Diner Week: The Fountain Coffee Room...hidden for a reason

(Inside the Beverly Hills Hotel)
9641 Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90209
(310)276-2251
Everyday 7AM-7PM

To finish up this week, I'll be posting about a place that I have visited many times and have always wanted to write about. The Fountain Coffee Room at the Beverly Hills Hotel is a place that will remain as long as the Beverly Hills Hotel is around. It is also a place that some would describe as "where the locals go". Now, the locals in that neck of the woods are, as some may put it, "well to do". Do not let this discourage you. The food may be on the pricier side but rest assured it is food that is better than average by a good amount AND it's a small price to pay for some who love to eat amongst the stars... who eat here all the time. I have yet to show up and not see at least some actor, model or musician hanging out and chatting about. In fact, can you spot the actor in this picture above? He's there I promise.

First let me get to the nitty gritty. Their silver dollar pancakes are the junk. They don't play around when it comes to these hot cakes. They are some of the most consistent pancakes I've ever had in my life, and somehow I don't really know what makes them magical. They're fluffy and yet have some weight to them. I'd be hard pressed to find better batter to go with the syrup they serve it up with. By the way, the sausage in the background is veal sausage. Can you say, "Oh My"?

A classic breakfast that I enjoy treating myself to is hash and eggs. But, when I really want to treat myself to this dish I come here. Their hash is out of this world. Most people's hash is on the saltier side and lacks a tremendous amount of character or something that you can walk away remembering as special. Their's defies normalcy. It could pretty much be put between two pieces of bread and eaten straight up. The spices are a mystery to my palate, but if you're looking for something kick butt you should give this a whirl.

Small menu things to mention. The coffee is awesome, they have their own signature blend, and they always make sure you're getting the good part of the pot. "How" you might ask? They thow out the last quarter of each pot. The eggs with salmon caviar are an acquired taste but are great if you feel like waking up to fish. And, the shakes are classic, some of the best in town. You know how in Pulp Fiction they talk about the "Figh-dolla shake"? Well, their's is $5.50 and worth the extra 5o cents.

Parking is at your discretion. You can either feel rich and go the valet route, or you can just park on the streets surrounding the hotel which are 2 hour parking spots (not metered). When you go in the hotel's main entrance it's to your right and down the stairway. The Fountain Coffee Room will be right at the end of the small flight of steps. It's hidden from the prying eyes of most of LA, and the residents (that's right, people LIVE there) who usually go there love it that way.

This week has been fun. We've looked into a small window of diner culture in LA that has hopefully reminded many of you that the diner age has yet to completely be faded away by the trendy "impress me" attitude of LA.

PS. Apparently, I'm not the only one wanting to talk about diner love in LA. Here's this weeks article from Jonathan Gold on Du Par's.

Free Refills: No, get the coffee which IS because it's a mighty fine cup o' joe
Entree Price Ranges: breakfast plates start at $8.50 and can hit $22 if you get extravagant, for the 2 of us we put out about $35 or a little more + tip

Tara's Himalayan Cuisine...one of my top 3 this year!

10855 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310)836-9696
Lunch Mon-Sat 11AM-3PM
Dinner Mon-Sun 5PM-10PM

In LA you'll find that there are many different options when it comes to eating great food. We have some of the best cuisine in the world, at least when it comes to per capita. Rare is it though, that you feel you get to find exceptional standout food that you know the proprietor should probably be charging more for. I'm not talking fine dining really cause in my most humble of opinions, those owners are seeking to make an inflated buck. I liken it to how much it costs when you go to the doctor for anything. I do want good service but I don't want to go broke over it. When I go out for food I feel like I should feel like I paid for a good meal. Not going and having the opinion of "well...let the punishment fit the crime".

Recently I have made one such discovery. A small hole in the wall place called Tara's Himalayan Cuisine has become one of me and Celeste's favorite finds for this year. Not only is this a great find but in all honesty it's officially one of our favorite restaurants this year period.

Me and Celeste were on our way home from work trying to find this one spot on our list of "to go" places but they were closed on Mondays and so we kept looking. This was one of the few times you'll ever hear me saying "thank you for the traffic on Venice Blvd". The traffic made it easy to spot lots of places that we weren't as familiar with and Tara's happened to be one of them. I immediately made a U-turn once I saw they were open and parked right out front. We stepped into a charming little dining area with an exposed kitchen on the right. It was cold outside that night and coming into the warm sweet place made things get better instantly.

