The Mikado Restaurant - $$$$

So many people have said, "I've passed by there and have always wondered about it." Admit it, you've always wanted to go in, but were scared. Maybe because it's next to a Best Western. I don't know. Have no fear. They're friendly. They're so friendly, they announce your arrival when you enter. I had no idea what they were yelling when I walked in, but all heads turned. Where else can you turn heads like that when you enter except in a sushi restaurant? But, at one point, the lady next to us wanted low sodium soy sauce, and the sushi chef yelled out, "Low sodium!!!" Wow. I was afraid to go to the bathroom for fear they'd announce that too.

Sun-Weds., they offer 2 for 1 frozen mai tais and hot sake. So, if you're staying at the Best Western, you can go by yourself, drink 2 of everything and stumble back to your room. Awesome.

Ambience: Upscale casual. Black leather booths with linens. But, you can walk in with jeans and they won't kick you out.

Free stuff: A warm towelette! Nice. Free parking lot right in front. Yippee!!

Bathrooms: Hooray for singles! The mirror is opposite the toilet here too, as in Hugo's (see below post), but, when you sit down, you don't see anything. Whew!

Service: Well...Laurie got there before me and the hostess asked if she was meeting a single woman. Laurie said yes, and the hostess tried to seat her with a complete stranger. Then, when I got there, there was no hostess to seat us at all. After seating ourselves at the sushi bar, Laurie got up to get me a menu from the front door. So, Laurie gets 4 forks for service. The restaurant only gets 3.

Food: Laurie is a sushi lover, so she knows her stuff. She had the lobster salad roll, and a spring salad roll which was a plate of raw fish wrapped in cucumber. No rice, no carbs anywhere near. It was so pretty and colorful, Laurie took a pic of it with her cell phone. But, since I'm not tech savvy, it's not on the blog. Just go and order it. You'll see. You'll take a pic too. "It's so beautiful! But, I'm still going to eat it." 5 forks! She threw down about $20 for her meal.

Me: I can't eat raw fish. They try to swim back to the ocean, and they always succeed. Add some heat, and I'll eat it. I had an appetizer, which was more like a mini-meal, of soy marinated kobe flank steak strips on top of swiss chard, and yukon gold potatoes. It was a good portion for only $9. I ate the whole thing. 5 forks.

For some reason, when the waitress brought my food, she also gave me a fork. I'm Chinese. Laurie is white. And the waitress gave ME a fork! What the ----?! I left it sitting there and used the wooden chopsticks, thank you very much.

Overall rating: 4.5 forks.

Next up: Cedar House Restaurant where we get in touch with our inner-lebanese. Laurie: "I can't wait!"

Hugo's - $$

Hugo's is organic, vegan, vegetarian with a few meat dishes. No beef, but there's plenty of chicken, turkey and even some Jody Maroni's sausage for the carnivores. You can order anything with tofu and they don't even blink. This place is SO L.A.

Ambience: Upscale coffee shop. Linens on the table. Warm atmosphere. There's even a little corner "shop" where you can buy all things tea. They sell some funky ones like White Monkey. Think about it - "What are you drinking?" "A little white monkey." How cool is that?

Free stuff: 1 roll. ONE. Let's not go crazy. But, if there'd been a basket, we would've gorged ourselves on it. Smart move on their part.

Service: I heard a waitress talk about the specials. Our guy just gave us the menus and left. Maybe he's gay. (That's my excuse anytime a guy just leaves.) He also didn't tell us what they were out of. I ordered the portobello bourginounne. (I can't spell it, but I bet you can't either.) They were out of it. Such a tease. The waiter reminded Laurie of her ex-boyfriend from '99. "He even talks like him. It's freaking me out."

Food: Laurie - turkey meatloaf with green beans, shallots, and brown rice. "Amazing. Not too much gravy, so you can still taste the meatloaf." 5 forks. Me: Shepherd's pie with tofu. The parmesan crust topping was a little charred. But, I still ate the whole thing. Full of fresh, crisp veggies with creamy mashed potatoes on top. 5 forks.

Bathrooms: It's a single. Everything was fine until I sat down. There's a full length mirror opposite the toilet. So, when you sit down, you're staring at yourself. That's just wrong. I had to look away to give myself privacy! I don't need to see that.

Dessert: This place had 5 forks until dessert came. Whole wheat flour carrot cake with vegan topping. It's a "fake" carrot cake. Sometimes, those vegan wannabe dishes, taste a little wannabe. Laurie: "How does it taste?" "Healthy." It was a little dry. We didn't finish it. oh well. I'll eat ice cream at home.

Overall rating: 4.5 forks.

Next up: Mikado Restaurant next to the Best Western. Bring it on.

Best Eats on the Street Celebratory Dinner

When I told a friend that I had a Dinettes club, he said, "Do you cook for each other?" "No. We order."

We decided that once we've finished a street, we'll revisit our favorite and present them with a little award. So, come one, come all to the Dinettes celebratory dinner at Caioti Pizza Cafe on Tujunga in Studio City. For more info, check out their website: www.caiotipizzacafe.com/ We'll be there on April 10 around 7p.m.

Laurie will put her arts 'n crafts skills to the test as she dusts off her glue gun and glitter. Actually, she might have to buy a glue gun and glitter. She's making an award with a plate and some forks for them. I'm sure it will be a sight to behold. Maybe they'll put it on the fridge.

They don't sell alcohol, so bring your own. But, leave the 2 buck Chuck at home please!

After this, the Dinettes will take on Riverside Drive from Coldwater to Toluca Lake. That should take about a year.