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Du-Pars Restaurant & Bakery: Breakfast at Its Best in the Farmers Market

May 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Los Angeles is home to a pretty fair number of classic greasy spoons—neighborhood breakfast spots that have been open for seemingly ever, serving up unpretentious morning food to regulars day in, day out. Du-Pars is located in the Los Angeles Farmers Market, and focuses on fresh ingredients and classic recipes. For diners on a budget, the “Beat The Clock” menu offers a pretty bizarre twist—from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., the time of day is the price of your meal. Du-Pars is famous for their pancakes, which are buttery and fluffy, seemingly weightless on the plate but packing a serious punch in your belly. French toast also comes highly recommended. The lunch and dinner menus don’t fare quite as well, so stick with breakfast, which fortunately is served ‘round the clock.

Du-Pars Restaurant & Bakery
6333 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-8446
www.du-pars.com

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Cravings Catered at Canter’s Deli

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever craved some serious sandwich at 2 a.m. or that bowl of chicken soup at 8:00 a.m., you’ve probably already discovered Canter’s Deli.  Canter’s has been a Los Angeles institution since 1931, and still belongs to the third generation of the New Jersey brothers who established it. With world-class house pickles and pastrami and corned beef to rival New York legends, this iconic deli serves a classic menu.  You’ll find tongue sandwiches and borscht, sweet and sour stuffed cabbage, liver and white fish. And when was the last time you saw chocolate or cherry phosphates on the beverage list?  How about egg cream?  Canter’s is also unique, as this unique yet authentic deli has a full service bar open from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 in the morning. Food is served 24/7 except for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Canter’s caters and delivers (orders over $20). Canter’s in-your-face bakery display is an awesome tribute to the joy of calories. The Kibitz Room is an adjacent lounge where local bands jam seven nights a week (10:40 a.m. – 1:40 a.m.)

Canter’s Fairfax Delicatessen and Restaurant
419 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA  90036
(323) 651-2030
www.cantersdeli.com

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Legendary Lines and Dogs at Pink’s

March 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You’ll enjoy your hours in line at Pink’s by reading the names and specialty toppings on almost two-dozen hot dogs. Pink’s hot dog stand was established in 1939 and remains a family operation in the original Hollywood site. Legend tells of Orson Welles devouring 18 Pink’s dogs in one visit, quite an astonishing claim considering the oversized length of these critters to begin with! Tourists are lured to Pink’s by the expectation that they’ll see a celebrity limo pull up.  Certainly plenty have!

The Martha Stewart Dog is a 10" stretch frankfurter, smothered in relish, onions, bacon, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut, and sour cream. The L.A. Philharmonic Conductor Gustavo Dudamel Dog is dressed inguacamole, American and Swiss cheese, fajitas mix, and a slice of jalapeno, topped with tortilla chips. If you like onion rings, try the Lord of the "RINGS" Dog with BBQ sauce.  Some dogs are bundled in pairs and triplets, in tortillas as well as buns. Also famous is the chili topping, a Pink family recipe. The dogs are all beef, except for a vegan selection—like the Patt Morrison Baja Veggie Dog. They range in price from about $3.30 – $6.85. The menu unnecessarily offers burgers and chicken.  You’ll find loads of sides and beverages. One warning, in addition to the line: these dogs have serious casing and are known— perhaps adored—for their snap. 

Pink's
(near the intersection of Melrose and N. LaBrea Avenues)
709 N. LaBrea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA  90038
(323) 931-4223
www.pinkshollywood.com

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Campanile: Destination Dining

February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Housed in a spectacular 1920s building constructed as an office for Charlie Chaplin, Campanile has been one of the most lauded dining destinations in Los Angeles for decades. The recipient of a James Beard Award as well as a vast number of other plaudits, Executive Chef and owner Mark Peel trained under Wolfgang Puck before stepping out on his own. The space is absolutely gorgeous, with vaulted ceilings reminiscent of a church and a totally unique atmosphere enfolding you from the moment you sit down. The food is uniformly spectacular, with a regularly changing menu spotlighting local and seasonal foods. One awesome regular event is Market Monday, where the chef composes a meal every Wednesday from the best picks of the local farmer’s markets for $35. In general, this is a splurge restaurant, but you’ll get great value for your money.

Campanile
624 South La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 938-1447
www.campanilerestaurant.com

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Romance, Your Name Is The Little Door!

