siacali "My favorite animal is steak. -- Fran Lebowitz"

Robins is a classic. It’s a place to pig out. The portions are huge, the sauces are great, and the beef ribs are just about the best I’ve had anywhere. Meaty, smoked, huge, and messy, a plate of 7 (known as The Stud) beef ribs is about as much as anyone would ever want to try to eat in one sitting. The blue-cheese walnut cole slaw, beans, and blueberry muffin served as side dishes are delicious too.

Robins menu has a full selection of BBQ and other plate too. I haven’t tried any of the non-BBQ dishes, but all of the BBQ that I’ve tried is good (though I’d definitely recommend the ribs over the chicken). There are several “all-you-can-eat” specials, depending on what day of the week you’re there. These are strictly for the seriously hungry as even “normal” portions are huge.

The chocolate cake is divine, and like other dishes – HUGE. Highly recommended.

The atmosphere is very casual with booths, tables, and even counter-style dining. Outdoor dining is also available.

I’d passed by Jack’s several times per week after eating at several nearby establishments over the course of the past few months. They’ve always seemed to have a decent crowd, so finally I decided to stick a toe in the water and give ‘em a try. It was a fantastic decision! Jack’s is great!

A co-worker and I stopped in for lunch, and I, for one, had a serious hunger thing going on. We were quickly seated in their cluttered but cozy (think TGI Fridays meets the corner bar) dining room and immediately a very friendly and energetic waitress came to take our drink order.

Their extensive menu reads like an encyclopedia of what’s what for lunch. It’s the kind of menu that one could spend hours drooling over while deciding which item to eat. While the restaurants decor says pub, their menu definitely says NY-style deli. They’ve got en endless array of everything from Pastrami sandwiches to eggs to burgers to hot plates.

I resolved the dilemma of “what to eat” by looking for what seemed unusual, perhaps a specialty amongst various types of food offered. The fact that they had TWO pages of burgers, one that says “burgers” and one that says “chicken burgers” was a clue. Further investigation led to the discovery that they offer buffalo, venison, and hog burgers. Alerted to the fact that this is no ordinary burger joint, I narrowed my focus down and resolved to have a burger.

By this time I was starved! I spotted the Giant Jack burger and heard it call out my name. Two half pound patties plus cheese…YUM!!! My friend ordered the bacon-cheese burger.

Shortly after ordering, I went to the restroom to wash up. Upon my return (quick!) there was this GINORMOUS juicy burger waiting for me. Served with nice crispy fries, lettuce, tomato, and onions on the side, and pickles in a jar on the table.

You know when you bite into something and it’s one of the best you’ve had in a long long time? That was exactly the sensation I had biting into the burger at Jack’s. Their meat is great, the patties are huge, juicy (not overcooked), and the bread is soft and wonderful. These guys have outstanding service and make one of the BEST burgers I’ve had anywhere in the Los Angeles area. And – bonus – the fries were good too!

I walked out stuffed, satisfied, and anxious to tell some friends about it. I’ll be returning to Jack’s soon to try some other items and see if they’re as good as the burgers…I sure hope so!

Maria’s Italian Kitchen is a good place to go when you’re craving an Italian standard. They do the standards real well. Paella, Pizza, Lasagna, and Parmigiana are all quite good, and reasonably priced.

Their portions are nice sized, and their desserts are good. The environment is typical of a neighborhood Pizza restaurant.

The service is usually fine, but varies somewhat with server, which is why I couldn’t give it more than a four-star rating. Overall, I’d recommend Maria’s Italian Kitchen as a nice place to go!

It’s noisy, it’s crowded, it’s often pure mayhem. It’s one of Los Angeles’ best kept secrets. Huge, but hidden on the second floor inside a courtyard shopping center in Chinatown, this gem of a restaurant is a must-try experience that may just become a habit.

Come early, or your likely to be told “No more food, we outta food.” Take a number and prepare to wait, anywhere from 20 minutes up to an hour. Don’t worry, it’s worth the wait. Pass the time shopping the various shops within the center selling everything from swords to herbs.

When your number is finally called, you’ll be led through an immense and noisy hall to your table. Once seated a waiter will offer drinks (maybe), and the hostess will place a punch slip on your table.

Waitresses with number tags instead of name tags noisily push steamer carts filled with all kinds of Chinese Foods. As they pass by your table, you can opt to take one or more portions of the dishes they offer. Each time you take a portion, they stamp your punch slip with a symbol that represents the dish.

Dim Sum consists of an endless collection of little delicacy dishes. Food is inexpensive, and decadent. Lots of breaded and fried things, many with shrimp. Shu Mai, Har Gow, Pork Buns, and Custards are just some of the yummy items you’ll be offered.

If you like vegetables, order Chinese Broccoli from the waiter (or anything else you like from the menus – they won’t offer, you need to ask). Most of the dishes are quite nice. I’d recommend you stick to the dishes that come in steamers. Everything is really inexpensive except the roast duck and roast pork dishes.

