08-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of my food recommendations from Los Angeles Magazine, including this one. For a spectacular burger check out The Hungry Cat in Hollywood. This place actually has quite a selection of sea food dishes, but they're most well known for this burger. It's smothered in bacon, egg, avocado and blue cheese all on an english muffin and accompanied by delicious seasoned fries! I'm not the biggest blue cheese fan, so next time I'll go without, but otherwise this was a great burger.

The Hungry Cat

1535 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90028-7304
(323) 462-2155

www.thehungrycat.com

Sweet Satisfaction

2010-08-02T22:13:00.001-07:00

FROZEN YOGURT! It really is the best thing ever...especially now that you can customize your serving to your exact liking. My go-to yogurt mixture is vanilla yogurt with cookie dough, mochi, circus animal cookies and cinnamon toast crunch. And sometimes I add a few little cheesecake bites, don't judge! My local fro-yo spot is Menchie's in Sherman Oaks (but they're all over the city). It's colorful fun decor just adds to the high you get from all the sugar. YUM!

Menchie's

13369 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 788-9900
Sun - Thurs: 11am-11pm
Fri - Sat: 11am-Midnight

Hollywood Korean BBQ

2010-08-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite food in the world is Korean BBQ. I could eat my weight in kalbi beef (marinated short ribs) and kimchi. I usually get my Korean BBQ fix in Korea Town at any random little mini-mall restaurant, but sometimes I wanna be fancy! And that's when i go to Shin BBQ. This hip hollywood spot owned by Simon Shin has authentic homemade Korean BBQ that you can chose to either cook yourself or have the kitchen cook for you! Everything is fresh! NO MSG! Their kimchi fried rice is delicious, as well as their glass noodles, kalbi, and spicy pork. This is a place to seriously indulge!

Shin BBQ

1600 Wilcox Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-464-4100
www.shinbbq.com

FREE BREAD!!!

2010-07-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

Every time I eat at this adorable cafe, they give me at least one free loaf of bread to take home. This time...we got 3 bags of rolls!! I love it here! Vienna Cafe is a great spot for brunch/lunch. To start things off they bring you a bread basket with a yummy olive oil and cheese dip (YUM!). And the rest of their menu is pretty delicious. Their outdoor seating is prime for people watching on Melrose too ;)

1. Pan-Asian Shrimp Salad 2. Migas Scramble 3. Huevos Rancheros

Vienna Cafe

7356 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046

www.viennacafe.com

French Bistro

2010-07-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

This fancy little place is in the most random part of Downtown LA, the industrial district. Let me start by saying, if you want to eat here, get a reservation! Church & State is a popular spot so without a reservation you could wait up to an hour for a table! (we waited almost 45 min on a Thursday night) It's a loud, fun restaurant/bar with a great menu and a great playlist (the music was awesome..they played a little Black Keys) If you're down to be experimental with food, order the Roasted Bone Marrow. It was pretty weird but edible! We also got Steak Tartare, Tarte Flambée (that pizza lookin thing), and the Rack of Lamb. This would be a fun place to go with a large group.

Church & State

1850 Industrial St
Los Angeles, CA 90021

(213) 405-1434

www.churchandstatebistro.com

Midnight Snack

2010-07-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

After a wild night out with friends, the best way to wrap up the evening is with a midnight snack. We can reminisce on the evenings events and gorge ourselves with junk food. One of the best places in town to do this is at The 101 Coffee Shop in Hollywood. This retro coffee shop has everything you need at 2am. Recently some friends and I dug into these two desserts. The Waffle Brownie Sundae and a Banana Split. Believe it or not, I had never tried a banana split. I was not let down. Mmmmm....

101 Coffee Shop

6145 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028

www.the101coffeeshop.com

Authentic Ramen Noodles

2010-07-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with Little Tokyo, then I'm sure you're familiar with the long line of hungry people outside of Daikokuya. This place has always intrigued me. Who would wait in line for an hour for a meal? Well, apparently I will, and it was totally worth it. After checking out the Dennis Hopper art exhibit at the MOCA (which was very cool by the way), I ended up here. This tiny little restaurant knows what they're doing. Once seated, the food came within minutes. The starters, a side salad and a miso soup were divine. Then the pork fried rice came, incredible. Finally, a teriyaki pork rice bowl and the ramen noodle soup came out. I ate until it hurt. There still was so much left over to eat for dinner. Cheap food too! I can't wait to take friends. GO HERE!