Let me preface this by saying that in my life on this planet I have made many attempts to enjoy tea. I have thought to myself "so many people love tea...what in the world do they see in it"? To me, it's lots of smell with very little payoff. Smells great but to me tastes like hot water. I've tried many teas in an attempt to be proven wrong, all to sad disappointment. It's a bummer for me cause I feel there's this profound group of intellectuals sipping tea that I will never be a part in conversation. Until now. We sat down and the lady (whom I can only assume is the owner and possibly named Tara as she pointed out small personal tidbits about the place) was quick to offer us some tea when we mentioned how cold it was outside. The tea comes out just as shown above, with milk already in it. She told us it was Nepalese tea which was made up of black tea and a mixture of Himalayan spices ( I believe cardamom and cloves were involved somewhere in the mixture). I can not tell you how much I liked it! I had 4 or 5 cups of it. I wanted to know if I could purchase the mix from her to always have it available (no such luck). It had lots of flavor and had a bouquet that drew you in to each sip. I pass by this place and think about just stopping in for the tea alone!

But let's not get carried away about the tea only, this place is still about the food and let's get to that. We started off with a couple of appetizers. Above shown is an order of Samosas. Their's consisted of mixed potatoes, peas, carrots in a perfect flaky crust and came with their own special tamarind chutney. They were smooth in flavor and texture and pretty darn big to boot.

Our other appetizer was their chicken Momos which came with their own special tomato achar. For those of you that don't know about momos, think Indian versions of dumplings. These were steamed to perfection and packed with tender chicken and floral spices. Their achar sauce was a pleasant departure from traditional achar in that it tasted of, what can only assumed, cashews which made a lovely complimentary to the abundance of flavor.

Their Saag Paneer may very well be my favorite version of this dish. Smooth spinach with chunks of paneer but the real secret in their saag is that it has cinnamon in it. Our's came with a full stick resting inside. This along with some other secret spices added a subtle sweetness that sneaks up on you and makes this very standard plate super memorable.

Their Chicken chili had chicken that was battered in chick pea flour, and sauteed in ginger, garlic, onion, tomato and bell peppers. As you'll notice their "chili" is very far from conventional American chili which makes us think of this pot of stew with beans that has enough heat to it to melt the fillings in your mouth. Not so with this dish, but more of an abundance of earthy flavors caressing the moist chicken with just a touch of after burn.

Their Lamb sekuwa is a sizzling platter of small strips of lamb that were tandoori oven baked with ginger, garlic and a special blend of Himalayan spices with a hint of soy sauce. This plate rocked and was gone in no time flat. The lamb was super tender and very moist despite having been tandoori cooked and may I add that the pepper popped in flavor all over this stuff but wasn't overkill. The onions were tasty enough to eat on there own and overall this plate is winner in every aspect.

We finished up our meal and at this point we were elated with everything including the wonderful service. She asked us would we like some dessert and that she had just made her carrot pudding? She could have told us anything and we would have bought it we were that happy. But oddly enough carrots wasn't what I was expecting for dessert. Her Carrot pudding was crushed carrots cooked in milk, raisins, and cream. We were pleasantly surprised at how much we liked this. If you were take a bite without anyone telling you what this was you might not guess that it was made with carrots except by the color. It had a mild sweetness with a thick wheat texture. It was gobbled up.

We weren't really paying attention to prices and we knew what to expect from previous Indian types of meals. Not so with Tara's! Super affordable be thy name!

This is by far one of those places that has tremendous quality and service all at "I'm stealing from your children prices". They have the incredible combination of not your completely standard fare (but familiar enough), great prices, they DELIVER, have wonderful service, take card, and to boot are hidden enough as to not have the place be packed all the time and yet positioned as to attract the many who sit in traffic. Serendipity has blessed me again!

PS. Here's the menu...remember they deliver! And on another side note, Tara's only uses fresh, locally grown produce and spices direct from Nepal. They really "do" authentic!

Free Refills: Yes...get the tea and fall in love!
Entree Price Ranges: Lunch is $5 to $7.50 and dinner $6 to $11.50 (but most are $9 or less)

Industry Cafe & Jazz...Ethiopian Culture meets American Culture

6039 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-6633
Sun-Thurs 11AM-Midnight
Fri-Sat 11AM-1:30AM

Being a musician, and more importantly a bassist, who plays both electric and upright, I find that it becomes an everyday occurence to see myself gravitating to people who share a love of the same things. Since upright bass is synonomous with Jazz, it's no coincidence that I've been to plenty of jazz clubs here in LA including all of the prominent ones that the big players get featured at.

In Culver City there's the blink-and-you'll-miss-it restaurant called Industry Cafe and Jazz that features great jazz, great Ethiopian food (as well as some soul food bites). The beauty of the place is that it's open pretty late. I find it to be a beautiful marriage of great cultures. It's been said that Jazz is the only true musical heritage we have. It was born here in America and is every bit American as the hard working people that it was birthed from.

I won't go into huge details here, but I'll tell you in a nutshell that the food is wonderful and is served by people who aim to please. The types of food are standard Ethiopian fare but don't let that fool you if you've never had Ethiopian. There's much to be said about their incredible culture and even more so their food! Rich in spices and textures, it's a foodie's delight!

