chris "Mister Blinky" k.'s Profile

Really 4.68 Stars... But Yelp is not as precise as I am....

I did not know of this "15"(previous place), only my friends rave about it.. I am ignorantis..

As for my experience, I was invited by a friend to stop by and the street power was out. But I was intrigued... People drinking at a candle lit bar... My kind of atmosphere.

Finally got back and returned. Power on... This is another in a line of "Sun Shiny" decors in the Obama Era of Change in Dining. I find it pleasantly surprising, considering the dishelved look of every Echo Park denizen.

Seriously glance around, it looks like a casting call for the Kurt Cobain story in there. Except for the bright walled interiors, the massive blue wave relief art, and the comfy brown leather dinner seating, I thought for sure somebody be speedballin' between octopus scampi and the ginger carrot soup..

The service was kind and considerate. Even when our bottle of water went to the table next to us.. Didn't they wonder why they were getting a bottle of Pelligrino ? Drunk off their decent wine list they offered us the remainder of the half drank bottle of water..

"Oh ha ha .. Haa!" You little drunk grungers! You are so charming in that $98 James Perse T-shirt.... La la la... Scratch that.. I am sure it was a Target T... Anywhos..

The waiter made note of their free bottle accidentily served by the host/manager helping out... And my burning snarky soul was eased...

The food was exceptional. My lover who was bored wanted to go out but was on a strict regimen which I will not go into, suffice to say, she nibbled micro-bits and loved it all, and demanded to return when her regimen was over...

The carrot-ginger soup was spectacular! Spicy, gingery (if that is a word) and not a spec of cream. To deliver a rich vegetable soup, that is spicy and not tart, in our world of Thai infused of every angelo asian fusion cuisine is superb. Did I just rave about carrot soup? Yes I did!

The duck salad with cabbage, oh my goodness, try and get moist tender duck served warm anywhere in this city for under $15 dollars. It can't be done! No where I dare you! And the herbs de provence and the fact that they warmed / steamed the cabbage made all the more tasty. And for under $9 dollars amazing.

BTW.. Nothing on the menu is over 9 dollars... NADA! Yes some are small plates but I had soup, salad, and appetizer sized scampi plus dessert and I was stuffed.

Onward.. The octopus scampi, and its not called scampi, but olive oil, garlic and seafood, it was tasty like scampy octopussy. No I like my octopussy in sushi bars, and of course its cooked there like the shrimp is also.. But something about expecting soft shrimp or scallops, but getting chewy octo really ruined it for me... But its flavorful, so I blame my dreams of a soft, and gooey sea creature with eight legs that clearly does not exist on this one planet of ours...

Dessert, was an almondine cake.. Now I think momma's duncan heinz cake with fluffy insides when you use the word cake... Mamma, they just don't understand you.. This was not cake.

It was tasty. I got the cinnamon whipped cream on the side. Rather than explain it.. Imagine a bachlava sans flakes.. That's in in a tiny rounded shapes. Sugary, almondie, great with the whip, but cake? Momma don't roll over its okay.. I still love real cake...

Why not 5 stars? Bottle of water mix-up and kinda lacksidasical service, knocked it off .32 stars... On a slow not full restaurant kinda no excuse... But over all great..

Hidden behind some funky shop on Ventura Blvd is this little village of a Japanese restaurant.

The Creaky Door opens.... Irashaimase!

Inside a large closed roof patio with heat lamps, little children scurry along their shitizu puppies, koi fish nibble at your toes,  and shy school girls giggle as you pass by.... Okay, Okay I exaggerate...  

But there is a covered patio. Inside is the traditional sushi bar and tables. It does feel like you have discovered a new little hideout in the valley though... Something about the place reminds me of Imperial Gardens of Sunset Blvd Fame, the vibe or Bob Crane's ghost looking for babes to hookup with in a Palms Spring Motel.. No wait I exaggerated again.. But it does have a comfy old Japanese cafe feeling.

Unlike Shiris K Yelper, I have worked in a Sushi House many a moon ago and Guess what... All fish is Flash Frozen... All Fish is flown in from the Indian ocean, sea of Japan and etc.. Trust me you don't want unfrozen fish from the Indian ocean.That's been sitting on a ship for even 3 days.. Sorry I worked at Hotti-Totti Sushi spots and yep its frozen... Tasty too.. But I digress....

