Tuesday, January 31, 2006
New look
Here's Mindy's new design for ZagatWho. I'm not entirely sure she would have taken credit for it herself, so I'm writing this to make sure everybody knows Mindy designed it.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Campanile
http://www.campanilerestaurant.com
Honestly, I was underwhelmed.
We went for our Campus Events Directors' Dinner, meaning that ASUCLA picked up the tab, but did I get my money's worth? I don't think so.
I had the fluke (puns abound) on a whim. Nothing fishy there (it was fantastic). Actually, all of the food met or exceeded my expectation, except for the dessert, which was mediocre at best. Sharing ownership with La Brea Bakery (at one point), the pre-meal bread was naturally the best I've ever had.
But the service killed the meal. I know we were a big group (9) but we sat there for over three hours-- essentially the duration of their entire dinner service. People came and went and came and went while we sat waiting for someone to take our order. And trust me, we earned the service-- we probably spent enough money to cover the salaries of the wait staff for the evening.
When our server did come, she was helpful and attentive.
If you know me, you know I hate/thrive on awkward moments (if only to talk about them later), so it should mean something to you that while we were tabulating out tip I said, consciously within earshot of the staff, that the service was disappointing and we should reflect that opinion in our gratuity. Oh, they heard. And they best recognize.
I don't know what else to write. This entry sucked.
(A note about the entry: I usually include pictures, and I was going to attach a photo here of a morbidly obese man-- someone that roughly resembles a very large man sitting at the table next to us that thoroughly entertained Aiko. But I couldn't bear the Google Image Search results, so you're spared.)
Ravi
Honestly, I was underwhelmed.
We went for our Campus Events Directors' Dinner, meaning that ASUCLA picked up the tab, but did I get my money's worth? I don't think so.
I had the fluke (puns abound) on a whim. Nothing fishy there (it was fantastic). Actually, all of the food met or exceeded my expectation, except for the dessert, which was mediocre at best. Sharing ownership with La Brea Bakery (at one point), the pre-meal bread was naturally the best I've ever had.
But the service killed the meal. I know we were a big group (9) but we sat there for over three hours-- essentially the duration of their entire dinner service. People came and went and came and went while we sat waiting for someone to take our order. And trust me, we earned the service-- we probably spent enough money to cover the salaries of the wait staff for the evening.
When our server did come, she was helpful and attentive.
If you know me, you know I hate/thrive on awkward moments (if only to talk about them later), so it should mean something to you that while we were tabulating out tip I said, consciously within earshot of the staff, that the service was disappointing and we should reflect that opinion in our gratuity. Oh, they heard. And they best recognize.
I don't know what else to write. This entry sucked.
(A note about the entry: I usually include pictures, and I was going to attach a photo here of a morbidly obese man-- someone that roughly resembles a very large man sitting at the table next to us that thoroughly entertained Aiko. But I couldn't bear the Google Image Search results, so you're spared.)
Ravi
Saturday, January 21, 2006
24 Hour Dining: Canter's Deli
419 North Fairfax, LA
I'd been to Canter's once before, so I should have known to expect mediocrity.
24-hour joints like Canter's and Fred 62 are meant to be experienced only in the wee hours of the morning-- what passes for acceptable food at those hours become Dennysesque at best when the sun rears its bright head. And it was 2am.
I had a fruit bowl. Last time I had the hot open-faced turkey sandwich (also at around 2am-- a bad idea). The fruit bowl was decent and not outrageously priced, which is more than I can say for Swingers (and their $8 bowl), but the service was so-so and the environment shared frightful similarities with the dining hall of a retirement home (both in clientele and decor).
Their pickles put me in a bit of a sour mood. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that when a restaurant publishes in their menu "Try our world famous _____," said food item should be amazing. And yet these pickles-- which were delivered to our table for free-- were the worst I've ever had. They were still 98% cucumber, which (coincidentally) makes them 98% bland.
I should've just sliced them, put them on my eyelids, and gone to bed.
-->Ravi
I'd been to Canter's once before, so I should have known to expect mediocrity.
24-hour joints like Canter's and Fred 62 are meant to be experienced only in the wee hours of the morning-- what passes for acceptable food at those hours become Dennysesque at best when the sun rears its bright head. And it was 2am.
I had a fruit bowl. Last time I had the hot open-faced turkey sandwich (also at around 2am-- a bad idea). The fruit bowl was decent and not outrageously priced, which is more than I can say for Swingers (and their $8 bowl), but the service was so-so and the environment shared frightful similarities with the dining hall of a retirement home (both in clientele and decor).
Their pickles put me in a bit of a sour mood. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that when a restaurant publishes in their menu "Try our world famous _____," said food item should be amazing. And yet these pickles-- which were delivered to our table for free-- were the worst I've ever had. They were still 98% cucumber, which (coincidentally) makes them 98% bland.
