We're all choosing sides this fall: politics, sports, methods of dealing with financial ruin. Similarly, we're all figuring out ways to save money. Some prefer to eat beans all week, then splurge on one enormous, pricey meal. Others prefer to spend at will, just choosing tiny portions at tiny prices. Thank goodness there have been about eleventy-billion new restaurant openings this fall, each falling firmly into one category. Church & State and Chalet Edelweiss offer enormous plates of Europe's heartiest dishes. Most other food newbies are all about the snacks: Yogurt shops are still appearing, Fix Coffee is Echo Park's hottest new spot, and wine shops with crackers and cheese abound. However you choose to do it, we wish you happy eating.
Fall crop of '08
New tables turning over this season
By Katherine Spiers
Special to MetromixNovember 12, 2008
Provecho
800 Wilshire Blvd. - Los Angeles213-489-1406
"Buen provecho" Downtown with this contemporary Mexican restaurant and tequila bar
Drago Centro
525 S. Flower St., Suite #120 - Los Angeles213-228-8998
Downtown is now flush with the riches of Italy, as Celestino Drago invades the financial district with Drago Centro, located in an elegantly renovated former Bank of America. Like Dragos other L.A. joints, the menu at Centro is traditional Italian with a California twist and features such decadence as foie gras crme caramel and risotto cakes with octopus. Invest in some time at the bar for a glass of vino from a globally comprehensive list featuring more than 1,000 wines. For the truly exclusive, the vault has been transformed into the private dining room, complete with a flat screen showing a live feed from the kitchen.
Riva, Santa Monica
312 Wilshire Blvd. - Santa Monica310-451-7482
Riva, the namesake of Chef Jason Travi’s Santa Monica dining spot, means “shoreline” in Italian—and the Mediterranean cuisine, near-ocean locale and fresh ambiance of the kitchen coincide with the semantic title seamlessly. Renowned for its crudo (an Italian raw fish specialty), Riva also excels in wood fire pizzas, chestnut soup, salmon, meatballs and, of course, tiramisu.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres
465 S. La Cienega Blvd. - Beverly Hills310-246-5555
Catering to those of the Adderall generation, the Bazaar features three distinct mini venues within the bar/restaurant that patrons can peruse throughout the night. Bazaar showcases both modern and tranditional Spanish tapas and "molecular" cocktails. Fusing sophomore year chemistry with mixology, Jose Andres features drinks like margaritas with salt air and the liquid nitrogen caipirinha. Your check follows you through the three areas: Bar Centro (crudo bar and cocktails), Rojo y Blanco (tapas), and La Patisserie (sweets and candies). There are also roving dim sum carts that serve specials ranging from salmon roe w/cream cheese to foie gras w/corn nuts.
Ma Petit Bakery and Cafe
257 Spring St., Suite 116 - Los Angeles213-625-3328
Ma Petit may be new to L.A., but its home certainly isn't. Tucked in the Douglas Building (circa 1898), this bakery and café is a welcome open-all-day addition to Downtown's growing--and hungry--Historic Core. This French-inspired, fresh-food venue brings both ambiance (check out the renovated Old World architecture) and delectability (don't miss the quiche). The new menu is heavy in light, tasty entree fare. Plus, the inventive variety of pastries is awe-inspiring--try the fresh strawberry-filled croissant and sweet cinnamon blueberry danish.
Urth Caffe
451 S. Hewitt St. - Los Angeles213-797-4534
Urth Caffe Downtown—tucked beautifully in a spacious brick building in the Arts District—is another welcome opportunity for the perfect honey vanilla latte with leaf-decorated froth. As a “coffee restaurant,” Urth Caffe serves organic coffees and teas, fresh lunch entrees and sweet desserts—and this location has windows to let you watch the chefs at work. Plus, try out the coffee-roasting classes and interactive test and tasting courses, exclusively offered Downtown.
