I came across My Lai on Yelp which appeared to have just opened as it only had eight reviews, all 5 stars. It’s located across the street from Mar Vista on Venice around the corner from Little Fatty and Rasselbock.
As one of the reviews previously mentioned, it has a Chipotle vibe where you can create your own bowl or order one of their specialities.
I was immediately drawn to the garlic fried rice which I paired with grilled chicken, cilantro, sliced cucumber, sesame medley, crispy garlic and miso sesame sauce. The chicken was moist and tender with a bit of char, and the cucumber added a bit of freshness and lightness while the cilantro added a layer of earthiness to the dish. The miso sesame sauce was light and tangy, and the crispy garlic added texture and bite, but the star of the dish was the garlic fried rice which appeared to have been cooked in a savory chicken broth or stock resulting in a glutinous sticky rice.
The rice was reminiscent of what is traditionally served in Filipino restaurants but more potent and richer in flavor. Though the bowl I ordered was not an authentic Vietnamese dish, it was quite enjoyable.
The restaurant is quite clean and modern with both an indoor and fairly decent sized outdoor space for dining. It would be very easy to have a quick, easy and healthy meal here or spend an hour or two lounging on the patio with friends. This new find is a solid winner!
My Lai
12222 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
https://www.mylaikitchen.com
After a long work week, we were torn on whether to stay in on a Friday night and order delivery from one of our standbys, The Original Thai BBQ restaurant on Venice, or head out and experience a change of scenery. We opted for the latter but chose a place close by in downtown Culver City. A new restaurant opened fairly recently called Amacita. It sits where the former BacoShop had its two year residency. Over the last fifteen years, the space has had several other iterations including Santa Maria BBQ and coincidentally a different Thai BBQ restaurant.
When we arrived, the restaurant was full including its bar area. In the few times we ate at that location, we had never seen it at full capacity so that was a good omen. We ordered beer and wine and were served a basket of super crispy and addictive tortilla chips which was another point in the restaurant’s favor. Luckily, a table for two was leaving so we were seated inside fairly quickly.
We started with two crispy fried golden tacos with chicken which had the same crispy texture as the chips. It came with a huge dollop of crema, a pile of red cabbage and salsa. The chicken was perfectly moist and savory and each taco definitely had a generous helping of meat.
Next to arrive was the McGrath charcoal grilled baby corn with queso fresco and morita crema. The corn was smoky and the sauce added a layer of creaminess and tanginess. It was quite unique as they were petite baby corn and not the usual plate of corn kernels or an actual corn on the cob giving it a much more refined presentation.
Our last starter dish to arrive was a bowl of Weiser tiny russet potatoes with arbol chile cream, manchego, bacon and chives. That was the dish that made me do a double take and pay attention. All the flavors blended perfectly well and the texture of the potatoes weren’t too creamy but weren’t too roughly chopped either. It was somewhere in the middle so that you could taste the chunks of potato with the bites of bacon and chives subtly blending in.
Sadly, there was at least a 20 minute delay in between the starters and the main dishes so that was disappointing.
My husband ordered the mesquite grilled arbor shrimp in country Rhodes blistered tomatoes and tomatillo. It was delicious, savory, smoky and tender all at once with a subtle hint of tanginess.
I ordered the Peads & Barnett pork collar pibil with roasted pineapple and salsa verde. Sadly, it was inferior in comparison to the quality of the preceding dishes. The pork was dry and lacking in flavor. Unlike the three other dishes we ordered which had depth and complexity, the chunks of pork didn’t absorb any of the seasonings or the flavor of the sauces on top and around it. Somehow there was a strange delineation and separation which is indicative of the parts being cooked separately. Perhaps the pork should be marinaded in a lemon, lime or even grapefruit base to tenderize the meat and give it a bit more acidity in flavor. A bit of black pepper would also give it more depth.
Luckily, I mentioned my dissatisfaction to our busboy who must have said something to the manager as it was removed from our bill.
In addition, to apologize for the long delay, we were given a beautifully refreshing dessert on the house. It was a berry granita with peaches and cream which was a delicious way to end our Tex-Mex experience.
All in all, aside from a few hiccups which management acknowledged and corrected, it was a great dinner at Ama-cita. The presentation and flavors were polished and the vibe of the restaurant is a fantastic addition to bustling downtown Culver City. We will be back!