This is traditional Japanese Sushi Cuisine 2.0... You got your new Fangle Jama Pena aka yellowfish with citrus and pepper, you got your Oishi Beef or Chicken... Yada Yada...

But its good. Its very good. And sure its got your freaky lets throw something together like the Pink Panther roll... Albacore over a cal roll, and nice selection of cold sake... Fairly attentive service, but not spectacular service....

So ANyWho if you want to go and hide from Estelle Looking to hookup with Bert on Viagra at the Muddy Moose or Blanche at Pinot Cafe and her too tight designer jeans.. God Your 68 Years Old Lady! Let it Go! .. OOps I got carried away again

This is a great Valley favorite of mine

This is a sorry state of a restaurant on Hollywood Blvd. As Kress, and Geisha House, and many others try to revive the coolness factor,  sadly other than decor this establishment fails.

Two exceptions: Food did taste as advertised. The fact that the food did not surprise was pleasant. And the interior design is bright and airy.

Now the realities. Service is so bad that the hostess at Geisha House actually agreed that she too had to go and get her own drinks that sat at the bar for over 20 minutes. We gave up and got our own.

When the inside joke of an establishment is serve yourself or go thirsty, I just can't give you above a 2 stars.

To say the service was horrible would be an insult to all the rude burned out actor waiters, who just won't get the thousand island dressing the other table next to you has because he just doesn't want to deal with the kitchen.

This service saw us get our own drinks and asked us how everything was? Mind you Yelpers, one of our guests at the table still had no drink or food. HELLO!!!! What planet are you on?

Next the food. If it says its  pumpkin mole chicken. It was. But the presentation of orange pumpkin sauce poured over boiled chicken tenders on an empty oval plate. Five slices with pumpkin puree. No garnish, flowers, parsley, just lumps of boiled chicken and thin pumpkin sauce.

The taste was pumpkin mole though, and if you like mole, pumpkin and boiled chicken it was decent. I would be embarrassed to serve that at a party. It literally looked like somebody puked on the plate. The black beans were served in separate cup. It was one of the most monochromatic dinners in a Mexican restaurants I have ever experienced.

Then of course they lost the credit card, and they said we didn't give them the card. Which is curious since they picked it up with it sticking out of the receipt booklet. 40 minutes later they found it in a menu they were about to give to a new table... Hmmm?

Honestly, I will never go there again. The drinks were on the expensive side, the service was the worst, and other than the sunny interior decor, the food was barely passing...

First, these reviews that destroy this place are from K-Town connoisseurs. This is not on par with any of those. This Korean BBQ should be right next to Benihana or  Stinking Rose on La Cienega Blvd.. So let's clear the air literally...

This is a "Smokeless Korean BBQ".. Sure you can go to Korean town, and get larger if not all you can eat portions. But just try and wash down that Soju cocktail.. Yipes.. Here they have a full bar, great wine selections, and amazing decor. And did I mention SMOKELESS!

I love the K-BBQ and if you go authentic, you leave smelling like roasted pork bellies.. This is an upscale experience on par with Benihana, not all you can eat on 6th street pick your place...

I had a variety of food, chicken, vegetables, and beef. All tasty and some fairly spicy. But that's K-BBQ..  Jian Style Edamame was good, but messay! Edamame requires fingers and slathering an oily tangy coating is not helping.

Ya Chae or the vegetable platter is steep in price but the selection of mushrooms and asparagus is nice but not really needed, with a wide variety of side dishes that come with the meal, like spicy cabbage...

Ka Ri Bi or jumbo sea scallops were fresh and I grilled them to perfection. As I did with the sliced rib eye. Yummy!

All is fresh, and I mention this simply because you just don't get that fresh from those K-Town BBQ's its all frozen... (at least my experience).. SO yes its not an all you can eat deal.. But did I mention it was smokeless?

Entrees range from $18-22 dollars but include a nice selection of traditional side dishes that add flavor and variety to a novice of Korean BBQ's meal selection..

If you are looking for an upscale Korean BBQ experience where you can still smell the Chanel off your date's clavicle then this it. The interiors are a combo of slick cartoon surreal meets benihana village. And the quality is top notch.  

If you want a deal or all you can eat.. This is not your place... Move along..

It does not get my treasured five stars, the service while attentive, and smart, let the empty restaurant get the best of them.. That low energy, tired of explaining things last table of the night attitude..

