Pizzeria Mozza * * * $$$$

Who? Themos, Dora, Gina
Where? Hollywood
How much? $45
Zagat: 26, $37

Let me start with the best: the Butterscotch budino dessert is one of the top picks in town - truly something to die for. Also, the wine collection is extensive, ranging from bottles to glasses, without being too pricey. Other than that, the place has a great vibe with high ceilings, semi-loud music, and very loud chatter. Their pizzas are kind of original and simple, woodfire-baked and without much cheese - just throw a couple of ingredients on top and there you have it. However this is not my favorite style of pizza as I prefer the ones that all the ingredients is blended together under lots of cheese. Therefore, for that price range, I cannot recommend more than 3 stars. I think the 26 in zagat rating for food is overrated. Parking valet is $8.50 (ouch).

Fogo de Chao * * * * */ + + + + + $$$$$

Who? Themos, Stavros
Who? Themos, Andrew, Dora, Demitris
Where? Restaurant Row, Beverly Hills
How much? $70
Zagat: 23, $63

Themo's Take: This all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse is kind of like the iPhone: expensive, polished, must-have, and once you try it you never look back again. There is a choice of 15 types of meats, which includes some gems like bacon-wrapped filet mignon and parmesan pork. Once you sit down and turn the green light on, the servers keep firing at will bringing all kinds of meats at a very fast pace. The service is flawless with several people coming by every once a while to make sure that you get the type of meat you like best. You can even ask for a specific cooking level - if the meat is too raw, they just bring another one that is medium cooked. The salad bar is crazy, yet the meat quality is out of this world - probably the best meats I have tried anywhere in the US, since no two are alike and every type has its own distinct flavor. The design is also great with high ceilings and a huge wall of wine bottles as their main entrance. Valet parking is $5 or look around for street parking. Please come with an empty stomach to get your money's worth.

Andrew's Take: Agreed. Although this is definitely not a date spot, it is a place to commit unadulterated sinful gluttony. Every cut of meat is fantastic and cooked the way you want it - from red rare to well done. I was partial to the lamb chops and any undercooked top sirlion or ribeye. The cheese-stuffed bread balls were also amazing. The salad bar is very fresh and varied, providing lightness and sweetness to offset the mountains of meat. Fried yucca and plantains also join the fray. Coupled with a bottle of wine, one will leave Fogo satisfied and ready to sit in coma for a few hours on the couch. The molten chocolate cake is a great (yet heavy) way to top off the meal. Alternatively, the papaya cream dessert, and it's digesting enzymes, is the simple and refreshing choice to finish. Loud, busy atmosphere - go once for the experience. Thumbs up.

Corner Bakery Cafe + + + + $

Where? Lake and Del Mar
Who? Andrew, Dora, Themo

Great place to eat on a cold and dreary day. The soup definitely warms you right up. Loaded potato soup is excellent, the cheese and broccoli mix is also OK. Panini's are very good - I had the Club, which was dripping with buttered goodness. Creamy hazelnut coffee blend is wonderful. Restaurant can get crowded and has a great cafe feel. Park in the structure behind the restaurant. Thumbs up.

The Sizzler * */ + + + $

Who? Howie, Jiesi, Andrew
Where? Wilshire and Western

Themos' Take: This is a chain of american-style restaurants. The hearty meals cost $10-$15 so you can get some (not awesome yet decent) steaks and seafood for that price. Great choice when there is nothing else around.

Andrew's Take: Agreed. It's decent food for relatively cheap. The bacon wrapped filets were tasty and the baked potato was mashedly soft. Medium-rare actually came medium rare. The service speed is very fast since you order first, sit down, and the food is then brought to you. Thumbs up.

Taylor's Steakhouse + + / * * * $ $

Who? Michellios, Andrew, Sean and Amy
Where? 8th and Ardmore, K-town

Andrew's take: In a perfect world, this place would be a cheaper alternative to Ruth Chris or Lawry's. First impressions are great - a very classy dining atmosphere with great big booths and dim romantic lighting. The bread is passable. Lobster bisque arrived hot and creamy and in my opinion was the best tasting part of the meal. I got the bone in rib-eye, which IMHO was cut too thick. Maybe I'm not a connoisseur of meat cutting but the thickness of the meat certainly made it difficult to cook medium-rare. The outside arrived well done whilst the center was almost medium-rare. Mashed potatoes were plain and non-too-eyebrow-raising. Recommended Cab was too dry, bland and had no body. Thumbs sideways.

