Los Angeles

Calling all City of Angels Roadfooders. My friend I are going to go to the Rose Bowl Parade this year. We will be staying in Arcadia, and we are looking for places in that vicinity, and also good reasonably priced fish houses anywhere reasonably close, or near the ocean. We are definately going to try Pink's. Hear they have great dogs. Any thoughts. We will also be in San Diego, and wondered if either the Columbia Brewery, or Qwiggs are still in business. Thanks much for any info.

Make sure you take a stop on the way to the ocean in downtown LA and go to Phillipe's, one of the oldest places in LA and originator of the "French Dip" sandwich. I recommend the lamb or beef dip myself but all are good. Make sure and splurge for a cup of coffee----it's up to $0.09 a cup now. Also try the mustard and horseradish-----but watch out!
Fish houses here are a disappointment to me. The best IMHO is the Bluewater Grill at the Harbor in Redondo Beach. Second (not fancy but fresh) is Cat'n Kidd's---basically a fishmarket where the cook some dishes while you watch someone else's dinner still swimming in a tank. When in Redondo, I prefer to walk down to the fishmarkets just north of the pier and buy a crab, have it cooked there and sit at the table cracking it with a wooden mallet (they rent those). The fishmarkets down there have a great selection.

Santa Monica's Enterprise Fish Company is one of my favorites. Cap'n Kids has great ambiance, and is a fun, raucous family place, but occasionally their fish is a little too "fishy". If you would be put off by a stream of fish blood running across the cement floor, the fishmarkets should be avoided.

Check out this old thread for other recommendations. You will be near Pasadena, home of "The Hat" for Pastrami, and "Pie and Burger". Pasadena is a very good restaurant town.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=549&SearchTerms=los,angeles

Wanted to second EdSails on Phillipe's. Those french dips are wonderful. Be sure to ask for double dipped, you'll thank me!

For breakfast, John O'Groats on Pico, near Fox. EVERYTHING there is great -- even fish sandwiches for lunch.

El Somberero in Manhattan Beach ... get the excellent dry burrito.

There used to be a cajun place, The Cajun Corner, just up the street from the Hyatt on Sunset. Worthy, if still there.

Don't, in my opinion, save too much appetite for Pink's ... I am another member of the "I Don't Get the Excitement About Pink's Club.

Langers Deli on Alverado serves a Pastrami with swiss cheese and 1000 island dressing on a onion roll thats the best I've ever had.

I always try to hit Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles. I like the Gower store.
I think the chicken is better than Dinah's, as that product is too salty for me.

http://roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/

quote:

Originally posted by snoby

Langers Deli on Alverado serves a Pastrami with swiss cheese and 1000 island dressing on a onion roll thats the best I've ever had.

Seconded, but I recommend you don't go at night. Unless you also need to score.

Thanks to you all for the information. Elise, I took your recommendation, and went in to your previous topic. After printing off 30 pages of recommendations, I came up with a bunch of places that sound interesting. However, I couldn't find most of them in Yellow Pages.com, since it wants you to be more specific on location, not just Los Angeles. Any suggestions where I can get this info?
We will try the Bluewater Grill, The Hat,Langers Deli, and others in this forum. Maybe we need to hire you as a FOOD GUIDE while we are there. We both are food-aholics!!
Thanks again every one.[|)]

Bluewater Grill is in Redondo Beach, The Hat is in Pasadena and Langers is Los Angeles---near MacArthur Park (just don't leave your cake out in the rain!). Phillipe's is downtown Los Angeles.

The Hat will be near where you are staying. For Langer's and Bluewater, make them day trips.

Bluewater is near the Redondo pier (on Hermosa Ave?). I recommend you go for lunch and walk along the pier and get Mai Tais and Fire Chiefs in the bar above "Tony's on the Pier". It looks like a big Crow's Nest. Then walk along the pier to the "International Boardwalk" area to Nadja's, a bar with millions of international beers (and if you decide to go at night, live music). Ride the spinny ride at the arcade...they also have some really kitschy old games, and check out all the live seafood.

If the sun is still out, head South on PCH, then right on PV Blvd. When it splits, turn right for a gorgeous drive along the cliffs with breathtaking views. No good food stops. Then head back to PCH, turn left, and take PCH past Redondo again to Pier Ave in Hermosa. There are nice shops and bars. Eat at Ragin Cajun, and get drinks and appetizers at the Boogaloo Cafe. Or have fish and chips at Bestie's Pub on Hermosa Ave.

For Langer's (7th and Alvarado), there is secure parking one block east on 7th, or call ahead and they will run the food out to your car. It is just east of the Wilshire district and Koreatown. The La Brea Tar Pits are a good activity, and check out the old Art Deco buildings along Wilshire. Or, East of there is Downtown L.A. with museums or Little Tokyo.

Enjoy your trip!

Other fun things in Pasadena are antique shops and the Norton Simon Museum.

And you can search restaurants by name here:

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/section/restaurants

My first New Years spent in Thousand Oaks (7 yrs ago) was comprised of driving over to Santa Manica Seafood to pick up 2 1 1/2 pd Lobsters from Santa Monica Seafood....for my son and I....as a former New Yorker who casually picked up Lobsters from Jordans in Island Park (LI)...(I didn't realize how good I had it till I left)!!! I must say these were the best lobsters I've eaten on the West Coast.....$50.00 later.....

