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"rawr"
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Review votes:
282 Useful, 154 Funny, and 231 Cool
West Los Angeles, CA
Yelping SinceMay 2007
Find Me Inin the middle of a strawberry pie
My Hometownfor now and for always be the city of angels
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...it means i'm lost
Why You Should Read My Reviewsi know what i like.. whether you like it or not..
My Second Favorite Website My Favorite Movieindiana jones and the EVERYTHING!
My Last Meal On Earthjalapenos and a COKE.. not pepsi..
Most Recent Discoverypomegranate swirl at pinkberry!
Current Crushrib eye
Date(877) 797-8474
Exquisite Care Massage & Wellness
Categories: Massage, Acupuncture
Neighborhood: Downtown
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 827-4500
Frankie & Johnnie's New York Pizza
Category: Pizza
The slices are definitely not as large as I had hoped they would be. I had even asked her to slice them in half. But they were heated up so well, the cheese was gooey even when i opened the box 15 minutes later. It was almost as if it had just been made. They also put broccoli on the supreme with all these other goodies but didn't make the pizza soggy.
The sauce is the main reason I've been going to Frankie & Johnnies and it didn't disappoint me. It's just enough sauce not over powering nor lacking. It's also seasoned very well.
The crust is so thin but holds up it's crunch up until the last bite. It's great and that's even reheated.
They are pretty pricey and I'm not sure if they do the same Mon/Tues deal as the one in Brentwood. But my favorite pizza topping is their meatballs. Meatball/basil pizza FTW.
So to go back to the dessert which initially caught my eye, it's about 4" high with layers and layers of yummy goodness.
It says they get their desserts from New York and well I'm glad we get to have some here in CA.
i wish could better explain it but one day my boss said let me take you to lunch and well we were driving FOREVER - he really really liked this place
and it's in the middle of no where in the midst of an industrial area
and we pull into this strip mall.. and ok.. i was definitely not impressed but i can't forget how important it was for me to go back and well i haven't yet but this is to help remind me to go back so i can write a better review.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 939-1148
Cube at Divine Pasta Co
Categories: Cheese Shops, Italian
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
i had researched about 4 different places and we ended up at cube on a very hot august afternoon. the deal breaker was the free triple filtered sparkling water @ cube.
the specials on the menu change every thursday and are inspired by different regions of italy.
i was very happy with deciding to go to cube as soon as we got there.
there's sidewalk patio seating and a a couple tables inside.
it's very intimate and comfortable.
we wanted to eat lots of things and get small portions of it so their menu was perfect for us.
they give you a sample cheese of the day. and from the start of the meal, we were already oo-ing over their presentation.
the crumbled cheese with nuts to accompany it. was perfect visually and in taste.
we ordered the fresh burrata with heirloom tomatoes, mac & cheese, baby broc, parmesan polenta and got a custom cheese and meat platter put together for us.
since the cheese menu is a bit overwhelming. our server basically asked us a few questions and put together something for us.
she then brought out a beautiful blackboard with small piles of yummy goodness like dried fruit, pistaschios, candied walnuts, a spoon of honey and bread and butter chips (sweet pickles).
she warned us about how strong the wildspitz and that it could even be stronger than the blue she picked out for us. and it was nice to know she said she would swap it out if it was to strong for us. we did end up changing it to and she replaced it with a sheeps milk soft cheese. so each item on the platter is billed separately, each cheese or meat was about $5.
our server also kept a close eye on when to bring out the next dishes so we were not overwhelmed. everything went smoothly. she picked out a very lean proscuitto and also a mole salami that was actually made by mario batali's daddy.. it's got hints of dark chocolate and sliced super thin.. it was my favorite.. i even thought about buying some to take home, but once the rest of our dishes came out. the thought was soon forgotten.
the fresh burrata with the tomatoes in olive oil was amazing, it was super cold and the consistency was moist but not gooey. then i hadthe grilled up baby broccoli and i mostly remember the smokey leaves and lemon it was good but i couldn''t eat too much of it.