Daikokuya

327 East 1st StreetLos Angeles, CA 90012(213) 626-1680‎

Tea Room

2010-07-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

While killing time in Little Tokyo I stumbled upon this new spot, Four Leaf. It's an adorable little Tea Shop that also serves Crepes! Such a cute idea. It was a little hot out for a tea and it wasn't quite lunch-time so I opted for their fresh squeezed juice. But don't think I didn't have to talk myself out of a crepe. Their delicious smell filled the room. This is definitely a place I'll have to check out again, especially to try a sweet nutella filled crepe. Great service by the way too!

Four Leaf

318A E. 2nd ST.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(877) 797-4532

PRINCESS CAKE!!!

2010-07-20T11:29:00.001-07:00

So you'll learn quickly that my favorite dessert is Princess Cake...I'm sure I'll be posting about it a lot. Whenever it's on a menu, I have to order a slice. If you're not familiar with Princess Cake, it's a white cake with marzipan on the outside, jam and pastry cream on the inside. My favorite place to grab a slice is at The Alcove in Los Feliz (the purple one above). Another cute place to find it is at Larchmont Bungalow (the green slice). Both delicious!

The Alcove

1929 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027-2711
(323) 644-0100

Larchmont Bungalow

107 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004

(323) 461-1528

www.larchmontbungalow.com

Gourmet Lunch

2010-07-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

If you're like me and love to have lunch outside on a patio, then this is the place for you! Joan's on Third is a gourmet marketplace and cafe with a New York feel. Aside from stopping through to grab lunch, this place is also great for picking up some fancy foods for picnics or dinner parties. These three sandwiches we tried were divine!

1. Goat Cheese and Fig Jam on Raisin Bread (probably one of the most amazing things I've ever tried) 2. Ham & Brie Sandwich 3. Short-Rib Grilled Cheese

Joan's on Third

8350 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048-4311
(323) 655-2285

www.joansonthird.com

Little Tokyo Brunch

2010-07-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

We went to this place with the intent to eat, and eat we did! The Lazy Ox Canteen is a fabulous little place in downtown's Little Tokyo district with huge flavor. Chef Josef Canteno draws on inspiration from modern and traditional French, Mexican, Japanese and Catalan cuisines. I've been there for dinner (I'll post about that soon) and for brunch. This brunch was out of this world. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

1. coffee 2. buttermilk biscuit with butter & strawberry jam 3. blueberry muffin with creme fraiche 4. procuitto sandwich 5. “migas” scrambled eggs with manchego cheese, chorizo & tortilla chips 6. pig ears (compliments of the chef) 7. braised beef paleron (pot roast) 8. lazy ox burger with carmody cheese

Lazy Ox Canteen

241 S San Pedro
Los Angeles, CA 90012

lazyoxcanteen.com

Old Skool Burger

2010-07-17T23:34:00.001-07:00

Once a month, Downtown LA opens up its commercial art galleries, museums, and non-profit arts venues for the Downtown Art Walk. My intent was the get down there, see some art, and eat from a food truck. While searching for wherever these food trucks may be, we found this place: D-Town Burger Bar. Our plans changed, and we decided to check this place out. It's a new diner with an old skool, Johnny Rocket's feel. The menu is limited, and so is the seating, but it hit the spot. I got a regular ol' cheeseburger, fries and a drink. They spice it up a bit by throwing in a few sweet potato fries.

D-Town Burger Bar

216 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Los Feliz Sushi

2010-07-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

This place has huge, hearty sushi rolls. Niko Niko Sushi in Los Feliz has great prices and is in a great part of town. My favortie part? Every item on the menu has a photo to accompany it, so you really know what you're about to order! I can't remember the exact rolls we ordered, but you can just check out the menu and compare photos!

Niko Niko Sushi

1755 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Restaurant and Gourmet Market

2010-07-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

Downtown LA is finally getting back on its feet. Bottega Louie has jumped on board with the re-vamping of the once scary part of town and has brought some glamor and culture to the area. Chyna and I stopped in today for a quick bite to eat. She said it was the prettiest restaurant she had ever been to in LA. Now maybe she was exaggerating but it sure is a gem. There are two sides to this place, a sit-down restaurant and a cafe/market/bakery. Both are fab! Today we opted for the quicker option.

Chyna ate a feta and walnut salad and a sweet tea

I had a saucisson sec sandwich (salami and butter on a baguette) and a sweet tea

Bottega Louie

700 South Grand Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90017

www.bottegalouie.com

An All-time Fave

2010-07-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

I've been eating at Il Tramezzino since middle school. My go-to was their Chicken Special Panini. I now have a new sandwich. GASP! Their Vegetarian #2 Panini has been added to my list of must-haves in LA. GO GET ONE NOW!

Il Tramezzino

13031 Ventura Boulevard

Studio City, CA 91604-2237

(818) 784-2244

iltram.net‎