Hmmm, I like Milo & Olive for moderate price in the area. They do have corkage though as best as I can tell it’s 35$ from looking at Yelp but I’d call to confirm.
1 Like
No byob that I know of…
Milo always a solid pick.
Auld Fella does reservations and is actually quite good for “bar” food.
A few mins from Brentwood but La Bruschetta is reasonably priced and easy to get a rez.
Takuma reasonably priced, technically Santa Monica but so close i’d count it.
Pizzana pretty easy to get into these days.
Wood Ranch is reasonably priced. I miss Bandera though.
Osteria Vera is newer (formerly Pecorino) and quite good, don’t think it’s too hard to get in. More relaxed atmosphere than some other options. I would say it’s on the upper end of moderately priced, maybe a bit more than what you’re going for.
1 Like
I’m hoping to stay on San Vicente. I will be at a previous event and hoping to walk somewhere after. Might be a pipe dream…
Pizanna may be just right. Thanks
Just seeing this post.
Has anyone tried this place? Or tried Tu Madre Westwood recently? I stopped going to the Westwood location b/c, while I find the ingredients high quality, they were assembled and combined a way that was a little… too much all around, I guess.
@paranoidgarliclover Yup I’ve been to Tu Madré Brentwood 10+ times already. I view it as a much higher quality Tocaya. It’s not fine dining, it’s not grandma’s secret recipe, but it’s good quality especially for the price.
I do agree with everything you’re saying. In certain dishes the flavors and ingredients can be a bit too much. Which is why I’ve only been for dinner once. The rest of my visits have all been for lunch.
Here’s a neat trick. They sell 4 different “street tacos” at $2.50 per taco. Their regular tacos run from $4.50 - $10.00 each. I initially assumed that the street tacos would be a smaller format than the regular tacos. In actuality, they are exactly the same size, the only difference is that they are simpler and use less ingredients - meat and maybe one garnish. You can pay less money to get dishes that you’ll like more!
For $8.29, I can get three tacos, chips and salsa, and have a way better lunch for half the price of my Chipotle order (burrito bowl, steak, guac).
I’m probably a loss leader for them, but I think the nice manager enjoys my company!
7 Likes
Oh, now THAT, my friend, is quite the hack. Many thanks for the tip!
2 Likes
The original location of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on San Vicente closing is the end of an era and super sad. Ice Blendeds forever.
Apparently it is being replaced by a La La Land.
4 Likes
I believe the original shop was actually a few doors down on Barrington.
2 Likes
Meanwhile Malou Coffee just opened a few doors down on Barrington…coffee overload!
1 Like
Anyone know what’s going on in the old CPK and GuYi spaces? There’s been a lot of work going on in both the last several weeks.
1 Like
@shab Yup!
1 Like
Thanks & sorry I missed your earlier post.
Looks like my intel was accurate - new CPK tenant is Cafe Landwer:
Has anyone been to the Century City location? Is it any good?
1 Like
Meh.
1 Like
I might’ve eaten there once, and, if I did, I had the same reaction as @J_L. Great graphic design, pretty bland food.
I was at Century City the other day and decided to try out Cafe Landwer in anticipation of the Brentwood location opening. Per recent comments in this thread, I set my expectations extremely low, and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the server’s suggestion - a schwarma tray. Schwarma meat, pita, hummus, another sauce, veggies, etc. Meat was decently cooked (maybe just a smidge overcooked, but certainly not fatally so) with good flavor. Pita was warm and fluffy. Hummus was solid. Veggies were good. Not revelatory, but perfectly enjoyable.
I asked about the Brentwood location. They were originally targeting the summer but now the fall is looking more likely. It will be a different concept than the CC location - more of an order at the counter vibe and possibly even build your own bowl/wrap/sandwich a la Chipotle. I think Chipotle is practically inedible these days (I used to find it somewhat edible), so another healthy-ish, affordable-ish, casual option in that vein, in a different cuisine, is very welcome IMO.
On a separate note, I have never been a fan of AOC. I have long viewed it as the epitome of obnoxious California farm to table small plates family style movement. To be clear, I actually like the food. But I think it’s overpriced. Portion sizes too small. A bit too…yuppie? Anyways, I went for lunch for the first time on Friday, and liked it so much that I went back again today.
Their turkey sandwich is absolutely phenomenal - roast turkey, harissa, avocado, castelvetrano olives, mozzarella. The avocado is that perfect middle ground between slices and guacamole where it still has grip and texture but acts almost as a shmear. And the olives were an unexpectedly great touch. The sandwiches are served on a fantastic focaccia that is fresh and doughy, but with just the teensiest bit of crunch on the surface.
I also tried the salame and burrata sandwich, which includes broccolini and cipollinis. The broccolini was unusual but a neutral to positive addition. The cipollinis fantastic. The salame itself, just a tad boring - could have used more flavor. Still a tasty sandwich though.
Today for lunch I ordered the burger. Very delicious, thick patty style burger, clearly an in house meat blend, with crispy onions (sometimes an obnoxious topper, but here done in proper moderation), gruyère, and the fixings on the side. Very tasty burger. At $25 it may seem pricey, BUT, it comes with a solid serving of fries (or salad). The fries, by the way, are killer - perfectly fried and sprinkled with just the right amount of very mild red pepper flakes (or some sort of similar looking flakes). Compare it to say Barney’s down the street, which for a comparable burger would be $20 plus $5 for a small order of fries, and…they’re actually the same price! But AOC’s burger is about 500x better than the dry overcooked under seasoned “burgers” they serve at Barney’s. And yet I still find myself at Barney’s every once in a while…masochism, perhaps?
AOC is now up to a 6% “employee wellness” charge, which is just egregious. I used to let these charges rile me up, but a couple years ago I changed my outlook. I see the charge, I chuckle. When the check comes, I politely ask for it to be removed, and I tip a full 20% knowing that by law it must go to the servers (unlike the bullshit wellness/health fees).
7 Likes
Also works surprisingly well (in terms of portion) for a large group. We did a meal for 16 there recently, and it was terrific (and, while “expensive,” not nearly as bad as one might think).
1 Like
My grandfather heard from someone that a Hillstone group restaurant will be going into the former Souplantation space. Hope it’s true!
7 Likes
Wow! That space has been empty for a long time
1 Like