XIV
8117 Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles323-656-1414
Michael Mina's menu offers both traditionally proportioned entrees as well as his signature tasting-style menu. The Starke-designed dining room and adjacent patio are the perfect place for a night of splashing out in Hollywood, and head bartender Jason Bran knows how to mix a cocktail that will make the evening that much more special. Settle down under the gorgeous chandeliers and soak up the swank.
Verrazano's Pizza
612 N. La Brea Ave. - Los Angeles323-933-1744
Another pizza joint proclaiming itself "New York-style" has added itself to the L.A. rotation. Only time will tell how it stacks up against the rest.
Robata-Ya
2004 Sawtelle Blvd. - Los Angeles310-481-1418
This Japanese restaurant specializes in putting things on sticks, the weirder the better: organ meats, chicken tails, sea urchin. You name it, they're stickin' it and grillin' it. There's sashimi and various other bites both hot and cold, but most of the action is happening at the robata grill.
The Fix
2520 Hyperion Ave. - Los Angeles323-661-8494
Where once there was a cafe focused on the healthy—after all, the building is owned by Body Builder's Gym—there is now a burger joint. It's not run-of-the-mill, using as it does turkey and ostrich meat (and regular beef) to build custom burgers, but it certainly isn't healthy. Word on the street is that the shakes are particularly decadent, and the fried mushrooms are appreciated by those already over the sweet-potato fry fad.
AK Restaurant
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Los Angeles310-392-6644
The menu at AK is full of delicious-sounding items, most with a distinct Cal-European bent and plenty of local, sustainable ingredients: Kurobuta pork schnitzel, Kona kampachi and farmers market roasted root vegetables all sound delicious but relatively tame; other items like langoustine carpaccio sound a little more daring. The chef is Swedish and also offers a selection of Scandanavian dishes such as Arctic caviar, herring, and aquavit-cured salmon.
Yogen Fruz
9401 Brighton Way - Beverly Hills310-858-8385
Why yes, it is frozen yogurt. But it's Canadian. So it's…different? Truth be told, in one way it is different: The yogurt is blended with the ingredients needed to make your flavor of choice when you order it. And it can be ordered as a smoothie or just plain with toppings, if you prefer.
N'IceCream
1410 Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Los Angeles310-396-7161
There's nothing better than ice cream after a long day shopping or at the beach. At least that's what N'Ice Cream is hoping we'll believe. The shop on Abbot Kinney has a rotating cast of flavors, all made quite proudly with organic milk. The ingredients can be sourced, as that's also important to the owners. And, we would imagine, taste is too.
Church & State
1859 Industrial St. - Los Angeles213-405-1434
A Downtown venture from Steve Arroyo, he of Cobras & Matadors and other European-tinged restaurants around town. This much-anticipated spot is located in the Biscuit Company Lofts building, located in what is still one of the slightly sketchy areas of Downtown. Once inside, the ambiance is more French than Angeleno; dishes include cassoulet, duck, trout wrapped in bacon and steak frites.
Desert Rose
1700 Hillhurst St. - Los Angeles323-666-1166
The big menu here has all the basics: chicken, pasta, big ol' salads. That and the big patio should make Desert Rose instantly popular given its Hillhurst, aka Brunchville, location. Plus, there's a full bar.
Fresh & Easy - Van Nuys
15230 Vanowen St. - Los Angeles818-902-0635
For many years Tesco managed to be one of the largest companies in the world without having much of a U.S. presence. In 2007 the company made its first major push stateside with Fresh & Easy supermarkets. The stores offer a mix of major brands like Tide and Pepsi, as well as a few vegetables, but the focus is on prepared goods, either fresh or frozen. The house brands offer a bit of a discount over major grocery stores, and some of the items are tasty too. Try the cinnamon rolls and the steak and blue cheese sandwich.
