Eating my Way though LA

My roommates parents flew into town for the weekend before heading south to San Diego and were looking for a great restaurant to relax at and catch up with their daughter and get to know her friends. We took off down Colorado Street in hopes of finding something to delicious, but also some place that wasn't teaming with Star-bucks drinking, Pinkberry eating patrons. Which is difficult any time after 7pm when the streets fill with locals looking for a good time. In Pasadena there are plenty of places to eat along the trendy Colorado Street which also means hoards of people standing outside waiting to go in.

Near the end of Colorado, just before we reached no mans land and there was Villa Sorriso. It didn't have a long line so we had high hopes of getting seating quick. However parking was another issues. Not wanting to pay for valet parking we drove around for twenty minutes before something opened up on a side street near Forever 21. It was quite a long walk but we did a lot of window shopping along the way. When we arrived at Villa Sorriso there was small table outside with a menu. A quick look at revealed that they offered a nice variety of seafood and pasta. The hostess lead us through a small court yard with a small fountain and plenty of outdoor tables and seated us quickly.

Being in the mood for some pasta I quickly skipped the seafood and quickly found what I was looking for: chicken pesto fettucini ($13). My roommate settled for chicken fettucini Alfred ($12), and her parents got Grilled Wild King Salmon ($26) and Rosemary Chicken ($18). The menu did offer a very nice array of pasta, pizzas, appetizers, poultry, steaks, chops, salads, and seafood.

After ordering I got to take in some of the décor. It was done in a mediterranean style villa with a modern twist to it. Colors are mute, but pop and the flickering candle lie, low lighting, and soft music playing. The dining room was cozy and we had a great view of the street so we could do some people watching.

When our food came I couldn't wait to did in. My chicken was juicy and the pesto sauce was nice, but it was missing something; it was a little bland. The fettucini could have used some sundered tomatoes (I'm very particle to them in my pasta) and a little more life, but overall it was a very nice dinner. The waiter was very pleasant; coming by to check on us, but not being overbearing or invisible. Overall the atmosphere was wonderful and the food was okay. It was amazing, but good enough to make me want to come back and try something else.

In downtown LA, across from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, connected to the MET is the City Kitchen. On Olympic Street a small group of tables can be seen on the sidewalk. This is the restaurant. City Kitchen keeps strange hours. It opens about 10am and closes at 4pm. Hot food isn’t prepared after 3pm. However, the food is delicious.
I personally favor the sandwiches. My favorite is the pepper-crusted roast beef. It comes with lettuce, tomato, and horseradish dressing that gives it a little kick on a ciabata roll. It also comes with BBQ chips that are made in house. Just thinking about it makes me drool. The best part is the price: $7.
City Kitchen carries other sandwiches as well such as grilled chicken breast, smoked turkey, fresh grilled vegetable, and tavern ham among others. They also have pan seared salmon, grilled skirt steak, Angus beef burger, bow tie pasta, fruit salad, and fries. The fries are also known as homeless fries because they come in a shopping cart. No one seems to know why.
Service here is slow. I’ve waited 10 minutes to get a coffee and I was the only person in line. I suggest ordering ahead. Their number is (213) 614-1442.

There is no doubt that LA is the trendiest city in the US. With our here today gone tomorrow attitude when deciding what is hot and what is not one takes notice when a place just can’t seem to get off the hot and trendy list. For over a year now Pinkberry, aka crackberry (it’s that addictive) has commanded lines that stretch around the block.
These small chains aren’t hard to miss. Each is themed differently however they are the height of trendy. The Pinkberry that I frequent in Pasadena is pained shocking white, baby blue, and lime green. With one wall full of small, cute, brightly colored Japanese toys.

Pinkberry is a tart, Korean yogurt (well according to the state of California it isn’t yogurt, but for purposes of the review I’ll call it that) that is sold in only two flavors: original and green tea. My recommendation is the original for not only its flavor but also because flavor mixes better with toppings that there is to choose from. Toppings range from chocolate chips, fruity peddles, coconut, capital crunch, granola, and cookies and cream. Or take the fruit alternative and add on blueberries, blackberries, mango, lychee, kiwi, bananas, pineapples, and strawberries. My hands down favorite is raspberries. Their natural flavor brings out the tartness of the yogurt and yet lends its sweetness to give it a sentential, unforgettable flavor. The best part is not only does it have a mind-blowing taste, but also it is also good for you. The yogurt has only 25 calories per every 28grams, no trans fat or saturated fat, no cholesterol, 6 grams of carbohydrate, and contains calcium and vitamin C.

