Walter Manzke Biergarten LA 206 N Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90004 Dining date: 4/10/11 The pop-up restaurant is becoming the biggest restaurant trend in LA since the food truck. While I’d like to say they’re starting to get annoying, they’re still capturing my interest like none other. There’s something about the temporary, almost urgent…
Noe Omni Hotel 251 S Olive St Los Angeles, CA 90012 Dining date: 4/5/11 Noe is a contemporary American (with distinct French and Japanese influences) restaurant located in the Omni Hotel downtown. I don’t think it’s really in the collective conscience when people think about downtown restaurants – as it’s located in a hotel, one…
China Poblano The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Dining date: 3/27/11 China Poblano is probably Jose Andres’ most unexpected concept. When I first heard about this place, I thought he was going to be creating Chinese-Mexican fusion. Dude. Weird. However, that’s not the case. The cuisines are kept…
Joël Robuchon MGM Grand 3799 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Dining date: 3/28/11 When people ask me what my favorite restaurants are, this one always comes up. I have been here twice before, and they are two of the most memorable meals I have ever had. I’m not alone; the restaurant gets…
Wazuzu Encore Las Vegas 3121 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Dining date: 3/27/11 One of the restaurants my parents always go to in Las Vegas is the pan-Asian restaurant Wazuzu at Encore. The chef is Jet Tila, an LA native, whose name I’ve seen in various places around LA (and occasionally on TV)….
Sotto 9575 West Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90035 Dining date: 3/30/11 Sotto is a new Italian restaurant from Steve Samson and Zach Pollack (Pizzeria Ortica) in the old Test Kitchen space. The Italian fare here includes a variety of dishes from house-baked breads to various seafood and meats to pizzas from a wood-fired oven. And…
é by Jose Andres The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Dining date: 3/26/11 é is Jose Andres’ single-table, eight-person restaurant within a restaurant (Jaleo), serving a 19-course menu similar in format to that of the Saam Room at the Bazaar and Minibar. The menu is strictly product-driven and…
25 Degrees & Library Bar Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel 7000 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 Dining date: 3/23/11 I don’t tend to seek out LA’s top burger joints, but when I do stumble across a notable burger, I’m almost always game. The purpose of this trip actually wasn’t burger-inspired at all; rather, it was to…