mac and cheese and parmesan polenta were the last dishes i had.. and i can't wait to go back to have them as my first dishes. the mac and cheese was perfect. it wasn't gooey, watery, overly salty. it was definitely just right.. then we also had the polenta which comes piping hot. and just really good. and that's exactly what she said when we ordered it.
we definitely didn't have any room for desserts. i can't wait to go back to try some other dishes and cheeses. it's a nice spot to go and have a different experience each time.
nothing really prepares you for your visit to club 33. it has this vintage, classic, almost eerie feeling when you walk in, which follows along with the disney attraction but this you realize this is not a ride, it's a restaurant. and one that only a select few will enjoy on the same day that you are there.
we were asked to wait a bit for our table. it happened to be quite a busy summer night. they even added an additional showing of fantasmic due to the number of guests in the park. a suggestion when making a visit to club 33.. allocate a couple hours or more when having dinner her.
we had reservations at 9:15 pm and didn't leave until 12:05 am. it was definitely a dining experience but it takes time and you always should take into consideration that you are above the crowded masses and a part of this elite setting that most of the people down below you don't even know about.
you have 2 options to order from the menu, the vitner (which you are also allowed to make substitutions) is a $75.00 5 course prix fixe menu. and there were about 6or 7 starter options and about the same number of entrees.
there is a $69 min charge per guest, they say that if you order 3 courses (app, entree, dessert) you should hit the minimum no problem.
i was tempted to order 2 entrees but then decided i wanted to try the vitner dinner to see what the chef had planned for the evening. it included a basic romaine lettuce salad. a seared ahi tuna on risotto and this amazing jalapeno cream sauce.. it had quite a bite too. i was a nice change from a wasabi sauce.
a ny steak with fingerling potatos, a nice size steak but i was eating it with the sherry port reduction that came with the lamb chops.. and was kicking myself for not going with the lamb chops that i considered in the first place... the lamb chops even came with gorgonzola polenta which was to die for with the lamp chops with the port sauce.
(note to self: go with lamb chops next time)
4th course was the artisan cheese plate.. which was the deal breaker for me when i was ordering.. there was a muenster cheese some other one and a heavy blue.. that was so strong at first but with the fruit pairing i was practically licking the plate clean...
5th course was dessert which was something with chocolate and hazelnut but when i heard the vanilla cream creme brulee with berries and coconut macaroons, i swapped it out immediately and more disappointed i was so full and distracted with mickey taking down the evil wich downstairs.. that i couldn't fully appreciate how wonderful it was.
i keep thinking.. ok.. next time.. but also know.. there might not be a next time so i'm still savoring the full experience.. through each of my senses, sight, touch, smell, sounds, taste.. and will come back to this review if i ever forget.. can't wait.
oh don't forget to check the club 33 merchandise display.. the keychain kicks ass for $15..
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 822-7373
Wacky Wok
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Venice
so the first try at wacky wok, i was pleasantly surprised. i picked wacky wok over the other 3 options because they had cold peanut noodle salad. delievery was going to be 35 minutes and pick up was 5 minutes. either option was fine but i wanted to see where my food was coming from and i love asking for extra hot sauce.
a la carte items come with rice which is always good to know.
maybe chinese food is great when it's piping hot, maybe it prevents your tongue from tasting it completely. because when i brought it home and started opening up the white boxes of goodies and popped pieces of food in my mouth it was delicious.
slowly as the food cooled down and i was eating like a normal person with utensils and sitting down, it wasn't as amazing as i thought it was but definitely still edible.
there's something about eating takeout chinese food out of a the white boxes. it upset me when most of the westside changed up their packaging either to be more enviromentally conscious or to snazz up their takeout presentation with those nifty black plastic containers with the clear tops which are great to reuse and stuff but still i favor the generic white fold top boxes..
*peanut sauce cold noodle salad - surprisingly it had more than just noodles and sauce, it had large slices of cucumbers, julienned carrots, and other stuffs.. it could have used more sauce but decent.