Ama-cita
9552 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA
https://www.ama-cita.com
Our first introduction to Wood & Vine came by way of friends who had a theatre subscription to the Pantages. They frequently ate dinner at the restaurant prior to the evening’s performance. My friend made a point of letting me know that their meal set-up was a great value and the food was actually quite good as well. I made a mental note to make reservations the next time we had theatre tickets.
The opportunity presented itself when the touring company for Miss Saigon announced it would have a short residency at the Pantages. As we had not seen the musical yet and I was offered presale tickets, it was an easy decision which was quickly followed by pre-theatre dinner booking at Wood & Vine though my Open Table app.
Last Saturday night we finally experienced both. Wood & Vine is conveniently located diagonally across the street from the Pantages. They had a few high tops and bar stools by the front, the upstairs dining room had a traditional dining set-up with several tables with quite a few more at the outdoor patio which had the added bonus of a large rectangular table set-up around a fire pit. We opted to sit inside right by the window adjacent to Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame.
Our first order of business was toasting the start of our evening and taking the obligatory photos of and with the Pantages sign.
Drinks were quickly followed by some very tasty appetizers which came in the form of Crispy Brussels Sprouts with a sherry dijon vinaigrette and Shells and Cheese with aged cheddar and a moderate topping of crumbled cheez-its.
The sprouts were savory and smoky all at once. It was a solid dish and a decent sized serving which seemed more plentiful than anticipated so we wisely asked for it to be packed up to take home with us after the show so that we could continue to enjoy what was yet to arrive.
We also opted to bring the mac & cheese home with us as it was quite filling and unique. It’s definitely a dish you want to try again on a different day to make sure that your taste buds weren’t misguided or possibly tainted by alcohol. The cheez-its added a layer of eclecticism to the dish and as strange as it might sound, the combination actually worked! It served as a nice crispy cheesy crust, much like breadcrumbs, on top of a smooth, silky, savory pasta but with a tangier and crunchier texture. It’s true ingenuity stemmed in childhood creature comforts.
As our friends previously mentioned, the dinner entrees were truly a great value. They had quite a few options but we opted for The New Standard which was a shareable platter with 2 short rib, brisket and chuck cheeseburgers and a side of delicious crispy fries. I opted for animal style and was quite happy with how simply it was prepared.
Having consumed a very filling meal, to stay awake during the performance, we ordered a French press coffee which was followed by two very decadent desserts.
We started with the butterscotch which was light and rich at the same time. The maple ice cream with the sprinkles of sweet thyme crumble gave it that a bit of crunch and savoriness.
We also had the dark chocolate cake which looked like a chocolate comet flying off the plate. It came with coffee ice cream and caramel tuile to give us the added boost of caffeine and sugar to keep us alert for the theatre experience.
We were so impressed with the quality and creativity of Wood & Vine’s offering as well as the impeccable service that we booked our next pre-theatre dinner after completing our meal. Our gracious hostess/server/manager, Adriana was kind enough to let us know that Pantages would not allow us to bring our leftovers so she offered to store our sprouts and pasta until after the show. That solidified our loyalty to her and the restaurant.
Once the performance was over, we returned and decided to have a nightcap outside on the patio. It was a very comfortable evening and we could feel a bit of a breeze as we sat and enjoyed our drinks underneath the night sky, listening to the laughter of the large group sitting close around the fire pit. Under the canopy of lights strung between the trees, the patio had quite a romantic glow and was a beautiful and peaceful way to end our evening.
We look forward to many delicious experiences at Wood & Vine in the very near future. It’s a fantastic pre and post-theatre choice as the prices are quite reasonable compared with its neighbors, APL and Katsuya.
Wood & Vine is a neighborhood find in the heart of eclectic and bustling Hollywood and Vine.
Wood & Vine
The Taft Building
6280 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
https://www.woodandvine.com
When one envisions an amazing French dining experience, one might conjure up images of a dimly lit bistro on the Left Bank of the Seine or an outdoor restaurant in Aix-en-Provence sheltered by a canopy of trees or maybe one imagines a life-altering meal at Julia Child’s beloved Le Couronne in Rouen. My husband and I have sampled traditional French fare in the City of Lights and in Marseilles though nothing we ate during our holiday was of particular note. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until our recent vacation to Chiang Mai that we finally understood the rabid excitement and gleeful anticipation most feel about a French dining experience.
La Terrasse was on my short list of non-Thai restaurants up for consideration for a random meal when needing a break from the traditional food of the city. I had seen that it was ranked #41 of restaurants in Chiang Mai on TripAdvisor, and I had visited their website, noting the quaint setting and cozy vibes. I didn’t think we would have the chance to visit but lo and behold, we lucked into having our last meal there before heading to the airport to fly back home.
