Knife-slicing noodles lady was still plying her trade in front of St. Mark’s on Vermont in mid-September, which was the last time I went. Mandarin fluency really helps when ordering here. Her meatballs are huge bites!!!
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Yup. Ask me anything.
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Headed to Lucas in a couple weeks and also have reservations at the restaurant. Any tips? Hope you had a good time!
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We didn’t try the Skywalker Grill.
The museum’s collection is really idiosyncratic and interesting, with some historically notable pieces. Having said that, there are a really surprising number of replicas (of works that Lucas et al don’t actually own) on display. For example, the original of Maxfield Parrish’s Old King Cole is still hanging in the Knickerbocker Hotel… but you wouldn’t know that standing in front of the 1:1 replica in the Maxfield Parrish room.
The collection is mostly on the second floor, with the Banksy and mural art on the fifth floor. There is a hidden second bank of elevators on the second floor in the “History” room that takes you up to that room.
The Star Wars room was far and away the most crowded space. It’s comparatively small, but full of genuine costumes and props that appeared in the films.
It was WAY to hot to walk the gardens, but they looked lovely out of the windows in the library building.
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Viva Madrid in Claremont. I don’t really eat out a lot locally and it’ll probably stay that way. It was Monday and my mom and brother wanted to take me out and I’d figure I’d give this place another shot.
Menu is loooong. I have a feeling a lot of the items are lower-tier conservas. Once got a pulpo tapa that sure looked that way.
Tortilla española and datiles con tocino. Surprisingly decent tortilla. Very potato heavy, though.
Pincho moruno. Woody chicken breast. Flat, almost dead, seasoning.
Escalivada. Undercooked vegetables, surplus of garlic lingering on your breath. Nicely sweet tomato sauce.
Stuffed eggplant. It’s a competent heap of ground meat. Confused assembly though. Tomato sauce the same from the escalivada.
Boquerónes. At least white anchovies are almost always nice and meaty.
“Paella”. This is arroz al horno-ish, lol. It even admits on the menu this is oven baked! I don’t think this is bomba or Calasparra rice either. Lacking real flavor development or profile, I would’ve asked for more lemon slices just to add something
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I knew you would be on this! Thank you I’ll try again tomorrow. I love any chance to use my Mandarin skills! You happen to ask her schedule ?
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Im going to Lucas in a few weeks and looking for a few reccos for casual dinner / drinks in the neighborhood. Not with a big budget group, would love to find a happy hour if possible.
We went to Mercado Paloma and ate at Komal. We thought about lining up at Holbox, but it was too hot to stand in the sun.
Obviously no happy hour there… but it was a terrific lunch.
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Mercado La Paloma is a strong choice. There is also a new Buffalo Wild Wings on Fig which is a short walk from the museum. There is the village (It’s a nice stroll thorugh campus to get there) where everyone can choose what they like between the restaurants there.
If you are taking the train, DTLA’s pine and crane isn’t to far from Pico Station. I take guests there all the time since they are good for groups, mid priced and offer a good amount of Vegetarian options.
If you are coming from the Westside, Compass Rose at Maydan Market has a happy hour and is near the Farmdale Station.
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Thank you!! Between the heat and how it’s getting darker earlier, I was hoping I’ve just been missing her these last few weeks. I think she has meatballs on his sandwich board menu! Will ask next time!
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Lunch today at Ohana Superette. I ordered the regular size alaea and shiso tuna with kimchi cucumbers and seaweed salad. The banchan were both delicious, but I was a bit disappointed with the poke. The tuna texture was less firm than I would have liked and I found it a bit fishy. The seasoning was a little bland. The bites where I got shiso and alaea were good, but a lot of it I wasn’t getting much more than sesame oil. Overall I would probably go back if I was in the area and craving poke, but would probably try one of their other items.
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How unfortunate. Viva Madrid was so great when we lived in the area almost 20 years ago.
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Being able to order this at 12:15am on a Thursday is just awesome… (Osaka Ohsho, Sawtelle Japantown)
#LateNightDining
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Nice find! Have they been open long?
AFAIK Osaka Ohsho Sawtelle has been open for a couple of months. I first discovered this chain in Tokyo. Really, really great gyozas. The U.S. location “gussies” the food up a bit more than they would in Japan locations, but regardless the food tastes really good.
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thanks, needed a place that was open late night
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Anyone been to Rumi’s, which just opened at the Westfield Century City mall? Popped into the bar last night out of curiosity. In a ghost town mall, the place was jammed and people just kept coming and coming in way past 9:00 p.m.
Since I had already eaten, but wanted to order something, we ordered hummus and glasses of wine. Hummus was horrendous. Tasted straight from a box mix (for $20). Not sure if we were supposed to get a bread basket and a plate of herbs, “French butter,” walnuts, radish and feta cheese, or if they just brought the bread and the herb plate as a sop after 30 minutes when we inquired as whether they had forgotten our order of hummus. Bread passable, but nothing craveworthy; feta rubbery and bland, butter tasted like non-special butter. Walnuts were fine - best part of the plate.
I asked the person next to me at bar what was good and he enthusiastically told me the entire menu was amazing and fabulous! People at tables did seem to be eating HUGE plates of food with great gusto. The garden area was nicely landscaped and looked like an inviting place to sit. The interior area was nice as well, except for the upstairs, which seemed an ugly afterthought.
Despite the horrendous hummus, I would consider going for lunch since I work in the area, BUT the only option is a $42 prix fixe (with $10 supplement for lamb and $20 supplement for fish) and unless someone I trust tells me the food is fabulous, not shelling at that kind of money for lunch at the mall.
P.S. Very Real Housewives vibe in the room – lots of hair extensions and plastic surgery. Just a vibe – doesn’t mean the food isn’t fabulous (I say with skepticism).
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Though it’s technically on the menu, I wouldn’t judge a Persian restaurant solely on the merits of its hummus (because it’s not classically a Persian dish)… I’m due to dine there soon. I will try and report back.
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True. I have never had a decent hummus in a Persian restaurant, and Rumi’s did not prove to be an exception. But I don’t necessarily think that that means that Persian restaurants are somehow incapable of making decent hummus. I thought a self-proclaimed “gourmet” restaurant like Rumi’s might break the mold. It did not. Pretty place though.
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