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Egg Plant
11266 Ventura Boulevard
Studio City, CA‎ - (818) 508-1800‎

Not sure if the egg plant is any good or even if they serve it but the sushi at Egg Pant is excellent. The atmosphere is very nice and if you're looking for a quiet dinner for two this is the place. Nicole and I decided to go out and celebrate some good news and rather than eat while being watched (judged?) by the sushi chefs at Midori we decided to try somewhere else.

Egg Plant is a little more expensive than Midori but they make up for it in service. They fly their servers in from Japan daily so they're always fresh (and jet lagged). Just kidding. Sort of. Our server happened to fly in the night before and very cheerfully explained it had left her a little "cuckoo" while at the same time crossing her eyes, sticking out her tongue and bobbing her head from side to side. It sort of made me think that anime cartoons really aren't that far fetched.

Nicole and I both ordered some sushi and a chicken entree. I don't know why we ordered entrees. We never do at a sushi place. Regardless, it was all delicious (even the pumpkin appetizer!).

Free Wasabi Cucumber Salad!

Yummy Pumpkin

Super Fantastic Crunchy Spicy Tuna in a Soy Paper Roll (or something like that)

Spicy Tuna

Saki. Mmmmm Saki....

Even though the food was great I think my favorite thing about the restaurant was our server. She was so happy, cute and polite you just wanted to put her in your pocket and pull her out the next time you were feeling blue. Perhaps next time I will get up the courage to ask to take a picture of her.

Egg Plant gets two thumbs up!

Try it, it's best! (it says right on the menu) Wow, wow! Don't be shine!

I'm going to use the excuse that I did it for the blog but there's never really any good excuse to abuse your body is there? I don't care. Cheap greasy food is just delicious sometimes and this place does it best.

Oki-Dog claims it's an LA staple and world famous but I think it might be trying to ride the coat tails of Pink's Hot Dog Stand. Regardless, I marched into Oki-Dog and ordered the house specialty... You guessed it, an Oki-Dog.

For $6.00 even you get the signature item plus a generous helping of piping hot fries and a canned soda. Upon ordering the cashier/cook/entertainment asked me if I'd ever been there and if I knew what an Oki-Dog is. I replied, "No and no but I'll eat most anything.". He thought this extremely amusing and slapped the counter laughing and then said, "You're either hungry or hungover!". Within minutes I had a mountain of gray and nearly transparent food on a plate in front of me.

What's in an Oki-Dog you ask? Just read the clearly labeled sign posted over the front door:

While the staff is seriously cool at this place don't expect a shiny set of utensils or even a wiping of the table before you sit down. To prevent the soot from passing traffic on Fairfax from getting in your hot dog err... burrito, the owners of the establishment have taken it upon themselves to cut and secure pieces of OSB to the wrought iron bars of what I assume must have been an open-air dining room (or maybe they were just tired of all the salt shakers of seasoned salt getting stolen). In addition to the worn burnt orange bench seating they also provide an office chair (which I was bizarrely drawn to).

One of my favorite things about Oki-Dog is the efficiency. All business whether it be cash, food or conversation is done through one small window. While this may keep overhead down it can be a problem if one customer's food comes up while another is trying to order and if there's money being paid and food being served through this one 18x24 inch window just forget it.

And don't forget, cash only!

Perhaps it felt right at the time but much like a one night stand I am now full of regret and possibly a little sore.

10820 Ventura Boulevard
Studio City, CA 91604-3338
818.762.4225

On Thursday Nicole and I both arrived home late in the evening after a long day. We didn't have the energy to prepare ourselves a meal so we decided to go out and find something. Pesto was on Nicole's mind so we decided to try Zach's Italian Cafe just down the street.

Now, I initially judge most places by the price of their light beer. Yeah, lame I know, but it's a good indicator of overall menu price. It is this reason only that we haven't tried Henry's Hat which is even closer to us. I just can't stand paying $5 for a Miller Lite when I can get six of them for $5.50 at JONS.

Anyway, the Miller Lite at Zach's was $3. Good sign. The menu prices were average for what you'd expect to find at a sit-down place in the valley. Zach's must be a converted motel as the building and parking situation are a little weird. Even if you park yourself in their lot you have to pay $3 to the valet. Uh, ok. Whatever. I'd recommend parking at the meters on the street.

