H: we are so excited to try the new Mezze (formerly Sona) on 401 N. La Cienega. Specializing in Contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine, Madison and I are psyched to compare the food to what we enjoyed in Istanbul just two weeks ago.
M: First, let me say that I really like the vibe. Finally a casual place with good energy. Love the stained glass windows. The faux finish is ghastly - so wrong. The paint color in the men's bathroom would've been so much better. The Moroccan tiles on the bar floor are fab.
H: Madison, this isn't an interior design blog.
M: I care more about design than food.
H: We've ordered the recommended Tabouli plate and the merguez sausage flatbread. Of course we're seated at the bar with a very busy bartender that isn't very chatty. I love the fava beans and marcona almonds in the tabouli salad.......and tons of chopped parsley
M: why on earth haven't they lit the two olive trees in the dining room? That's Lighting 101!
H: OMG....the flatbread is amazing!
M: the wild salmon sashimi is weird.....fishy. I don,t like it.
H: the Hashweh Risotto with summer truffle is deelish. But then again, how can you screw up truffle and or risotto? Hahah!
Omg...the white corn with moroccan spices...yum....better the the chipolte corn at Boa Steakhouse!
M: We need a rating scale.....food, decor, service and overall. Then we should have a rating on how attractive the staff is!
H: no! We are not rating the staff on their looks. Someone is bound to get hurt.
M: on a scale of 1 to 5....
Food: 3
Decor and vibe :
The way it looks: 3
The way it feels: 4
Service:
Efficient: 4
Engaging: 2
Overall: 3
H: I agree. Good rating system Madison.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Tower Bar - June 22' 2011
H: The Tower Bar has been our favorite for the last six years. Now that's staying power! We're at the bar now.....having dinner.
Madison and I have decided to blog during the dining experience rather than write about it later. It's more interesting and fun if you hear about the restaurant as it's happening!
Michael and Derek, bartender Extraordinaires, are like family!! We may invite them for Christmas dinner. They always take great care of us. The crudités has been presented but it doesn't compare to Club 55 in St. Tropez.
M: funny how the only bartenders Hobie considers family are the hot ones...okay, so I agree...whatever...the best part is the people that work here...they are AWESOME!!!!! The ambiance is second (except for the new fake orchids)...
H: the salmon, sauteed spinach and truffle fries have arrived! That was fast! I can't find a single area of improvement.
M:I would hope not...not a difficult order...I like plain and simple food...that is what it is..delicious!
H: well.....the salmon was a little too sashimi for me. Spinach was perfect (no salt) and truffle Fries were a little over fried.
As we said, this place is like our remote dining room. We love the staff.
M: not so remote..it's down the hill, but I agree, our favorite (I can have more than one fav...right?!)
Madison and I have decided to blog during the dining experience rather than write about it later. It's more interesting and fun if you hear about the restaurant as it's happening!
Michael and Derek, bartender Extraordinaires, are like family!! We may invite them for Christmas dinner. They always take great care of us. The crudités has been presented but it doesn't compare to Club 55 in St. Tropez.
M: funny how the only bartenders Hobie considers family are the hot ones...okay, so I agree...whatever...the best part is the people that work here...they are AWESOME!!!!! The ambiance is second (except for the new fake orchids)...
H: the salmon, sauteed spinach and truffle fries have arrived! That was fast! I can't find a single area of improvement.
M:I would hope not...not a difficult order...I like plain and simple food...that is what it is..delicious!
H: well.....the salmon was a little too sashimi for me. Spinach was perfect (no salt) and truffle Fries were a little over fried.
As we said, this place is like our remote dining room. We love the staff.
M: not so remote..it's down the hill, but I agree, our favorite (I can have more than one fav...right?!)
H+M Eats: Craig's - June 21, 2011
H+M Eats: Craig's - June 21, 2011: "H: This relatively new Italian hotspot on Melrose Ave. is probably the hippest in town right now. We were there to celebrate the birthday..."
Craig's - June 21, 2011
H: This relatively new Italian hotspot on Melrose Ave. is probably the hippest in town right now. We were there to celebrate the birthday of Hollywood Hottie - Kristen Detwiler.
