Posts Tagged ‘Restaurants’
Forage in Silver Lake
There has been quite a lot of chatter about Forage since it opened in Silver Lake. But for those just driving by its Sunset Junction location—as I do daily–it managed to open relatively quietly, nabbing the space previously occupied by Town & Country.
Forage’s menu is right up my alley–super fresh ingredients that rotate with whatever is in season. There are lots of fresh options, like the raved about Pork Belly Sandwich or their daily quiche offering. Particularly tempting are the combo plates where you can order a protein, like Jidori Rotisserie Chicken, and an option of sides–Market Vegetables, Beets with Citrus-Ginger Slaw, Creamy Scalloped Potatoes and more.
Forage also holds a harvest call every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can drop by with your homegrown produce, and members of Forage’s culinary team will figure out how they can use it on their upcoming menu. They also post forage calls on their site of the produce they’re actively foraging.
The Eagle’s Landing In Eagle Rock
As I was driving through Eagle Rock after a showing yesterday I noticed this new little coffee shop that just opened up in a quiet residential part of the neighborhood. Eagle’s Landing is part of the non-profit and community focused Rock Community Center and caters towards students from nearby Eagle Rock High School and Occidental College.
The shop serves typical coffee beverages – mochas, lattes, esperessos, etc – as well as sandwiches and breakfast. In addition, half of the proceeds goes to benefit the local teen center which shares the building. Make Eagle’s Landing a stop on your morning commute and help this good cause!
Eagle’s Landing Coffee House
4808 Townsend Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Most days 6am – 9pm
Gobi Mongolian BBQ House In Silver Lake
The other night I finally checked out Gobi Mongolian BBQ House, a restaurant I had been eying for some time now. The concept here is simple and great: grab a big bowl and fill it with meats, veggies, noodles and sauces and then give it to the cook who will fry it up for you on a giant flat-top grill while you watch.
Everything went great until I got to the sauce section – there are 11 to choose from and I found it a bit daunting. I went with a few spoonfuls of spicy sauce, some garlic and then had the cook add the traditional sauce. Looking back I should have a taken a few more risks and added some more flavors, but the dish was still tasty and very fresh.
Gobi gets its veggies from local Farmer’s Markets and you can definitely taste the difference. Overall this is a simple and fun place to go with a group of friends so you can try everyone’s concoctions. The prices are right too – dinner is $13.95 while lunch is $9.95 but you get a ton of food and can definitely take some of it to go. All in all, a welcome addition to the ‘hood.
Gobi Mongolian BBQ House
2827 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Open 11:30am to 11:00pm daily
Canelé In Atwater Village
I had heard a lot about Canelé before I tried it out – local residents of nearby Silver Lake and Atwater Villge love this little spot and for good reason: it’s pretty much the perfect example of a sophisticated local restaurant. Smart without being smug, Canelé clearly is run by some food-savvy cooks and you can feel the good vibes from the moment you walk in.
In the front of the space is a big communal table and stretching for most of the length of the restaurant is a big open kitchen. If you like watching chefs at work, you’ll want to snag a seat at the bar where you can watch them up close.
I tried the duck confit (delicious) with the Tahitian squash soup (very tasty). My dining partners (parents and girlfriend) loved their dishes as well. There is a definite French-American trend going throughout the menu and you should definitely be in a slightly adventurous mood if you want to take full advantage of what Canelé’s chefs have to offer.
Canelé is located on the very random stretch of Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village – walking distance for many local residents but street parking was abundant.
Canelé
3219 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Tamarind Ave Deli In Hollywood
When I moved to Los Angeles one of the first things I searched for was a deli to get a good sandwich. Sure there was Canter’s but what I really wanted was a local sandwich shop to pop into on a Saturday afternoon and get an Italian sub with a bag of chips and an orange soda. I searched and I searched but nothing fit what I was looking for.
Then one day I was heading west on Sunset Blvd and I saw a sign that said simply: “Tamarind Ave Deli”. At first I thought it was too good to be true – could this really be what it proclaims itself to be? Was this a film set posing to be Chicago or New York? Was this truly a simple, no frills deli? The answer, to my shock and excitement, was YES.
Rockwell VT In Los Feliz
In a slightly hidden spot behind the Vermont restaurant (go to the back end of the building, past the bank and coffee shop to the discreet entrance in the alley) lies Rockwell VT, the new open-air bar/treehouse hideout. Despite being frequently packed since its soft opening in September and official opening October 1, Rockwell VT manages to feel spacious and inviting. A beautiful coral tree stretches through the bar’s multi-levels, giving the space a woodsy, romantic feel.
There is a nightly DJ and room for dancing, along with plenty of seating for those that want to relax over their drinks. On the weekends, the patio is cleared out and the bar is more clubby. Friday nights lean more toward a gay scene, while Saturdays are more of a neighborhood party.
From the bar’s second floor, you get a nice view of all the action along with spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills and downtown L.A. There’s a large patio, a booth with a fire pit, and private areas for parties.