Themos's take: I was a little disappointed by this place. The steaks are good but not great, the service is ok, and there isn't much attention to detail (like the frozen butter than you can't spread in the bread until it gets warmer). My porterhouse lacked the filet part of the steak, and both our steaks where somewhat undercooked (lots of dark red regions although I asked for medium). The place is a good deal for the price, as in "proper" steakhouses you get to pay $50-$70 per person (hence the rating), however there is nothing exceptional here.

Beard Papa's * * * * $$

Best sweets I've tried in the US, hands down. The creme puffs are worth killing for - I had 5 of them at 220 calories and 30% cholesterol a piece. A japanese friend suggested it to us because they originated in Osaka and only recently (1999-on) they started rolling out stores in the US. A test will convince you.

Father's Office * * / + + $

Who? mostly CASA people
Where? Montana and 11th, Santa Monica

Andrew's Take: Very cozy bar with a nice atmosphere. Sometimes difficult to get in due to now limited capacity. Many exotic beers on tap. Sweet potato fries and julienne fries are excellent and are served in a mini shopping cart. Thumbs up - I will return to try the rumoured tasty burgers.
edit: (Jan '08) Downgraded due to it's non-restaurantyness and lack of seating. Only recommended for drinking and snacking.

Themo's Take:
I don't think I recommend this place for a restaurant. Granted, the beers are plenty and the burger is delicious (definitely one of the main competitors in town) but it's more like a bar rather than a restaurant. Hence, the low restaurant rating. But it's a great place to hang out and have a loud conversation from a few friends that visit the town, despite the fact that it's not very centrally located.

M-Grill * * / + + + + $ $

Who? Michellios, Andrew, Jiesi
Where? Western and Wilshire

Andrew's Take: Delicious Brazilian BBQ meats keep coming to your table until you surrender and flip your table indicator. Juicy Sausages, Garlic Chicken, Tangy Lemony Rib goodness, Tri-Tip, Sirlion Caps, and much more, are carved and served off long metal skewers. The cheesy bread balls are delicious. Salad bar also contains wonderful creations such as Fried Yucca, Fried Banana, and my two favourite vegetables, Heart of Palm and and Asparagus. My only complaint is that some of meats were a bit dried out and too crispy on the outside. Lunch $17, park in the free lot.

Themo's Take: I think that if I haven't been to Fogo de Chao recently I would have liked this place much more. But for paying $45 for dinner, this place is too expensive for me to recommend it. The meats are above average but pretty small in quantity and not top notch. The service is average and the ambiance kind of too dark for my taste. The salad bar also looks dull (always compared to Fogo). I'd definitely recommend going to Fogo and then eat a meal at home, rather than visit this place twice.

Bossa Nova * * * * * / + + + + + $

Who? Dora, Themo, Andrew
Where? Sunset and La Brea
How much? $20

Andrew's Take: Very tasty salads with walnuts and grilled chicken breast. Be entertained by the chefs cooking and tossing pizzas. Busy place and parking is difficult to find. Open very late (4am)! I like the Brazillian soda, Guarana.

Update: Upgrade to 5+'s for cheap, delicious Picayne steak. +1 for beautiful people watching, +1 for portion sizes, +1 for attentive staff. Thumbs up.

Themo's Take: The place is cheap, open till late, and pretty nice quality foods. The steak I tried was very good for LA standards and it costs only $15. Too bad it's not close to anything else, like most decent places in this city!

Pho 79 + + + $

Who? Andrew, Howie
Where? Garfield and Main

A full service Vietnamese restaurant and not just Pho! Vermecelli with pork skin just as I remember it.

