Barney’s Beanery – 8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

(323) 654-2287

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.

Sometimes you just want a burger. Let me clarify: Sometimes I just want a burger. Not a fast food burger, even if In-N-Out makes a killer one, but I’m looking for a hand-formed burger, made with good quality beef, a little bleu cheese, fresh tomatoes, red onions and lettuce and a bun that’s tasty, but not too doughy. Seems an easy proposition, but it’s not. There’s a handful of great burger joints in LA that are known for their predictable deliciousness, but it shouldn’t take a jaunt across town to satisfy that craving. (410 Boyd in Little Tokyo made my favorite burger ever, tucked into rosemary bread–but those were the days of Kash Brouillet, long before he opened Blue Star.)

One hot afternoon, not too many days ago, we stepped into 38 Degrees Ale House on Main in Alhambra to sample one of their 40+ beers on draught. Their beer menu was pretty impressive, packing a good number of classic brews, with some we’d never heard of and some local faves like Eagle Rock’s Solidarity. The menu seemed pretty standard bar & grill fare, with burgers, salads and the like, but I was focused on the burger. I chose the namesake 38 Degrees Burger with Angus beef, bleu cheese, onion relish, baby arugula, and garlic aioli. It’s hard to get a burger cooked rare most places, but here it came out delightfully red, not pink, not pinkish–but red, just the way I like it. My husband’s cheeseburger was cooked perfectly medium well and my daughter tossed back the mini sloppy joe sliders like a pro.

The decor is very early-2000 brewpub, but a lot of seating faces huge big screens that are playing various sporting events, so it’s a good place to go watch a game or several. Considering the amount of sports watching going on in the bar area, the space isn’t too noisy at all (and there is a separate dining section). Settle in with friends, drink a beer or two, enjoy the AC.

I’ll be back for the burger.

38 Degrees Ale House & Grill

100 W. Main St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 282-2038
www.38degreesalhambra.com/

Dolores – 11407 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

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!

The other day I was meandering home in my ‘hood in downtown LA, which some might call The Nickel, when I happened upon a lovely little diner called, you guessed it, The Nickel.

This place is everything an old fashioned diner should be–and more! The Nickel Diner takes traditional greasy spoon fare and vamps it up to a whole new level. They’ve re-imagined burgers, sandwiches, cupcakes, and sodas to beat the band.

While they serve incredible breakfast dishes up until 3 pm (see photo below if you don’t believe me),

I opted for one of their amazing cheeseburgers, served with avocado and bacon on a fresh and light bun. This baby really hit the spot. (And for 10 bucks, it was more than enough to fill me up.)

Another thing I really love about this homey place is their sodas. They have an impressive selection of fun, all-natural sodas ranging from rootbeer and creme soda to apple soda. I only wish they sold beer and wine, but if you are nice to your server, you could probably BYOB. It’s that laid back.

The atmosphere here is rich with that old diner feel, featuring wood walls covered in diner signs and comfy upholstered booths. It can get somewhat crowded and lively during weekend brunch time and also in the evenings when the hipsters come to Downtown to take over the bar scene.  No matter what though, this meal is worth the wait.

And to finish up that delightfully cheesy dish of Smac ‘n Cheese or Mama’s Spaghetti and Meatballs? Yup. They have bacon and maple syrup donuts. These succulent delicacies will have you tossing in your sleep for more.

If you try only one thing at The Nickel Diner, be sure to indulge in one of their creative desserts. Not into bacon? That’s okay, try the Cher cupcake (sprinkled on top with strawberry poprocks) or the luscious red velvet cake or the s’mores cake, which your server will actually LIGHT ON FIRE next to your table. You know, just to make sure the marshmallows are nicely toasted.

I am so lucky to have this spot in my neighborhood. The restaurant is entirely run by a team of women chefs who support women in small local businesses. And if my post isn’t enough to compel you to make the trip, check out the review of The Nickel Diner at 10PM Monday, October 19^th on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives“ with Guy Fieri. But don’t worry–no matter how big The Nickel gets, it will always have that humble, down-home feel.

The Nickel Diner

524 S. Main St.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

213-623-8301

www.nickeldiner.com

Hours:

Breakfast and Lunch:

Tues-Sun: 8 am-3:30 pm

Dinner:

Tues-Sat: 6 pm-11 pm

Closed Mondays

There’s no mistaking this summer event because it’s all in the name: Outdoor Cinema Food Fest L.A.

Billed as “the ultimate picnic” with “no basket required,” here’s the breakdown:

Outdoor – Downtown’s Exposition Park is where most take place; Grand Hope Park and Beverly Hills’ La Cienega Park will also host.

Cinema – Swingers, The Big Lebowski… View schedule online.

Food Fest – 60 food trucks on rotation throughout July and August.

Among the 10 trucks set for this weekend, I’m saving room for a cone from Lake Street Creamery, L.A.’s transient ice cream makers who have our streets a-buzz this summer for Donut-flavored scoops. According to their Twitter page, there’s a new flavor named Don Draper; like the man himself, this flavor could be yours only if you can track him down.

Outdoor Cinema Food Fest
Los Angeles, Calif.
Saturdays, July and August 2010, 6-11pm
Admission $8 each or 4 for $5 each (plus extra for parking)
OutdoorCinemaFoodFest.com

Restaurant week in Palm Springs is a great excuse to sample favorite home-away-from-home restaurants in L.A.’s glam, palm-lined playground for a fraction of the cost. Deals at over 100 restaurants last through the weekend, ending this Sunday, June 13.

At Jackalope Ranch guests opt for a $36-menu of high-styled southwestern courses including local corn chowder and boneless kobe short ribs (restaurant week only), sip aged tequila during the venue’s reputable happy hour, and explore the lawns and waterfalls of the hotel-like grounds that spread over six acres. Quintessentially Palm Springs, even though it’s only been open a year and a half, the ranch is the perfect place to dress in hot white and sandals that sparkle.

Jackalope Ranch in Indio, on the eastern edge of the Palm Springs area, makes margaritas with fresh hand-squeezed lime juice and organic agave nectar.

Palm Springs Restaurant Week
June 4-13, 2010
www.palmspringsrestaurantweek.com

Jackalope Ranch
Lunch 11:30 to 3pm daily
Happy hour 3:30 to 6pm nightly
Dinner 5pm nightly
80-400 Highway 111
Indio, CA 92201
760-342-1999

Palm Springs is a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles.

French Quarter                                       7985 Santa Monica Blvd., W. Hollywood, CA                      www.frenchquarterwest.com

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.

Baby Blues

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”.

There are 6 Vendys L.A. finalists:

India Jones Chow Truck
Hot Dog Kings
Bigmista’s Barbecue
Nina’s Food (pictured)
Grilled Cheese Truck
Tacos el Galuzo

A tax-deductable fifty bucks admission price gets you food from the best street vendors in Los Angeles, drinks too, and goes toward raising money for the movement to protect vendors’ rights.

Vendys L.A.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
4-7pm
MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California
Streetvendor.org