Here's one of their standard but very well done meals all on injera (wouldn't really be Ethiopian without it). Shown are the collard greens on the left, salad on the right, lentils and chick peas on the top and bottom, and in the center are their lamb tibbs and chicken tibbs. The meats were super tender and mouth wateringly savory.

Just wanted to show you a little bit of a closer shot of the lamb tibbs. Why? Cause I wanted to give it an honorable mention amongst all the lamb tibbs I've had including in all of Little Ethiopia (where there happened to be a festival this past weekend...had to make a mention of it as it was an unexpected treat to walk through).

As for the jazz, you can't go wrong in LA and they get some great players popping in to throw it down. They also have poetry and some special events that support the community. Parking is street parking, and luckily if you go for dinner (after 6) all parking is free. Treat yourself to some culture soon...ours and theirs!

PS. I'll be back again soon to write up about the soul food if it's happenin'.

Free refills: No
Entree Price Range: $8-$11 for the Combos, $9 and below for everything else

The York...Highland Park's very own Cheers

5018 York Blvd.
Highland Park, CA 90042
(323)255-9675
Open Daily 5PM-2AM

I've been noticing a recent pattern of gastropubs in my posting. Maybe it's the cheaper food, maybe it's the desire to try newer beers with friends, or maybe it's to see who's stepping up in this LA dining trend. Whatever the case may be, I'm glad this trend is happening. There are lots of plusses and very few cons to deal when it comes to gastropubs. One of the precious parts about it is the fact that it brings people together without the pretension of only having beer and getting wasted.

One of the newer (only a couple months old) installations to the scene is The York (that just so happens to be on York Blvd). I will attempt to round out this post with a quick concise review.

(right)

(left)
When you walk in you have one big room divided down the center by the bar. To your right is the main bar side (stools, counter and tables for 2) and to your left is the more "sit down and bring a party of people" side.

The beer selection is decent and while not extensive they have everything that most people would enjoy and a great staff looking out for everyone. The food is a mixed bunch including small AND large plates. By far, not your average prepared dishes. Whoever designed their menu was obviously trying to turn a few heads. Shown above for instance is their "take-on-a" Pulled Pork Cuban sandwich which had ham, gruyere, pickles and mustard aioli. While not Cuban in the purest sense (which I'm glad about), this was fantastic rendition of the "worker's lunch-time special". It was very well balanced and the fresh ham and gruyere made for a repeatable item on my list.

For something more familiar, here's there cheddar burger, and for their customization, they included spicy harissa aioli and pickled onions on it. This is a pretty killer burger. The patty is pretty thick and the bun is super soft. We ordered ours medium rare and guess how it came out? Perfectly medium rare...practically text book. I can still smell the fresh beef in my nose. Quite a memorable plate indeed. To round out the plate, they throw in their rocket fries which have steak fries sized taste in much thinner fries (if you want to just have a lighter snack when you're there, their fries are perfect) . If you come here and eat meat, this is a must try!

Their menu changes seasonally but some of the other items worth mentioning are their blackened catfish, the cheese and salami plate, and for sure their truffle grilled cheese with tomato salad. All incredibly good and the prices are easy on the pocket.

The environment is super friendly and heck, they even had someone with their kids having dinner. It's loud but not unbearable and they've got great taste in music spinning throughout the tavern. They've really done a great job in creating an environment that you'd want to stay at and yet not even worry about how much you're spending.

Small announcement: My next post will be on my next giveaway!

Free Refills: No
Entree Price ranges: $8 to $14

Cheebo's...In honor of our current sky

7533 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323)850-7070
Mon-Thu 8AM-11PM
Fri-Sat 8AM-12PM

The sky still has it's fresh layer of orange thanks to the fires that have crisped the south land. All that orange has reminded me of our very own Cheebo restaurant here in Hollywood. If you've ever been patrolling down Sunset you'll know that is quickly one of the most memorable places on the strip thanks to it's orange artsy exterior.

Inside your eyes are treated to pop art laden walls while your butts are treated to "getting-to- know-all-about-your-nearest-neighbor" seating. And though the seating is sometimes tight it's always been a friendly environment...maybe Cheebo's attracts all the right people.

While perusing their menu you'll notice it's quite eclectic and for the most part healthy. They strive to use organic, all natural, nitrate and hormone free products, but this doesn't mean flavorless. In fact, most of their plates exude a natural in your face experience. Take their Cheeborrito for instance. While possibly one of the simplest items on their menu, they have paid attention to make sure the the bacon is chopped and spread evenly throughout. They give you 3 extra items of your choice to accompany the eggs, hash browns, bacon and salsa already inside the tortilla.