Nicole had the Rotelli Pesto Pasta with broccoli (no meat) and it cost $12.00. I had the Zach's Original Spinach Salad with chicken for $13.00. I was assuming that since our two meals mostly consisted of foods (pasta and spinach) that are extremely inexpensive we'd be getting massive portions with which we could take home. Not so. The portions were average as well as the food. The food was much like something you'd make yourself. Nothing flashy but still decent. The best part however was the free cheese stuffed bread and garlic butter they keep bringing to your table. If it wasn't for that I think I would have been upset.

The staff was amazing and the dining room was quiet and comfortable with plenty of space between tables. All in all, Zach's is a good place. Our only complaint outside of the smallish portions and weird parking that has nothing to do with Zach's itself was this old hag sitting behind us who had her remaining food boxed up and when it was brought back to the table she looked at the container and asked, "Do you have a different shaped container to put it in?". What?! Like that one won't fit in your refrigerator you dinosaur? She really bugged me but that isn't Zach's fault.

I'm such a bad blogger... I meant to post about this when we did it (back in August) but just never did.

Photo from www.littledoms.com

Nicole and I walked by Little Dom's after seeing one of her friends perform at Tangiers sometime back in 2008. On that short pass Nicole saw Sarah Silverman, Bijou Phillips and Michelle WIlliams. I guess I must have been busy studying the sidewalk or something (for which she scolded me afterwards) because I didn't see them.

So, last August we had a hankerin' for some Italian cuisine and decided to take a trek out to Los Feliz and see what little Dom's was all about. While waiting for our table at the hostess stand inside I was staring at this guy seated at a table outside and I was trying to figure out where I know him from. I'm sure I was making him uncomfortable especially after I realized it was Giovanni Ribisi. I can be such a turd. We were eventually seated outside, luckily around the corner and out of sight of Mr. Ribisi, as I didn't want to accidentally catch eyes with him again and have him think I'm some weird stalker. While we were seated and studying the slightly overpriced menu Rachel Bilson came walking by with a guy who looked like a hipster pulled from a dumpster and her awesome and very well behaved dog. They were promptly seated two tables over from us where they began to discuss relationships. Then, just about the time our appetizer arrived (which took almost 30 minutes!), Brian Baumgartner and his family were seated immediately to our right.

As a WOP named Dominic I have to give Little Dom's three stars for the food (to impress an Italian you have to cook exactly like his mother) and five stars for the atmosphere. If you're on a short trip to LA and want to increase your chances of seeing a celebrity eat at Little Dom's.

See a map here and all the reviews you'd ever want to read here

Simple food at amazing prices.

Nicole and I like to eat at Lala's on Melrose before we see a Groundlings show. Each time we've been back we've received the same great service and food. The Argentinians don't waste a lot of time trying to make your food taste like something it's not or distract you from the main dish with frou frou sides. If you get steak, it tastes like steak. If you get chicken, it tastes like chicken. They've got delicious salads, sandwiches and pasta if you're into that but I like to keep it simple. A piece of meat and a side. Bam, that's it, two delicious items on my plate for under $10 (if I go with the chicken). Plus, they've got $3.50 Bud Lights! Delicious.

My other favorite thing about Lala's is the bus staff. I know what you're thinking; if they clear your table promptly how much better can they get? Well, the bussers at Lala's all keep shims in their pockets and are constantly on the lookout for wobbly tables. What's worse than a wobbly table when you have a full beer? Nothing.

Last night we had a drinking party of four and the bill came to $99.00. Suck that New York City!

Lala's Argentine Grill
7229 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Last night Nicole and I made a trip down the street to the recently opened Tender Greens restaurant. The Chipotlesque way in which you order your food is cool and after I got over being abused by the girl taking our order (she was completely emotionless and unhelpful) I was shocked to get to the cashier and find that it's $21.00 plus 9.25% tax for two salads. I began to wonder where I was saving money for sacrificing a proper hostess and wait staff (and being abused by the first employee I encountered). They do get two thumbs up however for having microbrews on tap!

