Food

Downtown Los Angeles is a restaurant destination. When I was meeting a friend this past week to go to the final taping of The West Wing Weekly Podcast at the Ace Theater, we decided to first grab a bite to eat. I figured to make it easy, we would eat at the restaurant in the Ace Hotel. But he suggested we go to Woodspoon. I had never heard of the restaurant but gamely said yes and I am glad I did as Woodspoon is the Please The Palate pick of the week. Woodspoon is an intimate little restaurant with only 12 tables. Nestled in the middle of 9th Street, between Broadway and Spring Streets, it is only a block away from the Ace Hotel. Inside the decor is simple and inviting. It feels like entering a friend's chic living room.
01 February, 2020
A sustainable seafood market, a restaurant and a coffee shop do not seem like the likeliest of combinations, especially in a location like the San Fernando Valley. But sitting on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, The Joint Eatery is just that. Open since the summer of 2018, The Joint Eatery sits on the south side of Ventura Blvd, just west of Woodman Ave. The space is quite large and bright with long wooden tables for communal seating. The coffee bar and counter where you order the food is in the back left corner of the open space. On the right side of the space, separated by a partial wall, is the seafood market, featuring fresh fish and shellfish sourced from around the world, as well as dry-aged fish, a specialty of The Joint Eatery.
28 January, 2020

Hermosa Beach, the beachfront city in the South Bay, sits between Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. It is a city popular for sunbathing, surfing, beach volleyball, cycling, running and paddleboarding. Hermosa Avenue runs parallel with the beach and the northern end is filled with restaurants, bars and shops. The southern end is a bit more residential with a smattering of local neighborhood restaurants. And the southern end of Hermosa Beach is now home to a new restaurant, Mosa.

Mosa is on the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 2nd Street. A casual restaurant, it is accented with shades of blue tiles, live greens and eclectic pieces of art on display. The space is shaped like an L, with a bar that runs along the main dining room. Mosa is comfortable and inviting beach town restaurant.

21 January, 2020
Having grown up in Studio City, I am always excited to try new places that open in the area. The newest spot that I tried was Vintage Wine + Eats on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. Located in the former Artisan Cheese Gallery space, Vintage Wine + Eats is a charming and welcoming neighborhood spot with an interesting selection of wines and some tasty food and it is the Please The Palate pick of the week. I remember when Artisan Cheese Gallery first opened its doors in 2005. The space was a retail store but there were tables inside and outside and whenever I would drive by, the outdoor tables would be full with people enjoying sandwiches and salads. This popular spot closed in the summer of 2019 and in July 2019, Vintage Wine + Eats opened in its place.
18 January, 2020
Majordomo has been on my list for almost two years. New York Chef David Chang of Momofuku fame opened his first Los Angeles restaurant in January 2018. Located on the edge of Chinatown, the first issue was getting a reservation. The second issue was getting across the city to the restaurant. Sure, I drive downtown from West LA all of the time, but Majordomo is located just a bit further which made it a bit off-putting on a week night. The last issue was that I was traveling so much that I just kept putting it off. I finally went and it was worth the wait! Located in an isolated warehouse district, just off Spring Street where it crosses the LA River, Majordomo is a beautiful space. Glass walls separate the inside and the outside dining areas. Ceilings are very high. The decor is minimalistic.
14 January, 2020
With the ability to watch movies from our homes, heading to the movie theater is not as common today. But, there is something special about sitting back in a large dark theater with surround sound and watching a movie on the big screen. At Studio Movie Grill, watching a movie combines the grandeur of watching a movie on a big screen with the comfort you would get at home. Add in-theater dining and personal service and that is why Studio Movie Grill is the Please The Palate Pick of the Week. Studio Movie Grill, established by Brian Schultz in 1993, is the first movie theater concept to offer in-theater dining. He started with one theater in 1993 and today there are more than 250 screens throughout the United States. Studio Movie Grills can be found in 34 locations across California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Virginia.
11 January, 2020
Is there a better name for a neighborhood restaurant than Neighbor? Seems simple and is the perfect name for the Venice neighborhood spot. Located on the northern end of Abbot Kinney, Neighbor is in the space that once housed Govind Armstrong's Willie Jane. Open since 2017, Neighbor looks a lot like how I remembered the space when I last ate there when it was Willie Jane. The vibe is comfortable, warm and inviting. It feels like being in the living room of a friend. There are two comfy couch areas in the front of the restaurant that lead to a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs is the hostess stand and then a long bar that runs the length of the interior. There are a few tables inside as well but the majority of tables, as well as lounge seating, are outside in the covered patio. It's a Lovely Night at Neighbor Venice
02 January, 2020
Hands down, one of the best restaurant patios in all of Southern California was Wilshire Restaurant in Santa Monica. When it first opened in doors 14 years ago, I lived around the corner and would frequently dine there. When I moved a little further east, I stopped going to Wilshire as it had become a bit more of a club scene. Wilshire finally closed and now the space is back with Fia and it is fantastic. I had found a parking spot on Wilshire Blvd in front of the restaurant. Instead of walking in the door near the valet, I followed signs down a long walk way. The walkway led me to the very large and gorgeous outdoor patio. Trees and fresh greenery fill the space and tree lights wind up the trees and hang across the open air giving the space a warm and intimate feeling.
30 December, 2019
Show more
Loading...
Copied!