I’m so glad that I finally introduced myself you the other day.  I have to admit that I’d seen you previously, but was too intimidated by your grandeur and beauty to say hello at the time.  At the time, I thought for sure that you’d only be interested in my money and would take me for everything I had.  I was so wrong for being judgmental; forgive me. 

To those who look only upon your exterior, you appear to be nothing more than a plain Jane; empty and lacking much substance on the interior.  And yet you remain undeterred.  You seem to welcome everyone with open arms.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that your pristine interior is complemented by many notes of detail and beauty.

Your offerings of food were equally impressive and  ample.  The Penne  Gambert was delightful, to say the least.  You were generous with the shrimp and delicate with the garlic, allowing the other flavors of the dish to really stand out.  I also relished the Chicken Parmesan that you served my guest.  I must admit that I was slightly taken aback by the lack of pasta as a side for this particular dish, but fret not mon ami; you made up for the disappointment by providing my guest with a large 10 ounce cut of chicken. 

I assure you that we were more than filled by our entrees; so much so that we didn’t have any room to eat dessert with you.  Of course, that didn’t stop you from tempting me into taking a sweet morsel home with me, as a reminder of your culinary genius.  Upon first bite, I knew that I’d have to visit you again.  Something tells me that you and I will be good friends in the future. 

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Best,

Jen

Bottega Louie                 700 S. Grand, Los Angeles, CA 90017

(866) 418-9162               www.bottegalouie.com

Before you guffaw at the concept of there being a decent mini-chain restaurant (gasp!  The horror!  Oh, the humanity of it all!) and close this browser, hear me out.  I, too, have shared similar assumptions.  Normally, I stay as far away from chain restaurants as possible.  In my opinion, they just can’t seem to bake the same love into their dishes as independently owned restaurants.  However, I feel like Barney’s Beanery deserves a chance from all of us.  Yes, really!

Is it the world’s best food?  No; but I’ll get into that more a little later. Will you have some sort of existential, transcendental experience? Not likely; although anything is possible. You will find, however, that it’s just a fun place to hang out and enjoy yourself, especially after a hard days’ work.

The decor is playful, with multi-colored booths, pool tables, a number of  televisions tuned to sports, and tables with a thick layer of celebrity photos. To put it simply: the interior is definitely a conversation piece.

I like the beer selection a lot and often opt for the Arrogant Bastard Ale.  Their food menu is extensive, which is good because people tend to be a little indecisive when drinking; I know I am, at least.  If you’re in the mood for a greasy treat, I recommend the potato skins, or cheese fries.  Both offer just the right amount of ooey-gooey-cheesy-deliciousness required to be considered comfort food.

For my meals, I tend to stick to the sandwich selections.  The food is not the most amazing I’ve ever had, but their selection is still good in that bar-food need-to-eat-after-drinking kind of way and is quite tasty.  Tonight, I had the tuna salad and was pleasantly surprised; not as salty as most places (hooray!) but flavorful and filling.  I always leave Barney’s Beanery full and in a good mood.

The atmosphere of Barney’s is laid-back and friendly.  Don’t be afraid to sneak into your neighbor’s conversation and make some new friends.  Sometimes, it can get a little loud so it’s probably not the best choice of venue for that romantic night out you’ve been looking forward to.  The service is very non-chain-like, which is awesome.  The servers are accommodating and will do what they can to make sure you have a good experience, even if they have to go a little out of their way to do so.

Certainly, I can understand that everyone has a favorite bar or two that they are loyal to and I’m not saying you should consider changing   that.  But, take a chance one night and head over to Barney’s Beanery.  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Barney’s Beanery

8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

(323) 654-2287

310-477-1061

 Hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 7am-1am; Fridays-Saturdays, 7am-4am; Sundays, 8am-1am.

Every couple of weeks or so, the Nuart theater will be showing a movie that strikes my fancy.  Of course, if I’m going to make the trek out to Santa Monica from downtown, I’ll need to fill my tummy up with some delicious diner fare.  That’s where Dolores comes in.     

I take comfort in dining at Dolores because it’s a cozy and quiet place where I can just relax and get away from the crazy hubbub of LA.  And it’s located within walking distance of the Nuart, so it makes for a perfect dinner-and-a-movie date night; they do offer a free parking lot to patrons.  There’s never been more than a handful of tables filled when I go to Dolores, which means that you can exchange meaningful dialogue with your group without having to shout over excessively loud music, as with the more trendy restaurants.  Your vocal cords will thank you for this. 

The service is usually spot on and I’ve never experienced any problems with either service or food.  The servers actually take the time to say hi and chit-chat for a few, which is always appreciated.  In addition, they are very friendly and accommodating, even on busier nights.  It’s hard to find places to eat where they are concerned about more than just $$$, but Dolores is like an old friend: reliable, and always there when you need them.  

I think this one’s a keeper!