I should've just sliced them, put them on my eyelids, and gone to bed.
-->Ravi
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
Last quarter, when I dragged my sister all the way to the Grove during rush hour to see an advanced screening of Match Point, only to discover that it was being played in Santa Monica (doh), I saw that there was a Wood Ranch Grill there. Whilst images of meat danced in my head, I promptly proposed a Zagat-Who trip which was enthusiastically received.
After a painfully long five week wait, we finally gathered a ravenous group to trek through Friday night traffic from Westwood to La Brea.
(oh what choices!)
For those of you who don't know (www.woodranchgrill.com), this establishment has epic tri-tip and bbq, even for those people who aren't normally that into red meat. Though they have other menu items, you will probably get the combo meal- 2, 3 or 4 bbq items with two sides. Their bbq items are glazed with their signature bbq sauce and roasted overnight, and include beef ribs, babyback ribs, bbq or fire-roasted chicken (breast or half-chicken) and the tri-tip. I would recommend the tri-tip because that is what they are famous for.
Their sides may cause a problem for the indecisive one, but otherwise are fun to choose from: mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, ranch fries, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, grilled vegetables, baked potato, baked beans, and coleslaw.
Our experience was pretty standard. Because the Grove is normally very crowded on Friday nights, we had to wait about half an hour for a 7-person table. Our food came in a timely manner (not too long but not a short wait), and we were presented with warm and fresh GARLIC BREAD ROLLS THAT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH.
(AHHH DELICIOUS GARLIC ROLLS!)
(Ravi's last moment pre-garlic roll consumption)
But our waitress gave Aiko a virgin raspberry Ranch lemonade (it was supposed to have rum) and they gave Eric the wrong meat (but he liked it, ZING!). But on the up side, they brought him his tri-tip and he got 4 meats for the price of 3. And that my friend, is beating the system.
(Top: Aiko and Cindy, a bit daunted by their entrees?; Bottom: Eric with his ranch fries, sweet potatoes and incorrect meat)
(Count 'em: all four meats)
We all ate and were merry and died of meat overload. This was all concurrent with listening to the worst EZ listening/reject pop (e.g., NSync "Bye Bye Bye"). Be prepared to drop about $30+ if you get the 2 bbq combo and a non-alcoholic drink, but they do validate for parking. Overall, it delivered what I expected it to, so it's an appropriate restaurant when you feel like having some high-quality meat. They have ample portions (my leftovers were a hearty lunch today), but this is definitely a once-in-a-while thing.
Overall: MEATASTIC.
-k.
Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill
The Grove
189 The Grove Drive Y-80
(Aiko, Cindy and Nish- waiting for food)
(Erica and Eric- the calm before the storm)
(Cindy, Nish and Ravi with their entrees)
After a painfully long five week wait, we finally gathered a ravenous group to trek through Friday night traffic from Westwood to La Brea.
(oh what choices!)
For those of you who don't know (www.woodranchgrill.com), this establishment has epic tri-tip and bbq, even for those people who aren't normally that into red meat. Though they have other menu items, you will probably get the combo meal- 2, 3 or 4 bbq items with two sides. Their bbq items are glazed with their signature bbq sauce and roasted overnight, and include beef ribs, babyback ribs, bbq or fire-roasted chicken (breast or half-chicken) and the tri-tip. I would recommend the tri-tip because that is what they are famous for.
Their sides may cause a problem for the indecisive one, but otherwise are fun to choose from: mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, ranch fries, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, grilled vegetables, baked potato, baked beans, and coleslaw.
Our experience was pretty standard. Because the Grove is normally very crowded on Friday nights, we had to wait about half an hour for a 7-person table. Our food came in a timely manner (not too long but not a short wait), and we were presented with warm and fresh GARLIC BREAD ROLLS THAT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH.
(AHHH DELICIOUS GARLIC ROLLS!)
(Ravi's last moment pre-garlic roll consumption)
But our waitress gave Aiko a virgin raspberry Ranch lemonade (it was supposed to have rum) and they gave Eric the wrong meat (but he liked it, ZING!). But on the up side, they brought him his tri-tip and he got 4 meats for the price of 3. And that my friend, is beating the system.
(Top: Aiko and Cindy, a bit daunted by their entrees?; Bottom: Eric with his ranch fries, sweet potatoes and incorrect meat)
(Count 'em: all four meats)
We all ate and were merry and died of meat overload. This was all concurrent with listening to the worst EZ listening/reject pop (e.g., NSync "Bye Bye Bye"). Be prepared to drop about $30+ if you get the 2 bbq combo and a non-alcoholic drink, but they do validate for parking. Overall, it delivered what I expected it to, so it's an appropriate restaurant when you feel like having some high-quality meat. They have ample portions (my leftovers were a hearty lunch today), but this is definitely a once-in-a-while thing.
Overall: MEATASTIC.
-k.
Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill
The Grove
189 The Grove Drive Y-80
(Aiko, Cindy and Nish- waiting for food)
(Erica and Eric- the calm before the storm)
(Cindy, Nish and Ravi with their entrees)
Friday, January 13, 2006
Levels of Spicy=Mild to "Please let this death be swift"
There are plenty of trusty ramen stand bys on the Westside--Asahi Ramen and the other ramen place that's a block down from it that I can never remember. However, when in Little Tokyo, Ramen must be held up to a higher standard. I've tried the 4.00 bowl of Ramen in the Mitsuwa and found it relatively satisfactory and a good eat for a ginormous bowl of soup and noodles. But for those who desire more from their bowl of noodles, I suggest Orochon.
Orochon Ramen is located on the 3rd floor in Weller Court in Little Tokyo. It's the triangular shaped open air plaza on Astronaut E S Onizuka Street. The first time I went I thought these noodles couldn't possibly been have different from any other ramen place I went. Oh but I was wrong,not only can you choose between Miso, Salt or Soy Sauce flavored broth (Soy Sauce is the best) you can choose what level of spicy you want. From 7-2. 7 being "You're a titty baby" mild and 2 being "The heat is hitting the back of my throat and I want to vomit" spicy.
Since I'm obviously a titty baby I chose level 7. But Neil chose level 3 and ten minutes into the bowl he started to tear up and beads of sweat collected on the bridge of his nose. After calling him a pussy, I tried some of it.
This kind of spicy isn't the type of heat that you would get from biting into a hot pepper. The heat of the broth lies in the millions of tiny little ground cayenne peppers. You don't realize it until it hits the back of your throat and parches your tonsils until you cry for relief.
So in other words, I highly suggest it. The $6.45 ramen comes in a very large bowl with a few slices of tender pork and bamboo stir fry.
Orochon Ramen
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Inside the Weller Court there's also this great bookstore that sells lots of great Design and Japanese books.
Orochon Ramen is located on the 3rd floor in Weller Court in Little Tokyo. It's the triangular shaped open air plaza on Astronaut E S Onizuka Street. The first time I went I thought these noodles couldn't possibly been have different from any other ramen place I went. Oh but I was wrong,not only can you choose between Miso, Salt or Soy Sauce flavored broth (Soy Sauce is the best) you can choose what level of spicy you want. From 7-2. 7 being "You're a titty baby" mild and 2 being "The heat is hitting the back of my throat and I want to vomit" spicy.
Since I'm obviously a titty baby I chose level 7. But Neil chose level 3 and ten minutes into the bowl he started to tear up and beads of sweat collected on the bridge of his nose. After calling him a pussy, I tried some of it.
This kind of spicy isn't the type of heat that you would get from biting into a hot pepper. The heat of the broth lies in the millions of tiny little ground cayenne peppers. You don't realize it until it hits the back of your throat and parches your tonsils until you cry for relief.
So in other words, I highly suggest it. The $6.45 ramen comes in a very large bowl with a few slices of tender pork and bamboo stir fry.
Orochon Ramen
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Inside the Weller Court there's also this great bookstore that sells lots of great Design and Japanese books.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Breadbar
When I was little my mom used to say that if I didn't behave she'd send me to prison, where they'd only feed me bread and water.
If they served bread from Breadbar, then I'd look forward to life in the slammer. (I don't know who I'd kill-- vehicular manslaughter, of course, because I don't want the death penalty-- but it would probably be a Baja Fresh executive or someone else responsible for introducing some sort of horror into this world.)
More of a regional detention center than your local jail, Breadbar delivers the goods to several restaurants in the area, including the Wilshire Restaurant.
And like any institution run by the government, they suffer from subpar customer service and a workforce that exhibits less motivation than a brick. Instead of greeting us when we entered, the server didn't even pay attention to our arrival-- eventually we had to ask for a menu. Likely graduates of The Milford School, these employees only speak when spoken to. We got our food after a party that arrived after us, and once we were done, we just sat awkwardly while no one got us a check. No one bothered to check up on us or offer water refills, and we were sitting five feet from the counter. During our visit though, every employee I saw did find the time to stuff their face with bread.
Awkward moments abound when we found out they mislabeled their bakery display case, incorrectly positioning a $4 dark chocolate bread loaf under the label of a $1.50 chocolate croissant. What was a bargain at $1.50 became decidedly less so when offered at $4.
Without the warm embrace of federal subsidies (like sick people who commit crimes and go to prison just because it's significantly cheaper than actually paying for the medical care-- the analogy continues!), prices were a bit on the steep side. $9 for a filling chicken sandwich or salad.
The food certainly was tasty, but I would prefer the bread to come for free as part of a much larger (albeit more expensive) meal or a life sentence. That's just how I roll.
(Okay, I'm REALLY proud of that last pun.)