Part of the experience is that you’ll have little or no idea how much you just spent until the check comes. They total the punch slip, and deliver a bill – don’t worry, you’re likely to be shocked at how low the bill is. It’s a great experience, and a great bargain – highly recommended!

Zankou Chicken is one of a very few Armenian fast food restaurants. Never heard of Armenian fast food? Give it a try, you’re in for a treat!

Zankou’s signature dish is, of course, their chicken. They make a wonderful rotisserie chicken that is uniquely flavorful, and has a wonderfully crunchy skin, while being moist and delicious inside. Served with a garlic sauce (made from crushed garlic and olive oil) and pickled veggies, their chicken makes for a delicious and healthful meal.

Zankou also offers Beef Shewarma, and a Chicken Shewarma too (called Tarna). They’re both excellent, and easily among the best to be found in Los Angeles. Both dishes are available in both a plate (served with Tahini sauce, hummos, a salad, and pickled veggies), or as a sandwich in a pita.

Zankou also has excellent falafel and a nice salad to round out their menu with some vegetarian options. Falafels are available separately or in pita bread as a sandwich.

Zankou is strictly a dine-in fast-food or take-out experience. Don’t expect lots of atmosphere, but they more than make up for that with fantastic food at reasonable prices.

Want some great New York Pizza here in L.A.? This Persian-owned pizza palace puts the Italians in the neighborhood to shame! Their Pizza is one of the best authentic NY-style pizzas in Los Angeles.

A typical pizza joint, they feature slices, pies, pasta, sandwiches, and beer. The have great salads (huge and delicious) just in case that’s an itch you need to scratch.

Their hot dishes are delicious, and their service is great. I highly recommend this place if you’ve been craving NY-style pizza.

Looking for a great place for dessert? Want to impress a date or enjoy quiet conversation with a small group of people? Clafoutis is definitely the place!

Clafoutis offers a great atmosphere with your choice of indoor dining in a cozy dining room, or outdoor dining on the sidewalks of Sunset Boulevard. The desserts are divine fantasy creations, artfully plated and decadent. The coffee is great too – making it an ideal dessert destination. My only complaint is the notable lack of sugar-free options. Their food menu is good too.

Clafoutis atmosphere attracts a good looking crowd, ranging from the Hollywood party scene to the Beverly Hills crowd. People watching opportunities abound. In fact that’s the only thing that could possibly make this place less than a 100% ideal date destination. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Peculier pub is heaven for the beer enthusiast. Featuring over 500 beers from around the country and the world, this is the place to sample unique beers in the village.

Often noisy, crowded and filled with young college students, unless that’s the experience you’re seeking, go early on a weeknight. The bar staff is generally knowledgeable about all things beer, so ask away.

But seriously, if you have to eat fast food burgers (other than In-N-Out), Micky D’s the place. It’s cheap. Convenient. And easy to find. None of these healthy pretenses. It’s honest, tasty, fried food. Yummy…

Consistent too…even in Alaska!

Ok, so here I was walking on Lake avenue in Pasadena absolutely jonesing for a burger when I remembered reading somewhere that one of the best burgers in the Los Angeles area was to be found nearby…at a place called Pie-N-Burger. So, down Lake to California, took a left and on the left hand side of the road…the object of my quest.

So, I go inside, and…it’s a weird little joint. It’s all lunch counter, with a couple of uncomfortable-looking tables in the back. The place looks like it hasn’t been redecorated since it opened in the early 60s because…it hasn’t. The menu is a board up on the wall. There’s a wait – even to be seated at the counter. And it’s loud. It’s as far a cry from the chic LA restaurant scene as one could imagine, but hey, I’m here for a burger, not chic.

I was a little put off at first, especially by the wait, but I decided to stick it out and see how such a place could have survived so long. Why, I asked myself, would a place like this be so crowded?

So, finally my name was called and I was seated at the counter. A waitress threw a glass of ice water down in front of me, and asked to take my order. I ordered a cheeseburger, and she suggested that I add grilled onions. I asked the size, and she suggested I have a double. I took both suggestions, along with a diet coke, an order of well-done fries and a small fresh fruit plate.

This place definitely is a blast from the past. They have a single soda fountain for carbonated water, and make your choice of soda by mixing the appropriate syrup with carbonated water. Neat!

Before long, the food arrived. One bite into the burger and I fully appreciated just how and why this place is still around. It’s a truly great old-fashioned burger! The meat was delicious, and the bun soft and superb! (and you can’t go wrong with the grilled onions) The burger is served on a plate and wrapped in paper (needs to be…it’s quiet large, each patty is 1/4 lb, and it’s JUICY). Delightfully messy, dripping, pure carnal pleasure! The fries were fantastic too and were perfectly done just to the point of crispy (per my request).

The meal was absolutely delicious. The service was great, as least after getting seated. It would definitely be a great place to take a date you’d like to put to the “casual/cool” test.

I didn’t explore the other half of their name (as in "pie") but did observe several large home-made-looking slices slathered in melting vanilla ice cream being doled out to other customers. They looked to be truly enjoying it…

BTW…cash only!