Boho

Tonight I joined a couple of friends for dinner at Boho before seeing a movie at the Archlight in Hollywood, right next door. The convenience of the restaurant and the variety of foods on the menu were our man reasons for going there. The other thing that made it desirable is that they took reservations for 6 or more--so we wouldn't be shut out and scrambling to find something new.

The restaurant is a hodgepodge of mismatched chairs and tables that somehow add up to modern elegance. While nobody was really dressed up for dinner it felt like a place you could go and dress up and not feel weird about it.

Boho brands itself as a Gastropub which means it concentrates its menu on quality food and ingredients but also has a hefty menu of unique alcoholic beverages in glasses as unique as the flavor for the floozies.

The drinks were flowing at our table and it seemed like the food came out just as soon as we ordered. The burger looked delicious, the halibut and chicken looked well thought out and just different enough to stand out. The pile o' ribs was actually a pretty good sized pile--surprising based on the nature of the restaurant. I had the salad Nicoise which is my weakness. Next time I may go for one of the unusual pizzas such Lemon Verbana or Smoked Salmon or Potato...but I couldn't pass up my favorite salad. It wasn't amazing but was pretty delicious, there was plenty of ahi, cooked perfectly on top, along with the usual suspects. This salad also had grilled peppers which added a really nice sweetness to the dish. I also tasted someone else's belgium fries and they were indeed double fried with an extra crust. With the garlic aioli they really had a nice punch.

Since we had too much time on our hands, and the boys were drinking heavily at the other end of the table, we decided to sample some of the $7 desserts. As is with quality restaurants, it is all about quality not quantity. The Chocolate Cake Bread pudding, while delicious, was only three small strips of pudding and a small scoop of vanilla. The presentation was fantastic though and the flavors melded together perfectly. My friend got the strawberry rhubarb pie which was certainly a better choice in terms of value. Next time I'm getting the doughnuts.

I would definitely go back to Boho. It is a little pricey but good for a special dinner. It is also convenient if you want to make a movie next door. The food was pretty delicious and fit that classiness you expect from the Hollywood of your dreams.





Boho
6801 Hollywood Blvd #411
Hollywood, CA 90028

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The Magic Castle

The Magic Castle draws a fine line between dining and entertainment--but I'm going to rate it here on the off chance that you know a member and can get into the place. Last weekend, I had that chance.

For those of you who aren't from LA--or are but don't know much about the neighborhood you don't live in, The Magic Castle, is a famous Magician's club and school inside the old Lane Mansion on Franklin in Hollywood. If you haven't seen the place, be sure to drive by it. It is one of the oldest houses in the area and is filled with all sorts of history. During the remodel, the owner insisted in collecting bits and pieces from other nearby mansions being torn down. Inside the kaleidoscope of bits and pieces merge together in an eclectic puzzle.

We arrived at the castle just before 11am where we waited in line and then entered in small groups. The entrance technique is necessary because you need a secret password to exit the lobby. The staircases, hidden doorways, and carnival mirrors make the navigation around the building difficult and exciting. I was glad to always have a member as a guide.

On Saturdays and Sundays the Magic Castle offers child-focused magic shows, a looser business casual dress code, and brunch. In the evenings only patrons 21 and older are allowed in the club and see more advanced magic while dressed in full suits and cocktail dresses.

After watching a couple of magic shows and exploring the castle, our party made our way up the staircase to the dining room. There our eyes feasted on the marvelous offerings as we waited to be seated. The brunch included a cold buffet, a hot buffet, a juice bar, alcohol, and a dessert bar.

The trick is to be slightly early for your seating and to jump in line immediately and load up your plate with food. As other groups fill the dining room, the lines stretch across the castle.