Overall, Breadbar made me feel more or less:
-->Ravi
If they served bread from Breadbar, then I'd look forward to life in the slammer. (I don't know who I'd kill-- vehicular manslaughter, of course, because I don't want the death penalty-- but it would probably be a Baja Fresh executive or someone else responsible for introducing some sort of horror into this world.)
More of a regional detention center than your local jail, Breadbar delivers the goods to several restaurants in the area, including the Wilshire Restaurant.
And like any institution run by the government, they suffer from subpar customer service and a workforce that exhibits less motivation than a brick. Instead of greeting us when we entered, the server didn't even pay attention to our arrival-- eventually we had to ask for a menu. Likely graduates of The Milford School, these employees only speak when spoken to. We got our food after a party that arrived after us, and once we were done, we just sat awkwardly while no one got us a check. No one bothered to check up on us or offer water refills, and we were sitting five feet from the counter. During our visit though, every employee I saw did find the time to stuff their face with bread.
Awkward moments abound when we found out they mislabeled their bakery display case, incorrectly positioning a $4 dark chocolate bread loaf under the label of a $1.50 chocolate croissant. What was a bargain at $1.50 became decidedly less so when offered at $4.
Without the warm embrace of federal subsidies (like sick people who commit crimes and go to prison just because it's significantly cheaper than actually paying for the medical care-- the analogy continues!), prices were a bit on the steep side. $9 for a filling chicken sandwich or salad.
The food certainly was tasty, but I would prefer the bread to come for free as part of a much larger (albeit more expensive) meal or a life sentence. That's just how I roll.
(Okay, I'm REALLY proud of that last pun.)
Overall, Breadbar made me feel more or less:
-->Ravi
Ramayani
Indonesian! WOW!
Atmosphere: Peaceful, homely (in a good way), quaint.
As you enter, there's barely a person in the restaurant. Granted, it was almost 10pm, but still. Hence it was quiet with a background buzz of some strange island music one the speakers. When I looked around, I realized that this restaurant was really just as much a home as it is an eatery. They've got photos of grandkids, little shrines, and what appears to be a regular apartment kitchen in the back. Cute, colorful, laid back.
Service: Initially undecided, Finally extremely satisfying.
The wait staff seems to consist of about 5 indonesian relatives milling about the back of the restaurant as described above. They finally seat us and the waitress (a kind faced old indonesian lady) seeming to have a tendency toward asians, speaks barely a word to Kyle and turns to me expecting that I order for the both of us. When the food comes out, I indicate that we were planning on sharing the food and the waitress proceeded to bring us 2 plates, another pair of chopsticks, another spoon, and another fork. Wow. And more than once, more than twice, we were checked up upon. In addition, if I ever needed anything, at least 2 of the 5 continued to linger around the "kitchen" area.
Food: Tasty exotic treats -- all of it.
Coconut curry noodles with shimp -- an every so slighty spicy delicate dish, with its coconut flavors really coming through.
Sampler plate (as I'll call it) -- Corn, peanut fritter, curry beef, green beans+tofu, rice topped with eggs strips and chili peppers, beef jerky+red pepper sauce, and more. It's a good way to go to begin understanding indonesian food, i suppose, but more importantly it really gets you to LIKE the food.
Lime soda -- lime juice, sparkling water, and vanilla syrup = deliciously sweet and refreshing.
I loved it. Close to all you westwood kids, I'd say it's worth the trip. And at about $10/person it's not a bad deal considering I left feeling light and refreshed, then ended up full and satified about 15 mins later.
Ramayani Westwood
1777 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5607
(310) 477-3315
Special notes: For all who were at Mindy's potluck and had my "black jook," they had that dish on the menu at Ramayani! I've never seen it anywhere else on a menu, not even in Malaysian restaurants. WOW! There's also a great cheap zagat rated lebanese place right next door.
Atmosphere: Peaceful, homely (in a good way), quaint.
As you enter, there's barely a person in the restaurant. Granted, it was almost 10pm, but still. Hence it was quiet with a background buzz of some strange island music one the speakers. When I looked around, I realized that this restaurant was really just as much a home as it is an eatery. They've got photos of grandkids, little shrines, and what appears to be a regular apartment kitchen in the back. Cute, colorful, laid back.
Service: Initially undecided, Finally extremely satisfying.
The wait staff seems to consist of about 5 indonesian relatives milling about the back of the restaurant as described above. They finally seat us and the waitress (a kind faced old indonesian lady) seeming to have a tendency toward asians, speaks barely a word to Kyle and turns to me expecting that I order for the both of us. When the food comes out, I indicate that we were planning on sharing the food and the waitress proceeded to bring us 2 plates, another pair of chopsticks, another spoon, and another fork. Wow. And more than once, more than twice, we were checked up upon. In addition, if I ever needed anything, at least 2 of the 5 continued to linger around the "kitchen" area.
Food: Tasty exotic treats -- all of it.
