We previewed the new summer and happy hour menus on the patio at famed Top Chef Stefan Richter’s westside restaurant, Stefan’s at L.A. Farm. The ambiance on the patio was delightful, with comfy sofas surrounding communal fire pit granite tables, and space in the corner for musical entertainment. We sampled some drinks from the bar, including the [...]
WHY Well-crafted, upscale cocktails and vibrant American cuisine in a classy setting. WHAT Don’t be surprised when walking through the non-descript entrance to Sonny’s Hideaway—the gorgeous restaurant and bar more than make up for the lacking aesthetics of the facade. Once inside, snag a seat at the bar and watch the masterful mixologists shake and stir to [...]
May 10, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Hip and friendly, with a sangria and tapas menu on Thursdays, when the bustling local farmers’ market comes to life outside its door. WHAT This tented bistro is bright by day and romantic at night, with an always-interesting and usually wonderful menu of multiethnic offerings, from red chile vegetable egg rolls to warm spinach [...]
April 7, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Free delivery, online ordering and easy takeout of such good things as Cobb salad, grilled artichokes, mac ‘n cheese with broccoli, chic pizzas and grilled half chicken with a warm arugula salad. WHAT This shabby-chic San Francisco transplant delivers its reasonably priced, modern-American comfort food in the Miracle Mile area, and it also does [...]
April 2, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY The excellent ‘game night’ picnic boxes were designed for nearby Dodger Stadium, but they’re available in all seasons and also work great for the Bowl, office meetings or even a take-home supper. WHAT One of the leaders of the Echo Park boom (it’s not evil gentrification, it’s a renaissance!), this starkly stylish café offers [...]
March 30, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY A vibrant range of prepared dishes, salads and baked goods to take out. WHAT This flagship of the Marmalade mini-empire doesn’t have the seating of its siblings but has loads of tempting choices for takeout. Salads range from herb chicken ravioli in pesto to roasted beets with oranges and candied walnuts in rosemary vinaigrette; [...]
March 25, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Exemplary wine list; creative and confident cooking. WHAT This is certainly a contender for the title of “Best Upscale Restaurant” in the San Gabriel Valley. The patio’s the place for lunch; for dinner, the suavely modern dining rooms beckon. Standouts include the superb bouillabaisse and the grilled beef tenderloin. There’s usually a bread pudding [...]
March 24, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY To worship at the shrine of California cuisine. WHAT Wolfgang Puck still works the room from time to time, when he’s not off overseeing his global empire, but this is really Lee Hefter’s kingdom, and it’s a magical kingdom indeed. Hefter-Puck (with chef de cuisine Tetsu Yahagi) have kept the standards at peak level [...]
February 21, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY Because the food is much better than at most Hollywood scene restaurants. Extras are the good bar menu (tater tot fondue!) and the live jazz. WHAT Owner/chef Eric Greenspan may be rumpled, exuberant and sometimes annoyingly loud, but his cooking is elegant. He set out to create a destination restaurant that combines serious food [...]
January 9, 2013 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
WHY The mozzarella tasting plate, grilled octopus with potatoes, celery and lemon, orecchiette pasta with sausage and swiss chard, pan-roasted sea trout with Umbrian lentils—in fact, pretty much everything. WHAT The frenzy that built around the opening of this joint venture between Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich and Nancy Silverton may have subsided, but getting a [...]
December 4, 2012 | Posted in
Discoveries |
Read More »
RSS Feed
Become a Fan
Follow Us