SipTea
852 S. Broadway - Los Angeles213-622-8007
In a land of artisanal coffee, SipTea is making a stand for fancy tea. In fact, this cafe doesn't even offer coffee, as the owners believe the strong scent interferes with the tea experience. They're also very scientific about their teas, with exact measurements for heat and steeping time for each brew. And, of course, there is a strong emphasis on being green and sustainable.
Shin
1600 N. Wilcox Ave. - Los Angeles323-464-4100
Korean food is slowly spreading out of Koreatown and into other neighborhoods, and Shin is the restaurant most likely to become part of the Hollywood scene. It's run and cheffed by Simon Shin, a second-generation restaurateur and certified man-about-town who rubs elbows with Danny Masterson, Mark Ronson and Steve Aoki. Shin offers what are essentially Korean BBQ classics for the masses. The tabletop grills suck the smoke downward, so you won't end your night smelling like meat (just club sweat). The food, though not particularly adventurous, is tasty.
Elvino Wines
1142 Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Los Angeles310-396-9705
This may become Venice's best wine shop; it's certainly the most dedicated. The wine selection has been curated from the owner's personal record of favorites, so it's a personal list. But it's also interesting and wide-ranging. Elvino doesn't have the selection of food items often found in wine shops, except for some chocolates, but the wine-tasting bar is always open.
Goudas & Vines
2000 Main St. - Santa Monica310-450-6739
Montrose's favorite new cheese shop ended pretty quickly, but luckily it's reappeared all the way over in Santa Monica. The new Goudas & Vines still offers the same fine selection of cheeses, both popular and exotic, as well as an array of organic wines to go with the big conventional selection. It's the perfect place to stock up for a picnic, especially if there's a sweet tooth involved: This temple of dairy also has gelato.
Natura
8250 W. Third St. - Los Angeles323-655-5551
This Mediterranean entry onto the 3rd Street food scene has the Greek salad, the kabobs, some panini—everything you would expect from a nice pan-Medi place. Natura sets itself apart with an organic, sustainable agenda and a menu free of artificial flavors and even food coloring. That's dedication.
Kassava
8600 W. Third St. - Los Angeles310-385-0233
Caribbean food isn't well known is most parts of L.A., but the fanbase is growing steadily as more restaurants pop up. Kassava seems like a pretty good contender, despite the rather silly spelling mistake on the awning. The food is appropriately tropical and exotic, with blended juice drinks sharing table space with seafood-stuffed pastries and saucy meats served with beans and rice.
Squeeze & Scoop
12 W. Colorado Blvd. - Pasadena626-356-0712
Sure, it's a frozen yogurt place, but it's pay-by-the-ounce and self-serve. Why, it's almost retro! The nod to Pinkberry's reign comes in the flavors, which come it the now-required tart versions in addition to regular old sweet. There's a rotating cast of types, from mango to blueberry, and plenty of toppings to heap at your own discretion.
Chalet Edelweiss
8740 Sepulveda Blvd. - Los Angeles310-645-8740
A perfect new fall addition to L.A. This Bavarian wunderland offers long tables; beer; and plenty of heavy, carby, cheese-tastic food. Apparently, Swiss mac 'n' cheese is made with cream and eggs too! Or go for giant pretzels, Wiener schnitzel, fondue—after your appetizer, of course. Which is probably raclette, the Swiss specialty of potatoes dipped at the table into melting cheese. Try, if possible, to leave room for the beer.
Local
2943 Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles323-662-4740
Chef/owner Jason Michaud is serious about serving food that's as local as possible: You can tell because he named his restaurant after the idea. Admirable, but good luck with Google results, dude. The healthy (in terms of whole food) menu offers a variety of burgers both meaty and veggie, though no regular beef burger, since an acceptable California beef farmer has not yet been found. There's also a salad bar that offers plenty of greens, protein (chicken salad) and soy (eggless egg salad). A huge breakfast menu has something for everyone, even vegans. Be forewarned: All this conscientiousness results in a fairly hefty price tag.