Coconut curry noodles with shimp -- an every so slighty spicy delicate dish, with its coconut flavors really coming through.
Sampler plate (as I'll call it) -- Corn, peanut fritter, curry beef, green beans+tofu, rice topped with eggs strips and chili peppers, beef jerky+red pepper sauce, and more. It's a good way to go to begin understanding indonesian food, i suppose, but more importantly it really gets you to LIKE the food.
Lime soda -- lime juice, sparkling water, and vanilla syrup = deliciously sweet and refreshing.
I loved it. Close to all you westwood kids, I'd say it's worth the trip. And at about $10/person it's not a bad deal considering I left feeling light and refreshed, then ended up full and satified about 15 mins later.
Ramayani Westwood
1777 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5607
(310) 477-3315
Special notes: For all who were at Mindy's potluck and had my "black jook," they had that dish on the menu at Ramayani! I've never seen it anywhere else on a menu, not even in Malaysian restaurants. WOW! There's also a great cheap zagat rated lebanese place right next door.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Lucille's B-b-ew!
Okay, that does sound harsh, but I don't regret going, and it was pretty tasty.
The lo-down:
Lucille's Barbeque
Del Amo Fashion Center
21420 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90503
310-370-RIBS (7427)
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars, but it's really a borderline deal--where I really would have put 2 and 7/8th stars out of four, but the 2 might throw people off and then no one would come here. But it's not that bad.
We (Saabir + I) were pretty excited to come here since the website and menu looked pretty darn amazing--and upon getting there around 8pm on a Saturday night--after being told we had to wait about 50 minutes (we actually ended up waiting 1hr13minutes)--and seeing GAZILLIONS of very very overweight African-Americans--we thought we hit the jackpot in terms of bbq.
To (tell the) truth, the bbq chicken and any other chicken there--is goddamn amazing! I've never had such soft, tender, and juicy! chicken--EVER. Especially as chicken strips--which tend to be dry and/or not real chicken tasting. If you come here, order the chicken.
The slightly lower rating that I'm giving is mainly due to the immense disappointment in the baby back ribs. It is what Lucille's is supposedly famous for--as well as their 3 different original bbq sauces! But after taking one bite into a sauced rib, I knew I would not be eating any of the others--the meat was dry and not particulary special, and the sauce made me feel sick. Is bbq suace supposed to do that? I mean, I'm not fan of bbq (and sauce) but I know how to enjoy good food. These ribs? Ain't so cool.
We ordered and shared: the $17.99 appetizer platter which came w/ 3 sauces (honey mustard, ranch and some egg roll dipping thing)--and--wait for it:
-fried green tomatoes
-southern chicken w/ corn eggrolls
-chicken strips (AMAZING!!! I will dream about them)
-stuffed jalapenos (I hate jalapenos but I still ate them--the taste was gorgeous. Yes, I can say that)
-two STUFFED quesadillas with caramelized onions, corn salsa, tri tip beef, and loads of cheese
-ONION STRAWS. enough said. (red onions, too!!!)
-buffalo wings!!! mmm. The sauce on them was tasty. What happened, RIBS?
For the main course, we decided to share the dish where you got to choose two different bbq-ed meats and we chose the baby back ribs and the bbq chicken (!!!). We also got garlic mashed potatoes and braised greens as sides. Don't get the braised greens. Not a good idea. All you get are mushy green leafs of some vegetable I have yet to place. I wish we had selected the corn on the cob because everyone else in the restaurant got that and it looked perfect.
Considering we really only just shared a (huge honkin') appetizer and one main dish--there was WAYYY too much food. You also get homemade buttermilk biscuits with apple butter complimentary right before your food comes. And the food came FAST. Like in 5-8 minutes after we ordered it. But that could be due to the crowdedness of the restaurant, and the mad cooks just making loads of everything.
I was really happy with all the food we got, but like I said--Lucille, what happened to your Ribs?!
Oh--and the service--never have I been so ATTENDED to. Literally. I wanted to tell our (2!) servers to STOP interrupting our meal (about 5-6 times) with the same question: "Are you guys doing okay? How's the food?"
It's really unnecessary, but I'll let it slide because it's better to be attended to than not at all.
I recommend this place--because I liked it, and would give it the benefit of the doubt--maybe we just got some bad ribs--something that doesn't usually happen. The decor, music, and little things won me over. Here's why:
-instead of mints, you get tootsie pops! as many as you want! (I really didn't take any, but that's not the point--I saw some obese persons grab handfuls and waddle their way out)
-they give boxes of fancy toothpicks. but i was really hoping for matches instead.
-each drink is HUGE!!! and comes in JARS without the lid, of course. it's so quaint and southernly homey, that it's cute. ALSO! you can take your drink out with you in a huge plastic cup (like almost 64 oz.) with you. I've never heard of that.