Monsieur Marcel + + + + $

Who? Andrew, Satsuki
Where? Farmer's Market @ The Grove

This is a fun little wine and cheese bar where you can kick back, enjoy good conversation, and people watch all at the same time. The wine selections by the bottle are vast, but unchartable for my feeble brain, and probably too much for two if one is driving. The selection by the glass is good and compliments the nice array of cheeses offered. I had a sweet Riesling dessert-type wine which worked well with the Gruyère Comté and the Brie. These great cheeses are served up on a wooden board with crackers, figs, walnuts, olives, sliced apples and pears. In short, I almost felt like a cultured snob, but not quite. This "snack" plate was very filling and it took quite some time before I was hungry for dinner.

Ulysses Voyage * * * */ + + + + $$

Who? Themos, Alexandra
Where? The Grove
How much? $30
Zagat: * * *, $26

Anything that's located at the Grove gets an extra star just because of location. On top of that, Ulysses Voyage has great greek food - not the half-mexican half-persian mimics that fly around. We paid $30 each because we got on top of our entrees a salad, an appetizer, and an extra entree for sharing. I've never seen a girl eating so much actually (she also said that her stomach for the first time was popping out of her belly:-)

Who? Andrew, Satsuki
How much? $45 total

Split 3 appetizers with 2 glasses of wine - very satisfying. Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) are excellent. Meatballs aren't the same homestyle that Dora makes but are delicious with their thin crispy shell and smothered in onions. Eggplant dip is likewise tasty. I am a fan of simple, fresh, light, clean cuisine. Agree with the extra star for the Grove. Great atmosphere - cozy, tavern-like, +energetic staff. Thumbs up.

Carousel * * * * $$

Who? Themos, Frankie
Where? Hollywood
How much? $31
Zagat: 23, $24

This is the real deal on middle-eastern cuisine. It doesn't look much from the outside, and it doesn't have a great atmosphere, but the food here is top notch. The "Carousel" plate lets you choose from 3 of their kebabs - I got beef, chicken and pork, and it was really some of the best meat I have tried in LA so far. They offer a number of salad dips and pita breads along with the main dishes so there is no need for extras. Think of it as an more upscale version of Sunnin.

Arnie Morton's Steakhouse * * * * * $$$$$

Who? Themos, Dora
Where? Downtown
How much? $88
Zagat: 26, $59

This is the real deal. Instead of going to an opera, theater or another show, you can choose Morton's for an full experience and not just a place to fill your appetite. The food is superb and the freshness of every single item is unparalleled. The steaks and the side portions are huge and enough to fill any stomach. The introductory bread is huge and fresh-baked. We got a perfect tomato salad with a blue cheese toping straight from paradise. The meat was cooked just right while maintaining all the juices: tasty surface, meaty core. They offer only on fridays and saturdays prime rib of top-notch quality. They also have a signature rib-eye steak chicago style, aka with a bone that gives it an extra boost in taste. They have a range of souffles that are baked fresh and it takes about 30 minutes to do so, so you have to order them in advance along with the entrees if you want to have them after the main meal. The chocolate one was perfection with a mousse, foamy-like filling along with fresh whip cream. Maybe the best dessert I had in LA.


But the service is also to die for. When you order, the server brings a rolling table with two floors, where all the items they serve lie uncooked. So you can see the size and shape of the different meat cuts and decide for yourself which one looks better. Of course, the presentation also includes some of the seafood dishes, and that includes a (live!) lobster with its clamps tied together for security. The lobster is alive and it moves around while the server explains the details!

Mel's Drive In (Diner) * * * * / + + + $

Who? Howie, Fesh, Irka, Andrew
Where? Hollywood and Highland

Very cool diner atmosphere, best I've seen. Service was slow - we sat at our table for a full 15 minutes before someone took our order. Strawberry youghurt shake was sweet, thick and tasty. Mushroom burger was decent but did not really stand out. Air conditioner blows cold in some places. I will have to return to try more of the diner fare. Parking is valet (leave $3).

Who? Themos. Dimitri
Where? Hollywood
How much? $15
Zagat: 15, $16

I am very excited for this place! Very cheap, no lines to wait, fast service, and one of the most juicy burgers I have tried in LA. It is very close to Hollywood and Highland which makes it convenient for a quick bite before or after another main attraction. The cheese fries were also amazing (or I was really hungry).