Ever since I moved to LA, I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of diners begging me to stop by.  Thankfully, I am a huge fan of diner fare, so I make it a point to try a new diner each outing, instead of just frequenting the same spots week in and week out.  This method has allowed me to further explore this wonderful city of dreams, try new places that I likely would have passed over otherwise, meet new and interesting people,  and give all of you some insight into the LA diner world.

After driving by at least 50 times, I finally decided to try the French Quarter restaurant.  Parking is a breeze, as they have a private lot right next to the restaurant.  I asked for a seat outside and was allowed to choose my own spot.  Inside, there are a number of small shops (although I stopped by after those stores closed, so I was unable to explore).  The outdoor seating proved wonderful for people-watching.  The restaurant clearly took the time and effort in making the outdoor patio as comfortable as the indoor seating, generously decorated in a French-kitchen style. 

I have to admit that the menu took me a little aback.  I expected more French-style offerings but was greeted with more traditional American fare, such as biscuits and gravy, hamburgers, and various meat sandwiches.  However, their menu is expansive and has something to offer everyone.  I chose the Prime Rib special: a big ol’ hunk of juicy prime rib, soup or salad, a veggie, and potato for $19.95. 

For diner-fare, the French Quarter proves itself worthy of repeat visits in the future.  The prime rib was tender, and well-portioned; the veggies were fresh, my salad crisp, and my potato fried.  My waiter was very attentive and never left a dirty dish on my table for more than a few seconds.  Even better, I spent a good hour and a half there, eating and people gazing, and didn’t feel rushed for even a second.  It’s good to know that I don’t have to spend $200 on a meal to get decent service.

7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046                           www.babyblueswh.com

It’s Saturday night; you know that you’re hungry, but you don’t really know what you want to eat.  Mexican, Chinese, pizza, standard diner fare; all have seemingly lost every ounce of appeal.  You have no food at home, so you do what any normal person would do and drive around for an hour, about ready to chew the shoes off your feet because you’re so hungry, all in search of some sustinence.  All of a sudden, your eyes meet with Baby Blues BBQ and you know that you have to go in; if not for the food, then to save your poor little stomach from the pit of despair. 

When you first sit at the table, your eyes will fixate on the 5 different bottles of BBQ sauce that you can slather on ribs, chicken or anything you want!  I opted for the smoked Chicken, with macaroni & cheese, and mashed potatoes as my two sides, and eagerly awaited my meal, secretly eyeing the plates of other patrons.  I started to eat the macaroni & cheese first.  Don’t be fooled; the little dish is basically a meal in itself.  It’s incredibly thick and rich and super cheesy.  But I pressed on.  Though I was only able to eat a couple of bites of my 1/2 chicken, it was perfectly cooked overall; cripsy and seasoned outside, tender on the inside, and the meat gracefully slides off the bone with ease.  I had to save my mashed potatoes, corn bread, and remaining chicken for lunch the next day because I was filled to the max just from the little bit I ate.  It reheated very well and was equally as tasty as the night before. 

Even though it’s not quite “authentic” BBQ, what with Adult Alternative riddled in between various Jazz and Country music, the food will surely please anyone and everyone.  It’s a fantastic option for those looking to get away from “the usual”.

6667 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028; Phone: 323-467-7788

My main squeeze and I are recent transplants to L.A. and have been on the hunt for some new treasure troves of deliciousness.  Our 3rd anniversary fell on one of our first few days in our new home, so we decided to make it special and try Musso and Franks for some good old-fashioned meat and potatoes.  In selecting the oldest restaurant in Hollywood to please our palates, we had high expectations, but M&F definitely did not disappoint.

Decorated with warm mahoganies and a buttressed ceiling, it feels like you slip a few decades into the past when you first walk in.  We were greeted by a hearty man in a suit and promptly seated for our reservation.  Our waiter was incredibly attentive, informative, prompt, and contributed largely to the overall pleasant dining experience.  Not a single dirty plate stayed on our table for more than a few moments; no crumb was left astray on the table.  They really focus on all the little details, which seems to be hard to find now-a-days in most places.

The food was equally impeccable; we started with the Hearts of Romaine salad, topped with a zesty red wine vinaigrette.  For our entrees, my boyfriend opted for the filet mignon, I selected the Porterhouse and then we nibbled off bits of both.  The filet mignon practically melted in my mouth.  It was so tender and juicy, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a filet as melodic as this.  The porterhouse was also tender, and gave me plenty of leftovers.  Normally, I’d regale you with a number of pictures of the food I enjoyed so thoroughly.  But, for this review, the pictures would never do the food proper justice. 

As an added bonus, mid-way through our delicious taste experience, we looked up only to find that none-other than Mr. Gus Van Sant was seated in the booth next to us.  Although tempted to scream, shout, and do a happy little jig around the restaurant in his honor, we played it cool and simply greeted him with a friendly smile.  If M&F is good enough for Van Sant, it’s certainly more than good enough for me!