Rockwell VT got a surprise on its opening Friday night, when Christina Aguilera stopped by with her husband and friends and wound up staying all night. The cast of the Legally Blonde stage production has also stopped by, along with the crew from the new Fame movie.
The menu is surprisingly diverse — offering small plates of food, like tacos, flatbreads, a spicy calamari, and grilled shrimp served with a pesto dipping sauce. It offers plenty of rare beers to accompany the menu and specialty cocktails, as well.
Rockwell VT is definitely not the typical Los Feliz bar, so I will be curious if this spot attracts those from outside the neighborhood, or if it attracts locals. It will be great for those who live in the area and have been looking for a place to go dancing close to home.
Rockwell
1714 N. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 669-1550
Little Dom’s In Los Feliz
Little Dom’s on Hillhurst is one of my favorite restaurants in Los Feliz. It’s the perfect cozy little spot for a date or to bring out of town guests. Little Dom’s is an offshoot of Hollywood institution Dominick’s. It serves up its own version of upscale-casual Italian-American food with a little old school flair.
Little Dom’s has a large antique bar where you can sit back and enjoy their custom cocktail menu. Standout cocktails include The Echo Park, made with El Charro Tequila, muddled sweet peppers, mint and lime, and the Proper Highball, made with Makers Mark, house made ginger syrup, and a splash of soda.
Chef Brandon Boudet utilizes seasonal and local ingredients to prepare classic Italian-American fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some menu highlights include the homemade Linguine Carbonara, Gnocchi Fritto, Meatball Sandwich with Fresh Mozzarella, and Cedar Plank Salmon. Pastry Chef Ann Kirk whips up an amazing array of delectable deserts, like Peach Tarte Tatin with brandied raspberry sauce and butter pecan gelato and Torta Della Nonna, a double crusted tart filled with vanilla cream, topped with toasted pinenuts and served with a sweet cream gelato and blackberry compote. How can you say no to that?
If you are stopping by around dinnertime, make sure to place reservations because Little Dom’s always fills up with regulars. There are cozy booths, tables, as well as some outside sidewalk seating available.
Little Dom’s also has a new deli right next door to the restaurant. It provides to-go meats and cheeses, pastries, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, espresso, coffee, and other drinks. For deli to-go orders, call (323) 661-0088.
Little Dom’s
2128 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90027
(323) 661-0055
Say Cheese In Silver Lake
I’ve heard for a while now that Say Cheese is the best cheese shop on the east side. Its location is certainly hard to beat — right in the heart of Silver Lake on Hyperion Ave. next to Trader Joes. I’m there every week if not more. But what I did not realize until recently was that Say Cheese is more than just a cheese shop. It also has an adjoining café that serves decadent sandwiches and salads, and brunch in the mornings. While their sandwiches may be a little pricey (they run between $9.95 and $12.95) they are made to order, incorporating top-of-the-line ingredients. The ambiance at Say Cheese is very relaxing, and if you want to eat in, there is a small dinning room and a few outdoor seats available. If you’re curious to try some of the cheeses before you buy — that’s no problem; they are very generous with their samples.
I had the Hyperion Submarine, which has artisan salami, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, shaved red onion, tomato and mesclun with balsamic oil — all on a delicious fresh baguette. It came with a nice sized side salad dressed in oil and vinegar. The sandwich was a delicious, perfectly sized lunch, and I did not have to wait very long for it, which I appreciated. I’m looking forward to trying one of the toasted sandwiches next. I will be back, Say Cheese!
Say Cheese
2800 Hyperion Avenue
(323) 665-0545
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30-7:00, Sat 8:30-6:30, Sun 10:30-5:00
Pazzo Gelato In Silver Lake
Pazzo Gelato
3287 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Have you noticed all the Pinkberry closings recently? The company is expected to have negative growth (closing more stores than they open) in 2009. Maybe in the midst of a recession, people don’t want to eat mysterious frozen yogurt substance? Something about losing their life savings makes everyone want to dive into a scoop of dense, creamy gelato in flavors like almond fig, Venezuelan chocolate spice, mascarpone orange and dark chocolate with Grey Goose …
If you’re in Silver Lake, chances are you get your gelato fix at Pazzo Gelato. Every delicious scoop is made in-house from farmer’s market fruit and other natural ingredients. For those still concerned about their waistline — it is L.A. after all — you’ll be happy to know that true gelato is made without cream, and Pazzo Gelato even offers a few sugar-free flavors.
While frozen treats are clearly the main reason to visit, Pazzo Gelato also features a full espresso bar, loose-leaf tea, and other gourmet items. Plus, there is plenty of outdoor seating, so you can sit back and watch the hustle and bustle along Sunset and Hyperion while you enjoy your dessert.
Pazza Gelato is open Sunday-Thursday, 11am-11pm; Saturday and Sunday until midnight.
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Copyright 2009 Take Sunset. Designed by Curt Ziegler.