Todai + $ $

Where? The Beverley Center
Who? Kung Fu people

I wanted to like this place. But I'm sorry to report that I have to agree with the CASA folk on this one. The sushi is mediocre at best. Sashimi is non-existent except for the discards of making the mediocre sushi. Short ribs are mainly ribs and fat and are too salty and messy. Everything else is just barely OK. However, there are two things I do like about this place: 1) the hordes of shelled creatures - I could pick at them for hours, and 2) the crepe bar. However, the crab legs and pastry goodness were not sufficient to justify the $35 you'll end up paying. Perhaps if it was $15. Thumbs down.

CeFiore + + + $ $

Where? Little Tokyo Plaza
Who? Sushu, Michellios, Andrew, Howie

Expensive frozen yoghurt seems to be the craze nowadays. I have to say that I do enjoy eating the sweet, delectable, creamy goodness here, but I absolutely refuse to pay $5 for something worth $0.50. The fact that CeFiore is associated with Todai explains a lot. My new business plan is to create a homemade yoghurt stand that will undercut CeFiore and Pinkberry by 50%. Oh right, wait, this is a food review blog. The place is very pretty - absolutely new, clean, bright, lots of glass and even has tv menus... and Vivien and Krystal work there too! Park in the plaza - where I just found out that they validate! Pay $5 up front and actually get it back when you leave.

Musso Frank * * $$$$

Who? Themos, Ilias, Dimitri
Where? Hollywood
How much? $45
Zagat: 18, $39

Hollywood boasts an large number of excellent restaurants, and Musso Frank is the oldest one of them (est. 1919). The decor is great as it is old and it comes from another age. The people there are also pretty old for some reason. They have been awarded the best Martinis in LA for a number of years now, but we didn't have a chance to try them. We all gave a try at steaks and although they were pretty good, they are not worth the price tag, plus they were severely undercooked: even the "well done" porterhouse was bloody red inside. I would suggest trying the non-steak dishes if you visit them, they must be better treated!

Baran * * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora, Χing-Pin, Nikos
Where? Westwood
How much? $14
Zagat: -

While this is not the best persian we've ever tried, it is in great location, accepts walks ins, has large authentic portions and it is quite cheap. The best items were the chicken polo and the shish kebab. Many variations of traditional dishes are offered. Shaherzad though I think is still the best in town!

Beer 2 O + + $

Where? San Gabriel
Who? Yariv Research Group and Andrew

Strange little place where you drink beer and chow down on Taiwanese-type Chinese food. Dingy environment but fairly authentic. I don't remember where it is... Las Tunas?

Al Gelato + + + + $

Who? Fesh, Andrew
Where? Robertson and Gregory

Thick dense tasty gelato that's almost too good to finish. Best split a couple of scoops with plenty of water. Dining in is sparse, small and uncomfortable. But thumbs up for the gelato!

Pita Pit + + $

Who? Andrew and Enid
Where? Hermosa Pier

Reminds me of college days when we'd get drunk and eat pitas. There's nothing fantastically special about the pitas - they're healthy, and the tzatziki is nice... but really it's just dense bricks of nutrition. Walk on the beach to work it off.

Tiger Lily + + + + $ $

Who? 61 CASA people
Where? Vermont and Prospect (1 block N of Hollywood)

Catered event worked smoothly. Attractive bartending. Classic dining environment, a quiet setting for a romantic meal. Compliments were given all around on the fish. Steak was done well and to the correct degree. Dish presentation was very good. Dessert "tray/dish" creamy delight. Thumbs up.

