The Dinettes - Taking the City by Fork

Din Tai Fung Dumpling House - $6-8 per order

2007-01-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

It's been a while. That's because Christmas hit the Dinettes in the pocketbook something fierce. All our pennies went to Santa instead of our mouths. But, Christmas is over. And, well, ya gotta eat.

The Dinettes went on a little detour to Arcadia, of all places. Normally, when I detour, it's usually some place exotic like Kentucky. (Huh?) This time, it's Arcadia to a little chinese dumpling house. I've been told by 3 different people - all Asian - to try it.

When we arrived, the wait was out the door. All of China eats here. So, bring some patience. I HATE waiting for food. I mean, there are so many good restaurants in L.A., that you can usually go next door or across the street and still eat well. But, how many dumpling houses are there? So, we waited 30+ minutes. These things better be good.

As soon as we got in, the host handed us an order form/menu. It had a description in english and chinese, but no price. Some of the descriptions were extremely vague, such as, "Appetizer." okay...a little more please? I don't like to order blind esp. at a chinese restaurant. Feel me?

In the lobby is a window to the kitchen where you can watch the masters at work. I'm sure they feel like they're in a fishbowl. Don't tap the glass. You can watch them roll and stretch out strands of dough with efficiency. Then, they fill them and turn them into little balls. Fascinating.

These aren't southern dumplin's made of flour with white gravy. These are little delicate pockets of flour (probably rice flour) filled with delicacies, and steamed. Think soggy potsticker, or wontons from wonton soup. They're known for a soup dumpling. You bite into it and it bursts with broth. Weekends only. Alas, we were there on a Friday.

Atmosphere: loud, crazy crowded. Clean, though. Typical chinese restaurant where you can barely hear yourself think. But, who needs to think while eating? Not a good date place unless you don't want to hear what they have to say. 1 fork.

Service: I'm not crazy about the service at chinese restaurants. And I'm chinese! They're not rude, just not friendly. They don't go out of their way to make you comfy. I had to ask for water 3 times from 3 different people. But, when we put the money down, they were quick to pick it up. 1/2 fork, and that's generous.

Bathroom: Single, and clean. For a chinese restaurant, that's an accomplishment! 4 forks!

Food: There's a plaque behind the host that exclaims, "Best of LA 2006." There are reviews by food critics hailing this place. We put them to the test. We ordered 3 types of dumplings: A) juicy pork - it's one of their signature dishes. Or this if the soup dumpling isn't available. There are 10 pieces, but each is small enough to fit into a spoon. You bite in and get a little burst of broth with the pork. Delightful. Laurie: "Melted in my mouth with flavors. The best." B) pork with crab. Laurie: "Had higher hopes for it. Just ok." Agreed. I couldn't taste the crab. Tasted just like the pork dumpling. It was just ok. We still ate the whole thing. People are starving in China. We can't just throw it away. C) chicken dumplings. Laurie: "Good. They didn't skimp." They skimped on the crab, not the chicken. They barely fit on the spoon! D) Sauteed green beans with fresh garlic. Laurie: "Best bean greens I've ever had!" Fresh, crisp, barely cooked. Fan-freaking-tastic. Dessert: sweet red beans in rice. Laurie finished the whole thing. I grew up not liking it. What's with the plastic fork that came with dessert? 4 forks.

Overall rating: 3 forks. The food is great. It's so great, I'm taking my mom and dad this Friday!
Check out their website: www.dintaifungusa.com

Next up: Another Dinette detour to a thai food festival at the Wat Thai Temple in NoHo. Whoo hoo!!!

Sushi Sho - $ happy hour prices, $$ otherwise

2006-10-31T10:08:00.000-08:00

Our guest Dinette was the always effervescent and multi-talented Kelly Keaton, a self-professed lover of food. If you ask her for directions to the nearest whatever, she'll tell what eateries are around it. She is a true Dinette.

Ambience: soft, flattering recessed lighting above the bar. I just want to be followed around in my own pool of recessed light. Subtle earth tones on the wall. Kelly: "Cute, fun. Love the colors!" The Italian art confused me a little, but it fit. I guess because they were playing jazz? And no one yelled at me when I came in!!! (see Mikato restaurant below.) 4 forks.

Bathroom: Well...you have to go through the kitchen. I really don't want to know what might be on the floor. Ignorance is total and complete bliss. The bathroom was clean. But, what are the lockers for? My keys? If you need a high chair, find it there. 3 forks.

Service: attentive. Even though we were sitting at the sushi bar, we didn't hand our order to the chefs in front of us, we handed it to the waitress.

Food: Let's get down to business. They've got a few half priced happy hour selections. Laurie ordered none of those. She was seduced by the names of the rolls, such as O My God, and Pink Godzilla. When the O My God roll came out, Kelly said, "O My God!" It was huge with shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, spicy tuna, and smelt egg. And it tasted "O My God" good. The Pink Godzilla had crab, asparagus, was wrapped in pink soy paper and was "Pretty and yummy." I dare any manly man to order it. You won't be sorry. 4 forks! "This is my new neighborhood sushi place!"

Kelly: spicy tuna - "Nothing special." Fried calamari salad - "Just ok." K: "Have you ever had fried cheese curdles?" Umm...no. "They are SO good. They squeak when you bite into them." No wonder the calamari was just ok. No sound effects.

Me: Laurie looks at the names and descriptions of rolls. I look at the prices. Cheap and cooked are my only standards. So...my rolls were standard (don't say boring!) shrimp tempura, CA, veggie and salmon skin. Salmon skin? K: "Must be the Chinese in you." Me: "We don't throw nothin' away." I ate every bit of it's crunchy, fishy goodness. Actually, I ate every bit of everything. 4 forks.