I started out my brunch with fresh lox and all the fixings atop toasted bagel quarters, fruit, and shrimp. The lox was spectacular, the shrimp was just ok. Next I moved on to the hot dishes. The dishes seemed to be changing depending on the time you dined. For the tail-end of the 11am there were cheese blintzes that were replaced with french fries and chicken tenders for the 12:30 crowd. There were scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, potates, enchiladas, rice, beans, prime rib, roasted turkey, an omelet bar and waffles.

I enjoyed the potatoes, prime rib and turkey. The turkey was white meat only but was as moist as dark. The omelet wasn't the best I have ever had, but it was still good. It might have been a little bit cold when I got it and the cheese wasn't as melty as I expected.

All in all, the experience was spectacular. The shows combined with the delicious food and unlimited nature really made my Sunday morning a time to rememeber. I will go back any time I meet a member willing to take me.





The Magic Castle
7001 Franklin Ave
Hollywood, CA

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Kitchen 24

I was browsing food blogs one night before dinner and I came across a post on Kitchen 24. When I used to drive through Hollywood everyday, I saw this place being built--but I had no idea what it was. I was excited to learn that it is a new-age twist on the American diner. A new place that everyone will like!

I went there a couple of nights ago for dinner. The biggest problem is that parking in that area is scarce--especially free parking. We decided to park in the Arclight lot--but that probably wasn't the best choice because it is so expensive without validation. I think you could park for cheaper at the mall at Hollywood and Vine or valet or find a place somewhere on the street.

The restaurant has windows all the way across the front that initially gave me the feel of a quick food restaurant--however, once inside, it has a little bit of a club feel with loudish music and dark lights--and it also traces the 50's diner with vinyl booths. I was a big fan of the chandeliers made out of silverware. There is a bar in the back of the restaurant where a large crowd gathered during the time we were there.

The menu is a large solid book. It looks like it could last them years if they never need to reprint prices. Breakfast and Lunch are served 24/7 and dinner is served in the evening. There is a large drink menu and also a dessert menu.

It took a long time for me to browse the menu but I finally decided on the Nicose Salad. My fellow diners had another salad and a home skillet. The home skillet actually came in a piping hot skillet. It had eggs, bacon, and hash browns. The flavors were ok with some kind of extra spice but nothing too special. If you've got a hankering for breakfast though--the waffles looked amazing. The nicose salad is something I try everywhere that has it with seared tuna. The salad came in a medium sized metal mixing bowl giving me the feeling that it had just been mixed and was too fresh to even move. I was disappointed by the lack of olives in my salad--a flavor I think the salad needs. Even without the olives though, I would have it again. I loved how they boiled the potatoes in some kind of seasoning (it is possible it was just salt) so that they added a little extra instead of just the starch. The other salad that my fellow diner had was rumored to be good as well.

The service was a little bit slow, but I believe there were only two waiters for the whole restaurant. I desperately needed more water which I never received. I also wanted to ask for olives since they were forgotten, but I didn't have a chance while it was still worth it. On a whim, when the waiter did return, one diner and I decided to order dessert. He got the black and white shake--I opted for the brownie sundae. The shake, while it has a fancy name, was just a chocolate shake with vanilla ice cream and was drinkable and not memorable. The brownie sundae came in a shake glass and seemed to be the most popular item on the menu. The sundae was incredibly rich--and I could barely eat the entire thing. The ice cream was the cheap kind that comes in the 5 gallon tub (I saw them making it) and I could tell. Although, I may be a bit of an ice cream snob. I also noted that the sundae had walnuts in the brownie--not noted anywhere on the menu.

While we were paying, someone at the table next to us ordered the skillet apple pie. Boy was I jealous! It looked like a medium sized pie (not individual but not full sized) with a full crust (not that crumb topping they always use in crisps) made right inside a piping hot skillet and served a la mode. I think that would have been the right choice for dessert.

I am excited about returning to Kitchen 24! They have only been open for four months so I anticipate that the service will improve as they get more used to the crowds. The food is worth it now though, there is a lot of variety bringing a spin to the classic diner fare.