The restaurant is on a main thoroughfare but is tucked and nestled away, further back down a small alleyway.
The lush arched entrance stood halfway down the alley with the restaurant’s offerings displayed on a long rectangular wooden display case to the right.
Beyond the archway was the outdoor patio with an arched path leading to the front entrance of the restaurant.
We opted to dine inside, sheltered from the heat and humidity.
Once in the restaurant, it felt as if you had been whisked away to France. There was a display case of delicious diet-busting desserts likely baked in butter, full fat milk with artery and gut clogging cheese which obviously indicated their deliciously divine decadence.
The style of the booths, the woodwork, the drapes, chairs and even the photographs and artwork were all reminiscent of the decor of many of the bistros we visited in Paris.
We began by ordering what would be our last drink on holiday and toasting our amazing vacation.
We ordered the tomato basil soup which came in a rustic bowl with crispy thick sourdough croutons on the side. It was rich but not overly thick and the tomato had the subtle hint of basil and cream. The croutons added a bit of crunch and texture.
Next up was the mushroom omelette with fried potatoes browned in duck fat. That was the dish that seemed so incredibly simple but oh so divine and made us understand the simplistic exquisiteness of true French cooking. The omelette was cooked just right with the perfect amount of mushroom and cheese which had fused into each other. The potatoes had fully absorbed the flavor and were extraordinarily crispy and juicy from the duck fat. Combined, the omelette and potatoes were exceptional.
The spaghetti arrived twirled beautifully in a small bowl with a decent dollop of the carbonara sauce atop the pasta and though the sauce was thick it wasn’t too rich or overpowering.
We ended our meal with a moist and juicy grilled salmon which was served with a very creamy large serving of mashed potatoes and a slightly pickled lemon cream herb dipping sauce for the salmon.
The setting, the presentation and the subtle sophisticated delicate balance of the melding of flavors in the simple dishes offered by La Terrasse helped us to finally truly understand and appreciate French cuisine.
Sometimes the path to enlightenment takes you on a few twists and turns and that’s when you realize that it’s all about the journey. Merci beaucoup to La Terrasse for our transformative French dining experience in the heart of Thailand.
La Terrasse: http://www.laterrasse-chiangmai.com
For those in the know, this is not a write-up about a spinoff of the fantastically hilariously funny and witty Amazon series though just like the series it has a throwback, classic feel where you feel the lead character would fit right in with her chic outfits and witty charm. Rather, it is a celebration of a beautiful vibrant restaurant on the outskirts of downtown Culver City which manages to capture the mood and the vibe of the hippest, most popular restaurants and bars of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood with its retro vibe and its 180 view of the city’s skyline.
Del Frisco’s Grille is a lively, contemporary, hip yet understated restaurant which has replaced the longtime resident, Il Fornaio, on the famed Ocean Avenue across the landmark Santa Monica Pier. It has a very different vibe and offering than its predecessor. It’s casual but refined and yet not stuffy. Perhaps it’s because of its close proximity to the beach and pier or because it’s in the heart of Santa Monica’s tourist area which attracts locals and visitors alike so it behooves them to welcome all to their establishment.
Del Frisco was on my new and noteworthy list on Yelp for quite some time but life happened so we ended taking our time to make our first visit and didn’t head over until the last Friday of April. We luckily arrived early and parked in the Santa Monica mall parking lot, saving us the ridiculous valet prices. The Colorado and 2nd Street parking lot is one block away from the restaurant.
When we arrived and checked in with the hostess, we were immediately seated. That was the beginning of our amazing service by the staff throughout the night. We had a server and she had an assistant. They were so on top of things, we wanted for nothing.
We started our evening toasting to the end of the work week with a Chopin martini and a Chopin Moscow mule. Decent sizes and portions and obviously stellar drinks.
For our starter, we ordered the Cheesesteak Eggrolls which were recommended as one of their most popular items. Truth be told, this is one of those dishes that in theory could be interesting but in execution did not work at all. You could taste the crispy eggroll wrapper, along with the meat and the cheese and drizzled on the plate was the sweet and sour sauce but being Asian and having gone to Asia, the flavor combination is not one which would be applauded in any part of that continent. It was trying too hard to be fusion and it was a flop.