-you really get a lot of food (but the prices run a little high, but it's worth it if you love bbq).
-buttermilk biscuits. worth mentioning twice. APPLE BUTTER!!!
So, in finishing my lo-down,
sauces: Original BBQ, Hot & spicy BBQ, and some other reddish one that I didn't catch the name of. If addition to this, they had their own special HOT SAUCE. Saabir loved that all the sauces sat in HUGE container/bottles at the table. You could buy them at the cashier too for your own bbqs.
service: extremely attentive, almost to the point where I want to kill them. I hope this isn't the epitome of Southern Hospitality.
food: pretty damn good, but I'm not in love.
prices: around Cheesecake Factory prices--about $8-9 for appetizers, and for the specialty bbq meats (the main reason you go here)--around $20 (give or take some bucks)
atmosphere: homey, and friendly in a country way. If you have fear of 1) large crowds of African-Americans or 2) REALLY REALLY FAT FAT FAT persons or 3) meat, this place is not for you.
And for those who care, Lucille's did receive the A grade.
I still cannot get over the cute oversized mason jars for glasses. CUTE!
The lo-down:
Lucille's Barbeque
Del Amo Fashion Center
21420 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90503
310-370-RIBS (7427)
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars, but it's really a borderline deal--where I really would have put 2 and 7/8th stars out of four, but the 2 might throw people off and then no one would come here. But it's not that bad.
We (Saabir + I) were pretty excited to come here since the website and menu looked pretty darn amazing--and upon getting there around 8pm on a Saturday night--after being told we had to wait about 50 minutes (we actually ended up waiting 1hr13minutes)--and seeing GAZILLIONS of very very overweight African-Americans--we thought we hit the jackpot in terms of bbq.
To (tell the) truth, the bbq chicken and any other chicken there--is goddamn amazing! I've never had such soft, tender, and juicy! chicken--EVER. Especially as chicken strips--which tend to be dry and/or not real chicken tasting. If you come here, order the chicken.
The slightly lower rating that I'm giving is mainly due to the immense disappointment in the baby back ribs. It is what Lucille's is supposedly famous for--as well as their 3 different original bbq sauces! But after taking one bite into a sauced rib, I knew I would not be eating any of the others--the meat was dry and not particulary special, and the sauce made me feel sick. Is bbq suace supposed to do that? I mean, I'm not fan of bbq (and sauce) but I know how to enjoy good food. These ribs? Ain't so cool.
We ordered and shared: the $17.99 appetizer platter which came w/ 3 sauces (honey mustard, ranch and some egg roll dipping thing)--and--wait for it:
-fried green tomatoes
-southern chicken w/ corn eggrolls
-chicken strips (AMAZING!!! I will dream about them)
-stuffed jalapenos (I hate jalapenos but I still ate them--the taste was gorgeous. Yes, I can say that)
-two STUFFED quesadillas with caramelized onions, corn salsa, tri tip beef, and loads of cheese
-ONION STRAWS. enough said. (red onions, too!!!)
-buffalo wings!!! mmm. The sauce on them was tasty. What happened, RIBS?
For the main course, we decided to share the dish where you got to choose two different bbq-ed meats and we chose the baby back ribs and the bbq chicken (!!!). We also got garlic mashed potatoes and braised greens as sides. Don't get the braised greens. Not a good idea. All you get are mushy green leafs of some vegetable I have yet to place. I wish we had selected the corn on the cob because everyone else in the restaurant got that and it looked perfect.
Considering we really only just shared a (huge honkin') appetizer and one main dish--there was WAYYY too much food. You also get homemade buttermilk biscuits with apple butter complimentary right before your food comes. And the food came FAST. Like in 5-8 minutes after we ordered it. But that could be due to the crowdedness of the restaurant, and the mad cooks just making loads of everything.
I was really happy with all the food we got, but like I said--Lucille, what happened to your Ribs?!
Oh--and the service--never have I been so ATTENDED to. Literally. I wanted to tell our (2!) servers to STOP interrupting our meal (about 5-6 times) with the same question: "Are you guys doing okay? How's the food?"
It's really unnecessary, but I'll let it slide because it's better to be attended to than not at all.
I recommend this place--because I liked it, and would give it the benefit of the doubt--maybe we just got some bad ribs--something that doesn't usually happen. The decor, music, and little things won me over. Here's why:
-instead of mints, you get tootsie pops! as many as you want! (I really didn't take any, but that's not the point--I saw some obese persons grab handfuls and waddle their way out)
-they give boxes of fancy toothpicks. but i was really hoping for matches instead.
-each drink is HUGE!!! and comes in JARS without the lid, of course. it's so quaint and southernly homey, that it's cute. ALSO! you can take your drink out with you in a huge plastic cup (like almost 64 oz.) with you. I've never heard of that.
-you really get a lot of food (but the prices run a little high, but it's worth it if you love bbq).