*combo fried rice - lots of goodies in it, a bit salty but again not too bad
*orange chicken - i liked this the best out of everything, it was crispy, well sauced and in small pieces. it was also dark meat. (2 hrs later still crispy)
*veggie lo mein - it's not bad but something isn't right.. i think if i charr it a little more and add some garlic it'll be amazing as leftovers
*green bean in garlic sauce w/pork - i picked at the green beans as soon as i opened up the box but once it cooled down it wasn't as good. this is one of the 'special dishes' not sure why so special.
they have chili oil at the tables and the garlic chili sauce, these are things that are important to me because if anything is inedible i can load it up with some hot sauce and eat it.
i believe like any other place u can switch up the proteins but i noticed the chef doesn't really like to do that because it's not a traditional dish. he was saying how the ma po tofu comes with pork and how can he do it with chicken.
the lady in front was yammering away in korean to the person who ordered it.. and then said just make it i know u dont' usually use pork but u can just do it this way.
she said it in english to the guy who was talking to her in chinese.. i'm assuming she's the owner or some kind of management. but the korean influence could also possibly be why i wasn't putting down eat box after one bite.
it's definitely not suberp but it's 'A-OK' and i'd order from them again when i need a quick chinese fix... and i'll have to remember to eat it fast.
oh they have dim sum style appetizers.
it's been about 2.5 hrs since i stopped eating the food but now after realizing how i might be able to make it taste better.
oh they also have really yummy fortune cookies.. i'll have to ask for extras next time.
i also noticed have BANG drinks.. like orange bang.
i'll have to check on their shrimp and scallop dishes next time.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 842-3977
Sushi Zo
Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Palms
it definitely applies to sushi zo.
I write this review after my second visit because I was in such a daze leaving sushi zo, I wasn't able to describe the experience other than 2 words.. "so good...so good... SO GOOD! (with the scrunched forehead look and all)"
So when you decide to go to sushi zo, get to the Vons parking and park as close to starbucks/papa johns. All I knew was that it was in the Rite Aid/Vons strip mall on National.. but a tip is that is around the corner from the starbucks passed the taco joint.. so not quite in the strip mall but on the outskirts right on National.
both times i've gone, it was a Thursday so hard to tell about the wait because I walked in the first time, and made reservations the second but didn't make a difference, never noticed a wait during the time i was there.
with omakase i'd expect your sushi chef to interact with you a little more so they can take you on a journey with the plates he prepares and so the first time, i just let them bring on the dishes. with no other words than identifying the dish and instructions whether or not to use soy.. kitty and i ended up just going on forever.. and finally we couldn't take it anymore.. and said... how much more is there.. and he told us. well you can stop whenever you want.
OH~
second visit: knowing pretty much what they had planned for the dinner, i questioned more about whether they had certain fish and even switched up the order as well. maybe my understanding of omakase is a bit different and at sushi zo you have a bit more control of what you get.. just as long as it's not a cut roll and its one of the preplanned dishes of the night.
but i suggest trying everything chef keizo has planned at least once through. the flavors he puts together and also the play with tempurature in some of the dishes create such a delightful experience to go along with some premium quality fish.
the memorable pieces were:
butterfish with miso sauce
warm ankimo with ponzu
toro with special soy
yellowstriped jack
squid noodle with uni
blue crab hand roll
it seemed like the food was coming out slow and you only get one piece but it works out because it paces you to savor each piece and anticipate the coming of the next thing.
the sushi rice is perfectly portioned, flavored, and at a good temperature. the only thing to note is when the sushi comes pre-sauced, it's definitely recommended to eat it fast before the formed rice falls apart..
the cut is another thing i noticed here, they really got the portion control part down. the long slender cuts vs the block cuts of fish change the texture and also the consuming experience. i never found myself cutting a piece of nigiri in half or eat some uni off the gunkan maki. everything was a perfect bite and the flavors and texture just lingers until u get the next piece.
to end the nite you get the yuzu juice, and it's ironic because they tell you it's yuzu juice but the entire nite they say their pepper paster is jalapeno when it's really yuzu pepper paste.