I'm not going to mention everything on their menu though most of it I could easily write about. I will however make mention of two often bought items. One being the Porkwich. Their description of it is "slow roasted organic pork, pickles, roasted onion, manchego cheese, tarragon may on ciabatta". My description, "pork holiness nestled between artisanal bread". This is one of the "slamminest" (non BBQ) pork sandwiches on the West side. By the way, I love the chips that come with this plate (as well as many of their other plates), they're freshly made and never too salty.

The other favorite is their pizza. The crust is soft on the inside and a little less soft on the outside, the cheese is smooth with lots of "string" character, the toppings are very fresh, and it's consistently like this. It comes out on a wood plank and is good enough for one (with an appetite) or two people (if you're eating light) . Their pizza is by far above average but obviously more artisanal and therefore wasn't on my pizza week postings. That's not to say it isn't absolutely fabulous and worth ever cent you pay for it, it's just not your traditional pie (to some it's even better than tradition) . Pictured above is their Alfredo Slab, a white pizza with ricotta, ham, spinach and mushrooms. It's one of Celeste's favorites and I think has been ordered by someone in our party almost every time we've been. Now if you're going for take out, you may want to to order their famous "slab" which is a 3 foot slab of pizza that can be sectioned off for toppings.

This is just a sampling of the many glorious items they have to offer and though I only mentioned day time meals they will blow your socks off as well when it comes to dinner. I really do wish I could name off all the plates that are special, but I think you'll just have to go and discover for yourself. Oh man, before I forget, they have a killer Arnold Palmer...it's seriously my favorite. It's fresh lemonade and not your typical tea to boot!

Parking can be weird depending on when you're there. It's a safe bet to park on the street around the place but just pay attention to the signs...it is West Hollywood after all. The staff are pretty on it and though the place has some serious hustle and bustle to accompany the noise level, it's generally a pleasant experience always. When you do decide to go, try and grab a spot on their patio on a sunny day, it always reminds me about how nice it is to enjoy Hollywood.

PS. celebs go here...often... & FREE WIFI.

Free Drink Refills: Yes
Entree Price Range: Breakfast/lunch $7 to $20 and dinner is $10 to $24 with one special plate (28 day dry aged Prime all natural NY strip) setting you back $35

BIG PS. I have a winner for the ticket give away, thanks to all of you who gave it a shot. Keep checking the site for more opportunities (sometimes they're not the subject of the post) and BIG HINT, I'll have another REALLY REALLY soon.

India's Clay Oven...romance is in the air...maybe it's the spices

7233 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323)936-1000
Sun-Thur 10:30AM-10:30PM
Fri-Sat 10:30AM-11PM

I miss seeing people. I miss meeting people. At heart many people say that they could never label me as "not outgoing," but they forget about the time when they first met me and I was quiet. Observant. Wanting to impress, so I chose my words more carefully. Then as time went on I became quite the animated outspoken person that they know me as now, but that only came with spending time with them. My wife Celeste can vouch on everything I just said. I think this mentality is what keeps me the way I am when I visit restaurants. I'm never one to start talking to people I don't know right off the bat. I'll go, and try and be as inconspicuous as possible. I almost desire to be forgettable. Maybe inwardly I want people to work hard to get to know me. Who knows? I try and recall when Celeste (my wife) met me. Was I this hard to get to know? Oh that's right...she pretty much blew me off the night I met her...so at least you can conclude that I was not assertive (it was with persistence that I gained victory) . Anyways, these were things I pondered last time we went out to India's Clay Oven. I still love the fact that I go out on dates with her.

India's Clay Oven isn't a romantic spot per se but I've found that romance is what you make it and where you bring it. Dare I say it can be at a bus stop if you make it right. The place is nice and cozy though and rocking LA's Indian food scene for about 17 years now. They gotten raves from LA Times, LA Weekly, LA Magazine and Elmer Dills from channel 7 and they bring their A game to each customer that comes in, so much so that customers keep coming back. While dining there you may notice them welcoming people by name cause people return, and return with friends. The best type of viral marketing.

One of their items they're especially known for are their samosas. They are without a doubt something special. Lots of samosas suffer from blandness and too hard or thick of a shell. This is not the case with these. They have a knack for being super consistent with how light the outside is and how smooth the potato is with the peas enhancing the subtle spices. If you go in, these are a must try. Not to mention they're pretty hearty sized and a good price.

This time around, we also grabbed an order of Lamb Boti kabab, the Paneer Korma Curry and a plate of Murg (Chicken) Buryani. The Lamb Boti had pretty massive chunks of lamb that came out sizzling on a platter with sweet onions. We drizzled some lemon on it and the explosive flavor on each bite was a knockout. The lamb was moist bearing some sweetness from the onions and the spices were pungent in all those wonderful clay oven ways.