Appetizers: The meatballs were cold. The shrimp cocktail was like any other restaurant. The fried mozzarella looked like a brown breaded brick. The bread basket used to be worth waiting for. Tonight it was stale and crunchy instead of warm and doughy.
The green goddess salad is the best on the menu. You gotta try it!
Entres: The whitefish was OK. Brussels Sprouts are in every restaurant these days and they tasted like every restaurant. The honey, truffle fried chicken had an incredible taste; perfect balance between sweet and truffle - amazing.
M: I thought the cocktail sauce that accompanied the shrimp cocktail was the best ever. I, too, remember the whitefish being better at a prior dinner at Craig's. Love the atmosphere. Enjoy all the table hopping and people spottings. The service was OK - not enthusiastic. The desserts were the best part - bread pudding, apple tarte.
Bottom line - the energy at Craig's is 2nd to none and we had a great time. Can't wait to go back and have dinner at the bar!
Appetizers: The meatballs were cold. The shrimp cocktail was like any other restaurant. The fried mozzarella looked like a brown breaded brick. The bread basket used to be worth waiting for. Tonight it was stale and crunchy instead of warm and doughy.
The green goddess salad is the best on the menu. You gotta try it!
Entres: The whitefish was OK. Brussels Sprouts are in every restaurant these days and they tasted like every restaurant. The honey, truffle fried chicken had an incredible taste; perfect balance between sweet and truffle - amazing.
M: I thought the cocktail sauce that accompanied the shrimp cocktail was the best ever. I, too, remember the whitefish being better at a prior dinner at Craig's. Love the atmosphere. Enjoy all the table hopping and people spottings. The service was OK - not enthusiastic. The desserts were the best part - bread pudding, apple tarte.
Bottom line - the energy at Craig's is 2nd to none and we had a great time. Can't wait to go back and have dinner at the bar!
Monday, June 20, 2011
H+M Eats: House - June 20, 2011
H+M Eats: House - June 20, 2011: "H: This neighborhood favorite always delivers. Although I'm sad to hear that they are discontinuing the roasted chicken (for two). What ..."
House - June 20, 2011
H: This neighborhood favorite always delivers. Although I'm sad to hear that they are discontinuing the roasted chicken (for two). What are they thinking?? We made recommendations to our first-timer friends, Len and Dean. Len accepted our Rigatoni Truffle meat sauce recommendation and he loved it. Dean wasn't thrilled with the bernaise sauce on his steak frites entre'. I should've asked for a taste. We asked for no salt on the sauteed spinach and I think the kitchen missed it. I mean....it wasn't like a cow's salt block but it definitely was salted.
The service was friendly, welcoming and attentive.
M: House is a perfect week night neighborhood spot. Laid back decor, paper napkins (huge bummer)....but they offer Racer 5 IPA on tap. So, I can overlook the shortcomings. Although its price point is rated at two dollar signs ($$), I think its over priced. But I'll go back.
The service was friendly, welcoming and attentive.
M: House is a perfect week night neighborhood spot. Laid back decor, paper napkins (huge bummer)....but they offer Racer 5 IPA on tap. So, I can overlook the shortcomings. Although its price point is rated at two dollar signs ($$), I think its over priced. But I'll go back.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Fig & Olive - June 18
H: so we feel that on the birth of H+M Eats, we need to retroactively report on last night's Fig & Olive dinner.....which, by the way, was their busiest night since opening. Our awesome bartender, Derrick, told us about Mr. C; hence, our lunch there today.
Our close friend, Michele Abbott (she's really like a sister to Madison), Creator of the hit series "The L Word", joined us.
This was our 5th visit. Space - Great design. So much better than the former Republic. Note that it is very loud. Food is consistently good. I wouldn't recommend the Roquette cocktail - fennel infused vodka and muddled arugula. Dame Edna would spit it out!
M: I.ll report later. We're headed to dinner at the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena!
Our close friend, Michele Abbott (she's really like a sister to Madison), Creator of the hit series "The L Word", joined us.
This was our 5th visit. Space - Great design. So much better than the former Republic. Note that it is very loud. Food is consistently good. I wouldn't recommend the Roquette cocktail - fennel infused vodka and muddled arugula. Dame Edna would spit it out!
M: I.ll report later. We're headed to dinner at the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)