Next Up: A Japanese restaurant on the corner of Riverside and something in Toluca Lake. I can't find the name anywhere. But, I can always find the food.

Piriya Thai Chinese - $

2006-10-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

The Dinettes are back on track on Riverside Drive on our quest to find the best eats on the street. Honestly, we just can't wait to get to the Promised Land of Toluca Lake. There are just 2 more eateries between us and the Land of Canaan. Piriya was one of them.

Piriya is in a the Dominoes strip mall on Riverside and it's a little Thai-Chinese place that's run by a lady named Gee or Gia or something like that.

Atmosphere: Typical Asian hole in the wall with mismatched decor, hallways being used for storage, and a happy fat Buddha near the cash register, which is probably why he's so fat and happy. Jay Leno's autographed pic was sitting right next him. Maybe that's why he was laughing. If you looked long enough, you wouldn't have been able to tell them apart except that, thankfully, Jay had a shirt on. This place even had a red plastic altar on the floor beneath the counter. I've seen plenty of red plastic altars in my day. I mean, my parents have one in their house. There are red plastic candles that are always "lit." Safer to worship your idol of choice that way. This one was more elaborate. It had fake plastic incense that was also always "lit." 2.5 forks.

Bathroom: Clean, but being used for storage. I'm Chinese and I've seen this all my life. What is with my people and not being able to a) throw things away, and b) buy a storage unit?? Ai-yah! (That's Chinese for oy vey!) 2.5 forks.

Food: Laurie had thai iced coffee, duck with tofu and white rice. She liked it and thought it was tasty. That is, until I pointed out the 1/4 inch of grease at the bottom of her plate. Still, she gave it 3 forks.

Me: I had my favorite noodles - rad na. Or lad na. Or lard na. Or rard nah. E) all of the above. Rice noodles with pork and broccoli in a gravy. That's comfort food for this China girl! I loved it! Rah rah for rard lah/lad na/lad na!!! 4 forks!

The woman who owns the place also does everything else - waitress, hostess, cook. She did it all. In the hallway, there was evidence of a kid. A small pink plastic chair was at a low table that had a tv/vcr combo unit. I suspected her daughter was there on occasion.

We were there on a Sunday, but the menu said, "Closed on Sunday." Gee/Gia said she had to open on Sundays because it had been slow, and she needed to make more money for her daughter. Great. I'll have a side of guilt for dessert. So, next time I need my thai lard nah/rard na/lard na noodle fix, I'll be stopping by Piriya. I can feel like I'm doing a good deed and getting good food at the same time.

Overall rating: 2.5 forks.

Next up: Backtrack it to Susho Sho for their 1/2 priced happy hour sushi. 1/2 price sushi might scare some. And it should. So, I won't make plans for the rest of the evening...

Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant 1036 S. Fairfax- $

2006-09-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we took a detour to Little Ethiopia on Fairfax because we were in the area.

If you're a vegetarian, or like to pretend to be, Ethiopian food is the place for you. Ethiopia has a high Muslim population - translation: vegetarian. Also, Ethipian Orthodox Christians fast from eating meat several times a year. But, for you meat lovers, there are loads to choose from. We couldn't pronounce half of it, but the descriptions of most dishes were similar - stewed in spices with tomatoes. I'm in.

Did your momma ever say, "Use a fork like a civilized human being!" Have no fear. There are NO utensils except for the ones God gave ya! The food is served on a round communal platter. So, even though Laurie and I ordered different stuff, it all came on the same plate. Go with someone whose hygiene you trust. Feel me? You scoop up the food with a type of crepe called injera. It's made with teff flour and is greyish with dimples, which help grip the food. Some of mine still got out. It gets messy. This is not date material. Well, maybe date 5.

Food: We had shrimp tibbs - baby shrimp in spices and tomatoes, collard greens, spicy stewed red lentils, stewed yellow split peas and some other stuff that was unrecognizable, but all very tasty. Everything is saucy and goopy. If I were planning a menu to be eaten with my hands, I wouldn't have anything saucy. But, I'm not from Ethiopia, and this is WAY more fun! 4 forks!! The first time I had ethiopian food, they served the main dishes, which were all saucy, with no utensils. But, they served baklava with a fork. Go figure.

Atmosphere: Fun! We sat at a round communal table called a messob, which was made of straw. We sat on saddle chairs. Yep - they were horse saddles with legs. I was wearing a skirt, so I ate side saddle. It's covered with a colorfully embroidered piece of material. There was religious African artwork on the walls. Let's hear it for a black Jesus. Neon colored umbrellas were hanging from the ceiling. Can I take one home? 3.5 forks

Service: Well...maybe it's a cultural thing, but this left something to be desired. The waitress didn't go out of her way AT ALL. She rarely spoke. We had to wave her down on occasion. When I asked about dessert options, she said apologetically, "We only have baklava." Laurie gave the service 2 forks. I give it 1.

Bathrooms: They have 2 fairly clean singles. One of them had an air freshener called "Love Spray." I can't make that up. On the can was a picture of a kissing couple. I didn't know you could buy love in a bottle for only $3.99. I wasn't sure if it was to cover up foul odors or to spray on yourself if you want a little action. Or both? I may have to get some.

Next up: Dinettes take another detour for African food of another kind. Aunt Kizzy's Back Porch in Culver City!

Chez Nous - $$

2006-08-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Sushi Sho was closed, so we headed up the street to Chez Nous, a French bistro. What's a bistro? I think it's just a cafe, right? But, it's a cafe that sells croissants?

