Nancy "Butterfly" Y.'s Profile

Clam and mussel app, $13 and pretty good.  Broth quite potent, gingery, coconut milk rich, and salty.  Doesn't come coconut rice, but my dining companion didn't want his. Pretty much a necessity cause the broth was a bit too cooked down.  With the rice, I was a happy camper.  The coconut rice is sometimes very good, and this time it was a bit underwhelming with the usual coconut milky sweetness.

So, the food is a tad inconsistent.  Also, apparently there is a issue with the frozen broccoli being improperly stored.  Likely back and forth in the freezer, defrosted repeatedly until it soured.  

And had the pork chops again recently, still a great dinner plate, with the 2 thick chops on a generous serving of fresh spinach.  Overcooked, and a bit dry so it wasn't nice and juicy like before. Mango cheesecake, $8 is not bad but not great.  3.5 stars, rounded up for atmosphere and service.  Waitress are quite nice and friendly. Still a good place but it needs a bit of work.

3.5

Ditto some of these two star reviews; tasteless meat.  An extra star for big portions, convenience, and the prices, $3.50 for a burrito, $1 for a taco.  Plus the salsa bar is pretty good, and there's a parking lot.  Have to say it again, the meat is pretty bland. Plus nothing on the taco except the tasteless meat.  Definitely wouldn't go out of my way for this place.  2.5 rounded down, a turn off in general.

This place is okay, sterile, industrial space; sort of a convoluted set up where you line up and are directed to the other side for pick up.  I wanted a frappe, but couldn't find a Starbucks.  They didn't have it, but recommended some other thing, can't remember what it's called.  Same thing with another customer, he asked me about it and I told him it was just okay.  The cup was much smaller than Starbucks and it wasn't that cold or good.  Not my cup of coffee, pass.

We went here two weeks ago, before it got windy and cold.  The night view absolutely gorgeous, very clear.  Everyone was thrilled.  Quite laid back, and no cover charge on Monday night.  Smooth dance tunes, it really couldn't have been a better night.  Views are not to be missed if you haven't been up here before.  During the summer, there are crazy pool parties on Sundays.  I would skip this place on the weekends, and come by on a week night.  No pressure on ordering drinks or food.  No restrictions on where we could sit, and not crowded.  We parked a few blocks away and walked over.

This restaurant is a nice spot for a special dinner or quiet celebration.  Authentic, tasty food with a low-key, dressy ambiance. Ordered the highly recommended squid risotto, $17.  A hearty, warm, stick to your ribs type of dish; quite enjoyable, with whole shelled shrimp, and calamari.  The cheese app said to be quite good.  A few italian friends picked this restaurant and said the dishes are authentic, waiters are from Italy.

Saturday fixed priced menu, $45 included egg plant ravioli.  Bottled water, $6.  Tiramisu $8 is not bad, though too much cream and not enough cake.  Everyone liked the food and ambiance.  Located on the same side as Pacific Dining Car, the south side of Wilshire, at 26th Street.  Valet and street parking available on Wilshire.  4.5 stars, rounded down.

Since this place is always packed, we tend to start the evening here on the couches in the front of the place. Apparently, it is only here and at the bar that the pizzas at $5 can be had.  Ordered the beef carpaccio served with salad and parmesan, $10 as an app. I guess I like the italian version with fatty omega 3 olive oil better.  It's basic, thin sliced raw beef, with parm shavings, topped with a scoop of spring veggie salad. Not sure if there was any dressing or much more to it than that.  

Later, we moved to one of the tables on the back patio.  The ambiance is quite nice, the waiter spoke french and was chatting with some in our group.  I had to wait to get his attention to request some extra ginger soy dressing to go with my ahi tuna salad, $12. Nice presentation but whoever prepared it doesn't know much about a ginger soy dressing. The flavor is so timid, is water added to make it boring?  I did not ask for any more additional dressing, since it was not the quantity, but the quality that is the issue. Not sure what the brown fried stripes were, fried seaweed?  Ahi tuna salad app at Clafoutis is a ton better than here.

The delicious looking tartine of prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and arugula that someone ordered earlier, can only be ordered at the bar, and at the couches out front.  I would have rather liked to get that instead.  Another thing, is an ahi tuna salad with ginger soy dressing french?  It would seem unlikely so, but why are the french restaurants including it on the menu?  I would guess that the ahi tuna dish is oft requested, and is simple to prepare. Do improve that dressing - it needs a lot work.

Food is three stars in my opinion. Desserts, $7.  Lemon tart dessert is pretty good, though a tad over sweet.  Pastry buns, filled with vanilla ice cream, coated with hot chocolate sauce is alright.  Pastry was neither flaky nor crispy, and ice cream not that cold. Herb butter that is served with rather bland bread is tasty though.  3.5, rounded up only for the ambiance, location, and menu variety.

Nice place to stop for afternoon tea and scones.  After strolling the Fifth Avenue stores, we took a little break here.  I was pleased to see the light afternoon menu.  A few of the cookies were pretty good, a few were so so. The sandwiches were okay.  We ordered latte instead of the tea, and the waitress said she would see if she could include it without charging more.  I don't know what happened because my cousin took care of the bill.  I suppose I could ask, but the east coast is a few hours ahead.  It was fun to sit outside, great location, host and waitress quite friendly.  3.5, rounded down.

A fashion designer as well, Marcelle Danan opened an art gallery on Melrose since at least 2008.  There are sculptures, paintings, furniture, home decor, accessories, etc. Corner location is large enough for two stores, has high ceilings, large windows and an interesting variety of art pieces from Asia, Indonesia, Cuba, etc.

We attended an opening of a Cuban painter here on Thursday.  Also present was William Laga, a homeless, schizophrenic man that was discovered by Marcelle living on the streets of Westwood.  Both of them recently traveled to Paris for a show of his paintings.  See photos and video link for more info.  Four stars for an very nice space that identifies itself as both an art gallery and a cultural center.

Homeless To Paris Art Gallery: William Laga's Saga
http://cbs2.com/local/...

This restaurant replaced Blue on Blue at the Avalon Hotel about a month ago. I tried the beef carpaccio, and spicy tuna tartar, about $16 each.  Pretty good, though a bit pricey. Instead of the previous comfort food menu, Oliverio's has an italian menu with antipasti, pasta, $15 - 20, and pizza, about $15.  Most expensive item on the menu is the lamb chops with potatoes and mushrooms, $31.

Open for breakfast at 7 am, the kitchen closes at 11 pm with drinks served until 12 midnight.  Surrounded by bamboo, wood screens, and private cabanas around the hotel's gorgeous pool, worthwhile to visit at least for drinks.  Located on the south side of Olympic, complimentary valet parking.  Four stars for the intimate, romantic, and semi private atmosphere.

A competitor that previously worked for Mr. Chow's for 25 years, amid lawsuits, this restaurant finally opened the first of this month.  A nice space, black with cream interior, located in the old Dolce space, in West Hollywood.  Serves authentic chinese classics, such as peking duck, prawns, sweet and sour chicken, etc.  4 stars for the interior, 3 stars for not adding anything new to the LA scene.  Rounded down for the expensive menu prices that can be easily found at other businesses for better prices. The restaurant's website has a few good cooking video links.