If you still aren’t sold on Pinkberry keep this in mind: Pinkberry also became known as the “yogurt that launched a thousand parking tickets” because before Pinkberry branched off to more locations customers who couldn’t find parking would park anywhere and accept a parking ticket as part of the cost of the yogurt.

It may seem a little out of place; a Spanish-style building, surrounded by a parking lot that is just across the street from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. I guess that I've lived here long enough that I have learned to roll with the punches. Anyway this restaurant is easy to miss, but should be placed high on the list of places to eat when in LA. The atmosphere is very low key and relaxing. It truly took me out of Los Angeles. The inside is brick, there is fire place, and even a giant Liberty Bell. Although the inside was fun my group opted to sit on the patio. Although we were outside the view of the high rise buildings were blocked from view keeping us in the atmosphere of the Liberty Grill. From where I was sitting I could look inside and see the exhibition kitchen. These are always my favorite. I love watching everyone run around, the food being prepared, and the waiters running to pick it up. Maybe it's the hustle that I never see in LA and it comes through here that makes me love open kitchens, but I think it is more of watching someone else work and I don't have to that makes me enjoy them the most.
The restaurant specialized in comfort food, but with a twist. Where else serves Mac n Cheese bites ($9.00)? They offer a variety of foods including calamari ($11), BBQ chicken salad ($16), Sloppy Joe ($11.50), Denver chili ($10), meatloaf (17.50), and baby back ribs ($25). Although it may sound like a menu at any fast food joint, but with higher prices the Liberty Grill is anything but. The food is amazing and high quality, and is served with a high end flare. I ordered the bacon-blue cheese burger ($14). This was hands down one of the best burgers I have eaten. It was juicy with just the right amount of blue cheese. It was one of those things where you are stuffed beyond belief, but want more. My friends ordered the shrimp scampi ($20), pasta pamodoro ($11.50), and the four cheese ravioli ($12.50). All said the same thing; they were said to see the bottom of the bowl.
I can't say enough about the staff here. I was with a party of six and we were their for two hours. During that time we had two different waiters, and the group that I was with wasn't easy. There were two pre-Madonna's in the group, one of which was creating here own drama, two who weren't familiar with the food and barley spoke English, my friend who was dealing with the drama queen, and me, who was pissed off at the drama queen and embrassed beyond belief. The waiters took us in stride, never showed a glimpse of wanting to stab us with a steak knife, and even joked with us when I knew that they wanted to swear at us. Although the wait staff was young they showed a level of professionalism that left me in awe. Kudos to whoever trained them.

The trend in LA is to visit trendy places before they become trendy. Makes no sense, but when a place allows it's new found popularity go to their head things happen: bad things. Wokcano was the place to eat sushi. The food was great, the portions were generous, but best of all they delivered to downtown LA before people, other then myself, lived there.
Wokcano is now hot, the food is still a joy for the taste buds, but it comes much, much smaller portions. There are several locations, but my favorite is in West Hollywood. The atmosphere is a very dark, trendy, Asian style. With it low lights and candles everywhere it's a perfect place for a date or an intimate evening with a group of friends. Every time I have eaten at Wokcano the place was packed. My group always asks to sit at the sushi bar and we always get in right away. I personally love the sushi bar. All of the fish is lined up in front of you and I can watch them prepare my order. It's also great for reordering because the chef can see when you are done and is always ready with more sushi.
Like I said before the portions use to be huge. I remember when the sushi was so big that I could barley fit it in my my mouth; that was only a year ago. Now the prices have increased but the portions have decreased. My favorite rolls are the Rainbow Rolls (Tuna, Salmon, and White Fish) for $12.00, and the Spider Roll (Soft shell crab, avocado, and cucumber) for $11.00. They also offer Spicy Yellowtail Roll (8.00), and California Roll (6.50). As well as their signature rolls such as the tiger roll (shrimp with salmon) 12.00, green dragon roll (spicy tuna with avocado, Tabasco sauce, and mayo) 13.00, and the Caterpillar roll (eel and avocado) 12.00. Besides the sushi they offer chic hen teriyaki (12.00), grilled salmon (18.00), roasted duck (18.00), and grilled sea bass (25.00). Their menu is packed with a variety of items, but it is their sushi that is the main attraction. When I go my friends and I eat order a plate of sushi for all of us to eat off of and tell the waiter to keep the crab wontons (7.00) coming.
My suggestion is to get there early, sit at the sushi bar, and enjoy some of the best sushi is LA.