Los Angeles Master Thread

[steve2]

 dan have you stayed at The westin LAX with your wife or by yourself or with some guys? its a big difference

 since it seems as if the OP doesnt really geta way that much Id KO an Airport Hotel and go with a Hotel with pleasant surroundings and places to walk and see things .Over seeing the airport, commerical or industrial buildings

[Dan]

dan have you stayed at The westin LAX with your wife or by yourself or with some guys? its a big difference

 since it seems as if the OP doesnt really geta way that much Id KO an Airport Hotel and go with a Hotel with pleasant surroundings and places to walk and see things .Over seeing the airport, commerical or industrial buildings

I've stayed there before we got married and after.

True, the location is nothing special, but you need to drive in LA to get anywhere so it doesn't really bother me to have to be out of the room the entire day.
The hotel is a completely fine base for LA activities.

Now if this is a special/rare vacation and you want a nicer hotel, by all means go splurge!
For me I'll do that elsewhere where there are truly great hotels and stay at efficient hotels while in places like LA.

[kivabb]

dan have you stayed at The westin LAX with your wife or by yourself or with some guys? its a big difference

 since it seems as if the OP doesnt really geta way that much Id KO an Airport Hotel and go with a Hotel with pleasant surroundings and places to walk and see things .Over seeing the airport, commerical or industrial buildings

If OP means Operating Patient, then you are correct that I don't get away too often and I could use a getaway to avoid being admitted  .

I've done things like Havasu Canyon, Lake Powell, hiking Bryce, Zion, and Yosemite but was hoping this time for like you said a nice place with resteraunts, nice places to see......

Is it a real shlep to restaurants, shopping, minyonim from SM?

[Dan]

If OP means Operating Patient, then you are correct that I don't get away too often and I could use a getaway to avoid being admitted  .

I've done things like Havasu Canyon, Lake Powell, hiking Bryce, Zion, and Yosemite but was hoping this time for like you said a nice place with resteraunts, nice places to see......

Is it a real shlep to restaurants, shopping, minyonim from SM?

Lol, OP means original poster- or in this case, you.

It's going to be a shlep from SM or LAX to restaurants, figure on 20-40 minutes depending on traffic.  From either place you're not going to want to go back once you leave them in the morning until nighttime.

There is Chabad in SM, not sure when minyanim are though.

[kivabb]

But I still usually go to the Westin because it's a bargain at 4K per night and they've always upgraded me to a suite.

Dan, YOU ARE THE MAN!

Is there a trick to the trade for the poshiter mentshen like me to get upgraded to suite? Smooth talk? Or elite status?

Is it a Westin thing or would I try at Delfina as well? I assume you do this at the counter.

[Dan]

Dan, YOU ARE THE MAN!

Is there a trick to the trade for the poshiter mentshen like me to get upgraded to suite? Smooth talk? Or elite status?

Is it a Westin thing or would I try at Delfina as well? I assume you do this at the counter.

SPG Plat+shmoozing/emailing in advance.

[kivabb]

I see earlier in thread you recommended Sheraton Gateway LAX. Will the $45 a night for C+P impress my wife more as far as hotel is concerned over Westin LAX?

[Dan]

I see earlier in thread you recommended Sheraton Gateway LAX. Will the $45 a night for C+P impress my wife more as far as hotel is concerned over Westin LAX?

If they have C&P available I would spend the 2,800+$45 at the Sheraton over 4,000 at the Westin.
Then again if the Westin has C&P available for 1,600+$25 I would stay there.
Either way you prob have to call SPG to check on availability.

[kivabb]

Can someone recommend top 5 resteraunts (not neccesarily finest) in LA area?

Top 5 things to do in LA area (besides shopping and eating  )?

Thanks

[moish]

1. fish grill - pico
2. fish grill - malibu
3. fish grill - brentwood
4. fish grill - beverly
5. jeffs

[Dan]

LA area eateries that I can recommend along with a short blurb about things I've tried at each place.