The Paneer Korma curry is without a doubt one of my faves there. It's not completely smooth which is great for the flavors of this dish. Sometimes Korma has the tendency to be a little too creamy where it weights you down early on in your meal. Their's is rich but not heavy and laced throughout with cashews and onion. It's lightly spiced and quite memorable when you have it. The paneer itself is firm and it's mild flavor complemented. I could eat at this plate once or twice a month and be totally happy.

The last words on India's Oven is that the surrounding area is street parking, and after 6 they have valet (if you know the area you know why) . To complete a night of makeshift romance, after you've grabbed your dinner you can head over a couple of doors to LA's best and I think only dedicated movie revival house to catch a double feature.

In the end, I think that this site is my form of getting people to know about me without me having to deal with my shyness. Thanks for partaking in my conversation.

Free Refills: Yes but they also have rocking India's Special beer (as well as other assorted Indian beer)
Entree Price Range: $9 to $15 (one item being $19) and combination plates run $16 to $19

Jaragua...new kid on the block can play with the big boys

4493 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323)661-1985
Open Everyday Noon-10PM

Over this weekend we found a new spot that's totally worth a mention. Jaragua is located on the Saladorean strip of Beverly (between Vermont and Western) at the the far West end of the block. We had seen when it was in the process of opening a short while ago and made sure to mark it on our "go to" list. What really enticed us initially was the fact that it was a Salvadorean spot that was obviously trying to step it up to finer dining (most of the restaurants on that strip are mom and pop spots that are more about the food than the appearance...to say the least).

The interior is, as you can see, more of a family dining type of atmosphere.

We were promptly seated and ordered quickly. We started off with their traditional appetizer platter which had sliced green plantains, fried yucca, one empanada, fried plantain chips and a patelito. Let me start right off the bat and say that their empanada that they gave was pure bliss in my mouth. I had never had a banana and cream empanada and this thing rocked. The yucca was lightly fried making it much easier to enjoy as it's subtle flavor wasn't hindered by heavy batter. The plantains were perfectly ripe making them bold in their sweetness and the pastelito was a baby fist sized ball of meat and vegetables. A wonderful platter and would be worth going back for alone..but it gets betters.

What kind of Salvadorean restaurant would be complete without pupusas? None. It was about 6 inches in diameter and (the one we got) filled with revuelta. Revuelta is a mixture of chicharon, cheese and beans. While not the best I've had, it was completely worth it as everyone's revuelta pupusas taste a little different and are thereby pretty customized. Their's was nicely made with meat of notably good quality, wasn't too salty and also good as it was also a decent size.

Ah...Salvadorean tamales, always a treat. Celeste got for herself one chicken and one pork. Now, she could have gotten one and been just fine, cause the things were huge...almost twice the size of your everyday tamale. That said, I'm glad she did though, because if she hadn't, we wouldn't have known that they use different flavoring for the masa for the different types of meat. If you haven't tried a Salvadorean tamale, you really must. The style of masa in the first place is considerably different (it's smooth and moist with a sweeter flavor) , and there's always one green olive (pleasantly mild) , and a couple potato chunks. Even if you share, make sure you at least try one the next time you have a chance, no matter where you are!

The entree we got (and should have shared!) was their Pollo Encebollado which came with traditonal rice (carrots, fava beans and peas mixed in). I think an entire onion was used and every ring was tasty. This was a massive plate of food with a quarter of chicken and all the vegetables within. The chicken was tender and moist and the onions added lots of character to it. A little bit of citrus zing rounded out the sauce that everything was sitting in. What a great plate of food this was and they whipped out pretty fast to boot.

They have parking in the back and there's plenty of street parking in the area. The staff was quick and very courteous, though I did have one small problem with the waitress who brought us our check (not the waitress who was helping us for everything else). She brought the check out and actually waited right there by the table for me to sign my bill. Kind of rude...but I think she was new...in fact I'm almost positive she was. Overall I look forward to going back as the prices were really good and I'd love to support a local newcomer that I feel deserves a chance to get going.

Free refills: No

Entree Price Range: Sampler platter was $7, main entrees are $9 to $14 (remember lots of food!), and tamales are about $2.25 as well as the pupusas.

Largo...an evening out with the Section Quartet doing Radiohead

432 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323)852-1073
Weekdays 8PM till late close
Weekends 8:30PM till late close

I expanded my reaches this weekend. I'm in a play over at the Open Fist Theatre on Santa Monica. I play every weekend there till Mid-November, but I did have to miss last Saturday night due to a previous engagement which was to go out and catch the Section Quartet at Largo who was performing Ok Computer in honor of the 10 year anniversary of the release.


This is the Section Quartet when I caught them at the Troubadour doing Paranoid Android

The show was amazing and I'm thankful for the complete package of good food and a great show. Rarely does Largo let you down in the food department, mainly because they have a pretty limited selection of dinner entrees and so they keep things pretty consistent. The following pics were taken creatively as no flash photography is allowed in Largo. How'd I do it? 3 saucers boucing light from the small votive candle on the table. Not too shabby, but please ignore the "warm" hue.