-buttermilk biscuits. worth mentioning twice. APPLE BUTTER!!!
So, in finishing my lo-down,
sauces: Original BBQ, Hot & spicy BBQ, and some other reddish one that I didn't catch the name of. If addition to this, they had their own special HOT SAUCE. Saabir loved that all the sauces sat in HUGE container/bottles at the table. You could buy them at the cashier too for your own bbqs.
service: extremely attentive, almost to the point where I want to kill them. I hope this isn't the epitome of Southern Hospitality.
food: pretty damn good, but I'm not in love.
prices: around Cheesecake Factory prices--about $8-9 for appetizers, and for the specialty bbq meats (the main reason you go here)--around $20 (give or take some bucks)
atmosphere: homey, and friendly in a country way. If you have fear of 1) large crowds of African-Americans or 2) REALLY REALLY FAT FAT FAT persons or 3) meat, this place is not for you.
And for those who care, Lucille's did receive the A grade.
I still cannot get over the cute oversized mason jars for glasses. CUTE!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Easy as cake? I think not!
Let me preface this entry by saying that I know WKMTZ is designed for us to post restaurant reviews. But I'm in Davis right now and that isn't really possible, since any Davis restaurants I review are probably of no consequence to you. You may, however, some day have to suffer through my cooking.
I raised to believe that cakes should celebrate something. Yesterday I decided to celebrate my love of chocolate by baking my first cake ever-- a Grand Fudge Cake with a recipe from Ghirardelli.
Not since the ant infestation of 1999 has the Dehar family witnessed such a disaster. I made the cake competently and followed all of the directions, including the ones that seemed superfluous to me ("alternate adding the flour/sugar mixture and the milk, beginning and ending with the flour").
Not a perfectionist so much as a person with self-diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder, once I ran out of confectioner's sugar for the frosting I decided to start ad-libbing all sorts of recipe ingredients and amounts because in my heart I knew that Perfection, that fickle monster, had escaped my grasp. I used regular sugar instead, giving the frosting a texture that sand dunes would consider too grainy.
Things went from bad to worse when the finished cakes wouldn't come out of the pans. I let them cool for an hour, and then I stuck them in the freezer in hopes of loosening them that way (first hardening them, then scooping the damn things out). This only served to freeze the non-stick cooking spray, meaning that the cake would never come out in one piece. So I scooped out what cake I could, hoping to cover up my mistakes with the sweet-tooth's makeup, frosting.
The result was lop-sided and badly frosted with bad frosting. I could take a picture of my cake, but I think I would lose everyone's respect.
I was so embarrassed with my effort (I know I don't have to earn my family's love, but it helps when they aren't ashamed of you) that I tried to cover up the uneven frosting with shavings of Valrhona chocolate. But I was cheap and wanted the Valrhona all to myself, so I only covered the top and gave up.
Then I placed my cake underneath a stainless steel cover and sat on the couch, afraid of my creation. I think I know how Frankenstein felt.
-->Ravi
I raised to believe that cakes should celebrate something. Yesterday I decided to celebrate my love of chocolate by baking my first cake ever-- a Grand Fudge Cake with a recipe from Ghirardelli.
Not since the ant infestation of 1999 has the Dehar family witnessed such a disaster. I made the cake competently and followed all of the directions, including the ones that seemed superfluous to me ("alternate adding the flour/sugar mixture and the milk, beginning and ending with the flour").
Not a perfectionist so much as a person with self-diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder, once I ran out of confectioner's sugar for the frosting I decided to start ad-libbing all sorts of recipe ingredients and amounts because in my heart I knew that Perfection, that fickle monster, had escaped my grasp. I used regular sugar instead, giving the frosting a texture that sand dunes would consider too grainy.
Things went from bad to worse when the finished cakes wouldn't come out of the pans. I let them cool for an hour, and then I stuck them in the freezer in hopes of loosening them that way (first hardening them, then scooping the damn things out). This only served to freeze the non-stick cooking spray, meaning that the cake would never come out in one piece. So I scooped out what cake I could, hoping to cover up my mistakes with the sweet-tooth's makeup, frosting.
The result was lop-sided and badly frosted with bad frosting. I could take a picture of my cake, but I think I would lose everyone's respect.
I was so embarrassed with my effort (I know I don't have to earn my family's love, but it helps when they aren't ashamed of you) that I tried to cover up the uneven frosting with shavings of Valrhona chocolate. But I was cheap and wanted the Valrhona all to myself, so I only covered the top and gave up.
Then I placed my cake underneath a stainless steel cover and sat on the couch, afraid of my creation. I think I know how Frankenstein felt.
-->Ravi
Monday, January 02, 2006
Manna Korean BBQ
Please tell me if someone has already posted about this place... I don't think they have, so I'll continue.
Warning: this place received a C rating, which means Ravi will never enter the establishment. I, on the other hand, found it even more intriguing.