Not sure how long this place can hang in there. Too bad, I am going back soon..

I think the fix is in.. Just reading those reviews seemed a bit fantastical... The sushi was very good... But this is Sushi on Sunset, it just had to beat Miyagi's (across the street) which is like saying, the burger at the Daily Grill is better than MacDonalds on Sunset/Hollywood 2:29 am...

I loaded a few iPhone photos check them out. Here is the reality...

At 5:30ish I hit the place at "Happy Hour".. It wasn't too happy as I was alone, but hey they just re-opened the place, so give it time. $5 dollar rolls is a Happy Hour price so get ready for that $15 dollar roll during primetime.

Yes the sushi is well prepared and very fresh. No arguments there, but this is LA, this is Sunset.. That is expected... I played it relatively safe with a spicy California roll, some albacore on sticky rice with jalapeno. Tasty and good... And for $5 dollars each a deal.

But, I have a confession. This is no Sushi on Sunset, like the old Sushi on Sunset. How do I know....? I worked there when it was the cocaine pit-stop in the 80's.. Danny Bonduce get out of the bathroom and Comp this order!!!! Oh yea he worked there... The booze filled nights of people snorting coke, strippers and rockstars.. Its all true. It is all so very true...ahem..

So if you are driving down Sunset and need a Sushi fix, but not a deal per se, this is a great choice. If you remember SOS as a party sushi bar, then keep driving.. I will explain why...

There are no booths, the seats though clean in that Northern European way that lets the minimalist feel interrupt comfort but blend with Asian hints of Zen are all you can sit at and enjoy the Sit Up Straight just like a nervous swede feel. Each table is slammed up against another identical one just like it in cafeteria style...A weird corner with a communal table slab hides in the corner, but the staff was using it and its not exactly cozy...

I feel sorry for the gal or guy who lights the 200 candles in green cups around the place.. Nice, but they then turn up the lights which ruined the effect. The rock music was on, but again where on sunset is it not? Loud music hasn't saved the Libertine has it? Snark snark..

Sitting semi-horizontal while getting blitz'd at Sushi On Sunset is not just carefree sake drenched memory it was a privelege to get "Upstairs". Much money changed hands to get "Upstairs". Where big low oh so soft couches lined the room. It was this big communal sake bomb romper room. Now? More two tops to sit at in perfect alignment..

Its Sunset so let's Party! If you are going to call it Sushi On Sunset then be Sushi On FRICKEN Sunset. Otherwise call it what it is... Empress 2 ! Since that is what it still feels like, and its extremely cool, desperately chic, and harsh interior is not inviting at all. Since I gathered that a partner of the old Empress is the new owner and not the old owners who still run Cafe Sushi, I don't get it...

Its like remaking a movie called King Kong, and using a German Shepard instead of a big Monkey.. I wanted the Big Monkey, is what I am saying...

Before, you shoot me, note the sushi was done well, but hey, I was the only guy there with two sushi chefs.. Lets see that yellowtail role at 11pm in a packed house and see what it is like.. Same goes for the staff, that I had to flag down to get my tardy brother's food togo... The Hostess was very sweet, but I am unsure of service since the staff is untested from what I could tell...

One plus, Sushi restaurants are notorious for lousy desserts.. The New Sushi On Sunset did not fall into that fried banana, or here's your orange wedge, or that gelatinous ball of wax crap they call sweetness..

I ordered churros with chocolate dipping sauce. Again, very good and let's face it LA People we know churros! So they miss my 5 stars due to a kinda cold interior and misrep'n the name brand...

Talk about not knowing about the unknown...

Driving back from a night of Dive Bar Adventures reconnaissance.... I notice some gothy looking characters in the south of Hollywood backlot area off Seward...  Luckily gothy people in LA stay on the sidewalk because their fashion sense does not help me a bit when I have had one too many whiskey sours and pull a 180 to check out a new hang out... But I digress...

I pop my head in and notice this giant industrial space is alive with little gothies... A DJ with a turn table, and non-alcoholic snack bar and a massive stage, and a fairly large space for theater with over 50 seats maybe 100...

Turns out they have art shows, concerts, live theater and such.. Their artist director Chris was very friendly and he let me wander the space to check it out without paying the 5 dollar cover.

It was early in the evening so all I heard was the DJ and noticed not much action as the NIN peeps sat chit chatting on 1972 coffee house decor...