Celeste had the Penne ALLA Vodka with salmon and chopped asparagus. She always gets pasta there and loves it...last time I think it was bow-ties with sausage. Their penne was al dente, lightly dressed with their creamy Vokda sauce, bearing the essense of tomatoes sauteed with garlic and small pieces of salmon and tender asparagus thoughout. It got a resounding yum from both of us.

One of my personal favorites is their Honey Chicken which consists of a lighly breaded chicken cutlet with their honey sauce drizzled on it with sides of creamy mashed potatoes and a spinach salad. This is by far my safest bet when I can't decide on what to eat. As many people as I've taken here, they've always loved this plate. The meat is pretty good size piece that doesn't die from the breading and balances perfectly with the honey sauce, and the potatoes aren't too heavy yet they're suffiecient for a hungry appettite. Love this meal!

Largo is an amazing place featuring some of LA's best talent like Jon Brion or the Watkins Family Hour, both which feature many of their high profile friends that just pop in to play on stage with them. It's an amazing date place and as long as you pay attention to when people appear on their website calendar (make reservations for sure) you will guaranteed have a memorable evening. I know I always do!



Free Refills: Considering it's a bar would you be surprised that there are no free refills...I'm not.
Entree Price Ranges: Entrees are $16-17 (remember there's a cover too which varies depending on the band...but happily every cent of it goes to the artist)

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: Irv's Burgers (a small ode)

8289 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323)650-2456
Mon-Fri 7:30AM-8PM
Sat 8AM-7PM
Sun Closed
CASH ONLY

To wrap up my week we have our, beloved of many, hamburger stand called Irv's Burgers. Many know the story, and for those of you that don't you can click on their page and read about the drama they've gone through in the past to now have come out (mostly) on top. To make a long story short though, Irv's was about to be turned into a coffee shop and people gathered in one voice to rescue this little underdog. Letters were written and emails were sent and Irv's got saved. Why would people really care all that much about a burger stand? Why would people actually be compelled to do something when it's just a little hut that makes burgers and fries?

This woman. Her name is Sonia Hong (owner of Irv's) and people like her don't exist. She may be one of the only people in LA that I know that expresses genuine non-stop cheerfulness. Does she have glum days? Possibly. But, I would never know it cause whenever I see her she reminds me that the potential for people to be incredibly full of love is possible. She is a bit of happiness personified. When you show up you'll notice that she talks to everyone as if she knows them and has known them for years (often she does), calling them by name, and the one's that she doesn't know by name she still treats like family...with enthusiastic sweetness and meekness. She is one of the few people that understands that a huge part about what makes people come back is "you". No other business can get another Sonia cause there's only one of her, and she is Irv's.

As for the burgers she puts together, she is a master. The kind of person who can walk away and talk and come back right on time to flip it. She just knows...cause she's been doing it that long. Notice the plate. They all come like that. When you taste it you realize it really was just for me. Also, an odd fact is that she uses the picture to identify the person who ordered it (yes that's what I look like in case you're wondering...at least on that day) . A customized burger that always knocks you down. The patty was put together fresh, as well as fresh ingredients for everything else, but really that's the most I can say about it. The mystery of Irv's is shocking, cause there's no real understanding of "why" it tastes so good by the looks of it. She has some kind of magic going on that makes her simple burgers taste so good...almost too good for how simple they are. Maybe they're done better by some magical means, like maybe the laws of physics cease to exist in her kitchen. Bottom line is that people come back for this amazing burger and to be around her. It is a testament to her and to the burgers that are so beloved that she had enough people rally to her aid when she needed it most.

There's an actual eating area that's covered (which rocks now that we're about to start getting some rain) and parking is street parking which can sometimes be menacing in West Hollywood but it's well worth it. Or if you don't feel like going out, you'll be shocked to know that they deliver. They are THE ONLY burger stand I know that delivers. Bless them for this.

To many people reading this, this is old news but to those who don't know or have never heard of Irv's please go on down and be amazed. You'll not only feel at home, but you'll be at home having a burger that is a thing of terrifying deliciousness. Sonia, if you're reading this, may you live to be 100 and have Irv's to show for it the entire time.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Burgers run from $2.91 to $4.58 but just get the #1 combo for $5.08

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: The Burger Stand

3413 Crenshaw Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323)733-3133
Mon-Thurs 10AM-9PM
Fri-Sat 10-12AM
Sun 10AM-6PM
CASH ONLY

