WHY For wine-friendly and delicious small dishes, such as paella, asparagus risotto with lemon and parmesan, and roasted salmon with couscous, plus satisfying true tapas like marinated olives and cured meats. WHAT Is it a set design or tapas bar? You be the judge. But first you’ll have to land one of the small wooden [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY The burger—made with Meyer beef, Niman Ranch bacon, wild greens, a brioche bun and either Point Reyes blue cheese or sharp Tillamook cheddar—may be even better than the one at Father’s Office On Mondays, the chef experiments and makes more creative burgers that he pairs with craft beers. WHAT We wish all neighborhood restaurants [...]
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WHY Basic pastas like cacio e pepe (spaghetti with pecorino, parmesan and pepper) that are so satisfying you’ll wonder what else they’re sneaking into the bowl. WHAT Step inside Pecorino, and you’ll be greeted by a gush of warmth—brick walls, cozy bistro tables, rustic chandeliers—and exuberant host Mario Sabatini. As he hops around the dining [...]
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WHY The irresistible pesce cuocopazzo—fresh whitefish with a horseradish-pistachio crust and sauce of white wine, garlic, lemon and fresh tomatoes. WHAT There’s always a crowd at this Brentwood trattoria, perhaps the best of the large Italian bunch in the neighborhood—so don’t even think of coming without a reservation. The ceilings are high (and so are [...]
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WHY French bistro food at reasonable prices—especially the $12 brunch specials—in a convivial setting. WHAT In a charming old house in the heart of Abbot Kinney lies a French café that combines Venice style with traditional bistro cooking. Terrine de canard, salade frisée aux lardons, moules frites, entrecôte grillée, soufflé au chocolat chaud—it’s all here, [...]
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WHY Despite its strip-mall location, this is the kind of intimate, authentic trattoria you dream of finding in your own backyard. WHAT You arrive to seductive, garlicky odors wafting through the door and the attentions of cute, heavily accented Italian waiters—and food that lives up the anticipatory promise, from the hearty pasta arrabbiata to a [...]
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WHY There are lots of Italian eateries in Brentwood; this one stands out because it’s friendly, homey and has reasonable prices. WHAT Trieste native Paolo Pasio has the warmth required of a good trattoria owner, and his dining room is inviting and often crowded. His kitchen turns out very fine Italian comfort food: beet salad, [...]
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WHY Cal-Mex cuisine at its gut-busting best, plus an excellent cadillac margarita and low prices. WHAT If you grew up in Southern California, this is the kind of restaurant you dreamt of when you went away to college. It boasts every Mexican-restaurant cliché: hokey paintings, a logo with a sombrero-sporting hombre, rustic ranchero-style leather chairs [...]
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WHY Honest fare at great prices: pourquoi pas? WHAT So many restaurants claim to be a neighborhood bistro these days, but it’s a shock to actually find one. Le Petit Café is the real deal, with chalkboard-toting waiters, tiny bistro tables topped with Provençal linens and fine, straightforward bistro food at surprisingly good prices. WHO [...]
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WHY Riki’s lobster roll—stuffed with rich tempura-fried lobster and drizzled with a sweet, creamy sauce—just might be the best non-dessert dessert in town. WHAT Don’t run when you spot the plasma TVs and beer ads hanging overhead at this quirky hybrid sushi restaurant and sports bar. Stay clear of the drab teriyaki and combo plates [...]
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