They had a entire month of shows I had not been aware of.. So I will check them out.. The space was large, retro, industrial, and had a sense of being the next cool place before everyone found out about it..

Can't give it higher than 3 stars, cause well, I am an alcoholic and I saw no booze for pappy... Also no show was on at the time.. I will update as I have signed their obligatory myspace page...

Chris' biz card gave this website:
http://www.unknownthea...

What becomes of an old MacDonald's? Well, once you take out the 40 gallon deep fryers,  80 gallon high pressure cola syrup cannisters, and the 200 watt heat the meat lamps... A beautiful garden...

The Corner of Highland and Sunset Blvd has a brand new garden store and deep inside is a florist. What was once another drive through is now a Garden, Nursery, Florist drive in....

Hollywood High students finally have a place to buy potting soil... Sneaking out of study hall will never be the same..

Low-down this is not your typical fly-by night lets see how many terra-cotta pots we can move nursery. Actually they have a decent variety of French style and glazed pottery.

No right now this is not a Mortigans killer either.. Its really more a fountain, pots and some knick knack shack. Yes  they have a refrigerated flower case and the roses were in decent shape.
Tons of candles and for now Christmas ornaments. But if you are looking for a variety of daisies or ferns go elsewhere...

Our French style pot was 25% off to make room for X-Mas trees. So West Hollywood you have another option other than the ex-cons south of the Hollywood bowl for that Christmas tree...

The service was good and the prices a tad steep but its hard to find any pottery that isn't orange and cheap..

Imagine owning the stones where Jesus took a walk... If you want real old world stone works look no further than Phoenician Stone...

You can wander around Los Angeles, West Hollywood, and beyond but if you want real raw b-jesus stone this is your rock hut.

These guys have a great story, as told to us by the grandson 'Henry' of the company's founder... Right after WWII, the Greek government wanted to begin to rebuild the roads... But all those marble and stone roads built by all those ancient Greeks just don't do well under trucks and semi's sooooo...

The Greeks would tear up the old , very old stone and dump it... And this guy's grandfather said Hey!!!! Wahcha doing? (best greek imitation) and the government said you want it take it....

And so began the company... Now they have laser cutting, handmade cut stone to order...

They trademarked "Biblical Stone" , and you can travel to all the stone or tile houses in Los Angeles and they will have it ... They get it from him...

But let me tell you at a very very big markup... So if you want old stone feel and look go no further than these guys... Our stones are about 300 years old... Jesus stones well they will set you back a little more than I can handle...

Note:
They are not tile people... they are the "Real Old Stones..." guys...

This is were you go when you need stone...

Out in North Hollywood on Lankershim, these guys are the best. Now, I am not a stone connoisseur but I know my flagstone from a well you get the idea...

The showroom is spectacular. I have visited many a stone yard and these guys have the best. Check out my photos....

What makes them 5 stars is one they are very inexpensive and two they have both natural and artificial stone. My wife and I never have been called artificial at least to our faces... So we went for some pre-cut 6X12 flagstone for a border we needed around some planters..  They have many different shades in the same stone and have those already separated... You gotta keep em separated...

The deal clincher to know that they are for real, is we visited them by chance a few weeks before we met with our contractors.  When we asked our contractors what stone they wanted to use, they showed us a sample from Prime!!!...

Contractors use them and they treated us non-contractor types extremely well...  Try going to a stoneyard and get some help elsewhere.. GooD Luck buddy!!!

I believe Ping Pong is back and its better than ever!!!  Paddles O'Fury!!!

The swatting of paddles, the whoosh of a small ball whizzing past your ear. The Spin, and back spin, the american grip or international,  and where else can you get your table tennis crazies out???

And where can someone find hot sweaty table tennis action?  

Well the Westside Jewish Community Center of course.... Deep inside the Talmudic bowels of mystery and matzo lies the world of Master Gilbert, and his Ping Pong Center of world renown...

We played ping pong at the Gilbert Table Tennis Center. Where everyone at the Table Tennis Center lobby is welcome. And of course for you purists, this is a American Ping Pong Sanctioned club, so the tables will be hot, but the people will be ping pong cool....

Forget your cellphones you are in the basement of this Jewish Community Center... Paddle and unlimited play just 8 dollars.. What a deal!!!

Bring a friend of comparable talent though.. There are alot of pong sharks you can top spin you right on your butt.