L.A. Confidential

Re:L.A. Confidential (EliseT)

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:47:37 GMT

There are a number of Roscoe's locations. Unless you hit the one in Hollywood, they are unpredictable.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:08:24 GMT

Glad to hear you are feeling better Jim and looking forward to the report.

Re:L.A. Confidential (EdSails)

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:07:09 GMT

Good to hear you are felling a little better.

mr chips

I will Cliff. I took ill in California and today is the first day i have had much energy in the last week.

Re:L.A. Confidential (mr chips)

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:01:36 GMT

I will Cliff. I took ill in California and today is the first day i have had much energy in the last week.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:57:03 GMT

mr chips-
I hope you take the time to write about your recent adventures in Southern California, either here or in your own trip report. Looking forward to reading about where you ate.

Re:L.A. Confidential (mr chips)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:46:44 GMT

I was prepared to like Cole's. It was opaque, a dark bar with little light and the looks of a 50's club. There was a 5-dollar manhattan available if we ordered a large sandwich. The location in the jewelry district of downtown L.A. makes it seem almost as if in another city and time. The sandwich, however, was not all that special. Phillipe's while also atmospheric, has a much better sandwich. Cole's was just okay. it wasn't a ripoff, the manhattan was good but Trudy and i preferred a prime rib French dip at Loondon's in Pasadena,, a delightful t sandwich that stirs the memory.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:29:05 GMT

EdSails-
Thanks so much for the photos. They both look good to me. I really like the look of Cole's with the dark wood and the booths. My previous visit to Cole's was late at night, we were tired and that probably didn't help our opinion of the place. I need to give them another shot.

Re:L.A. Confidential (MacTAC)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:21:24 GMT

buffetbuster

Hey MiamiDon, you may want to change your Roadfood password. It appears TheTravelin Man has hacked into your account!

LOL!

Re:L.A. Confidential (agnesrob)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:02:00 GMT

As always, when I come to the end of your reports I feel like I am at the end of a favorite book! Thanks so much for taking the time to post all of the reports you do!

Re:L.A. Confidential (EdSails)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:25:06 GMT

Well, BB, here's some of the differences between Cole's and Phillipe's:

Cole's Beef dip with cheese

Phillipe's lamb dip

Tray with beets and cole slaw at Phillipes

Cole's spicy garlic sweet potato fries

Cole's Interior

Phillipe's Counter

So, what do you think?

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 14:15:26 GMT

Hey MiamiDon, you may want to change your Roadfood password. It appears TheTravelin Man has hacked into your account!

Re:L.A. Confidential (MiamiDon)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 14:08:37 GMT

Wow, what a great Roadfood trip report, Buffetbuster!

I haven't been to LA since 2008, and I'm getting an urge to return, now. I wanted to go to Killer Shrimp, but they were out of business. I got to Apple Pan, but they were closed on Sunday. So was Langer's.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:41:28 GMT

lleechef-
Thanks so much for letting me know that about the Mission Inn. I will try and find the article on line.

Here is the article.

Re:L.A. Confidential (lleechef)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:53:55 GMT

There was a picture of Mission Inn on the front page of this morning's Travel section of the paper which made me think of you and Mariton. Except your pictures were much better!

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 06:22:38 GMT

mr chips-
If you do visit some of these places, please report back. We would love to hear your 2 cents worth. Have a great time in SoCal and safe travels!

Re:L.A. Confidential (mr chips)

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:11:03 GMT

This was a wonderful trip report and very relevant to me personally. Thanks for the work u do on these reports. I may be adding my 2 cents worth soon.= on a couple places.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:12:54 GMT

soozycue520

However, in this day and time, when restaurants are struggling, I have experienced that restaurants, no matter how upscale, will not turn anyone away. If you have the $$$, they do not care anymore how you are dressed.

An excellent point and one I did not consider. And I believe you are correct!

Re:L.A. Confidential (1bbqboy)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:12:54 GMT

Upscale in California means you have to wear clothes.

Re:L.A. Confidential (soozycue520)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:31:14 GMT

"Okay, here is something I don't understand. This is a very nice upscale restaurant and you would expect there to be some kind of dress code. And most of the people were dressed appropriately. But, there was one table in which it surprised me with what they were wearing. Two of the women wore flip-flops. One man had on a hoodie, sweatpants and a baseball cap. Now, I am a very casual person by nature. I wear a hooded sweatshirt everyday to work during the Winter and jeans and a t-shirt during the Summer. And I'm not a big fan of getting dressed up for dinner. But, isn't it kind of expected at a restaurant like LG's? Maybe I am blaming the wrong party, since it is up to the restaurant to enforce some kind of dress code. Maybe I am making too big of a deal out of this, since how they were dressed had no effect on our dinner. It is just a little pet peeve of mine. "

I agree, when going to a more upscale restaurant, that, at the very least, dressing appropriately should be commonplace, and expected. However, in this day and time, when restaurants are struggling, I have experienced that restaurants, no matter how upscale, will not turn anyone away. If you have the $$$, they do not care anymore how you are dressed. I know it is unfortunate, but restaurants cannot afford to turn away paying customers for their lack of consideration of a dress code.