Mu Dang Sang + + + + + $ $

Who? Kingson, Steve, Themos, Andrew, and later Andrew+Satsuki with a Marco/Evan sighting
Where? Western and Conneticut (one block south of Wilshire)

Hallelujah! No more 1.5 hr waits in line at Manna! (see Manna post - although there is still a wait on weekend nights). This establishment (purported to be run by the same owners as Manna?) is a replica of that super busy restaurant. But the place is completely indoors, cleaner, with better facilities (newer non-stick cooking apparatus, better vent hoods) with all the same trimmings. A huge bowl of salad, kimchi, beansprouts, that wheat-gluten-thingy, potato salad... all come immediately as appetizing morsels before the gorging begins. The most important part? Those little white wrappers. I don't know why I like them, but I do. My favourite meat is still the short rib. Some advice for people that have been starving themselves all day for this: start by grilling the thin sliced beef (ready in minutes), then cook the heftier meats like the chicken. Valet is OK - I have no idea where they put the car. Else park on the nearby residentials. Thumbs up!

Lala's Grill + + + $ $

Who? Kingson and Andrew
Where? Melrose and Altavista

Very hip atmosphere, dim romantic lighting on patio, high energy, cozy. I had to slug through the Milanesa Napolitana with its melted cheese topping. Good, but nothing to write home about. We stole the wine home.

Phoenix + + (+) $

Who? Andrew and Enid
Where? Valley and Garfield

Very typical Chinese restaurant food and feel. Soup noodles were decent with my favourite beef tripe - fairly standard yellower noodles. Service was quite slow on the draw and inattentive. The mochi balls from the adjoining establishment (bearing the same name) are worth the trip (hence the extra (+)).

House of Pies + + + + $

Where? Vermont and Franklin
Who? Andrew, Enid and Steph

The title says it all: tasty pies and open till late! I don't know about the diner fare but the fresh strawberry pie was fantastic. The restaurant experience is a little grody - but worth a visit if you suffer from sweet tooth after a long night of studying.

Ocha + + $

Who? Andrew, Rajiv, Dora
Where? Vermont and 8th

The main attraction of this Thai restaurant is that it is cheap. The food is decent but many dishes are too oily or too salty or just too soggy or messy. The sweet and sour soup, which I use as a benchmark is only average. The noodle dish we tried did not balance quantities of noodles with veg/meats. Restaurant has cheap, unromantic vinyl appeal. Parking on Vermont street. But it's cheap!

Shaab + + + $

Who? Andrew and Joyce
Where? Raymond and Union, Pas

Joyce swears by this Japanese Sushi/Shabu house, but having been twice, I can't explain why it hasn't given me a great long-lasting impression. The restaurant was busy both times we went and we had to wait both times (Sat nights). Sashimi (Chirashi) bowl is a nice, decent tasting selection. Service was OK, Ambience is OK - I just can't explain it. Parking in the lot 2 blocks North. Extra star for Old Town already factored in.

Gyu Kaku + + + + $ $

Where? La Cienega and 2 blocks south of San Vicente
Who? Howie's Birthday Consortium

Very nice looking Japanese BBQ restaurant that uses in-table coals for self cooking. Wide selection of BBQ'able items. Kalbi, ribs and chicken are fantastically seasoned and succulent, the shrimp was amazing, and the asparagus is jumbo sized. Portions of each item are mini, so you may need to spend in excess of $25 (4-5 plates) to get full. The grill has some heat issues which occasionally limited cooking speed. Park on the streets behind the restaurant.

Coldstone Creamery * * / + + + $

Where? Long Beach Village, Pasadena/South Lake
Who? Andrew and CLEO people, Sushu, Howie

Andrew's take: Absolutely excellent ice cream which is even better in a waffle bowl. Some may cringe at the thought of putting a whole brownie, fudge, and cherries in a bowl that compact. But if you don't mind eating 10,000 calories in one $5 sitting, then this is the place to go. Dine-in interior is sparse.

Themo's take: I'll have to disagree on this one. The ice cream is too thick and too buttery, and the various flavors are not very strong. The great thing is that you can mix various other stuff like nuts, fruits, syrups etc with your ice cream. But the taste is not that great. Gelato Paradiso is 10 times better!

Edison + + + + $ $ (Lounge/Bar)

Who? CASA
Where? Main and 2nd

As an electrical engineer, the idea of a power plant turned into a lounge/bar is very exciting. Aesthetics are art deco, 20's and extremely pleasing, complete with a boiler, Westinghouse turbines and energy inefficient bulbs. The music is exclusively swing/early jazz although I did hear some Herbie Hancock. Flapper girls come out every now and again to entertain the patrons. The game of the night plays on a huge screen from a projector. Drinks are $10, no cover. The place does get crowded. Parking is on the street. Get there before 10 to avoid waiting in line.

