The Kettle + + + +

This beautiful restaurant is located at Manhattan Beach Blvd and Highland, close to the Manhattan Beach pier. The food is absolutely excellent and is very reasonably priced. The spinach dip was delicious and the entree ribs were fantastic. The menu caters a wide selection of items: from steaks, chicken and fish to sandwiches and burgers to desserts and even breakfast. The restuarant is located in a beautiful neighbourhood where it is easy to take a stroll (to, you guessed it, the pier... what else? We live in L.A.!). Open 24/7, it's a great late night destination. In fact, Steve was so convinced, he took his out-of-town friends there the following week.

Who? Steve and Andrew

Nak Kwon + + +

Cousin to Hodori, this is another 24hr Koren picture set menu restaurant. I like the vegetables here better than at BCD. I was "forced" to eat tofu soup... but it's my favourite anyway. And it was good. Popular after-clubbing destination.

Who? Howie, Andrew, Su-chizzle, Gary, Steve

Hamburger Hamlet * / + + +

Who? Themo, Andrew, AJ+Michelle, Rajay
Zagat: * *, $19

Themo's Take: This place is not really worth their money, especially when you compare it with Barney's. There are better burger places out there.

Andrew's Take: I think Themo's being a bit harsh here. The burgers are very good and the prices are decent. And the HH is more than just burgers. The dining room atmosphere is very comfortable and attenuates sound well. I think that means you get to concentrate on the conversations at your table. Great place for burger and beer.

Big Wasabi + +

Here's another miniature Japanese restaurant located at Willshire and La Jolla. It's so small that when we were finally seated, we had to scoot out of the way to make way for our server. The food is decent but doesn't come in large enough quantities for the price. I could have gotten the "all you can eat sushi" for roughly the same price as my meal. Rumour has it there is a half-off sushi coupon... alas I never happened upon such a thing.

Wh0? Jarika, Michellios, Howie, Andrew

Versailles + + + + / **** $$

Who? Siao, Howie, Jarika, Shusan, KStaub, AWong, Andrew, Rajay
Who? Themos, Dora, Frankie, Melanie
Where? Culver City
How much? $25
Zagat: 22, $17

Andrew's Take: This wonderful Cuban restaurant located at La Cienega and Pico serves excellent comfort foods at very cheap prices. Although you might at first be deterred by the long lines and the lack of parking, don't be! The restuarant only seats 75 (or so I think that's what the sign said) in a room no bigger than a THH classroom. The atmosphere is busy and the food arrives quickly from a kitchen that is clearly visible from the dining area. The dishes are very comforting - oxtail, steaks, garlic chicken in lemon/lime sauce - served with plantains and rice with beans, or rice infused with beans (Moro). Everything is flavourful but not audacious. Once done, you sit back in your chair, very pleased. The food selection is quite large. Go early to before certain "popular" dishes e.g. oxtail, run out. Everything I've tasted here has been delicious - although I don't care too much for the Sangria (bit dry). Portions are large. Try to avoid going at super-peak times e.g. Friday/Saturday around 6-7pm.

Themos' Take: Very nice Cuban Place where you can have a lot of food (including meats!) without spending a fortune. The food is really for 3 out of 5 stars but since it is cheap it wins an extra star. Everything we got was good: lots of rice, and carefully cooked chicken and pork. You can get full with only a single portion, no desserts or anything. The sangria was very light but I tried a mango-pineapple smoothie instead which was a very pleasant surprise.