Kitchen 24
1608 N. Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
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Katsuya

On Friday I went to lunch at Katsuya in Hollywood. Katsuya is located on the corner of Vine and Hollywood Blvd. just across the street from that fire that happened a couple of days before. There was plenty of street parking at meters but they also offer valet if you are so inclined.

As I walked into the restaurant I immediately felt under-dressed. The glass doors led to an upscale and trendy lobby. To my left was a lounge area with couches and a middle section of high tables for drinks. That section appeared to be closed at lunch. Straight in front of me was an extensive bar. To the right was a large room with a sushi bar station in a center square surrounded by seating at the bar. In little alcoves around the room were a handful of tables. My friend told me that the only way to get a table, even at lunch, was to call ahead.

We sat at the sushi bar right in front of a sushi chef. Immediately our waitress came around offering us hot wet towels. I ordered an unusual drink to start, a Pink Basil Rising. It was a citrusy drink with basil and while I ordered it virgin, it is possible to add alcohol. It was delicious. Incredibly refreshing with a strong sting but I'm not sure I would pay the eight bucks it cost to get it again.

We ordered some edamame to start. Each time we filled the shell bowl someone would come by and empty it. The service was outstanding in that way throughout our whole meal. They were very attentive with removing plates and refilling water. There was a little stone on which to set your used chopsticks when your plates were removed.

I ordered the Sushi Lunch which was served with salad and miso soup. Unlike other sushi restaurants, the salad comes with a choice of dressing and it is not that delicious orange one. The dressing was still good, but it wasn't what I expected. After the soup and salad and the edamame and my drink I was pretty much full. But sushi doesn't last very well the next day, so I kept on going.

I was disappointed by my sushi combination when it came. It was all the same standards--a couple of tunas, a salmon and shrimp. I know there are other kinds of sushi out there but they never ever come with the combination--which I think is a mistake. I don't want to have the same thing every time but I don't know how to order something different. I thought that this place would definitely lean toward different based on its classiness, but it didn't. My friend ordered the bowl of eel and said it was delicious. If I returned to Katsuya, I think I would try to order something a little more unusual.

My favorite part of the lunch was watching the sushi chef in front of us. We talked about the different things he was making such as the seaweed wrapped cucumber and rice sushi that looked to be the most boring $7 ever spent. Then he started to make cucumber skin rolls. I was impressed by how he wielded the sharp butchers knife cutting thin slices the full length of a cucumber. The knife went around and around and you could hardly tell that he was being watched while he concentrated.

Once we asked for the check the good service diminished. It took ten minutes to get our cards back and by then I knew this was going to have adverse affects on my parking meter. I'd go to Katsuya again, but I didn't find it to be too different from every other sushi restaurant in town.





Katsuya
6300 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
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Anarkali Indian Restaurant

A couple of weeks ago I met a friend for lunch at Anarkali Indian Restaurant. There was plenty of 1-2 hour parking at meters and on the side streets during the day. It looked like after 6 or so it started to be permit parking in the area and meters would be a little tough to come by. Located on Melrose, just east of the trendy part, this restaurant didn't have too much lunch time traffic.

When I arrived, the only table that was occupied was by my friend. The restaurant is large with booths lining either side as well as tables down the middle. On the table was a crispy cracker with 3 types of sauces. It was a nice appetizer that didn't leave me feeling too full. As time passed, more people started arriving at the restaurant and there seemed to be a crowd for take out. This was a good sign, because I was starting to feel bad for the owner who was presumably also our waiter.

We ordered the Businessman's lunch for two. It came with more than enough food to feed us both, and it came relatively quickly. We started our meal out with the included bowl of vegetable soup. The soup tasted like any other vegetable soup but still warmed me up. Then the rest of the dishes came. There was tandoori chicken on a still sizzling cast iron skillet, vegetable curry, naan and lamb biryani. I had never had the lamb dish but enjoyed it immensely, it was mixed with rice and spices and was very satisfying.

