Tell me your favorite LA restaurants

Parent Cafe
21

<p>Thanks for all of the great ideas. I’ve already made a reservation at Moonshadows - my kids loved it the last time we were there, so it was on my list. A few of must goes include Campanile and The Lobster. </p>

<p>I plan to check out:</p>

<p>The Rose Cafe - we’re staying in Santa Monica, so it will be great for breakfast
Pie 'n Burger - we’re touring Caltech, so it is perfect for lunch
Father’s Office, Border Grill
Il Fornaio - my H loves expensive Italian restaurants with all of the bells and whistles, especially those located in Beverly Hills!
The Orange Hill - have to check distances on google maps, but it sounds really special</p>

<p>Unfortunately, H can’t deal with Mexican or sushi, so we have to stick to Italian, seafood, French, and less exotic options. Of course, we will have at least one In-N-Out burger. Ditto for Paradise Cove - been there for drinks and a snack and will return.</p>

<p>Been to Spago, Mr. Chow’s, and several of the old standbys during the days of business travel, so I’ll pass this time. </p>

<p>We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the mobile trucks - something we avoid on the east coast, “roach coach,” but higher standards in California, right?</p>

<p>Has anyone been to Plate or the Sunset in Malibu? How about Craft, Tom Colicchio’s restaurant?</p>

<p>My youngest is 12 and picky (won’t eat pasta marinara, if you can believe it), so I have to check menus to make certain there will be something for him.</p>

22

<p>We’ve been going to Campanile for years but lately we like Osteria Mozza better (not “Osetra” as in post #3 - this is Italian, not caviar!) The pizza restaurant is right next door. Il Fornaio is also good but it’s a chain, not that there is anything wrong with that.</p>

<p>Last time I was in LA we tried a really good Thai restaurant called Palm’s Thai. We lived in Thailand for years and thought the food was excellent. Sadly the Thai Elvis who normally performs has had a stroke and is no longer on the premises.</p>

<p>I saw an episode on TV last night about the Grilled Cheese truck in LA. The signature sandwich contains slabs of macaroni and cheese and pulled pork with BBQ sauce, yikes!</p>

23

<p>We had a wonderful meal (3-course prix fixe menu with wine pairings) at [One</a> Pico](<a href=“http://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/santa-monica-fine-dining]One”>Beachfront Restaurant in Santa Monica - 1 Pico | Shutters on the Beach), which is located in the hotel Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Get there early & watch the sun set over the ocean.</p>

24

<p>I thought Craft was just OK. Good expensive steak, that I can and do cook better at home. I think W. Puck’s Cut is better (not to be confused with Spago).</p>

<p>More creative carnivores eat at Animal.</p>

25

<p>Hi puzzled, thanks for the info. I just booked a table at Osteria Mozza - sounds wonderful. I’m still keeping my spot at Campanile, though. I fantasize about their flattened chicken. For our big Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, I chose Il Cielo - hope I’m not going wrong there.</p>

26

<p>You’re very welcome. Order from the mozzarella bar - amazing stuff. And tell your kids that last time we were at Mozza, Will Forte, the guy who plays MacGruber, was at the bar. A slightly comical star sighting.</p>

<p>Campanile is still good too and I especially like the building (originally built in the 1920s as an office for Charlie Chaplin) and the service. Excellent wine list too.</p>

27

<p>The last time we were at Campanile, my kids saw Peter Dinklage, the actor with dwarfism who appeared in Elf."</p>

28

<p>Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles is a LANDMARK. It has to be seen to be believed, it’s like walking into a redwood forest. And their macaroni and cheese is to die for!
<a href=“VIVA99: Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Uang Asli dan Situs Slot Terpercaya”>VIVA99: Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Uang Asli dan Situs Slot Terpercaya;

<p>The Apple Pan on the West Side has great pie and hamburgers, with frequent celebrity sightings.
[The</a> Apple Pan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apple_Pan]The”>The Apple Pan - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>Philippe’s, home of the original French Dip sandwich is always fun
[Home</a> page](<a href=“http://www.philippes.com/]Home”>http://www.philippes.com/)</p>

<p>And finally, make sure you go to **Roscoe’s **for some Chicken & Waffles. They are Jay Leno’s favorite :slight_smile:
[Roscoes</a> House of Chicken and Waffles - Official Website](<a href=“http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/]Roscoes”>http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/)</p>

<p>Don’t leave town without driving through In 'N Out burger. Order a double-double animal style off of their secret menu. Best burger you will ever have!
<a href=“http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp[/url]”>http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

29

<p>We used to go to Clifton’s when I was little and I was totally enchanted with the jello which was cut in cubes and topped with whipped cream. So fancy!</p>

<p>Another vintage LA restaurant is The Original Pantry but the food is pretty awful.</p>

30

<p>I was scrolling down to mention the Apple Pan (aka the Peach Pit in 90210). In N Out is wonderful…Bouchon for snooty French food. Yes, Shutters…I’m hungry. Gotta go to lunch. Tommy’s is great…</p>