anyway.. it's truly a great sushi-ing spot.. it'll cost you $100- $150/person but it's damn worth it.. and you'll be planning your return the day after when u you have recovered from you sushi coma.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 386-3650
Tofu Village - CLOSED
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
i've also had to drop a star from my previous reviews because they are closed on Sundays and well most of my ktown visits happen on Sundays and i immediately have to rule out kbbq at tofu village.
perhaps there were different factors that made this visit not as desired. i am a little under the weather, it was raining outside, i was eating along, i ordered the seafood soontofu not the baby octopus nor the mixed soontofu.
the banchans were wonderful as always and i love how they are different each time i go.. but at the same time.. sometimes, it's disappointing to not find the same potato salad which got me to fall in love with the place the first time i went.
they also don't serve the egg souffle in the wooden cups anymore.
it could possibly be my taste buds and being sick.. but my soon tofu taste a bit bland and the egg did not distribute properly so i was eating chunks of eggs. i actually asked for jalapenos to add to the soup to kick up the heat.
they brought out some minced thai chilis and said.. this will kill you just use a little. so i put in like drop.. i even tried to taste the minced goodness.. and it had a small bite.. so i dumped the rest in my soup..
yes.. the heat of the soup should have enhanced the spice as well.. but it did no good. i'm sure it was there.. i was just too numb to enjoy it.
i also ordered the spicy pork which was good.. but nothing compared to the freshly grilled meats on the other side of the restaurant.
i can't wait to go back when i can enjoy their kbbq again..
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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1/19/2008
update 5/6/08:
the best time to go is non RUSH.. don't expect to get supreme excellent service on a Friday night. saturday early dinner is the way to go.
If you do plan on going during dinner time, make sure you make reservations.
also we found out on our last trip that there is FREE soft serve.. well it's not as thick as soft serve it's more icy but it's not frozen yogurt ish.. hard to explain but it's good.. HEY it's free! and they also have the free coffee machines too.. it's self servce.. so it's nice to just grab and go as you leave the restaurant .. or as you ROLL out the door
it's still my #1!
oh they have cool looking lunch box combos.. but i would only go for bbq.. yay for MEAT!
-------------------- -------------------- -------
SOOOO INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE....
it hurts!
it was amazing.. thanks to albert's review:
http://www.yelp.c...
I decided to check it out..
THE ADDRESS IS WRONG on the other location.
This is the one.. I called and made sure.
You walk in and you are greeted by nice servers but make sure if you want to drink or bbq you let them know so they can escort you to the back.
I think there is a way in from the back and there is also a parking lot too.
But it makes you feel VIP when they announce through their headsets that they are bringing you to the back for drinks and bbq.
The seats are very comfortable.. almost too comfortable.. in the middle of my meal I wanted to lay down and take a nap.
It was also because of food overload.
We had the rib eye, the other rib meat with the bone, and the black pork and I also ordered a combination soon doo boo.
The combinations that they had didn't seem worth it. We are a big fan of the fatty beef. We originally wanted to order the tripe but they sold out the night before.
The service is a bit slow and unorganized considering they were all on the walkies and headsets but they are very nice.
Even my broken korean didn't seem to bother them.
It did take 3 tries to ask for cold water. But they came and took care of all the bbq-ing and cut up the meat in perfect portions.
But you guys have to order the rib meat on the bone, i can't remember what it's called right now.. I am in too much pain to think.
I am seriously drunk on food.. it's not even a food coma because i can't pass out.. but i'm incoherent and a bit uncomfortable.
Their banchan spread is awesome.. stay away from the kimchi though.. NOT GOOD.
I liked the green pancake type thing.. this some sort of dduk. You also get gae jang (spicy raw crab)
Oh and their version of the potato salad is BEAUTIFUL.
it's a potato patty with mayonaise spread on it with tiny chopped pieces of carrot & cucumber sprinkled over it so it looks like a cake.. awesome.