January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

At The Little Door, French Moroccan cuisine is artistically presented in a hidden garden setting. Actually, there are several different spaces from which to choose—including open sky or a cozy room with a fireplace—and all envelop you with lovely vines and sounds of nature. Chef Nicolas T. Peter emphasizes seasonal and organic produce, grown locally. Dishes are beautiful and dramatic, encouraging patrons to slow down and appreciate the whole dining experience. The Little Door has not one, but two different foie gras appetizers on their interesting menu. Lamb also receives popular reviews. The bar serves wine, but not hard liquor. And be aware up front that you’ll be paying a steep tab for your tasty romantic evening.

Patrons are also encouraged to visit a related establishment next door for less formal occasions.  In fact, it’s called Little Next Door.  It’s a gourmet deli-café, serving breakfast and lunch.  Their patisserie is something to consider when special times call for take-out and delivery.

The Little Door
8164 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-1210
www.thelittledoor.com

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Pantry Cafe: The Doors Are Always Open

December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Los Angeles is a town of night owls, so it’s no surprise that many restaurants are open all through the twilight hours. But few can boast a record like the Pantry Café—it’s been continuously open and serving customers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since 1924. That’s almost a century of food. This is a high-quality, classic diner boasting all of the American traditions; a huge menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner specialties, cooked to order and delivered to your table with a smile. Regulars love the atmosphere, which is crowded but convivial, and rave over the fluffy pancakes and tender rotisserie chicken. The current owner of the Pantry is former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan, who plans to keep the doors open and the streak going as long as he possibly can. One note: the Pantry Café takes cash only, so leave the plastic at home.

Pantry Café
877 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 972-9279
www.pantrycafe.com

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Treat Yourself to a Famous Original Tommy’s Chili Cheese Burger

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Original Tommy’s seems to satisfy a taste deeply embedded in our gastronomic genes.  For chili cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries, this is the place. Sure, there are also hot dogs and tamales on the menu.  But when you’re zoning into fast grilled pleasure with onions, oozing real cheese, tomatoes, pickles and chili, nothing else quite does the trick. The chili is abundant and amazing, unless you decline it. But many folks get extra.

Tommy’s “shack” has been at it since 1946. And this institution does it right—your food is ready as soon as you’ve finished paying for it, and you can eat casually at the stand-up counters, where realistic paper towel dispensers substitute for silly napkins. Plus, there are locations all over California, so no matter where you are in the Golden State, you can get your Original Tommy’s fix—see for yourself here.

Original Tommy’s Hamburgers
2575 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(626) 357-9201
www.originaltommys.com

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Luna Park: A Lively LA Eatery With Food to Match

October 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The original Luna Park (at least in California terms) was an amusement park that opened in the 1800s and closed in 1918. Fast forward a little bit and Luna Park is now the name of one of Los Angeles’ most interesting new restaurants. Offering high-quality food in a comfortable, casual atmosphere, the menu includes Italian and French cuisines as its base while mixing in other influences from all over the world. Regulars swoon over the goat cheese fondue and the fried apple pie, but the entire menu is pretty strong. Special attention should be given to the house cocktails, which are deliciously composed and pack a serious kick. The prix fixe menu seems to be the choice for locals, but the restaurant also offers happy hour deals as well.

Luna Park
672 South La Brea
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-2110
www.lunaparkla.com

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The Stinking Rose: Smell the Roses

September 21, 2011 By

Forget about your breath and immerse yourself in everything garlic at the Stinking Rose, where the great-tasting bulb is king. The name refers to the alternative moniker for garlic, which reportedly dates back to ancient Greece. Start your meal with the Bagna Calda, roasted garlic, olive oil, and anchovies served in an iron skillet and spread on warm, homemade focaccia bread.  Entrees include whole dungeness crab roasted in – what else? – garlic sauce.  Also on the menu are a variety of garlic prepared meats, poultry, pizzas, and pastas. Save room for dessert, because you just have to try the garlic ice cream. Seriously! Whimsical décor and a friendly staff make this a fun (and fragrant) dining experience.

The Stinking Rose
55 N. La Cienega Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
(310) 652-7673
www.thestinkingrose.com

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Today is Taco Tuesday!!

August 30, 2011 By

Are you going out today for this fun event? What is your favorite local place to go for Taco Tuesday? Please share with us!

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