Niko "el nino" X.'s Profile

P-MAB is a pretty solid choice if you're looking for an accessible upscale restaurant that takes all the good things about an upmarket chain restaurant and combines them with a food-passionate staff, interesting wine list, meticulous preparation, and organic, locally-sourced ingredients.  The result is a spacious restaurant with an attractive ambiance that's large enough for groups, which doesn't sacrifice the culinary attention to details nearly universally missed by similar looking establishments.  That said, the quaint expectation that the inclusion of the word "bistro" implies, may be slightly misleading.

The wines... well priced and extensive (enough) in scope, the richness and depth of the cuisine is probably best paired with a medium to heavy bodied red.  The bottle is the way to go unless you're drinking solo.  

The salads... the herb's most certainly the word.  A variety of well inspired selections including apple walnut blue cheese with baby lettuce, heirloom tomato with burratta, and mixed greens with champagne vinaigrette make for a delicious and delicate balance to the bold main courses.  

The entrees... my group universally hit up the $30 3 course pre-fix selections.  On tap this past friday was the amazingly succulent short rib, which we were told was braised in a zinfandel and vegetable based sauce for 5 plus hours....it was braised so well that it appeared robust and substantial yet could be eaten without a knife... a must-try!  Other delicious selections included the prime rib and wood plank salmon.  

The desserts... this was indeed the icing on the cake.  Desserts aren't generally a draw for me, and many restaurants excelling in the savory often miss the mark on the sweet.  Though I didn't try it, the banana creme pie looked delicious.  I settled for a more simple mocha chip ice cream...which I quickly discovered was made on the premises.  I'd categorize it more as a richer gelato...and amazingly grained with coffee beans and dark chocolate chips.  

Overall a great place to gather for business or pleasure if you're looking to make the food as much a part of the experience as the atmosphere.

This place is a must for those looking for a casual market-style seafood joint in OC.  The setup is a fish market with a counter displaying the daily offerings, but there are tables inside and an outdoor seating area for hanging out for lunch.  

The array of food will satisfy the tastes of anyone who likes seafood even marginally... from fish tacos, to sashimi plates, oysters on the half shell, hawaiian style poke, grilled salmon, etc.  I hear they also allow BYOB.  

Really chill spot to hang out for a lazy Sunday morning brunch.

Having never been to Provence I can only speculate on the authenticity here... but everything from the goat cheese and beet salad to the shellfish bouillabaisse was so amazing, it doesn't even matter.  

Compared with the food, the atmosphere of this restaurant is nearly equally notable.  The downstairs is open air with a tapas bar feel, and a slightly different menu.  We sat upstairs in the more formal dining area and had the pleasure of sitting in the far corner in the bay window overlooking Boston's public garden at dusk.  Get this table if you can!  The dining room is large and uncrowded and decorated in a comfortable sophistication I'm not able to quite describe in words.  It somehow is equally appropriate for a romantic date night, a family meal (including well behaved children), and a group of old friends reconnecting.  (all of these categories were represented the night I visited).  

Finally, this is one of those rare restaurants where the food is king, all the staff are passionate about it--and then some, and extra special appreciation is shown to those diners who either appear to "get it", or desperately seek to.

The manager replied to my second complaint and refunded me the money on my gift card per state law.  She also apologized and vowed that the policy has changed to comply with the law.  She also threw in a 20 dollar gift card.  Well handled.

Pretty awesome east side / silverlake vibe packaged in a dark quirky but sophisticated space that takes it self only as seriously as the affable gents behind the bar.  In all seriousness, modesty is everything at Covell because the personalized wine selection for the open minded patron is artfully passed off as nothing more than childhoodish game of pick an adjective.  

After your first glass, your food selections will likely influence the influence behind the bar regarding additional reds and whites. Wine snobs take a powder, for you will not be disappointed casting yourself into the hands of Covell's oenophile itamaes.

Conchita Pibil tacos
Delicious taste and very spicy too
The elote is a must

Finally discovered this gem
Crisp skin makes the mouth water nicely
Inexpensive, I'll be back

Wonderful ambiance there.
Bold wine offerings with delightful tastes.
I want to go back.

A Little Saigon "must visit"

Phenomenal BBQ duck (vit quay)... there's nothing more to say. Just go and order one to go.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

The staff who work there are very nice too.

Hungry and adrift, being tossed in the turbulence stirred up by the legendary maelstrom of drivers in the Sea of Little Saigon...I bravely navigated southward on Magnolia past the Bay of Bolsa... through the straits of McFadden.... ridding the Eddy of Edinger westward toward the golden sands of Beach, arriving weary and battered in Thai Gulf.

Barely able to walk, the attentive Thai waitresses nursed me back to health with a FREE bottomless glass of exotic nectar locally known as Thai Iced tea. I'm told that all travelers, regardless of health are afforded this custom, gratis.

Torn between the set dinner specials and a-la-carte treasure trove, I felt it only appropriate to order up a feast fit only for a scurvy ridden salty dog tossed about the south seas. Crispy egg rolls, pad see ew, bbq chicken, fried catfish, and rice sprawled before me.

Belly full, and ready to bask like a rigor morti whale, my lips were tantalized by the creamy flavor of green tea ice cream, also gratis.

Though I vastly appreciated all the hospitality of this native people, I most especially enjoyed the noodle dishes which in themselves are worth the risk of mutiny.