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 Nice people, good organic coffee, smoothies and chai, copies of the L.A. Weekly and free WiFi. WHAT A bright yet soothing space done in earth tones makes for a comfortable spot to sit with a cappuccino or an iced chai latte. Interesting art-for-sale, too. WHO Writers, artists, friends meeting to chat quietly and assorted [...]
April 22, 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 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
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WHY Buttery, crunchy, chocolatey English toffee that is impossible to stop eating. WHAT Good God, how we love this English toffee, the highlight of our childhood visits to Farmers Market. It’s made fresh throughout the day and sold in hunks or in tidier sticks. Good almond bark and honeycomb, too, but that’s not why you [...]
April 6, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Vegetarian and vegan meals in a bucolic garden setting. WHAT The board of changing daily specials at this serene, Buddha-filled indoor-outdoor eatery may offer sweet white corn chowder or a nut-strewn salad. House dressings include balsamic-virgin olive oil vinaigrette and sesame-tamari-lemon. And the delicious house favorites, enchiladas and the kamut spaghetti with a rich [...]
March 31, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY The best takeout coffee in the area and, if you have time to sit down and eat, very good food, too. WHAT This is not really a place to sit with just a cup of coffee and linger—the people waiting for a table for breakfast or lunch will look daggers at you—but it’s a [...]
March 28, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Because there’s no guilt—well, almost no guilt—involved in enjoying these all-natural, grass-fed beef hot dogs with organic accoutrements. It elevates the hot-dog cart to a haute level. WHAT Even a Prius-driving liberal Democrat can feel good about this swank cart parked near the old Helms Bakery building at lunchtime. Not only are the hot [...]
March 26, 2013 | Posted in
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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
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