When we said that Italian Fisherman was the best on the street so far, that was BEFORE we crossed over to where the other half eats. And, lemme tell ya, I felt a little out of place, but it felt good. Maybe it's because I'm secretly a big fan of stands and burrito joints. Maybe it's because I haven't seen true table service in a long time. Gotta get out more. But, this place was really great.

Service: 5 forks!! 2 people asked for our drink orders. Our waters were never more than half empty. Very attentive.

Ambience: upscale coffee shop. Inside, there's a piano with tables along the wall, and an interesting sunken section with more tables. They have live music on weekend evenings. OR you can sit in a bakery section that's bright and sunny with a big fat pastry counter...just a warning. ALL of their handcrafted pastries looked almost too pretty to eat. Almost. But, nothing's too pretty to eat.

This might be a neighborhood French bistro, but you still can't get away from the Hollywood power lunch. We spotted a guy in a suit looking too cool for school on a Sat. afternoon talking very animatedly with another suit. I can spot a pitch anywhere. At least, I don't think he was talking about his date the night before.

Food: We thought we'd try new dishes. Cobb salad is so blase in a place like this. And onion soup would be too obvious. Laurie had a salmon sandwich. They hollowed out a homemade french roll and stuffed it with spinach, onion and salmon. Then, put the top back on and held it in place with a slice of melted cheese. It was a little tricky to eat, but she handled herself well. If there's a way to eat, we'll find it. She had a salad with their house dill dressing - "scrumptious." 4 forks.

I had the mango chutney chicken salad in cantaloupe. The chicken salad had raisins, apples, cashews and kick. It was sitting in a sculpted melon. Eating a bite of melon was refreshing against the spicy chicken salad. Perfect combo. Oh, and it came with a warm, fresh outta the oven croissant. It was buttery, flaky, and the spawn of Satan. 5 forks.

Bathroom: Red tile from top to bottom, and TWO sinks! Clean, with soft, forgiving lighting. 5 forks.

Overall rating: 5 forks. It would have been 6, but if they win, Laurie can't get 6 forks glued on a paper plate.

Another friend of mine said she'd had bad food experiences here, and now, only goes for the bread. We had a great time with attentive service and tasty, creative cuisine. Another friend had been to the Italian Fisherman before and had a bad experience. Weird. We don't know what to say, but Riverside's been good to us. So far, so yummy. Knock on wood.

Next up: We gotta backtrack to Sushi Sho. They have 1/2 price happy hour sushi. Yahoo!!

General invite

2006-08-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

Often, we don't know when we're going to eat somewhere. Either I'll call Laurie or she'll call me and we'll decide spur of the moment. Even then, the date/time might change based on our mood or the seasons. Who knows. But, I figured that if it feels pretty set, then I'll post it on the blog as a general invite and see if people want to join us.

Since Riverside looks like it'll be a pricier street, we have 2 options - eat out for dinner, but less often, or eat at lunch for the specials. We are all about eating more often than less, so we're opting for the 2nd choice.

We're going to Sushi Sho in Toluca Lake on Sat., Aug. 19 at noon. If you're free, come on by. Be our guest Dinette and I'll put it on the blog. The address is 10658 Riverside. Nearest cross street is Cahuenga. It's in a strip mall. Ya gotta eat, so why not there? And why not with us? I mean, I bathe or at least promise to.

See you there. If not, read about it and wish you were.

Italian Fisherman - $

2006-08-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

We've finally made it to Toluca Lake, aka the Promised Land. I thought we'd never get here. This is going to be a fun ride, albeit expensive, but fun.

I've driven by the Italian Fisherman many times and have wondered what it's like inside. I guess part of the reason I haven't gone in is because I've secretly waited for it to go out of business like others in that space before it. But, this one seems to be standing the test of time. They must be doing something right.

Ambience: coffee shop comfy meets fast food friendly. There are booths with pendant lighting. Warm, deep beiges along the walls and seats. A counter stretches the length of the dining room. When we walked up to it, we were greeted by a very buxom, motherly Italian woman. She was my long lost Italian mom. I think everyone needs a large Italian mom to call you, "Honey" at the end of a long day while ordering fish. You think I'm kidding? I'm so not. 4 forks.

Bathrooms: Clean, and not being used for storage, which is always a welcome relief. 4 forks.

Food: They say their fish is broiled "to perfection." So, we gave it the Dinette test. They have different types of fish, and you get to choose your sauce - teriyaki, garlic butter, or cajun seasoning. Laurie ordered the ahi tuna steak with teriyaki glaze, their "famous garlic and onion potatoes" and a cup of homemade clam chowder for only an extra $1.50. Her soup was a great start to a really outstanding meal. They didn't tell us it was homemade, but when there's a big fat bay leaf floating around in the styrofoam cup, it's pretty obvious. It had generous portions of red potatoes. Every meal comes with their homemade sourdough bread and garlic butter. How can something so soft, delicate and tasty be artery clogging? I don't believe it! But, then again, Satan can come dressed in sheep's clothing. 4 forks.

Laurie brought her dog, so we ate on the patio. The owner offered water to the dog. Any place that offers to take care of the dog is top notch in Laurie's book.

I almost ordered the baked eggplant parmesan. But, when eating at the Italian FISHERMAN, it might be a good idea to try the fish. I ordered the trout "broiled to perfection" with cajun seasoning and steamed veggies. Lemme tell ya. They ain't kidding. I'm not that good with cooking fish because it's so hard to tell when it's done. But, this really was broiled to perfection! It was light, flaky and melted in my mouth. The cajun seasoning wasn't spicy, just flavorful. I mean, fuggedaboutit. Trout doesn't have a whole lot of meat on it, so if you've got a small appetite, this is a good dish for you. But, if you're me, you order a slice of cheese pizza. My Italian momma heated up the thin crust in the oven. She took care of me! I folded it in half and ate it like a New Yorker, or at least, like an angeleno who's been to NYC a coupla times. It was lightly sweet. 4.5 forks.