We were completely stuffed by the end of our entrees but our waiter convinced us to try the cheesecake, assuring us that we would not be disappointed.  To me, a cheesecake is pretty much a cheesecake: heavy and overly sweet.  M&F’s cheesecake, however, is beyond amazing.  The cheese filling was delicate, flavorful, and light.  It really helped to end our meal on just the right note. 

It may seem silly to think that food has such an impact on the positive/negative experiences in our life, but M&F really did help to make our anniversary special and unforgettable.  It’s good to know that impeccable service can still reach those of us in LA who are not gracing the covers of this month’s magazines.

Tip #1: Step away from Google!  Google will lead you straight to the tourist traps (which shall remain nameless here).  Don’t get me wrong; some of tourist places are decent, but expect a good 1-2 hour wait on the weekend.  Besides, if you really want to try their pizza, they can ship to you for about the same price as what you’d pay just for parking near the restaurant(s).

Tip #2: Be adventurous and travel a little!  Most tourists seem to think that the “city” is limited to downtown Chicago or Wrigley Field.  Not true!  Chicago is comprised of many beautiful neighborhoods and some of the best pizza places are scattered throughout some truly wonderful local stores.  Pick a place a little farther away from downtown and make a day trip out of it!

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE NORTH-SIDE PIZZA PLACES (in no particular order): 

PEQUOD’S PIZZA - 2207 N. Clybourn                          www.pequodspizza.com

Why it’s so amazingly yummy: They lace the crust of their deep-dish with cheese, giving the pizza a caramelized crust that’s to die for!  They also utilize a very robust sauce, which gives their pizza an added zing.  Pequod’s is hands-down my favorite place to go for pizza.

CARMEN’S PIZZA – 6568 N. Sheridan Rd.                  773-465-1700

Why it’s so amazingly yummy: Their sauce is a bit on the sweeter side and they use only a thin layer.  The rest of the pizza is loaded with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese and a heaping portion of all your favorite toppings.  The crust is salty and buttery, giving their deep-dish a solid balance between texture and flavor.   Tip: If ordering delivery, be sure to ask them to cut the pizza, otherwise you’ll need to cut it yourself.

PETE’S PIZZA – 3737 N. Western Ave.                         www.pizzapetes.com

Why it’s so amazingly delicious: If you like your deep-dish loaded with cheese, Pete’s is the way to go.  As soon as you take a slice, the cheese oozes off the pizza like lava flowing down a volcano. 

GIORDANO’S PIZZA – 6836 N. Sheridan                        www.giordanos.com

Why it’s so amazingly delicious – okay, okay; yes, this is a chain and yes, Giordano’s downtown is very much a tourist trap.  However, the Roger’s Park location is awesome.  There’s rarely ever a wait to sit down and you still get to dig in to their amazing pizza.  Personally, I’m a fan of the thin crust here; it’s crispy and very light, but holds the pizza very well so you don’t have to worry about sogginess.  Their sauce is a perfect blend of fruity and zest and they use just the right amount of cheese.  One word: delicious!

PRIMO PIZZA - 5600 N. Clark                                            773-271-2233

Why it’s so amazingly yummy: They put some LOOOOOOVE into their pizza!  You can choose between a thin and thick crust, which is easier said than done because both are really delicious.  The thick crust gives more texture to the pizza, giving it a combination of crispy and chewy, while the thin crust is much more light and crunchy.  Their toppings are chunky and plentiful (personally, I recommend sausage and canadian bacon).  Similar to Carmen’s, they spread only a thin layer of sauce, allowing you to focus on the cheesey goodness.  Primo’s has always been a hit at my parties!

Well, that concludes my thoughts on Chicago’s pizza – for now.  Even if you don’t choose to visit the above places (you’ll be sorry!), take some time to be adventurous and try the pizza place that is less known; you may be pleasantly surprised! 

First things first, before you can enjoy the world’s most amazing flapjacks, get to The Griddle between 8:30-9:00a.m.  to avoid a lengthy wait time of up to 2 1/2 hours.  (Yes, it really is that amazing!)  Conveniently located at 7916 W. Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, next to the Director’s Guild,  The Griddle remains a great place for people-watching.   Whether you are eating inside or waiting outside, many famous folks are known to frequent the establishment so be prepared to see some stars!  Parking is not difficult, as there is street parking directly in front of the restaurant and a number of parking lots around.

Service is quick and friendly, but if you need a few minutes to browse their extensive menu they are more than accomodating.  After a good 15-20 mintues, I finally opted for the Scotch on the Rocks pancakes: three dinner-plate sized pancakes, filled with butterscotch chips, coconut, and walnuts.  Each bite was more delicious than the previous; the pancakes so fluffy, so moist, so buttery, so…yum!  By the time I finished, I made it about 1/6 of the way through the breakfast; I was so full it hurt to breathe .  So, be prepared to really eat and be prepared to eat pancakes for the next 5 or 6 meals!  The check averaged about $15.00 per person for our table of 3, so the price was very reasonable for the amount of food received.

Pancakes filled with love!

Final verdict: A definite go-to breakfast spot for residents, tourists, and celebrities alike!