All the food was delicious and the service was friendly. The meal was also insanely cheap. When we saw the menu we expected the $15 to be for each person--but it was actually the total price. Our lunch for two (that fed me another day) came to a total of less than $20. For Hollywood, this was quite a surprise! I think I will be going back there soon.





Analkari Indian Restaurant
7013 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
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Los Balcones Del Peru

Confession: I have no idea what constitutes authentic Peruvian Cuisine.

That being said, I can only recommend Los Balcones del Peru on the basis of it as being good food, and not because it represents the Lima experience in the heart of Hollywood. Of course, it is entirely possible that it does replicate the Lima experience, but I definitely could not tell you whether that is actually the case.

Los Balcones is located on Vine, on a corner a couple of blocks south of Sunset. It's a small restaurant, but I've never had any problems getting seated immediately (although I have only been there for lunch, so the situation at dinner might be different). Upon being seated, they provide the table with a warm basket of bread, butter, and Aji dipping sauce. I'm not much of a butter user, but the sauce is excellent. It can be a bit spicy, so be warned.

The menu has a large selection of beef, chicken, and seafood dishes. I've tried all three types of dishes and would recommend any. Most of the dishes consist of rice, french fries, and the meat, although they also have some spaghetti dishes as well. I must say that I am not sensitive to salty food, and I do find that the food here can be a bit salty; I don't find it to be too overwhelming or distracting from the other tastes of the ingredients, but I can easily see how someone might complain that it is a problem. The first time I went there, I was not prepared for the rice, french fries, and meat combination because they serve it all on a single plate with the meat on top of the french fries. But the juices from the meat only makes the fries taste better. Much, much better. In fact, my mouth is watering just writing about it. For a first time visitor, I'd recommend something with those ingredients, but there are plenty of other options to choose from if you're feeling a little more adventurous, especially on the seafood menu.

One thing to note is that Los Balcones is closed on Mondays, but it is open all other days of the week. Plan your trip accordingly.





Los Balcones Del Peru
1360 Vine St
Los Angeles, CA 90028
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Amalfi Ristorante & Bar

A few nights ago I met a friend at Amalfi Ristorante. Amalfi is a large Italian restaurant with tables in the front room, back room, and a party room even further back. I think that when there is a performance at the Acme Comedy Theater next door the restaurant gets extra business from theater goers. There is valet parking, but if you get there right as the clock ticks 7pm you can park at the meters on the street for free (there is no parking 4-7pm on the street due to commute congestion).

My friend and I arrived on Tuesday night at 7 and while there were others dining there, the restaurant is so large that we were seated immediately. Unlike some restaurants that try to draw in business by placing customers in the windows, this restaurant put most of its diners in the comfortable and warm back area where they couldn't be seen from the street. We opted for water to drink, but there is a large wine list if you are so inclined and they have other alcohol as well. It occurs to me that the front of the room might house a bar which would clarify why everyone was sitting in the back. The atmosphere is dark and warm with cushioned benches around the edge of the room dotted with pillows. Beware, the bench is significantly lower than the chairs, so, if you are the shortest member in your party I recommend the chairs.

While we perused the menu, the waiter brought us a basket of warm bread. The bread dip was an oily roasted red pepper dip. It had a small spoon with it so i thought I'd spoon some on my plate. In the end, I ate the bread alone because the dip didn't taste like much to me.

I ordered the beef carpaccio to start off. Beef carpaccio is my favorite Italian dish ever, and I order it whenever I see it on the menu. This beef carpaccio could have used a little salt or pepper (but this is the kind of restaurant where they do not have salt or pepper on the table) or maybe a little oil. However, the capers and the cheese gave it a very interesting flavor--it was only a little dry.