Laurie: "This place is close to being the Best on the Street." We both agreed that we have to come here more often.

Dessert: When the menu says, "Ask about our dessert selections," consider it a bit of a warning. I mean, if a restaurant isn't advertising dessert on the menu, and is making you work for it, then maybe it's best to leave it alone. I got a piece of cheesecake to split. We put our forks in and hit the hard, still frozen middle. Hmm...well, if you ignore dessert, this place is still tops. Or, if you get dessert, get it to go, so it'll be defrosted by the time you get home.

At the Italian Fisherman they make a great deal of their menu from scratch including the tomato sauce and dough. Many of their ingredients are organic with no preservatives. So, if a health conscious meal for under $10 is what you're craving, this is your place. Welcome to your new hangout. Say hi to momma for me.

Overall rating: 4.5 forks.

Next up on the Riverside whistle stop tour: Sushi Sho Japanese Restaurant.

Original Thai for lunch - $

2006-07-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

When an Asian restaurant has an A-rating, it's always a little suspicious in my book. I mean, I'm Chinese. But, let's face it. My peeps don't keep the cleanest kitchens. Compared to what goes down in the motherland, I'm sure that even the worst C-rated restaurants here would be considered sparkling clean over there. So, when I see an A-rated Asian restaurant, I figure the "A" stands for Americanized.

Case in point, when I see brown rice on the menu, I know they're catering to a health conscious L.A. crowd because tried and true Asians don't care. Although, I did order the brown rice because I'm a tried and true Asian who's been raised in L.A.

Our guest Dinette was the one and only star traffic reporter of the skies - Ginger Chan. (aka Anna Chan - my sister.) She was very excited to be a guest Dinette and her boyfriend was super jealous, as he should be.

Free stuff: none. phooey.

Ambience: They've remodeled. It used to be the usual strip mall kitsch with pleather booths, unflattering overhead lighting, and pix of psuedo-actors on the wall. Well, they've upgraded! Ginger: "Borders modern/hip. It's probably better at night." The color scheme is earthy with browns, greens and beige. Ginger: "You know how some Asian places have that sort of hip nightclub look? It's like they're going for that." It works. But, we have to remember that we're in a 7-11 strip mall, and that always takes away from the ambience, no matter what. Still, a great date place. If it weren't next to the 7-11 and there wasn't a homeless guy camped out in the parking lot, this would be a great 1st date place. But, right now, it's better as a 3rd date. That is, for those of you who are dating. As for me, I ate with my sister and Laurie. But, that's another story. Anyway, ambience - 4 forks.

Bathroom: The actors' pix are in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. Nice bathroom. Freshly painted, beautiful oval mirror above the pedestal sink. They just need a coupla things - replace the cracked full-length mirror, and PLEASE please please install toilet seat covers. I know they don't really work, but I like living in my fantasy world. 4 forks.

Food: Lunch combos are $5.50 and come with soup or salad, egg roll, and entree. Laurie: Padsee yew with wonton soup, and brown rice. This was a carb lovers feast. She also had a thai iced coffee, which was de-lish for only $1.50! What a steal! 3 forks.

Ginger: BBQ chicken with brown rice. The chicken was a little dry, and her brown rice was a little mushy. Maybe brown rice isn't indigenous to Thailand, and they don't realize that it's supposed to be crunchier than white rice. We'll forgive. Thai iced coffee was "really good, especially for the price!" That's my sister! Good bargain shopper. 3 forks.

Me: Yellow curry with chicken, brown rice, and salad. Can we just hear it for Asian salad dressing? LOVE IT! There were potatoes in my curry, but they weren't cooked all the way. I mean, c'mon. Why make the rice mushy and leave the potatoes hanging like that? But, I had no problem with the mushy rice. Brown rice is too crunchy for my taste anyway. 3 forks. BTW, we all agreed that the egg rolls were really fresh. i.e. just got out of the oil and onto the plate!

Service: Excellent. Our water glasses were never half empty.

Overall rating: 3.5 forks.

Next stop on the Riverside tour of duty: Star Wok Chinese cafe. Gotta see what my peeps are cookin' up on the corner of Riverside and Lankershim.

Hot Spot Cafe - $$

2006-07-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

When we walked in, there wasn't really anyone to greet us. Well, there was a guy who didn't speak a lick of english, so the word "greet" is used very very loosely. He was smoking outside and motioned for us to go in. Then, he handed Laurie a menu. Apparently, I was invisible that day. I picked up my own menu, thank you very much. So far, not so good. I had to fight a big fat urge to say, "Let's go somewhere else." But, that would not be true to the Dinette pledge.

Ambience: Budget quaint. Small round tables with tablecloths, fake flowers, and paper napkins stuffed in the glasses. Jazz music. NO a/c! Aack! It was 100 in the Valley!! Faux brick walls, and white lights. The lights were off when we walked in, and when we ordered. Good thing the menu had big pictures. Point and eat! They turned on the lights when we got our meal. Sometimes it's good to see where you put your fork. Not always, but sometimes. Maybe he wanted us to see how the plates were presented. I gotta say, they looked spectacular. And, he gave us our very own ice bucket! It made us feel very special. We need to get out more.

Free stuff: I ordered 2 drinks - a yogurt drink, and a soda. When he rang it up, he said, "One is complimentary." AWESOME!!

