monkey in la: Restaurant

Showing posts with label Restaurant. Show all posts

September 19, 2011

Notes From: Pattern Bar

Something about Sunday afternoon at Pattern Bar reminds me of an afternoon in SoHo. The historical details are spot on, the windows large and open to the street and you feel like time stands still for a bit. It's peaceful and lovely without the crowds of the aforementioned New York neighborhood. Better yet, you can toast to fashion in the form of a darn good drink with names like The McQueen (sweet and tart), The Chanel (appropriately spicy) and The Gaultier (made with fresh watermelon) and munch on bites of South American and European- inspired dishes. We lingered perhaps too long, but it was a nice break from the downtown Emmy spectacle. 

September 9, 2011

When you think of a classic pub, you might conjure up a Disneyfied version with the clink clink of pint glasses and gruff barkeepers tending with a barking frankness. But The Tommyfield, the newest project from BGW Design Studio, keeps the historical authenticity and a list of proper British ales while also serving up well-crafted sustainable fare in a gee-if-this-was-on-my-street-I'd-be-here-everyday environment. Think vintage metal light fixtures, sepia stools at the bar, and exposed brick.

September 6, 2011

Notes From: Eveleigh

Should you ever have an I-don't-know-about-you-Los-Angeles moment, may I make a suggestion? Pick a clear evening, cart yourself to Eveleigh, find a table in the open air of the back patio, order a fresh-from-the-farmers-market cocktail and the crushed peas with burrata. With a sip and a mouthful, you'll soon remember why you live here. Though, in truth, perhaps I'm not one to give advice. Save for Madrid, I don't know that I'd give up this busy city for any other metropolis.

October 28, 2009

Eye on Food: Lemonade

One of the best parts of living in California is the availability of fresh produce year-round and the plethora of places that serve it up. Lemonade, a local Los Angeles eatery (4 restaurants), takes this West Coast philosophy to a new and simple level--offer a multitude of interesting salads, sandwiches, main dishes and sweets and pair them with fresh-squeezed lemonade in unusual flavors in a friendly and green setting. On this particular visit, I chose one of my favorite foods--spaghetti squash--mixed with farro and a pomegranate vinaigrette and the chicken, butternut squash, grape and oregano vinaigrette salad followed by a blueberry mint lemonade. Everything was delicious. And each was a concoction that I would never think of. The spaghetti squash was a little crunchy and perfectly cooked, while the chicken salad had an earthy bite with a dash of sweet. While I wished I had room for the lemon meringue pie, I will come back again. This time perhaps for the nectarine, rice, grafton cheddar, and mint vinaigrette or maybe the parsnip, carrot, palm springs date, and ginger salads.

If you're in need of catering for your Halloween or Thanksgiving feasts, Lemonade does that too.

Lemonade Downtown
213.488.0299
515 South Flower Street, Los Angeles

Lemonade Beverly
310.247.2500
9001 Beverly Boulevard, West Hollywood

Lemonade Venice
310.452.6200
1661 Abbot Kinney, Venice

Lemonade MOCA
213.628.0200
250 South Grand, Los Angeles

June 23, 2009

Eye on Food: Hara Sushi

12222 Wilshire Blvd., 310-820-1021

Wouldn't it be great if happy hours lasted 5 1/2 hours? (Ok, minus the old jalapeno poppers). Well, at Santa Monica's Hara Sushi they decided to make a quarter of the day (that's 4-9:30pm) dedicated to 1/2 off sushi and cheap drinks! With 32 special rolls, tons of maki choices and raspberry beer, it's a pretty solid stop for dinner. Even better, if you haven't gotten your soybean fill, they serve up edamame like nobody's business in a huge mound fit for 12. I'm serious. We couldn't finish it. To add to their generosity, Hara also serves a free cup of miso and ice cream to every diner. For production girls night out,

we ordered the Ginza Roll (spicy tuna and avocado wrapped with albacore and jalapeno) and the Crunchy Roll (crabmeat, avocado, cucumber, shrimp tempura, wrapped with tempura flakes and unagi sauce). Both were delicious. All around us people ordered the Baked Lobster Roll which, had I been eating alone, I might have reached over and helped myself. It looked great. While the atmosphere is lacking (thanks to Mariko for warning us about the happy hour signs everywhere), this place is every bit the yummy hole-in-the-wall it should be and perfect for a Monday night. Hey, it isn't Nobu, but it serves up good toro with $2 sake. No complaints here.