Meat:
1. Tierra Sur At Herzog Winery in Oxnard
5/5 stars
-The menu here is constantly changing but is always amazing.  The flavors you will try here are unlike any you will get at another kosher restaurant in the world.  Costco sells a 2 pack of $50 Gift Cards for Tierra Sur along with free wine tasting for 2 for just $79.99.

2. La Gondola
4.5/5 stars
-Avocado eggrolls to die for.  Great Bread with garlic margarine on the house. Great Gondola Burger special for lunch with excellent pasta or a soup.  And the Chai Steak with Carmelized Steak Sauce.  I'm getting hungry thinking about this place!

3. Shiloh's
4/5 stars
-Great baby back ribs and peppercorn steak.  They serve steaks with a nuber of dipping sauces which is pretty cool.  Also had some delicious key lime pie.
I did have a bad experience here with really bad food though...and service can be poor here as well.

4. Jeff's
3.5/5 stars
-Homemade onion rings, homemade sausages, Steak Sandwich, Western burger, lots of good and greasy stuff here.

5. PKD (Pico Kosher Deli)
3.5/5 stars
-Excellent Deli-style food along with equally good homemade onion rings.

6. Pat's
3/5 stars
-Either you love this upscale steakhouse or you hate it.  I used to hate it until my brother became good friends with the bartender.  Now when I go back with him we're treated to a feast for a king! Don't miss the bread pudding dessert!

7. Shanghai
2.5/5 stars
-LA hasn't had very good Chinese since Sholom Cuisine closed.  This place is decent though.

Milk/Parve:
1. Milk & Honey
4.5/5 stars
-Excellent Eggplant Parmesean, and really good brown bread with nuts and fruit in it along with a yummy tomato dip.  They used to have an al-you-can-eat brunch on Sunday for about $20 with free Champagne, not sure if they still do that.

2. Fish Grill
4.5/5 stars
-The best fish you'll ever have, period.  I'm not such a fish person, but their Grilled Salmon on Angel Hair Pasta with a huge order of well-seasoned fries...YUM!

3. Pizza Nosh (Agoura Hills)
4/5 stars
-Excellent pizza and Eggplant Parmesean, worth a stop if you're in the area.

4. Pizza Mayven
3/5 stars
-Good plain pizza and that's about it.

5. Nagila Pizza
3/5 stars
-Good but pricey stuffed crust pizza, and that's about it.

Breakfast/Bakery:
1. Cafe Elite
4.5/5 stars
-Amazing cake/crumb donuts along with your usual breakfast food.

2. Schwartz Bakery/Circa NY
4/5 stars
-A great but expensive bakery.  The crumb cheese danish is a personal favorite, as is their wonderful Caramel cake and "kit kat" chocolate rice crispy bars.
They also now serve breakfast in their Pico and Fairfax location.  I had the combo Pancake+Waffle+Franch Toast meal with fruit salad that was very good.

3. Delice Bakery
4/5 stars
-Very good, but very overpriced french pastries.  The Creme Brulee, the Lemon Tart, and the Lemon Meringue Pie are all excellent.

4. La Brea Bagel
3/5 stars
-Very good bagels with all kinds of toppings and other breakfast food.

[kivabb]

Does it really matter which fish grill you go to?

[Dan]

Does it really matter which fish grill you go to?

I've only been to the one on Beverly by La Brea.

[Dan]

1. fish grill - pico
2. fish grill - malibu
3. fish grill - brentwood
4. fish grill - beverly
5. jeffs

lol!

[Dan]

LA Shopping Areas, aka Celebrity spotting locations (just look for the paparazzi cameras):
-The Grove
-3rd Street Promenade
-Americana At Brand
-Hollywood and Highland
-Beverly Center

If you go out to Tierra Sur at Herzog Winery there's an absolutely massive outlet mall called Camarillo Premium Outlets which has more stores and deals than you can count! Don't forget to become a VIP member for a free coupon book.

[moish]

hollywood and highland? i guarantee you will not see any celebs there.

milky way? come on dan

how 'bout delice?

[Dan]

hollywood and highland? i guarantee you will not see any celebs there.

milky way? come on dan

how 'bout delice?