Re:L.A. Confidential (soozycue520)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:11:49 GMT

^^^ I agree!! I completely enjoyed this trip report. I couldn't wait for the next posts. I am disappointed it is over.
Great way to start the New Year, though ~~Roadfood style!!

Re:L.A. Confidential (Ralph Melton)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:33:33 GMT

Splendid report. I always enjoy reading your reports.

Re:L.A. Confidential (EdSails)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:59:03 GMT

We spent half the lunch debating that exact topic. Pricewise, it is definitely more expensive-----depending on what sandwich you get, as much as twice as expensive. At Cole's the lamb sandwich was quote at "Market Price" which was $13.75. Phillipe's it's alway like $7.50. Philippe's has the old standards for sides wihile Cole's adds some interesting sides like garlic sweet potato fries. If you are looking for pickled eggs you are out of luck at Cole's and same with beets. Sandwich sizes I believe are much smaller at Cole's. The consensus of the group, not counting me, was that Cole's sandwiches were tastier and the mustard/horseradish combo was better. They also liked the fact that you could get a full bar and drink specials ($7 for a Bloody mary on sunday before 3PM). I think they also liked the fact you had a full wait staff and didn't have to wait in line. The interior of cole's is like a nice, old steakhouse including a full bar while Phillipe's is known for it's communal tables and waiting in line for your food (which I think is actually faster then the service at Cole's). Cole's allows you to order cheese on your sandwich which I'm sure everyone at Phillipe's would be horrified by. Overall, the group (except for me) gave the nod to Cole's. For me, I think I'm still a Phillipe's fan. Final thought: I think it's worth trying both.

buffetbuster

TTM-
Since you have been to Irvine before, I just assumed you already had the anteater photo in your collection.

EdSails-
I was really hoping to revisit Cole's on this trip, but there was just too many other stops. My first visit was over a decade ago and I don't remember much about it. How was it and does it compare to Philippe's?

Re:L.A. Confidential (ann peeples)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:45:37 GMT

How fun! Good for Mariton!

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:38:54 GMT

ChiTownDiner

lleechef

Does this mean that I have to present bb with an Emmy in Mobile??

Absolutely...let's keep his acceptance speech down to 2 hours this year...when he named and thnaked every slice of pie, it got wordy!

I want you to know that this was Mariton's favorite post in the entire thread!

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:15:54 GMT

Paul-
Wow! That is fantastic! I am already jealous of the great trip and adventure you have to look forward to.

Re:L.A. Confidential (Sundancer7)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:13:21 GMT

BB: because of your wonderful thread, Roz and I have decided to make our round the USA trip to her graduation to include the entire west coast with a copy of all your visits. We estimate the entire trip will entail about 7,000 miles and three weeks. We will start in Chicago, MPLS, Montana, Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and then back to Knoxville.

When we have our restaurant agenda and GPS loaded up, we will notify you.

We can never duplicate your efforts or trips or photos but rest assured, because of you, we will try.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Re:L.A. Confidential (mayor al)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:36:32 GMT

Lisa-
Perhaps not a trophy, unless MH makes the rounds of thrift-shops in Columbus, But a definite place on the formal agenda at the Brick Pit BBQ in Mobile for the BB and his companions for their continuing contributions to the Roadfood Community.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:30:25 GMT

As a final roundup.....

Favorite restaurants:
Mariton 1) Brophy Brothers
            2) LG's Prime Steak House
            3) El Campeon
            4) Pho Tranh Lich
            5) Killer Shrimp

Cliff 1) Irv's
      2) Brophy Brothers
      3) Du-Par's
      4) LG's Prime Steak House
      5) Jocko's Steakhouse

Best Tourist Attraction
Mariton - Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library
Cliff - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Best Hotel
Mariton - Mission Inn
Cliff - Mission Inn

Total Miles Driven - 1,314 Which is lowest total I ever remember on a week long vacation.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:09:40 GMT

lleechef

Does this mean that I have to present bb with an Emmy in Mobile??

Trust me, the trophy you and Michael gave last year in Nashville is much better than an Emmy!

mar52-
Yeah, that makes me nervous. You would think that Irv's status as a historical landmark would save it from this kind of thing, but apparently not. The truth is, Irv's is located on a very valuable piece of property and there will always be people thinking of ways to get them out of there.

Re:L.A. Confidential (buffetbuster)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 05:52:43 GMT

TTM-
Since you have been to Irvine before, I just assumed you already had the anteater photo in your collection.

EdSails-
I was really hoping to revisit Cole's on this trip, but there was just too many other stops. My first visit was over a decade ago and I don't remember much about it. How was it and does it compare to Philippe's?