For $14.99, a person can eat as much Korean bbq as humanly possible. The marinated beef was delectable, the thinly sliced beef just right...
All the little dishes you get were yummy, including: jap chae (glass noodles), kimchi, this sweet dried seaweed thing, fish cake, spicy pickled daikon, and ambrosia. Oh, and they had some egg thingy that was delicious too.
There's a sweet tea to end off the gargantuous meal. Nice way to complete it.
Remember to wear clothes you don't mind smelling up a storm. It's definitely pungent for hours after your meal.
Overall--yummy and affordable for Korean bbq.
Manna
3377 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323.733.8516
Warning: this place received a C rating, which means Ravi will never enter the establishment. I, on the other hand, found it even more intriguing.
For $14.99, a person can eat as much Korean bbq as humanly possible. The marinated beef was delectable, the thinly sliced beef just right...
All the little dishes you get were yummy, including: jap chae (glass noodles), kimchi, this sweet dried seaweed thing, fish cake, spicy pickled daikon, and ambrosia. Oh, and they had some egg thingy that was delicious too.
There's a sweet tea to end off the gargantuous meal. Nice way to complete it.
Remember to wear clothes you don't mind smelling up a storm. It's definitely pungent for hours after your meal.
Overall--yummy and affordable for Korean bbq.
Manna
3377 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323.733.8516
Teresita's Restaurant
A couple of weeks ago my friend Jessica came over to my parents house to visit me. I was helping myself to the big pot of Cocido my mom had just made.
Cocido is the Mexican version of beef stew. It uses the same soft meat used in american pot roast, which accounts for 85% of its irrefutable tastiness. The other 15% is a combination of vegetables, spicy salsa and rice. It looks a little sum'sum' like this:
I asked her if she wanted any.
"No thank you", she hastily said, completely oblivious to the deliciousness she was going to miss out on.
After I had taken a few spoonfuls she changed her mind and asked for a taste. Once the broth hit her lips she was hooked, and in the following days she developed full blown Stage 3 Cocido Fever. I received two (maybe even 3) calls from her that week asking me to reccommend a place to satisfy her recently acquired addiction. I thought long and hard about it and there was only one place that I could recommend knowing that it would be JUST as delicious as my mom's: Teresita's.
Teresita's Restaurant is located in between the 710 and 60 freeways in East L.A. The food is authentic enough to appeal to the the most pretentious of purists AND clean and nice enough to invite your Gringo boss to. To sum it up (because I need to do laundry)
Salsas: 3 different kinds on your table, all delicious
Service: Friendly, attentive, friendly, amiable, nice, sweet, tender.
Food: Everything I've had is good. Portions are large. Very homecooked feel.
Decor: Modest and clean. Fresh flowers on the tables.
How welcomed you'll feel even though you aren't Mexican: VERY
Prices: Higher than most Mexican restaurants but lower than a mediocre American diner (Coco's, Norm's, Denny's)
Willingness to honor free dessert coupons that I printed out from the website: VERY
So there you have it. It's kind of a drive for those of you on the west side but it's definitely worth it. If you are REALLY lucky you might even see the aging, yet regal, Señora Teresita herself walking around in the back kitchen.
Cocido is the Mexican version of beef stew. It uses the same soft meat used in american pot roast, which accounts for 85% of its irrefutable tastiness. The other 15% is a combination of vegetables, spicy salsa and rice. It looks a little sum'sum' like this:
I asked her if she wanted any.
"No thank you", she hastily said, completely oblivious to the deliciousness she was going to miss out on.
After I had taken a few spoonfuls she changed her mind and asked for a taste. Once the broth hit her lips she was hooked, and in the following days she developed full blown Stage 3 Cocido Fever. I received two (maybe even 3) calls from her that week asking me to reccommend a place to satisfy her recently acquired addiction. I thought long and hard about it and there was only one place that I could recommend knowing that it would be JUST as delicious as my mom's: Teresita's.
Teresita's Restaurant is located in between the 710 and 60 freeways in East L.A. The food is authentic enough to appeal to the the most pretentious of purists AND clean and nice enough to invite your Gringo boss to. To sum it up (because I need to do laundry)
Salsas: 3 different kinds on your table, all delicious
Service: Friendly, attentive, friendly, amiable, nice, sweet, tender.
Food: Everything I've had is good. Portions are large. Very homecooked feel.
Decor: Modest and clean. Fresh flowers on the tables.
How welcomed you'll feel even though you aren't Mexican: VERY
Prices: Higher than most Mexican restaurants but lower than a mediocre American diner (Coco's, Norm's, Denny's)
Willingness to honor free dessert coupons that I printed out from the website: VERY
So there you have it. It's kind of a drive for those of you on the west side but it's definitely worth it. If you are REALLY lucky you might even see the aging, yet regal, Señora Teresita herself walking around in the back kitchen.
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