Annabel Lee E.'s Profile

Don't know why it took me so long to actually eat here... this is definitely in the running for my favorite restaurant in L.A. I had five dishes and every single one made my mouth so happy. Perfect balance of quality meats and exquisite flavors. Still dreaming of the flat-iron steak with the truffle parmesan fondue or the six-hour bolognese polenta or the baby broccoli with pancetta and egg... this is my kind of comfort food.

First of all, I went on the second day they were open and considering that, I was pretty pleased with how hard everyone was trying to get everything right with service, etc.

I sat at the bar upstairs and the bartenders (and pre-Prohibition style drinks) were fantastic! I ordered a drink off menu and my bartender executed it perfectly.

I didn't have a regular burger; instead, I had the frisee lardon raft, which was great for someone like me who just wants the meat (easy not to eat the sole bun on the bottom) and wants that meat to be of a good quality (grass-fed beef + thick-cut premium bacon)

The spuds were okay, but nothing special and I would skip them next time, especially since the raft is pretty filling.

I took the six-week drink-making course with Andrew, and it was one of the best classes I've ever taken in any subject (and I'm in grad school!) Not only do you get to learn how to make drinks according to pre-Prohibition standards, but you also get to learn the fascinating history behind spirits and mixed drinks. The best part? You get to mix drinks with the best ingredients (as Andrew has done serious due diligence sourcing it all) and then, you get to drink them!

The only bad thing about all of this? You're going to end up dropping serious cash buying all the stuff that you've tried in class. Still, if you're looking for a great mixology course in L.A., this is it. And honestly, for what you get, it's a bargain...

I love the whole spectacle of this place... the regency interiors, the fancy food presentation and the sheer variety of coffee and tea drinks.  It definitely feels (and costs) like more of a once-in-a-while kind of a place than an everyday ritual, unless you're the sort of person who likes to indulge that way.

I ate here with three of my coworkers and for the most part, we all enjoyed the experience of something new.  The Tahitian squash soup was definitely the star...probably the best squash soup I've ever had.  The sandwiches were good and the homemade chips were very light.  For dessert, I tried a chocolate-chipotle cremeaux with avocado mousse and a citrusy foam...it was definitely an interesting mix of flavors, which wasn't entirely successful, but very inventive.  Overall, the prices are a bit high, especially for something like a caesar salad which wasn't anything really special, but then again, I would happily pay what I did for that soup.  

The only thing I didn't like was my cup of espresso con panna... it came to the table tepid and so the creme wouldn't mix properly.  But I'll definitely give their coffee another try since one of my coworkers had a cappuccino and thought it was one of the best she's every had.  We'll see...I'll delete a star and post an update if my next coffee drink doesn't fulfill its promise.

Overall, I love that the owners are trying to do something different. I definitely don't understand why people are so up in arms about that.  Silver Lake is diverse enough for both high brow and low brow and everything in between. In these uncertain economic times, I think it's a good thing that La Mill has faith in this neighborhood and is willing to invest the kind of money that it is.  If it brings Westsiders, it also brings their money, which is very good for all the small business owners in the area.

Yes, the service is a bit curt and no-nonsense, but I kinda like it that way.  To me, that means that they are serious about what they do, which is brew a rich, complex and delicious cup of coffee or espresso.  Plus there aren't many places you can get espresso con panna, which is what I get when I want something more indulgent than a non-fat cappuccino. But to be honest, everything is more indulgent here, so you can't go wrong.  I've even tried their iced tea (Ginger Plum Oolong), which is very refreshing and fruity for when you don't feel like coffee.

I do agree that on windy/cold days or early L.A. mornings, the patio area can be a little less than ideal to hang out in, but I'd knock off only half a star for that and since I can't do that here, I'll keep it at 5 stars for the wonderful coffee.

Thank you so much, Yelpers!  I went to Janna Hines last night based on the recommendations here and now I LOVE my hair!

After years of having a short bob (and regular haircuts every 6 weeks), I decided to grow out my hair long and stopped getting haircuts.  That was more than a year and a half ago and my hair was so unhappy.  It was flat and lifeless and so plain Jane that I seriously considered going back to a short bob.

Thank God I didn't!  Janna, being as skilled, knowledgeable and considerate as she is, cut my hair so that it was exactly what I asked for and even better than what I had hoped for.  (Side-sweeping bangs and cascading long layers) My hair is SO pretty and I feel amazing!  YAY!!!!!

In addition, Janna is such a fun and genuine person and not fake at all.  She is definitely not what you imagine when you think of a stylist (as she readily admits), but that is not a bad thing.  She is there for you and as such, is wholly attitude-free (a rarity in Beverly Hills.)

Regarding her prices, for how good she is, she is a bargain.  My boyfriend just had a cut a couple of blocks away for $50 more and he wasn't as happy as I was.  Of course, if you compare to Rudy's or an Eastside salon, she's definitely not cheap, but she is so worth it!

I stopped at Milk for the first time and I'm almost sorry I did. Not that it was bad... it's just that I have to go the Art Store fairly often and Milk is located just off the same intersection (Beverly & Poinsettia.) Unfortunately, I can absolutely see myself picking up one of their "ooey gooey double chocolate" cookies every time I need to pick up some mat board or pencils. Those cookies are the most chocolatey and rich double chocolate cookies I have ever tasted. I was happily buzzing for hours. And at $1 a cookie, I can't wait to have another one.

In addition to those cookies, I also bought a slice of blue velvet cake for one of my coworkers and a square of chocolate croissant bread pudding for my boyfriend. The reviews were very positive.

Milk is probably best known for its milk-derived goodies, like shakes, pudding and ice cream. Perhaps next time, I'll try something from their food menu and wash it down with a chocolate malt...and, of course, grab some of those cookies.

It's amazing to me that while there are lines at Sprinkles two blocks away, this place is line-free.  Crumbs' cupcakes are the ultimate indulgence.  The flavors are decadent and great for when you truly want to splurge and go beyond the slick modernist (and smaller) cupcakes of Sprinkles.  Their frosting and flavor options are much better. (Though I will say that I usually prefer whipped buttercream frosting on my cupcakes.)  The only thing I like better at Sprinkles is the design aesthetic, but I am a graphic designer after all.  My favorite flavors at Crumbs are the pumpkin and the caramel apple - perfect for fall!  

BTW The first time I went to Crumbs was with the Cupcake Meetup Group and the manager was nice enough to give us tons of free samples to try.  However, I have since been back because my doctor's office is in the area and while I used to go to Sprinkles after each appointment, I am now going to Crumbs for the lack of lines and better cupcakes.

UPDATE: Try the cappuccino cupcake. It's AMAZING!!!!!