Food: Laurie - veggie sampler which had roasted tomato, rice pilaf, roasted eggplant slices, cucumber/tomato salad, hummus - all were yummy. But, the falafels were dry. She had a pear-apple soda, which was fabu. 3 forks.

Me: Kabob combo plate = 1 to-die-for-melt-in-yer-mouth chicken kabob, and a nothing-to-write-home-about-I've-had-better ground beef lule kabob. It also had hummus, which had too much tahini, rice pilaf, salad and tomato. I had a tarragon soda. Yep, tarragon. As in - the spice you use once for a chicken dish and throw out a year later. Who'd have thunk to make a soda out of it? I wanted to try something new. That was DEFINITELY new. It tasted like licorice. 3.5 forks.

Bathroom: Well...hmmm...I'm no interior designer, but after sitting there for a minute, I decided that there are 2 colors you should never paint a bathroom - yellow and brown. Actually, you shouldn't paint a yellow base with a dark brown texturing technique. It just reminds me too much of...well...the bathroom. Otherwise, it was clean and not being used for storage!

Service: The owner, who spoke english, came out and took our order, served us, and then left us alone. Just the way we like it! Just drop the food off and no one gets hurt. It's that simple. He'd pop his head up every so often to see if we were finished. 5 forks.

Overall: This place started with some negative points, and like a phoenix from the ashes, renewed our hope in them. It's too bad we were the only ones in there the entire time. The food was good, sodas were interesting, and the service was nice. We'd definitely go back. 4 forks.

Next up: Original Thai Restaurant in the 7-11 strip mall.

Jack's Classic Burgers - $5

2006-06-26T08:40:00.001-07:00

It's a stand that's not trying to be anything but a stand. Unlike another stand we went to (Henry's Tacos), Jack's tables are not chained to the sidewalk. It seems they trust their customers not to take one home with them. But, I mean, really, where would I put it?

Free stuff: None. Bummer. Well, actually, there's no tax, so that's good.

Ambience: Pedestrian. There's a counter with barstools and memorabilia, as well as tables with umbrellas.

Bathrooms: None...it's a true stand...

Service: Stand service - if you get a smile, you're lucky. However, Laurie asked for ketchup packets and got the whole bottle.

Food: If you're hankerin' for a good ol' fashioned burger, this is THE place. They make everything to order, so give 'em a minute. You can call ahead if you can't take the heat. The patties are a good size, the veggies are fresh and the buns are soft.

Laurie: Cheeseburger with everything, which was messy, but gooooooo-oooood. The onion rings were deep fried perfection.

Me: Burger with everything, hold the onions, and a side of chili cheese fries, which were really popular with the other customers. This ain't no place for a diet. Bring on the heartburn. Can ya beat eating this kind of food on a warm summer night? Where's the beer?

The place was spotless. A-rating. I was impressed.

The cook was flipping burgers and dishing out french fried goodness while wearing a t-shirt that advertisted a health club. "Health and fitness. Put your money where your mouth is." Like I need the guilt. My money and mouth are at Jack's Burgers.

Overall rating. 3 forks. In N Out can kiss Jack's booty.

Next Up: Hot Spot Cafe, if they're open.

Kerry's Cafe - $

2006-06-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

We went to The Port last night, but, after realizing it's just a bar with some food, not a bar AND grill, we left and went to Kerry's.

Kerry's Cafe was the most interesting experience we've had yet, and it had nothing to do with the food. It's right next to Kerry's Cocktails. There's a window in between so the barflies can order food. The waitress, Christina, would ring a bell and holler, "Danny! Cheeseburger!!" At one point, she yelled, "Last call for food!!"

Free stuff: apple slices because she knew our order would take a while. She was sweet.

Ambience: Confusing. Loud country music. There were knicknacks in what used to be the dessert display case. Instead of pies and goodies, there're fake flowers, a pig, and wooden tulips. One wall had a sign, "Good food good wine." But, they don't serve wine. You have to go next door. It was a little confusing.

Bathroom: 5 forks. It was spotless.

The clientele are a category all their own. Where do I start? Christina, the waitress, knew everyone. A guy named Cal sat behind us. He opened up a plastic bag and offered us fake Coach purses and Rolex watches. He had them displayed while he was eating just in case we wanted something. His nose was running the whole time.

I went next door to watch the game and got hit on by a fat 80 yr. old man who only spoke to my chest. He said, "Are you here for the audition?" That's a new one. "What audition?" As he spoke to my boobs, "Kerry's Cocktail Lounge girls. There's a bikini contest." He looked me up and down without shame. Hey, I work out. Look all you want, Pops, 'cause you ain't gettin' any of it. "Well, I think I'm going to enter it myself," he said with a perverted sex offender smile. "I gotta go."

While we were eating, a man in his 50's walked in, wearing all black. His kerchief proudly displayed "Jack Daniels" on his forehead. His ponytail was tied tight in bright green rubberbands. Where's the Harley? He announced, "Man, all I need's a pool table in here, and I ain't never leavin!" Where am I? Toto, I think we're in Kansas.

Laurie: Homemade baked ziti in a meat sauce with a side salad and drink for $6.99 It was delicious. 4 forks. For some reason, her dinner came on a real plate, while mine was served on styrofoam. Not fair.

Me: The sign out front says, "World Famous Pastrami Dip", so I had it. It was 1 pound of pastrami with a side of slaw and a drink for $6.99. Almost everything is $6.99. I only ate 1/2 of the pastrami. It was fabulous. 4 forks.

Overall rating: 4 forks. Confusing ambience, but good food.