Our main courses came. My friend ordered the Mushroom Risotto. While I don't usually like risotto or mushrooms, I found this dish to be quite delicious. I was a little jealous actually. She was going on and on about how delicious truffle oil is, and it is true, it really rounds out the dish. I ordered the pumpkin ravioli with braised short rib. The short rib sat in the middle of a surprisingly large plate of ravioli. The meat was succulent and moist and just fell in fork fulls onto my plate. The marscapone sauce was very creamy and I didn't feel it matched the flavor of the meat. However, it did match the ravioli. The ravioli seemed to be handmade although since they didn't advertise it as so, it may not have been. The pumpkin had just the right sweetness that merged with the marscapone. While my dish wasn't as delicious as the risotto, it gave me a feeling of great Italian food and I would certainly go back but probably for something else.

After our main courses the waitress craftily dropped the dessert and coffee menu on our table. While I don't usually opt for dessert, it sounded like it might be delicious and we wanted to stay and chat a little longer. I ordered the tiramisu and my friend got the chocolate mousse.

The tiramisu was a large square with chocolate drizzled on the sides and the top. The drizzled chocolate tasted like Hershey's to me. The tiramisu was delicious except drenched in alcohol to the point where I could taste more alcohol than coffee or chocolate or anything else. Perhaps this is the way the dish is supposed to be prepared, but it wasn't my favorite--although I did eat the entire thing. The chocolate mousse was totally different than anything I have ever had mousse-wise. It was a very dense mousse that looked more like a couple scoops of gelato. It was incredibly rich and served with blueberries. The mousse reminded me of the texture of flourless chocolate cake. My friend could barely eat more than the first scoop. She asked for it to go, and it was obvious the waiter didn't know how to make this to go. He was able to crush it down into a very small condiment container in the end.

The meal was rather expensive, but we did order several courses and my friend ordered some grilled vegetables to take home. The atmosphere was comfortable and the service friendly. If you need a fancy Italian restaurant to visit, I recommend trying out Amalfi next time.





Amalfi Ristorante & Bar
143 North La Brea
Los Angeles, CA 90036
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Twenty Five Degrees

A few weeks ago, somebody told me about a restaurant I thought existed only in my dreams, where they made customized gourmet burgers. Sure, I could go to a normal burger restaurant and customize my burger, but there's just something special about a menu revolving specifically around the concept of creating your own burger, especially when they're premium ingredients and not the standard mushrooms, bacon, and cheddar cheese. The irony of course is that both times I've been to Twenty Five Degrees I've ordered one of their house burgers; I find there something slightly intimidating about coming up with my own burger creation, as if it won't be nearly as good as I might have envisioned it.

The restaurant is located on Hollywood Blvd in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The location could be a drawback because parking in that area of Hollywood isn't generally wallet friendly, although I'm sure with some patience a free spot could be found. The restaurant is rather small - there is a long row of stools along the counter and several booths. The first time we went there for lunch all the booths were filled so we had to sit at the counter, but the next time was for dinner and we had our pick of booths. Both times the service was similar - nothing spectacular, but it's nice to know that even if it's crowded you're not going to be ignored.

The first time we visited, I raved that I had had the absolute best burger I had ever had in my life (and I still stand by that statement) - the Number 2: burger with roasted tomatoes, pesto, prosciutto, and mozzarella. The second time I had the Number 1: caramelized onions, gorgonzola, thousand island, arugala, bacon; I wasn't nearly as impressed with this burger. Next time I think I may finally take the leap and actually customize my own burger. There's also other options such as a turkey burger, vege burger, or a hot dog. Our waiter advised against the hot dog but had good things to say about any of the burger choices. There's also a spattering of salads on the menu and a grilled cheese + tomato soup combination that couldn't have possibly been bad, just judging by its appearance.

Burgers are served a la carte, and adding fries or onion rings to a meal is rather pricey. The fries were great, crispy and flavorful, but the onion rings left a little something to be desired. The burgers are filling without adding any sides, but the sides make for a nice classic American burger meal. I'd recommend ordering a side if you're with other people - for just one person it would definitely be a super sized meal.I also tried a chocolate shake; the portion was huge but it was much more ice cream in a glass than it was a shake, so that was a bit disappointing.