Cafe 322 * * * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora, Costas, Jun
Where? Sierra Madre
How much? $25

This is a different place. Depending on the night, they may feature jazz, blues, or tenors night! There is live music and most of the tables are very close to the stage so there is no microphone needed. The food is not great but it is very cheap considering what they offer. It mostly consists of italian dishes like pizza, pastas, and some seafood here and there. The environment is very friendly and the waiters polite. You wouldn't expect to find such a place almost in the middle of nowhere! The shows start usually at 7:30 but you may want to go there a bit earlier too get a nice table.

Wild Thai * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora, Melania, Frankie
Where? Somewhere off the 405
How much? $19

Wild Thai is a nice cozy place near the Bridge Cinemas next to the 405 Freeway. They have a variety of dishes from all corners of Thailand, ranging from seafood to all kinds of meats. The portions are not huge but they are cheap, and you can share most of the plates. The environment is decent and the service pretty good. Nothing exceptional, but it is a rational choice if you are around.

Zencu + + $ $

Who? CASA
Where? J-Town Plaza

Big portion combo dinner - Tonkatsu was OK. Terrible presentation on the Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll but it tasted somewhat decent. Super slow service despite the fact that there were only two occupied tables in the entire restaurant! Nice sleek interior. Early 90's pop/dance music continually plays.

Weilands + + + $

Who? Andrew, Phil, Michellios, Jiesi, Jason, Fesh, Vivien
Where? 1st and Central

Happy Hour! Not quite as cheap as McCormick's but the food is better. Great Martinis, nice brews on tap and a loud atmosphere. Tall ceilings, dark pubrewery, ESPN loop on TV. The best grilled chicken quesidilla ever! Calamari was also rumoured to be excellent. $5 lot.

Ding Tai Fong + + + + $

Who? Andrew, Howie, Fesh
Where? South Baldwin Av. and Arcadia Av., Arcadia

Fantastic hand kneaded dumplings with a soupy infused filling. Hand pulled noodles are equally good with spicy red beef. Always a wait. Dessert at Phoenix next door.

Gordon Biersch + + + $ $

Who? Rajiv, Andrew
Where? Old Town Pas

Very nice, high-energy brewery & restaurant nestled in the Old Square. Good microbrews to go with well-prepared food. Medium-rare comes out "blue" at the bone.

Outback Steakhouse * * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora, Melania
Where? Arcadia
How much? $29
Zagat: 17, $26

It it by no means a premium steakhouse, but it offers woodranch-level steaks and similar stuff. I tried 3 steaks at once: the porterhouse, the ribeye and the sirloin. I decided that porterhouse was the best, with ribeye in #2 (but also too much fat!) and the sirloin in #3. I realized that sirloin is kind of an "empty" meat in terms of taste, so unless it comes from brazilians I will not choose it again. Salads were great. plus a very rewarding atmosphere (we stayed almost until midnight!). Thumbs up.

Bite + + $ $

Who? Rajiv, Andrew... and friends
Where? Venice Pier

Decent Asian fusion not really worth the price. Even more interesting with no electricity and 5 gay couples.

Chop Suey + $

Who? CASA
Where? 1st and Central

Good fusion but not worth the 1.5hrs wait - the slowest service I've ever received in a restaurant in L.A.

Nyala Ethiopian * * $

Who? Themos, Dora, Rajay, Dimitri, Angeliki, Melania, Frankie, Stavros
Where? Westwood near the grove
How much? $16
Zagat: 22, $20

This is the only Ethiopian restaurant listed on Zagat for LA (although there are a couple more nearby since the area is called Little Ethiopia. The food was weird and I have to admit I didn't enjoy it. But is it because it is true ethiopian cuisine or is it just a bad restaurant? Do i tend to like more americanized food? The environment was interesting with a very strong church-like smell. It is also very cheap!