If you want some good food, and need a fake Coach bag, this is your place.

Next up: Hot Wings Cafe - if they're still in business.

El Chavo Burritos - $

2006-05-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

Now that my show is over, I can get back to eating.

Guest Dinette: Jooyun Lee, who is very adventurous when it comes to food, and didn't bat an eye when I told her where we were going.

El Chavo is a glorified burrito stand. Glorified because it's got seating. But, it only has 3.5 booths.
As soon as we walked in, Jooyun pointed out the spider hanging at eye level from the ceiling vent. I said, "We've come to the right place" and ordered the steak burrito, their most popular item. Hold the spider, please. The spider crawled back up to the filthy vent. Somehow, this place got an A-rating.

Free stuff: None.

Bathrooms: None! What the?! Negative points for that one. How can you serve spicy food and not have a bathroom?

Ambience: Mexican, with pictures of banditos on the wall, but still gringo friendly. i.e. the menu was in english.

Parking: There's a lot in back with 3 spots dedicated to El Chavo.

Food: The steak burrito is chock full of generous cuts of steak as well as beans, onions, and a spicy salsa. I was sweatin'. It was delish. I also drank a Tamarindo because it was new to me. It's hard to describe. Kinda sweet. Kinda not. Still yummy. Go order it and you'll see what I mean. 4 forks.

Jooyun had the 2 beef taco combo with rice and beans. The taco shells were handmade and held together really well. They didn't fall apart on the first bite. Full of beef, cheese, lettuce and fried shell flavor. But, the rice was a little mushy. Being Korean, she knows good rice, and that wasn't it. She still ate it. 4 forks.

Laurie: 1 chicken enchilada, 1 chicken taco combo with rice, beans and chips. Skimpy on the chips. I think she got 3 chips. The rice "didn't look appetizing" so she didn't eat it. It wasn't just your normal rice. It had tomatoes and onions in it. I mean, I could see what they were going for. "A" for effort. oh well. Maybe it'll be better when you go.

Laurie: "I didn't see the 'taquitos avocado' on the menu before. I would've ordered that."

Me: "You still can. There are only 2."

L: "I'm not that hungry. I'm ordering too much food as it is."

After she finished her combo plate, she ordered the taquitos.

When we saw "2 taquitos avocado", we thought it'd be something like a deep fried avocado roll. I don't know where we thought we were - PF Chang's?? I mean, we're at El Chavo, for cryin' out loud! This place ain't that progressive. Nope, these were regular ol' taquitos. Nothing to write home about. Unless you're blogging.

We're convinced that the Olsen twins never set foot in this place. Maybe the spiders scared them away. If they had eaten here, they wouldn't have picked Henry's-wannabe-supermarket-taco-shell tacos to be the best taco stand north of the border. El Chavo's has Henry's beat to a bloody pulp.

Overall: 3.5 stars. We'd totally come back.

Next up: The Port bar and grill.

Cedar House - Lebanese Cuisine $$

2006-05-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

At Cedar House, there's live music every Fri. and Sat. night. I could hear it from the parking lot with their doors closed. They sang, "Those Were the Days" and got everyone clapping. Is that cliche enough for ya? The room was way too small for these guys. Or, should I say the room was way too small for their amp? If they were going for the intimate feel, they didn't need the mega speakers they had. But, what do I know? I'm no techie.

At 8:30, a belly dancer named Gia performed. Until then, I thought this was a family place. One of the musicians introduced her, "She's going to loosen you up." A silver haired grandma at a nearby table was the first to put a dollar in Gia's skirt. Then, in her bra. It was a little disturbing. Gia wiggled her way to a table where a family with small children were eating. The father encouraged his toddler son to put a buck in her skirt, which he gladly did. Daddy applauded. Hey, why not start 'em young. Next, they'll all be riding the bull at Saddleback for family time. Gia's there every Fri. and Sat. night. So, all you boys and grandmas out there better make your reservations.

Bathroom: Finally, a good one! It even smelled good. They've got a spritzer. Can we just hear it for automatic bathroom spritzers? I hope the inventor got a medal. 5 forks.

Ambience: Warm, inviting. On any other night, I'm sure it's rated G. On Fri. night with live music, and Gia, it's PG-13. 4 forks.

Food: We decided to get the "complete feast" for 2 because it had a little bit of everything for $24.95. It came with salad, hummus, babaganouj, tabouli, grape leaves, 3 kabobs - chicken, lamb and kafta, rice pilaf, meat turnover, and more pita than you can shake a stick at. We ain't messin' around here! The salad was fresh and crisp with a vinegrette. (Maybe ranch hasn't hit the mediterranean yet.) The hummus was rich with tahini, but yummy. The babaganouj was creamy. Laurie loved the grape leaves, which had a tomato puree mixed in with the rice. The whole appetizer plate tasted very lemony. I guess they like lemons over there. The skewers were fabulous. But, Laurie liked the meat turnover the best. She wanted me to tell you that she doesn't eat red meat, except for any meat prepared by mediterranean people - Greek, Lebanese, Armenian, etc. Food - 5 forks.

Service: When we got there, all the tables were taken. But, when one opened up, the waitress said, "A table is open. You can sit there." And then, she left without escorting us. 3 forks.

Overall rating: 4 forks.

Next up: El Chavo Burrito stand. I've been secretly wanting to go there! Very excited. Maybe I'll even find out what a chavo is.

Shameless plug

2006-05-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

The Dinettes haven't eaten out in a little while because I've been busy with a play. So, here's a shameless, selfish plug. But, other than this, you won't be seeing anything else that's not food related.