The next dish was the iceberg lettuce wedge salad. The lettuce was quite crisp but the bacon wasn’t crispy enough to give it that counter crunch. The dressing was good but overall, it was a forgettable experience. Nothing about it stood out.
I ordered the baby back ribs for dinner. The ribs were tender but sadly I have to compare it to Hillstone/Houstons fork tender ribs and these didn’t surpass the former. They were good but not the best. My initial order of Parmesan fries were a dud. There was no seasoning at all on the fries. They weren’t crispy and the Parmesan cheese were just sitting on top. One of the managers came by and I expressed my disappointment so she went into the kitchen and ordered me a fresh batch with a side of truffle oil and the do-over was 10 times better.
My husband ordered the filet trio from the Spring menu. The steak was quite tender.
He ordered the truffle macaroni and cheese as his side dish which was decadent and exemplary. The cheese and truffle soaked through the pasta and the entirety of that dish which made it incredibly rich.
To top off the evening, we ordered the peanut butter chocolate pie which was perfection. It was not sweet but had the gooey texture that only a peanut butter, chocolate combo could create.
Of everything we ate, we would definitely order the truffle mac & cheese again as well as the dessert. Next time, we would likely scale back and try some of the burgers which are a little less expensive and more popular option on their menu.
Our dinner set us back $97 each with tax and tip but truthfully, the quality of the food tasted like it should have cost $65 though admittedly the service was top notch. We will keep all in mind going forward and order accordingly.
Del Frisco’s Grille
1551 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
When we decide to dine out for dinner, we want to experience a different environment, people watch and/or treat ourselves for enduring and surviving yet another busy, arduous workweek. I judge a restaurant not just by the quality of the food but also equally on its service. Tonight’s food was delicious and very reasonably priced so that is what this review will focus on because of the manager, Jose, who intervened after I had come barreling into the kitchen screaming, agitated, asking for our food, because it took 25 minutes to get our drink orders, 10 minutes to get the lid to our coconut shrimp sauce which we were taking home with our leftover shrimp and 30 minutes after ordering to receive our salad and 2 entrees.
What we chose to remember from our evening was the part that was enjoyable and memorable and the reason we made the trek to the beach. Santa Monica and the Pier, to be exact, have had a special place in my heart since I was a kid. My dad had a job in Santa Monica so on weekends, he would make the trek from West Covina to Santa Monica to show me some of the places he discovered. The pier was one of those places that was magical for me then and now. Despite the mass crowds, especially over the summer, it’s a happy place, where one can feel like a child, feel like you’re on vacation and be whisked away from all your grown-up worries.
I somehow came upon Seaside on the Pier on the Santa Monica website. I looked at their menu which was very reasonably priced and decided to book a table on Open Table. I knew we were going to run a few minutes late so we tried to call on the road but nobody answered. In the midst of the crazy traffic on Ocean Avenue, I let my husband out so we wouldn’t be late for our 7:30 reservation and I went on the hunt for parking. After I found a lot, I walked with the crowd of tourists from Germany, Russia and other countless visitors from other countries venturing to the famous pier.
Luckily, the restaurant wasn’t too far from the entrance and I headed up the stairs to the restaurant where my husband was seated on the second floor, in the outside patio by a heat lamp. It was great seeing people on the pier, from all walks of life, seeing kids, dogs, teens wearing shorts, sweatshirts and flip flops, everybody on their own journey and different paths.
The first to arrive were the coconut shrimp. They were piping hot and needed a few minutes to cool off so they could be eaten. The batter was tight and stuck to the shrimp. They were perfectly crisp on the outside and the shrimp was meaty. It’s sweet and sour sauce was a nice accompaniment.
The next batch of food was the chicken Caesar, the seafood pasta and the grilled salmon. The winner of the evening was the pasta dish. There were lots of chunks of seafood and the Alfredo sauce had a bit of heat to it. The salmon was also quite good, perfectly grilled and lightly seasoned with a side of tasty cilantro rice and mixed green beans. The chicken Caesar salad with chicken was good but of all the dishes, could probably be skipped on our next venture.
Jose took us on the rooftop which has a fantastic view of the Ferris wheel, the pier and the ocean. I think once the kitchen staff, the servers and the host tighten up, this place will be a force to be reckoned with as the view is sensational. Yes, it’s located in a very touristy area but it doesn’t have offensive tourist trap prices and the food is actually quite good. Seaside on the Pier is on my Must Watch list.
Seaside on the Pier
250 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Grace Gambin
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