Fix Coffee
2100 Echo Park Ave. - Los Angeles323-284-8962
Way, way up on Echo Park Avenue, up where you wouldn't expect retail to thrive, Fix Coffee has set itself up as a nice little neighborhood joint. The coffee is good (though we're partial to the iced chai lattes, which are particularly well-made here), and the gelato purveyor, a small business in the Midwest, was specially chosen by owner Marc Gallucci. Food items come from Susina, and while the sandwiches and salads look a little sad, the pastries are delicious.
Hugo's Tacos
3300 Glendale Blvd. - Los Angeles323-664-9400
The food isn't as authentic or cheap as the mobile taco trucks around town, but it still tastes good. And the hours are regular. the mostly taco menu also has a burger and a breakfast quesadilla, as well as a few other Mexican classics, though the items themselves aren't necessarily classic. (Honey-chipotle salsa? Now that's newfangled.) Truth be told, the prices are quite fair; lucky for us, there's two locations.
Take a Bao
10250 Santa Monica Blvd. - Los Angeles310-551-1100
Bao are the traditional Chinese steamed or baked buns, usually stuffed with pork or vegetables. At this high-concept mall food court restaurant, the doughy treats are re-imagined into something more like a taco: the dough, in white or wheat (or a lettuce wrap, if you're low-carbing it) is folded around the filling, which ranges from pomegranate steak to peanut chicken to fried fish.
Venice Beach Wines
529 Rose Ave. - Venice310-606-2529
Spearheading the Rose Avenue renaissance, this wine shop seems to focus just as much on its cheese selection. Pairing food with drink is a passion here, and private tastings and light meals can be catered. Or pick up your own selection to try at home. Or eat in: the patio area is a nice place to enjoy a house-made salad, sandwich or charcuterie plate.
Cristoni Pizzeria
8539 Sunset Blvd. - West Hollywood310-657-8931
A fourth-generation pizza maker from Naples is manning the ovens at this strip mall pizzeria with nearly gourmet prices. The investors include a list of semi-celebrities, so the hope is that this will become a trendy, celeb-spotting joint. Pizzas go beyond the norm with such offerings as a black truffle and porcini pie; one with tomatoes, smoked mozzarella and arugula on a ricotta crust; and a dessert-y offering with walnut and pear.
SiLa Bistro
2630 Hyperion Ave - Los Angeles323 664-7979
SiLa (an acronym for Silver Lake) is a neighborhood bistro with a Cal-American slant. The seasonal menu is based on fresh, local products. Word is the ingredients are as green and earth-friendly as possible , and the chef likes to draw on a multitude of culinary influences.
Whole Foods - Venice
225 Lincoln Blvd. - Venice310-566-9480
Whole Foods is a supermarket in a category of its own. The upscale chain holds its own principles (organic and all-natural when possible, as eco-friendly as possible) in high regard, to the point of discontinuing some products when they do not meet the Whole Foods standard (for a while, even lobster was verboten). The food court section of the store perhaps attracts the bulk of the customers. There's a salad bar, a soup bar, pizza and sandwich stations, a smoothie-and-coffee stand, a bakery, a deli counter, and a sushi stand that makes passable brown-rice sushi. Prepackaged meals are also in a refrigerated case, for times when 50 people are in line at the salad bar.
With additional reporting by Krista Simmons, Katie Bain and Marissa Tinloy, special to Metromix.
What other people are saying...
Jostarusc from South Bay - December 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM
And maybe something from South Bay??
Report This CommentMissInLA from down town - November 17, 2008 at 11:20 PM
That's what the OC Register is for
Report This CommentGizmology from Multnomah - November 17, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Places what in O.C. about?
Report This CommentBeth from Orange County - November 17, 2008 at 8:10 PM
what about places in OC???
Report This CommentBeth from Orange County - November 17, 2008 at 8:09 PM
What about OC places???
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