Show: Dancing with my Father

Written by: US!

What: 5 women sharing stories about our dads. Think of it as 5 solo pieces except that we all come onstage more than once. It's real life, baby! But, it's not psychotherapy - in case you're wondering. It's hysterical, poignant, sad, and just plain beautiful. Come one, come all. We opened last night to rave reviews, and even got a standing ovation!

Where: Actor's Co-op, 1760 N. Gower St., off the 101. We're on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood - the big red brick church. Free, secured parking.

When: May 10, 13, 16-18, 23-25. All shows at 8p.m., except May 13 - 2:30p.m. May 13 is already sold out, but there's a waitlist. If you show up, you can probably get a seat since folks flake out all the time - they make reservations, but don't show. You know how it is. I'm sure YOU don't do that.

Cost: $8 - cheaper and better than any movie out there! I guarantee.

For reservations, call 323.462.8460

Running time: 1.5 hours, no intermission.

The cast went for drinks afterwards at a restaurant called "eat. on sunset." But, the kitchen was closed and we only DRANK at eat. The fu-fu martinis are good, the mojito was great, and the white wine sangria was fabulous. At least, what I could remember of it.

The Dinettes will be eating at Cedar House on Riverside this Friday around 7ish, in case you want to come and break pita with us. Otherwise, read about it here!

See ya at the theater!

The Mikado Restaurant - $$$$

2006-04-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

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 - $$

2006-04-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Henry's Taco Stand - $3

2006-03-30T20:30:00.000-08:00

The Olsen twins said, "This is the best taco stand north of the border." Laurie: "Noooooo (she told me to put 6 o's). Clearly, the barfing and the cocaine have killed their taste buds." They were missing from the wall of fame. But, who wants a coupla anorexic actresses on a taco stand wall? It's false representation.

If you decide to eat there, don't sit on the tables or they'll yell at you. Trust me.

Bathrooms: None. Save it for later. 0 forks.
Parking: Free lot!!! Yippeeeee!!
Free stuff: none.

Ambience: It's a stand, and it's not even trying to be something else. The tables are chained to the cement floor. So, don't even think about trying to take one home. No one lingers except us. They order, eat, and leave like normal people. If you want to eat alone, come here. i.e. Not a date place. The "Fight the Bite" mosquito warning just above the A-rating sign was a little disconcerting. Maybe that's why people left so fast.

Star sighting: Tom Wopat plus 30 years, grey hair, and wrinkles. Laurie recognized him. "How did you recognize him?" "I'm a freak." Yep.

Food: Well...if you like the taco, you'll like everything else. It's all the same, just wrapped differently. You can eat through the whole menu for about $20. We shared the taco, soft taco, chili, tostada, taco burger, and the combo burrito. We ate it all. The homemade chili was the best part. This place was more tex mex than mexican mex. But, if it really is tex mex, hand over the queso, and no one gets hurt. 3 forks - fair

Naomi: "I dare you to try the coffee."
Laurie: "No. It probably comes in packets." They also had english tea. Who orders earl grey with a burrito?

A friend said, "That place is a staple, like Pink's." Blasphemer. It's soooo NOT Pink's.

Next up: We've finished the restaurants down Tujunga and will give an award to our fave - Caioti Pizza Cafe. Anyone who wants to join us for our celebratory dinner and award ceremony, stay tuned and we'll let ya know when it is.

Barnaby's Teriyaki Burger Stand - $5

2006-03-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

The Dinettes were hoping to solve the mystery of the identity of Barnaby, and how teriyaki got in the family line. We asked James, whose family owns it, "Who's Barnaby?" "I don't know." And that was that.

Ambience: Pedestrian. It's a STAND. You can't expect a comfy couch setting. Patio furniture on the sidewalk for a lovely view of traffic on Tujunga Ave. 2.5 forks - very clean.

Bathrooms: None. Wait til you get home. 0 forks.

Free stuff: Green peppermint candies, and all the soy sauce packets you could ever hope for.

Service: Friendly, courteous counter service. James will hook you up with the good stuff. They make their own teriyaki sauce, and ya can't beat it. Not with a stick. Not even a chopstick.
5 forks.

Food: Diverse! Where else can you get a double bacon cheeseburger with a side of potstickers? They've got a rice bowl with avocado, and grilled onions. We thought that was a little odd. I need some meat. James: "Not a lot of places offer avocado with everything. It's unique." Any place that offers avocado with everything is alright by us. Their menu is full of all things fried and fabulous, breaded and beautiful. There's another menu with pictures of rice bowls. I always liked the books with the pictures. So, I ordered the chicken bowl because of the picture. It looked just like it, and tasted even better. I ate the whole thing. 4 forks.

Laurie: Yakitori (kabob) combo. Came with an egg roll, potstickers, (are ya hungry YET?) a coupla onion rings, salad and rice for $7. "Who knew teriyaki sauce could be so good on white rice?" Laurie's white. Can ya tell? 4 forks.

Laurie: "We like to eat."
James: "You 2 look healthy." Thank you???...

Overall rating: 4 forks. Fried food fun slathered in teriyaki sauce and avocado with an A-rating.

Next up: Henry's Tacos. The Olsen twins: "This is the best taco stand north of the border." Can you trust anorexic food critics? We'll put it to the test.

Aroma Cafe - approx. $10, no tip

2006-03-22T22:26:00.000-08:00

Our guest Dinette and resident Aroma fanatic was Jennifer Boswell. "I LOVE this place. It's my favorite restaurant...for this area."