I would not hesitate to pick some up from them again.....

Laurie

I lived in Arcadia for a good portion of the 80s -early 90s so my info is a might old, but I have a few favorites that are still around I think. For a great weekend breakfast go next door to Monrovia and try LeRoys. I think its on Huntington Dr. if my memory is correct. My favorite place for omelettes was at the Chino airport but thats a bit far for you to go probably. My favorite steak place in Pasadena was the Peppermill. Their vegatable soup was fantastic. The North Woods in Arcadia was popular also. And I would grab an In-N-Out burger while you're out in SoCal.
Also, after the parade, they display all the floats in the park in Pasadena for you walk around and look at. I remember back in 1979, I watched the parade in Indy and it was 2 degrees outside. I flew into LA the next day and it was 70 degrees when I arrived. I walked around and looked at floats and decided to avoid Midwest winters for as long as possible ( spent 3 winters in Chicago in the mid 80s though).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL YOU FELLOW ROADFOODERS OUT THERE!!
Thanks to Elise and all the others who answered my request for info. about Los Angeles. Now, I need one more favor. The Bear Pit, The Boat (Galley)? in Pasadena and Betsie's Pub are the only three places I couldn't find. Could you please let me know their full names and where they are? It would be greatly appreciated. My friend and I are looking forward to trying all the great places you all recommended.

"The Boat" is what locals call "Clearman's Galley." It's at 8976 Huntington Drive (at Rosemead) in San Gabriel. (Not far from Pasadena)
www.clearmansrestaurants.com. Phone (626) 286-1484.

When I'm visiting Pasadena (used to live there now have relatives still there), I try to get to Rick's Burgers at Walnut and El Molino. Their sourdough french cheeseburger is great!

You are also not far from one of the biggest Chinese American communities in the U. S. in Monterey Park/Alhambra. Check the LA Weekly website under where to eat now for more suggestions.

One more thought--for fantastic rotissierie chicken try Zankou in either Pasadena or Glendale. They serve the chicken with hummus, pita bread and a really spectacular garlic sauce. Have fun.

Besties
1334 Hermosa Avenue Hermosa Beach
Pub, Live Music & Dancing (310 )318-3818

Cafe Boogaloo
1238 Hermosa Avenue Hermosa Beach
Bar & Live Music
(310) 318-2324

Again, the Bear Pit is a bit far afield:

http://you-are-here.com/restaurant/bar_b_q.html

quote:

Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

For breakfast, John O'Groats on Pico, near Fox. EVERYTHING there is great -- even fish sandwiches for lunch.

El Somberero in Manhattan Beach ... get the excellent dry burrito.

There used to be a cajun place, The Cajun Corner, just up the street from the Hyatt on Sunset. Worthy, if still there.

Don't, in my opinion, save too much appetite for Pink's ... I am another member of the "I Don't Get the Excitement About Pink's Club.

We really don't have a decent hot dog place in L.A., except for Pink's. For those who come from places where they do, and you don't have to wait 40-60 minutes in line, we understand why you wouldn't get too excited about an inexpensive wiener. I'm a local and work in the recording studios. If I have the time, I will go to Pink's. If I'm in a hurry, I'll go to (Der) Wienerschnitzel.

quote:

Originally posted by dkp

Calling all City of Angels Roadfooders. My friend I are going to go to the Rose Bowl Parade this year. We will be staying in Arcadia, and we are looking for places in that vicinity, and also good reasonably priced fish houses anywhere reasonably close, or near the ocean. We are definately going to try Pink's. Hear they have great dogs. Any thoughts. We will also be in San Diego, and wondered if either the Columbia Brewery, or Qwiggs are still in business. Thanks much for any info.

I work at the Rose Parade every year and will be working there this Saturday, too (I do ushering for Sharpe Seating on New Years' Day). The Salvation Army has a great big huge breakfast for free at about the halfway point of the parade at 5 AM. Street food on the parade route is so expensive. Remember: No alcohol or silly string. You don't want to spend the holiday in the L.A. County Poky!

Forget Phillipes, go to Coles instead. Coles dates back to 1915, and THEY are the original inventor of the beef dip sandwich, by many years over Phillipes. Plus, their sandwiches are excellent, better than Phillipes. I told them that and they said people tell them that all the time. The old red cablecars used to park at Coles. Old nostalgic photos hanging all over, very interesting place. They are on 6th St. around the corner from Los Angeles St., south side of St. This is the place for beef dips, and other food as well. Also, go to Cliftons, at 7th & Broadway. Been there since the 1880's. On Broadway, east side of St. just north of 7th. VERY interesting piece of Los Angeles history, and the food is made from scratch everyday. Some of the people have been working there 30 plus years. Not too expensive either.

Thanks to all you Los Angeles Roadfooders. We had a great time in your city, just didn't like the liquid sunshine we encountered!! Ate at Enterprise and The Hat. Both were good, as you indicated. Didn't get to any others due to the weather. Didn't really feel like hitting the freeways with all that water. Ate at Cameron's in Pasadena. Great seafood!! And, we hit Twoheys a couple of times. Great pastrami, and authentic milkshakes; in South Pasadena. Next time will try some of the other places you recommended. Thanks again