The only negative thing I have to say about Twenty Five Degrees is that you get what you pay for, and you really pay for it here. A bare bones burger can run nearly $12, and that doesn't factor in any additional toppings, a side, or a drink. The first time we went, I paid $25 for a burger, fries, and a shake; it's definitely not the type of place to go if you're on a budget, but if you feel like treating yourself, I'd definitely argue you'll get your money's worth.





25 Degrees
7000 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
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Big Wangs

Perhaps this fine establishment is a bit low brow for Tasting LA and perhaps I'm revealing one of my best kept secrets, but other than mediocre service, I can't say a single bad thing about Big Wangs.

Imagine Hooters with only a single location right in the heart of Hollywood, better food, cheaper beer, and a dozen flat screen televisions with various sports games being broadcast. That, in a nutshell is Big Wangs. I've never had anything at Big Wangs that I haven't liked...and I go to Big Wangs at least once a week, so I've tried just about everything on the menu (admittedly I've yet to order the Dirty Sanchez - two jalapeño cheddar dogs smothered in chili - because I'm intimated by it).

But let's step back a moment and talk about drinks. For all intents and purposes, despite the food, the layout, the location, and the atmosphere, Big Wangs is a glorified sports bar, and I don't mean that in a negative way. Big Wangs has nightly drink specials, a decent tap with quite a few seasonal selections, and some great mixed drinks. I'm mostly a beer drinker and I appreciate that they have Blue Moon on tap ($11 a pitcher comes out to about $3.50 a pint, cheap for LA!), but you have to experience a Wang Banger (tastes just like Taang) at least once. And if you're feeling like you need some extra liquid courage, you can always try a Scorpion Bowl, "A mix of Bacardi and fruit juices with an island of 151", literally served in a bowl.

Now that I've gotten that off of my chest, let's talk about food. If you have a craving for wings and want them to be served by scantily clad women, Big Wangs is a far superior option to Hooters. Seriously though, don't limit yourself. I've never had anything I don't like there - I'd particularly recommend the Italian Grinder, the Pulled Pork Grinder, or the Brisket Grinder. A few weeks ago I had an amazing Cheeseburger Quesadilla. The best thing about Big Wangs is the fact that they have tater tots. Fantastic, wonderful, delicious, i-wish-i-were-back-in-elementary-school tater tots. Tater tots made even better by alfredo sauce and bacon.





Big Wangs
1562 North Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood CA, 90028
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Toast

Toast, not to be confused with Taste, a much more upscale restaurant not too far in proximity, has yet to impress me. I've been to Toast twice, and both times I've been satisfied, but I'm left wondering why masses of people line up and wait for so long for a table. Sure, it's in a great location, the food is familiar, and there is lot of outdoor seating, but when I go out to eat I'm less interested in the atmosphere and more interested in the food.

While I wouldn't venture as far to say that Toast is bad, it's not a restaurant I would recommend to anybody considering that both Doughboy's and Joan's are right down the street. To be fair, Toast has a large selection of what looks to be like very good tasting breakfast foods, but I'm not much of a breakfast person and have therefore stuck to some of the more lunch style options in their sandwiches.

On my latest visit to Toast, I had a BMT - Buffalo mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil and pesto, served on ciabatta bread. I might agree with the sentiment on the menu had they not burned the bread. As a result, my sandwich was overwhelmed by the taste of burnt bread which really masked the subtle taste of the cheese. Again, not bad, just not impressive. Previously, I had the BLT; I find it much easier to order things by letters rather than uttering words. Again, the BLT was good, but not impressive. It had the perfect amount of bacon, but it had entirely too much bread. That is just the worst kind of sandwich construction! Both times I had fries. They serve their sandwiches with a ton of fries. If there's one positive thing I have to say about the meal, it's that I like the way that Toast cooks their fries. They're crispy, not too salty, not too greasy, and they always serve them with ranch.