They had the mook (acorn jelly), dried squid, anchovies, and other stuff.. i didn't have room for.
Their greens mixture for the ssam is good too.. good flavor to go along with the unmarinated meat.
The soon doobu is freaking good too.. great flavor.. it was hot.. hearty.. and spicy.. i wish i could have had more room for it.
I think it's better than going to AYCE.. the rib eye is about $30 per plate but you get a large portion.
Try dipping the riby eye in the soy sauce jalapeno garlic mixture before wrapping it up.. it adds a soy sugary flavor to it..
i will most definitely go back.
The lady even cut out the cartlidge pieces from the pork.. which was great.. because i love those pieces to crack my teeth on but some people just spit it out when they get that piece and i don't want to put that piece in my mouth so i got to enjoy the bone pieces without having chewed meat piecces on it.. EW haha.
They also have 3 options for rice with your soon doobu.
White, Green, and Black.. don't ask me what the other colors are.. i just wanted to let you know.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 386-3729
Young Dong Restaurant
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
they have the sauce in a kettle on the table.. which immediately made me cringe.
with the more clear broth, i feel cheated like it wasn't simmering long enough. but i guess it's just me.
they do have a parking lot even with their location on wilshire so that's a bonus.
they also have a lot more things on the menu that i might have to go back and try.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 388-9499
Han Bat Sul Lung Tang
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
maybe it was the company that just didn't make it seem so appetizing but i've been back so many times.. and on my own at that.. i feel so comfortable sitting with all the other single diners.. which happen to all be old korean men.. hmm eh.. i don't mind.. the food is just too good to care.
it's quick.. it's simple.. nothing to really think about beside which meat you want in your soup... and how you wanna spice things up.
i love using dadaegee to spice up my soup and then eat it with a crap load of green onions.. it makes me sad when they take the bucket of green onions away from me..
i've found that you can totally ask for another bowl of rice so you dont' have to try to proportion out your rice and soup ratio.. this made things so much better.
i like drowning the radish kimchi in my soup so the outside softens just a bit and when i bite into it, it's still cold and crisp on the inside. some people use the radish kimchi sauce to spice up their soup but i find it makes the soup too sweet.
this sul lung tang is the thick and milky kind, which leaves that coating on your lips which lasts for hours.. lol. if you like the more clear/cleaner version go to young dong.
they have a parking lot in the back you have to turn into the small alley, but i've only had problems parking there.. so i choose parking on the street.
remember your cash.. it'll be $10 per person which includes tip.. they do lots of take our orders too.
it's perfect for a cold raining day as today.. i'm debating on heading over there right now.
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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12/18/2007
wow.. yelpers.. i was slightly disappointed.
I was looking forward to some bomb ass sul lung tang and i was raving about how good sul lung tang was to the non korean..
he didn't get it.. and of course.. the cash only situation constituted a bigger issue.. since.. being a cash whore.. i try not to carry any with me..
so after i put in my order for my mixed sul lung tang.. i ran across to the market i forget if it's california market or HK market.. but guess what.. they dont' do CASH BACK.. so then i ran over to carl's to see if they happened to have an ATM.. nope not at all..
in my dismay.. i hoped the server would help me after i finished my meal.. and she informed us that there was an ATM in front of the market.. i just happened to run by it and i guess i'm blind.
anyway.. by the time i got back to the table.. my soup was cold... it had good flavor.. their kimchi was better than most places but.. i swear something was missing from the sul lung tang.. i just wasn't as hearty and filling as i remember having..
but i'm biased.. i have the best at home.
i also wished there was more noodles.
i think i had a total of 3 pieces in mine.
but they do give you lots of meat.
I thought it was just another massage session and didn't think too much of it.
but i was wrong.
they frequently use the words wellness and healing, and i really believed i was being healed and getting well.
my therapist talked me through the motions and and explained why she would do something and asked how i felt after each spot. she compared it to her own ailments and what she would do to help fix them.
the ease of session helped me remember the things that were mentioned during it and i've kept them with me as the days go by.