Small history lesson for people who don't know me so well. I grew up in Connecticut, but before you think of White Christmas Connecticut, let me explain that I lived in Bridgeport, in the projects. If I may, I'll say that when you're in it, it's nowhere near as bad as people often portray it to be. It's more like one big family of people who all understand the big picture. So when I begin to say that today's painfully good entry into the hall of burgerdom is in an area that some would deem too scary to tread foot upon, please stop being idiotic and prejudiced. In the neighborhood I grew up in, called Marina Village, there used to be a corner store that had a grill next to it. Say what you may about the griminess of the place, but they made real deal cheeseburgers that can only come from years and years of the same person making them just right. They pounded out and put together ground beef with their own blend of spices and topped them with, what had to have been, government cheese. I know you're laughing, but it's really good because it's a really hard cheese that, when melted, soaks into the meat. They were, to put it lightly, SPECTACULAR. The place got shut down eventually and went into disrepair, never to return. I would put that burger in any contest against the majors and I'm sure it would have placed. Sometimes you have a little bit of brilliance that is only shown to a small few and then fades away.

In LA we have a handful of places like that. One such place is The Burger Stand. Now I'm not going to tell you that it's like that place I grew up with (though it's pretty close), but after you've had plenty of great burgers, and then one leaves you saying "Wow...that was a good freaking burger", not once or twice that evening...but 20 or 30 times, then you have something extremely noteworthy. Not only that, if you look around on Google or any search engine, you're not going to find any reviews or websites for this place. So here's me showing love for one bit of "brilliance", one of my very own underdogs, that's worth the trip even if you live by the ocean.

Upon inspection, you'll notice there's no way to create the pretense that this is a picturesque restaurant burger. Don't let this fool you. The meat is much much better than most patties in LA...period. There's bit of toasted pepper in these obviously freshly made patties. When you order it takes them 4 or 5 minutes, cause they only make that thing once you've ordered. The burger itself has a HUGE explosive flavor to it. I hate getting so emotionally attached to certain meals...then I have a harder time explaining how DEVASTATING they are. Needless to say, if you like burgers, this is a place you should not miss that will put every Fatburger you've ever consumed recently to shame, standing heads and shoulders above most burgers in LA! Maybe THIS is what Fatburger used to be before they went the corporate route, after all they both started in the same neighborhood.

Now for tricky part. Parking is only street parking, but since this is on the Crenshaw strip, which happens to be one of LA's heaviest arterial routes, parking seems non existent until 7PM. Don't despair though, the first little street south of it has plenty of street parking on it. As stated above it's cash only, and though it's a short wait, there is no seating. But people, I can not stress this enough that this is one of the my top spots not to be missed. It's just freaking ridiculously good!

Free Drink Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Cheeseburger is around $4 and worth every cent!

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: The Original Marty's

10558 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 836-6944
Daily 7AM-6PM
CASH ONLY

When did LA turn into a health mecca? Why is it that Angelenos started converting to being healthy and giving up eating what they liked? Was it propaganda from movies and the stars that are made to look like perfection personified? Was it the fact that the news told them obesity would hit you no matter what you do cause America is just full of fat people? I doubt it. I think it slowly crept into people consciouses when fine dining told us to eat less and less. Thank you Californian cuisine. In LA we have a life of excess but eat less portions (and healthier) to accommodate that lifestyle. Slightly backwards, but it's just the way it is. There is still one untouched category that we Californians celebrate, and that's the burger. The burger by definition guarantees a little bit of weight gain and the bigger and greasier it is, (often) the better it is. Marty's has a burger that made them famous ("the combo") and is not for the weak of heart. It's a burger and hot dog with chili all in between one bun. You know what? It just hit me...the only people still alive are the healthy ones and they open businesses that cater to their needs. Sadly though this explains why havens like Marty's are a dying breed. Thankfully there are still plenty of people that succumb to it's goodness.

The cheeseburger that you see here is what I would define as "All American". Now I'm not talking about the dying burger joint known as All American Burger (thank you Fast Times at Ridgemont High) . I'm talking about a simple personification of chomping into a piece of cow that makes you thank God we can live in a country as great as ours where we can live and afford to eat meals like this. Where the little guy can open up this tiny little hut (some people's walk in closets are bigger) and can last a very very...very long time. The one guy I know who works there has been working there for like 20 years. How's the burger taste? Dang good. Don't you hate when food writers tell you something's good? That means nothing to you personally but what can I say...it's really darn good. The patties are grilled to perfection without any dryness whatsoever, the tomatoes are rockin and always fresh, and the buns are light but have some grip-able mass to them that doesn't fall apart after two bites. Here, they make a textbook burger that defines the word classic.

And another classic...the split grilled hot dog with diced onions, relish and mustard on a lightly grilled bun. I think the hot dog is one of the best food items you can get at stand that reflects the age and seasoned metal of an old grill. Juicy, smokey and just plain yummy.

This hut is a landmark and therefore won't be going anywhere anytime soon unless an act of God causes it to crumble. The parking is only street parking which kind of is a bummer but they're quick and worth the short wait. Honestly, this burger stand is one of the few the proud that will outlive us all probably but especially if you have too many of their combos.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Pretty darn cheap...too cheap to print...and I don't have a menu in front of me to quote it.