Ambience: Mismatched patio furniture makes it feel like you're in someone's backyard. Inside, you feel like you're eating in a bookstore - because you are. There's a little bookstore/gift shop that shares the Aroma space. Where else can you get a hamburger and a handbag all in one place? Pure genius. 4 forks!

Jennifer: "I always see a lot of has been actors here." Sure enough, George Foreman was sitting outside.

Service: Counter service, friendly staff. However, Jennifer asked for ranch dressing and didn't get it. I asked for bleu cheese on my cobb salad, and didn't get that either. But, I didn't realize it until I got home. oh well. 2.5 forks.

Bathroom: (Why am I the only Dinette who needs the bathroom when we go out?) The bathrooms are singles. The great thing about that is if the women's is occupied, I use the men's. I'm not ashamed. Note to the men: There are no toilet seat liners in there. Note to everyone else: They don't work. The men's bathroom is very nice - feels like you're in that same someone's house again. I could've spent the whole evening in there. But, the toilet roll dispenser is way too low. You have to stoop. Isn't squatting enough?

Food: Jennifer - portobello bacon burger with fries. "It's not the best thing I've had here." She still ate the whole thing - minus a bite. I ate that. Laurie - turkey reuben melt with fries. "These fries are GOOD!" I had the cobb salad - sans cheese. When I want to pretend to eat healthy, I have a cobb. I ate the whole thing...and Jenn's fries. Overall: 4 forks.

Aroma has a pick-up scene going on. A guy sat next to us with his little dog. Laurie doesn't respect men with small dogs. So, Jenn and I started talking to the dog. The guy started talking to us. Jennifer: "That dog can be a girl magnet." "But, the girls are more interested in him than they are in me." "Awww...well, bye!"

Up next: The Dinettes take on Barnaby's Teriyaki Burger Stand where we pose the question, "How did teriyaki get in the Barnaby family line?"

Caioti Pizza Cafe - 3/13/06

2006-03-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

The Dinettes ate at Caioti (pron. "coyote") last night.

Ambience - quaint, homey, neighborhood cafe/restaurant. Silverware and napkins are kept in a cigar box on the table. (I hope no one sneezed on them...)

Service - friendly, attentive staff. Very casual.

NOTE: BYOBooze - no corking fee. Or you can choose from their own bottled water or a fridge full of old-fashioned sodas like blue cream soda. But, I have a rule not to drink anything blue.

Bathroom - (new category) Left something to be desired. I felt like I was going to the bathroom in a storeroom because all the extra rolls were stashed above my head. If an earthquake happened, find me buried beneath 100 rolls of tp in Caioti Pizza Cafe. Ok, enough with the bathroom already. Back to the food.

Free stuff: garlicky bread rolls. Laurie: "TO DIE FOR!" Me: "Mine's hard."

Food: Laurie had the della mare pizza - pesto pizza with a seafood (lobster!) sausage. "This might make me rethink my move back to Chicago." Wow, that's a big thing to say for a Chicago pizzaphile.

Me: What's a lactose-intolerant girl who's allergic to white flour doing in a place like this? Don't worry - I can always find something to eat! Pork loin chops with sage whiskey butter sauce. Need I say more? Even the seasoned veggies were good.

The table behind us brought their own $2 Charles Shaw wine. They had the nerve to do that in public. I'm a closet Shaw drinker too, but show the Caioti some respect!

Overall rating: Laurie - "5 AND A HALF forks!!" 5 is our highest! Me: 5 forks. We'll be back for sure.

They're known for serving a salad that's suppsed to induce labor. Can they serve a dish that induces dating? Gotta start with step 1.

Vitello's Italian Restaurant - the Opera Room 3/10/06

2006-03-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

As Dinettes, we wanted a calling card of some kind. Maybe we'll have buttons made. Laurie wanted satin jackets emblazoned with, "The Dinettes." I said, "No, that's less money for food."

Our first restaurant is Vitello's. Bonnie Lee Bakley was killed in the parking lot. Hopefully, this is not an omen. However, if either of us are killed after a fabulous meal, it wouldn't be a bad way to go.

We sat in the Opera room. For some reason, I thought I'd be serenaded with opera during dinner. No. It wasn't opera so much as it was open mic night for senior citizens to sing show tunes. Laurie said, "This must be the place where the singing waiters from Miceli's go when they're all washed up."

Laurie: "Any place that has the nerve to serve Sanka is alright in my book." We also saw the bartender serve wine from a jug. A JUG. As in Ernest and Gallo.

Our rating system:
Ambience
Service
Food - based on quality as well as quantity. Gotta get our money's worth.
5 forks - excellent
4 forks - good
3 forks - fair
2 forks - poor
1 fork - can't even give the leftovers to a dog

Ambience: red pleather booths, red velvet curtain with a cartoony audience painted on the opposite wall. Can ya beat that? The pianist was at least 95 years old, and could hardly walk. It was awesome.

Free stuff - warm bread n butter.

Service - 5 forks! Very attentive. But, somehow, we had 4 forks and only 1 knife.

Food - Laurie had the caprese salad, which was "Yummy!" Entree: spinach calzone. We didn't know who we were messing with here, because when that thing came, it was at least 1 foot long! Laurie: "4 forks just for quantity!" You could feed a small village in China with that thing. It was good, but too much cheese. Is that possible? No, really, too much cheese.

I, Naomi had the rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta and served with a cream sauce. Too rich for my taste. I like eggplant, but there wasn't enough of it. This lactose-intolerant girl should have known better. oh well. I still ate the whole thing. 3 forks.

Overall rating: 3.5 forks. We'll be back for more senior citizen singing. Maybe I'll bring my dad.

When the pianist started playing the theme from Ice Castles, Laurie said, "That's our cue."