For $10.50 my salad was extremely disappointing. I ordered from the "Big Salads" menu and got the Wild Shrimp Ceviche. I didn't know it at the time but Ceviche is a fancy word for raw fish "cooked" (when they really mean just marinated) in lemon or lime juice. I'm a big fan of sushi but ceviche fucking sucks (or at least shrimp ceviche sucks). It was cold, limp, tasteless and looked like part of the afterbirth from one of the Aliens movies when the little alien pops out of the human's chest. I guess it would have been slightly better if the shrimp was actually cooked but not by much. I almost ordered off of the "Simple Salads" menu as I wasn't that hungry but I'm glad I didn't because even the "big" salad wasn't enough.

Nicole ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad from the big menu and while it was pretty delicious it didn't come with enough dressing and her chicken seemed to suffer from the same afterbirth effect as my shrimp. She didn't finish it.

I wish I could base this entire review on the beer but, alas, I cannot. Tender Greens gets two thumbs down this time around. I'll be giving them another shot sometime in the future but for now, please avoid this establishment and go to one of the many other great places easily within walking distance on Santa Monica.

If you're a masochist here's the address:

Tender Greens
8759 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood, CA 90069

Rarely can I go to a restaurant (or order takeout) and get the same thing. I usually like mixing it up, even if I really liked something the last time. However, when I eat at Bossa Nova I have to get Willy's Favorite Burrito or else I get depressed that I'm missing an opportunity to get the most delicious burrito on the planet.

I'm not going to write a review on the restaurant as that's already been done well here: LA.foodblogging - Bossa Nova. But, if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend getting Willy's Favorite Burrito. I give it two thumbs way, way up.

Whoever Willy is, he's frickin' awesome.

Nicole and I were scootering around yesterday (enjoying the 80 degree March weather) and even though our budget for eating out has already been blown this week we decided to stop and get a bite. We were initially scootering around the touristy part of Hollywood Blvd but decided it would be much too expensive to eat there so we headed on down to Sunset and then east a few miles. Eventually we came to a Los Angeles institution known as Zankou Chicken on the corner of Sunset and Normandie and figured it was probably a good place to eat inexpensively.

Turns out we were right and for under $20 we were stuffed with Armenian grease and had food to take home. The food is great but the service is terrible. It's one of those joints where they act like you're wasting their time with your order. They take your order at the register where we were greeted with a "Yes please?" and then told that our order (and apparently no one elses) would take 15 minutes. Our order also included a beverage which apparently comes with the food when they call your order number and not before. When Nicole asked for the drink she was greeted with a blank stare by the young girl behind the counter who didn't say anything for a few moments and then asked for our order number (which I had taken to the table).

Anyway, to sum it all up: Zankou Chicken, good food, great price but prepare for the abuse.

Talk about a sweet place to get a drink in Hollywood! Some friends and I discovered this place while en route to get a drink at Bar Marmont (well known for having outrageously priced beverages but a good chance at rubbing elbows with the rich and famous). The enticing tabletop signs at the Trocadero easily seen from the sidewalk read, "Happy Hour 6:00 - 8:00pm All drinks half price." ALL drinks half price?!! Half suspecting this to be some kind of scheme to get you in the door I was ready to pay $7 for a $14 beer but it turns out that a domestic beer runs about $6 and a martini runs about $10, so, during happy hour you can easily get loaded for $20 (or at least I can).

The bar wasn't crowded so we easily got a seat on their nice patio where we could politely tell all the homeless walking by that we would prefer not to give them any money.

On our exit we decided to hit the bathroom before our journey out of Hollywood and discovered on the walls of the bathroom many photos of the biggest celebrities of yesteryear sitting in the very same bar (although the decor was slightly different). To me at least, the present day celebrity hang outs are far too hip and overpriced (like the aforementioned Bar Marmont) and I'd rather get a bit of that Hollywood nostalgia from a picture on a wall (like the Trocadero) or a plaque above the booth (like the Hamburger Hamlet) to let me know that I'm sitting in the very place Frank Sinatra or Humphrey Bogart once sat.

I give the Trocadero Lounge two thumbs up.