Osteria Mozza...Mario and Nancy, I'm sorry but I love you

6602 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323)297-0100
Mon-Sat 5:30PM-12AM

Me writing this post today is an obligation. I know full well about what every person who's gone to Osteria Mozza thinks about the place. You can't read too many reviews online and not know that this place is one of the new big hitters on the scene that is a force to be reckoned with. But, like many foodie types in LA, haven't we all become a little jaded to good food? Mario Batali isn't such a fan of bloggers and it's highly warranted, but can he blame me for loving his and Nancy Silverton's restaurant? Dare I say the word transcendent fell off our lips while dining here more than just once!

Nancy, if by some weird chance you see this I'm sure you spotted the only time my camera went into the air. Of course it would be one of the few times that you weren't creating one of those incredible mozzarella dishes that are truly devastating (for those that don't know who she is, she's the one with curly auburn hair next to the tall guy behind the counter looking quizzically at me) . You were so focused on making these insanely delectable creations, that you never smiled except when you looked up and saw that sweet little girl sitting in front of you. Your smile is hard not to smile back at. Next time we go we'll go and sit at the bar (which like Pizza Mozza is the secret to walking in without a reservation...you have to wait but it's never a bad wait really and they have a killer bar) .

By the way, the waiter with the green tie...you rock man. Thanks for the killer service. On to the food...

Celeste and I wanted to really give ourselves as much of a night out without breaking our bank so we ordered 2 antipasti (one from the mozzarella bar) , shared a primi plate (which many people do so they don't stuff themselves), had individual secondi plates and shared a dolci. What you're looking at above is their Burrata plate made from the Mozzarella bar. Burrata, for the uninformed, is mozzarella with a center that has cream and mozzarella. Theirs came with bacon, marinated escarole and caramelized shallots. Is masterpiece too strong a word for food? This was an elegant piece of work. The creaminess of the cheese with the slightly salty bacon resting on their artisanal bread with the escarole adding to the smooth texture...ahh magnifique! Words can barely contain the perfection within.

We also had the Crispy Pigs Trotter with cicoria and mustard. Like many, I had never had a trotter, nor did I even know what a trotter was. Our green tied waiter was quick to explain the intricasies of this amazing cuisine. Now while I can't tell everyone that this is for them, I can say that it was unlike anything I've ever had. The feet from a pig with some what of a noble bloodline are cut off and cooked at a very low heat for several hours until they are mostly liquified and then they pick out the bones. The is then shaped into croquettes that are deep fried. This to me was one of the transcendent plates I mentioned earlier. I could come back and eat appetizers at the bar...forever.

This is a half plate (remember we split it) of the Orrechiette with sausage and Swiss chard. One of their more popular dishes, and when you taste it it's easy to see why. It's familiar enough and yet the secret blend of earthy spices with those small chunks of sausage (gosh I wish I knew what kind of sausage that was) made this a perfect "breather" course. By the way, when they ask you if you care for the garnish, say yes, it added a certain special quality to the entire texture of the plate.

Beef Brasato with polenta and horseradish gremolata was my main course. They brought me a knife that served no purpose since the meat was so tender you could cut it with a spoon...a dull spoon. It was a very well composed plate with the the polenta in sauce adding a nice soft texture to the "fall apart" beef. The trick that really tied this together was the gremolata (typically added to an ossobuco plate) it added a little bit of sweet spice to each bite...bravo!

Celeste chose the grilled quail wraped in pancetta with radicchio and honey. The first thing that struck her was the overall sweetness to the meat. They did something they didn't write on the menu that infused these two little birds with almost a smokey maple flavor. The exterior had all the savory flavor of the pancetta and the sweetness of honey, and radicchio was a perfect match (she thought it might have even been sauteed in the pan juices). Now, I know many stray away from small bird choices as a result of just enough restaurants leaving too many bones to deal with pleasantly. This was not the case here, the only bones present were the legs and wings.

To finish off the evening we nabbed their Blackberry jam crostata. Basically, a pastry crust layered with tangy blackberry jam with little scoops of vanilla gelato. Simple but really hit the spot.

I can not find a single thing wrong with this place. When you go out for fine dining this should be what it's all about, great food, superb service, and you leave going "that was worth every penny of my hard earned cash". I can say all of that about Osteria Mozza. Parking is valet but there's plenty of street parking if you don't mind looking and taking a very short walk. In the end I just want to say thank you personally Mario and Nancy for giving LA this wonderful place and I hope to see you next time I pop in.

Free Drink Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Antipasti are $10 to $20, Primi are $17 to $19, and Secondi are $26 to $29. Look to spend about an average of a little over $50 per person and yes it's WELL worth it!