mikeop34 "A great dessert can save a meal!"

Made it here for dinner a couple weeks ago, and while I didn’t get to try too many things, it was a good overall experience. The place is quite dark inside and can be pretty noisy, but the atmosphere and service are pretty laid back.

The grilled cheese with fries was enormous, loaded with cheese, and very satisfying. Couldn’t even finish it! The scallops were quite good although the sweet corn in the sauce may have been too sweet for the rest of the dish. Also tried the mac n’ cheese appetizer, not bad but also not that memorable.

A charming neighborhood restaurant that can be a little hard to spot just driving by. The inside is small but warm and not too noisy. The service is friendly without being intrusive. I tried the black cod, crab fritters, burger, and bananas foster – all were flavorful, well-executed, and nicely presented with the exception being the limp fries that came with the burger. While the food was good all around, the “small plates” probably don’t justify the prices. For example, at $11 I’ve had similar quality burgers that were almost twice as big. At $8 I definitely expected a much bigger dessert, too.

Excellent food all the way around, especially the slow cooked pork entree, juicy and full of flavor. Service was very polished, but there were a few hiccups like forgetting a wine order. The back room is comfortable and quiet, but the main dining room could get noisy and a little scene-y.

My family and I were guests of good family friends of ours who are also regulars here, so the service was fantastic. The chef came and talked to most of the customers, which is always refreshing to see, not just because of the friendliness but also to see a chef actually cooking at his restaurant! That certainly hasn’t happened at most high end restaurants I’ve been to in LA.

Given the large group, I got to try a lot of different things – prawns, scallops, steak, lobster risotto, different cheeses, and a couple desserts. The risotto was my favorite dish – balanced, well-seasoned, good lobster and mushroom flavor. The prawns were very fresh and tasty, but a bit overcooked – perhaps the salt-roasting method of cooking made it harder to time it? Other salt-roasted seafood I’ve had in fine dining restaurants has been overcooked too. The steak, a prime NY cut, was not bad – cooked properly but not that flavorful.

The cheeses were all really good – we stuck with 4 or 5 of the milder cheeses they had – and there was a huge variety we didn’t even get to try. Desserts were probably the weak point – more clever and adventurous than satisfying.

Prices seem too high given the location and portions. No entree less than $40. Most appetizers in the $25-30 range.

In a small space in downtown LA, the Wood Spoon is a decent place for lunch or dinner. I’ve tried several different things after a couple trips. The sandwiches are a really good deal and tasty. The grill specials might leave big eaters a little hungry, but the different meats I tried were juicy and tasty, as were the ample sides that come with them. The appetizers are pretty good but a little pricy for how much you get – my favorite is something like shrimp dumplings.

The prices are very reasonable, nothing over around $15. Parking at night is pretty easy to find as well.

Had a really great Korean BBQ meal here, with charcoal-flavored grilling. The meat is good quality, and you do pay for what you get a la carte. As a result, a meal will cost more than your average Korean BBQ restaurant, but the food and the nice room (for BBQ) are worth the trip.

Went to the Alibi Room last week to get some Kogi and drinks. On my own, I had 2 of the taco combos (3 tacos per order, I tried all 3 meats and tofu) and shared the salad and fries with some friends. Everything was ok – I don’t think I’d make a special trip for the food, though.

The tacos were disappointing because the flavor of the meat didn’t come through. They were all overwhelmed by this sweet and spicy slaw on top. All 6 of the tacos were like that, so I figure it’s just the way they do it. Maybe I’ll pick off some of the slaw next time. The spicy fries were good but way saltier than they needed to be, especially since they came with 2 kinds of ketchup (one with sriracha and one w/o I think) and an aioli. Friends tried the sliders and breakfast burrito, had good things to say about both items. Maybe try those next time as well.

Between 8:30 and 10:30 it was kind of crazy trying to put in an order and find a place at the bar to sit, but afterward it started clearing out and was more comfortable. Parking’s not bad, but it’s not a very well lit area.

I went to Umami tonight with a friend and had a decent overall experience. I had the chili burger and fries, she had the turkey burger. Both burgers ($8 or 9, can’t exactly remember!) were very good. I’ve never tried such a juicy turkey burger. The chili on my burger was tasty without being overwhelming as with most chili burgers, and the burger itself was juicy and a nice medium/medium-rare.

The fries ($3) were ok – you get about 7 or 8 “triple-cooked” fries. They are thick (which I actually like) but really greasy. Tasty, but I didn’t want to eat more than a couple. I feel like they may have been overthinking these fries. Perhaps they could add a simpler preparation to the menu for those of us who just want once cooked fries!

Service was friendly and quick. Atmosphere is nice although if this place ever gets really popular, there’s not a comfortable place to stand and wait, so diners may get crowded by others waiting.

One tip – there’s TONS of street parking that opens up exactly at 7:00pm because it’s a no parking zone between 4 and 7. Much easier than the tiny lot.

La Taquiza near USC recently started offering Korean tacos, and I tried both kinds – pork and short ribs.

I have to say, these are really good! They’re quite different from the much-ballyhooed Kogi. In fact, they’re closer to what I imagined “Korean tacos” to be. The emphasis is on the meat with both Mexican and Korean flavors/spices. Like crossing al pastor with spicy Korean bbq. There’s also kimchi and a slice of avocado in each taco. Only complaint with the short rib taco is that the chunks of meat were too large and hard to separate for smaller bites.

$2.50/pork taco, $2.75/short rib taco. A little bit more meat than your average taco.

Their regular tacos are solid, too. $1.50 – good stuff.

I’ve had 4 or 5 great meals here, and the latest was another great dinner. A big birthday party allowed the whole table to try 10 or 11 different dishes, including several appetizers and even more entrees. Although the plates are small, the execution is nearly impeccable.

Common dishes like shaking beef and claypot cod are among the best preparations I’ve had. More fusion-y dishes like the sea bass and lamb chops are equally successful and delicious.

The way to go is to split a lot of dishes, and don’t feel too guilty about the prices.