I actually haven't been to Milky Way in years, but it's a good place to bump into Steven Spielberg, the owner's son, who dines there often.
But fair enough, I guess I can't recommend the place if I haven't been there in 8 years!

Delice meat or bakery?  The bakery is good but overpriced.

I went to the bakery once with a $25 restaurant.com GC and wanted to get a lemon meringue pie.  They said it was only for eating in so my friend and I sat down and polished it off!

[Dan]

OK, I've updated my recommended restaurant list with suggestions as well.

Any more critiques?

Gosh, I think it's time for an LA trip!

[kivabb]

LA area eateries that I can recommend along with a short blurb about things I've tried at each place.

Meat:
1. Tierra Sur At Herzog Winery in Oxnard
5/5 stars
-The menu here is constantly changing but is always amazing.  The flavors you will try here are unlike any you will get at another kosher restaurant in the world.  Costco sells a 2 pack of $50 Gift Cards for Tierra Sur along with free wine tasting for 2 for just $79.99.

2. La Gondola
4.5/5 stars
-Avocado eggrolls to die for.  Great Bread with garlic margarine on the house. Great Gondola Burger special for lunch with excellent pasta or a soup.  And the Chai Steak with Carmelized Steak Sauce.  I'm getting hungry thinking about this place!

3. Shiloh's
4/5 stars
-Great baby back ribs and peppercorn steak.  They serve steaks with a nuber of dipping sauces which is pretty cool.  Also had some delicious key lime pie.
I did have a bad experience here with really bad food though...and service can be poor here as well.

4. Jeff's
3.5/5 stars
-Homemade onion rings, homemade sausages, Steak Sandwich, Western burger, lots of good and greasy stuff here.

5. PKD (Pico Kosher Deli)
3.5/5 stars
-Excellent Deli-style food along with equally good homemade onion rings.

6. Pat's
3/5 stars
-Either you love this upscale steakhouse or you hate it.  I used to hate it until my brother became good friends with the bartender.  Now when I go back with him we're treated to a feast for a king! Don't miss the bread pudding dessert!

7. Shanghai
2.5/5 stars
-LA hasn't had very good Chinese since Sholom Cuisine closed.  This place is decent though.

Milk/Parve:
1. Milk & Honey
4.5/5 stars
-Excellent Eggplant Parmesean, and really good brown bread with nuts and fruit in it along with a yummy tomato dip.  They used to have an al-you-can-eat brunch on Sunday for about $20 with free Champagne, not sure if they still do that.

2. Fish Grill
4.5/5 stars
-The best fish you'll ever have, period.  I'm not such a fish person, but their Grilled Salmon on Angel Hair Pasta with a huge order of well-seasoned fries...YUM!

3. Pizza Nosh (Agoura Hills)
4/5 stars
-Excellent pizza and Eggplant Parmesean, worth a stop if you're in the area.

4. Pizza Mayven
3/5 stars
-Good plain pizza and that's about it.

5. Nagila Pizza
3/5 stars
-Good but pricey stuffed crust pizza, and that's about it.

Breakfast/Bakery:
1. Cafe Elite
4.5/5 stars
-Amazing cake/crumb donuts along with your usual breakfast food.

2. Schwartz Bakery/Circa NY
4/5 stars
-A great but expensive bakery.  The crumb cheese danish is a personal favorite, as is their wonderful Caramel cake and "kit kat" chocolate rice crispy bars.
They also now serve breakfast in their Pico and Fairfax location.  I had the combo Pancake+Waffle+Franch Toast meal with fruit salad that was very good.

3. Delice Bakery
4/5 stars
-Very good, but very overpriced french pastries.  The Creme Brulee, the Lemon Tart, and the Lemon Meringue Pie are all excellent.

4. La Brea Bagel
3/5 stars
-Very good bagels with all kinds of toppings and other breakfast food.

NICE!

[moish]

1. the list is definitely flawed if you put pats number 6. it clearly number 2
2. at fish grill the salmon salad should not be missed. and if youre lucky enough to get there before the cookies sell out, you must try it.
3. at pizza maven dont forget their amazing fries and nachos!