Now the question may remain as to whether I'd go back. The truth is I would. While I prefer Doughboy's or Joan's, the walk is further and I'm lazy.






Toast
8221 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
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MILK Part 2

MILK also has a large selection of breakfast items. They only serve brunch on the weekends, and they open too late for me to stop there before work on the weekdays (9am), but I do tend to stop there before going to work on Sunday mornings.

I've tried the Blueberry muffin, the Chocolate muffin, the Bacon and Cheddar Scone, and both the plain and chocolate croissants. The Blueberry muffin is fully of fresh blueberries - it's clear these are baked fresh daily and the huge portions of blueberries in the muffin give it a wonderful fruit flavor. For the same reason I disliked the chocolate muffin, although if you're a chocolate freak it would be a good thing. From my perspective, it was just a bit too sweet for breakfast. The Bacon and Cheddar scone is by far my favorite. It is quite savory, with bits of fresh bacon and green onions strewn throughout and a rich cheddary flavor. I'd highly recommend that as a breakfast treat (goes great with their iced coffee).

I'd also add that I'm guilty of not trying many things at MILK - my favorite has to be their Media Noche sandwich, a Cuban style roast pork and ham sandwiches. I can't say enough good things about it. As their soups change daily, you never know what you're going to get. Part of what's so great about MILK is the fact that they use fresh ingredients based on what's currently available, and their soups, like the salad Carrie described, certainly reflect that. My favorite soup I've had was the Pea and Lentil soup. It was a cross between split pea and lentil soup, with a touch of yogurt (probably doesn't sound appealing, but you'd have to trust me on this one) and bits of ham. Magnificent!

Finally, I'm guilty of not trying enough desserts at MILK. They make this awesome handmade ice cream bars that are difficult to take my attention from. I'd add here, that they also make flavors of ice cream you won't necessarily find elsewhere - Blueberry and Thai Iced Tea come to mind, but I know I've seen other unique offerings. I'd also recommend the cookies, but the real appeal of MILK's desserts are the variations of dessert you can get which include their ice cream, so I'm not sure I'd recommend getting a cookie in lieu of ice cream.

MILK

A few weeks after it opened, a friend and I checked out MILK. That's, the cafe, not the store. The small cafe on the corner of Poinsettia St and Beverly Blvd is really cute. It has plenty of out door tables to make up for the limited space inside the restaurant. Probably in all there are 20 tables but not enough for a big group really. All the inside tables seat only 2-3 people.

The cuisine is sandwiches, soup and salads. But there's a twist! Milk also has a large list of Espresso drinks, ice cream and pastries. Breakfast is also served. The ice cream is creamy and delicious--although it looks like gelato on first glance, that is just the style of the serving containers--it is ice cream, no mistakes about it.

I've become almost a regular at the restaurant. One cashier even thought she knew me from past visits. I'd like to say that I have tried something new every visit, but that is not the case. Dessert-wise, I have tried something new every time. I've had an ice cream bar, and ice cream sandwich, a cookies and cream shake, a malted milk ball shake, a coffee toffee shake, the chocolate chip cookies, the chocolate chocolate cookies, the blueberry velvet cake... Every dessert I have tried have been spectacular. They are always very fresh as though they were just made/baked.

The thing is, entree-wise I have only ever gotten one thing--the Farmer's Market Salad. The thing is though, that it is different every time. The salad is truly a Farmer's Market special. There is lettuce (spinach I think) as the base and a common vinaigrette dressing, but each time I go there is some different vegetable in the salad--and if you keep up with your in season produce, you'd notice that the salad contains all things in season and fresh. And if they are short on fitting vegetables they throw in a few garbanzo beans.

A salad and a milk shake are easily filling enough to be a solid meal for the whole day. Even just the salad is filling.

I highly recommend MILK. I have never had a bad experience there. The people are nice, the food is delicious, and the setting is comfortable and relaxed.





Milk
7290 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
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