<p>Oh…we have the sanitary rating system here: so you know how clean your roach coach is: A is the only way to go.</p>

31

<p>Rather than just keeping an eye out for a food truck----find out where the good ones will be while you are out and about. Most food trucks just are not all that good.
Here are six exceptions:
<a href=“http://getyourlardon.com/[/url]”>http://getyourlardon.com/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://worldfare.com/[/url]”>http://worldfare.com/&lt;/a&gt;
[Lobsta</a> Truck | Serving Lobster Rolls in Southern California](<a href=“http://lobstatruck.com/]Lobsta”>http://lobstatruck.com/)
[Kogi</a> BBQ | Korean BBQ-To-Go](<a href=“http://kogibbq.com/]Kogi”>http://kogibbq.com/)
[The</a> Grilled Cheese Truck](<a href=“http://www.thegrilledcheesetruck.com/]The”>http://www.thegrilledcheesetruck.com/)
and my favorite (frequently found around gallery openings):
[Coolhaus</a> Los Angeles | Artisanal Ice Cream Sandwiches](<a href=“http://eatcoolhaus.com/los-angeles/]Coolhaus”>http://eatcoolhaus.com/los-angeles/)</p>

32

<p>We’ll try Roscoe’s for certain - sounds like a good lunch spot. And thanks so much, musica, for the “edited” mobile list. I’ll load it into my phone so that when we’re out looking for a bite, I’ll know my stuff. The kids are gonna be so impressed.</p>

<p>I also have to reconsider Craft - good steak is nothing special, and you’re right - my steak cooked on our open pit is hard to beat. We have a Capitol Grille nearby and I never go there.</p>

33

<p>Huh? Just looking at musica’s list - getyourlardon???..maybe we’ll try it - my youngest son is a bacon fanatic, not that that is such a good thing.</p>

34

<p>Pizza Mozza next door to Osteria Mozza is cheaper and better chance of celebrity sightings. Last time there I had Ray Romano and family on one side of me and some chick from 90210 on the other. Early better than later, surprisingly enough.</p>

<p>Providence on Melrose is still killer for the entertainment trade, since so close to the studios, but you have to love fish and have a big wallet, since you can’t get out of there under $75/head (we were just there last night).</p>

<p>I still recommend to all my tourist friends one of my all time favorite hangouts, The Rainbow on Sunset next to the Roxy. Just because the rock star element has always been there, the pizza is surprisingly some of the best offered in LA, it’s still metal but still hip, and you don’t have to talk you’re so busy people watching. And it’s cheap!</p>

<p>Angelini Osteria on Beverly Drive is one of those places that is tiny, has great food, and I have NEVER been there when there has been no celebrity sightings. </p>

<p>Every place above mentioned needs advanced reservations other than the Rainbow.</p>

35

<p>Pizza Mozza is really good. Make a reservation…in advance.</p>

36

<p>Pizza Mozza is booked on the day I would like until 10:30 - too late for us, but I do have a reservation at Osteria Mozza, so it will have to do. I’ll take a look at Providence as well.</p>

37

<p>il Fornaio isn’t fancy Italian. It’s a franchise. If you are in Pasadena and go to Huntington Gardens, check out the Teahouse for lunch. Very English and lots of sweet treats for the kids.</p>

38

<p>Burger Continental, if you like mideastern food. Also, love Din Tai Fung for Shanghai style dumplings (in Arcadia, not far from San Marino/Pasadena). For cheap & filling french dip sandwiches, Fillipe’s near Chinatown.</p>

39

<p>Near Westwood/West LA, check out Don Antonio’s for Lunch (12-3, Mon-Fri). It’s great food but not so much of a view or a hot spot.
[Don</a> Antonio’s - West Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/don-antonios-los-angeles]Don”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/don-antonios-los-angeles)
Lunch time is usually the best time to go as it doesn’t get crowded like it does in the evenings. They also have a really really great lunch special(something like $5.95 for a plate, which is a great way to introduce yourself to their dinner plates. Also, the lunch menu is not on the regular menu, so if it’s not already on the table, just ask for it). If you look at the yelp reviews, I think most of the negative reviews generally have to do with the wait time, not the quality of food. You can avoid the wait time by not going during dinner, nor during their $1 taco Wednesdays.</p>

40

<p>Also, not one of my favorites, but the Urth Caffe chain may be a great place to spot a celeb. Urth Caffe is a very trendy coffee shop that offers desserts, food options, and outdoor seating. They have locations in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica/Venice on Main Street, Melrose in Greater LA, and Downtown LA. They all have a great ambiance, great for people watching (even if it’s not a celeb).</p>

<p>Also, I think the best place in LA to spot a celeb, or maybe a tabloid starlets, is Robertson Blvd between Beverly Blvd and W. 3rd Street. I’ve never eaten at any restaurant on that street, but if you do(I’m thinking “The Ivy”), you’re bound to see a paparazzi somewhere on the street ready to capture whoever shows up.</p>