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
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WHY Good German brats, fat pretzels and German beer on tap, including a hefeweizen that goes down very well on a sunny beach afternoon while the Boardwalk parade flows by. WHAT A refreshing break from the generic sidewalk cafés that line the Venice Boardwalk, this place is a German beer garden with decent food and [...]
April 25, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Flat, flavorful steak burgers and hickory burgers wrapped in paper, as well as fries and homemade pies, are the mainstays of this landmark counter-only joint. WHAT With more than six decades of cooking burgers and pie in the same charming 1940s diner, with servers of the same vintage, the Apple Pan is always busy, [...]
April 23, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY No-nonsense deli sandwiches stacked high—don’t be afraid to get your hands messy. WHAT This L.A. landmark has been around since 1931 and is open 24 hours. The endless menu boasts breakfast food, soups and salads, but it’s the sandwiches you want, even if they are pricey. It’s not quite Langer’s, but Canter’s serves one [...]
April 20, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Vibrant classic and modern Korean cooking made with love by do-gooders. WHAT Kimmy Song, founder and CEO of !It Jeans in Vernon, wanted to use her success to give back, and because she loves food, she decided to do it by opening a restaurant. The result is a light-filled café manned by incredibly nice [...]
April 19, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY The Chinese chicken salad. WHAT It’s not the most authentic Chinese food, not by a long shot, but New Moon makes a damn fine Chinese chicken salad and perfectly acceptable won ton soup, fried rice and stir fries—and the won ton strips with a plum dipping sauce are a tasty variation on chips and [...]
April 18, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Because Studio City needs a civilized, elegant spot for lunch and dinner. WHAT Raphael is an intimate bo’te with an eclectic yet traditional menu from chef Adam Horton, formerly of Saddle Peak Lodge. The interior, designed by Terry Raphael, is drop-dead gorgeous, with a comfortable lounge/bar and a warm dining room that has so [...]
April 17, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY The lunch-only cubano sandwiches are delightful, especially the pan con lechón (shredded pork with Spanish peppers). And the Cuban club is a tasty fusion of marinated turkey breast with applewood-smoked bacon on sourdough. WHAT This is no ordinary cubano sandwich joint—although they do serve them, elegantly, and garnished with microgreens, no less. Xiomara Ardolina’s [...]
April 16, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY For mantee, of course (it’s an Armenian specialty), along with many other Middle Eastern dishes. WHAT This little place serves all the usual suspects, and very well, too (fattoush salad, made with purslane, is terrific; garlicky labne toom is heavenly; lamb kebabs are tender and juicy). But don’t miss the more unusual specialties, such [...]
April 15, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY For island-style sweet-salty chicken and plantation-style bone-in chicken, both accompanied by potato-macaroni salad and rice. WHAT Local food, Hawaiian style, means Euro-Asian fusion fare, and this place does it well. It’s ultramodern in looks but owned by the family behind the old-school King’s Hawaiian Bakery next door. 18605 S. Western Ave., Torrance, 310.523.3233 L [...]
April 14, 2013 | Posted in
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