June 16, 2009

Eye on Food: La Paella

476 San Vicente Blvd., 323-951-0745

Scattered about Los Angeles, there are a few good tapas restaurants-- some that manage to capture the Andalucian tradition of serving small plates without the fuss and others that seem content to remind you that you're still in L.A. and yes, the menu does say $20 for 1 oz. of Mahon. But nestled on San Vicente Blvd. near the Beverly Center is a restaurant that serves tapas and traditional Spanish fare con gusto and charm as though you've walked into the home of family. Foremost, La Paella prides itself on its delicious, made-for-two paellas as owner Pasqual Franqueza hails from Valencia, the birthplace of this famous dish. For a lighter meal, the tapas, from the Manchego con Membrillo to the Vieiras al Ajillo, are a delicious bit of Spain and perfectly paired with sangria or a cold glass of Alhambra. With Govi in the background (granted he's German) and candles on every table, La Paella is lovely escape from the pretentious pricey tapa joints. If you manage to befriend Pasqual, ask for his advice on a wine pairing for dessert. I'd go with the Crema Catalan.

May 19, 2009

Weekday Food for All

Los Angeles is a town where the only issue for some is the cash burning a hole in their pockets. For the rest of us--the students, the PAs, the interns, the young professionals living on just enough to get by--there are specials. Drink specials. Taco specials. Let's-take-a-brief-vacation-to-Spain-via-wine specials.

For a few dollars and a little bit of help, Angelenos from Downtown to Venice can all eat like heirs. Here is a list of a few of my favorites and some I have yet to try:

MONDAY

AOC

Mediterranean Tapas & Wine

8022 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles

Flights & Bites on Monday Nights

At Caroline Styne's West 3rd eatery, two flights of wine and a selection of small plates are perfectly paired at a petite price. With destinations changing weekly, Mondays can be an escape where to sample interesting French fromage and various vinos from Spain all without the usual big tab of AOC. Call 323.653.6359 for reservations.

Citizen Smith

American Cajun

1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood

50% of all food on Mondays

Xiomara

New Latin

6101 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

Cubano Mondays: $25 per person family-style entrees, desserts & mojitos

TUESDAY

Marix

Tex-Mex

1108 N. Flores Street, West Hollywood

Taco Tuesdays

With a permanent barrel of chips and $4 margaritas during weekly Happy Hour (4-7pm), this lively West Hollywood spot is making weekdays likable. Add all-you-can-eat $1.50 tacos and good company and Tuesday feels like the new Friday. . .except for the workday hangover.

WEDNESDAY

JiRaffe

California French

502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica

Ravioli Wednesdays

With a formal interior and an ever-changing menu, JiRaffe seems like a restaurant fit for special occasions. But on Wednesdays for just $29, Chef Lunetta serves up homemade ravioli, a salad with local ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, a dessert and two glasses of wine.

THURSDAY

Ciudad

Latin American

445 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

Ciudad After Dark

This downtown restaurant is a packed spot for lunch and on the weekends,but if you can trek downtown for Wednesday or Thursday nights, you can find a late-night happy hour serving $4.50 specialty drinks and small plates.

FRIDAY

Edison

American Lounge

108 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles

Soup Kitchen Fridays

From 5-7pm, The Edison serves up free grilled cheese and tomato soup plus 35 cent concoctions with apropos names like the 401K and the Bailout. If you choose to stay longer, do your part and keep drinking--all proceeds on Fridays go to real local soup kitchens.

MONDAY-FRIDAY