PLAYA 7360 Beverly Boulevard / Los Angeles  / (323) 933-5300

Located just down the street from the landmark (and one of the worst) Mexican restaurants in town—El Coyote—this new addition to the Beverly Boulevard scene is the proud sister to Downtown’s Rivera. This just may be another example of wanting to date the little sister instead.

Enter into a giant loft like space that is both hip and yet warm in its display. Floor to ceiling backlit bottles anchor the bar, which opens into a room of tabletops, long community slabs, and banquettes. The floors are pentagon shaped painted tiles, trimmed by hardwood on the sides. Add in whimsical chandeliers that look like fantastical wigs that would make any drag queen jealous, and you’ve got a great neighborhood eatery.

Unlike so many new restaurants, there’s no pretense here. We were greeted warmly each of the three times we arrived, and by the fourth visit, the gorgeous Christine was kissing us hello, while Will, one of the terrific servers, offered us a welcoming handshake. Serving dinners every night, and brunch on the weekends, it’s a tough job for the Duo to recommend one experience over the other since they were both winning events.

 The dinner menu is interesting and unique, reminiscent of their downtown Rivera, but with its own twist and emphasis on casual, not fussy presentation. Thank god the head “bartender”, Julian Wayser, calls himself just that, and didn’t utilize the inflated “mixologist” (please, is this science, or is this dinner?). 

The bar is a happening (and very pretty) scene, so make sure to let him serve you one of his myriad concoctions. Our favorite was the one he called “Chinese Democracy”; how could it not be with a name like that? Picture yourself in the hot and sultry South-East Asia, a monsoonal shower is banging against the tin roof of your beach cottage, and there you watch a heron leaving footprints down a warm, sandy beach, while you sip on London Dry, Arrack lime, jack fruit, gomme and micro amaranth. 

We don’t know what it all is, but for only $12, you’re transported, and it delivers a sneaky punch as well.

Most everything is tapas with a salute to some Latin country somewhere in the world.  The flavors are like fireworks in your mouth, and there wasn’t anything we didn’t enjoy.  We started our eating fest with corn flour tortillas that were delivered to our table piping hot, hand made by the bar-side Latina, and imbedded with rose petals to set a beautiful beginning. 

The gazpacho dish called “Fission” is a must try, loaded with habanero peppers (wow, hot & tasty) scallops, shrimp, laced with Spanish extra virgin olive oil (the Spanish olive oil is the healthiest in the world due to the trees’ location, soil and weather conditions), micro herbs and topped with a slice of watermelon—so good and only $7 bucks.

We tried the Enselada Flan de Elote, which was fresh corn custard, queso cotija squash blossom sauce and black quinoa (not a rice, not a grain, but a small sort of cous cous that is being touted as the healthiest to consume). Healthy or not, the dish was great tasting. Who thinks of these things? 

Chef John Sedlar does, in fact. He’s North American, but he was raised with his Latina mother and grandparents. Chef had previously owned Bikini and then promoted Patron Tequila around the globe, but now he’s cooking at Rivera and Playa, the latter of which opened its doors February 11, 2011. If you ask around, he is renowned as “the Father of Southwest cuisine”, an infusion of all Latin cuisine, and after a few bites, we can understand why.

If you want something hearty, try the tapa Arepas Cacas, which are Venezuelan corncakes used like hamburger buns around Mexican shrimp, mango, cotija cheese and lathered with a mojito dressing ($11.00). The maize cake salsa samilla ($11.00) served with fresh burrata, salsa verde, arugula salad, amaranth and sal de Colima proved to be refreshing and light. Michael loved the “muscles melt down” (while Scott loved the muscle melt down of bar back Preston), 

a combo of vapor cooked muscles, charred tomatillo Serrano, salsa, avocado, lime and crema ($13). There were a half dozen of them, enough muscles to keep anyone in West Hollywood happy for the night, and they were very spicy and very flavorful accompanied with a superb broth.

Don’t think of this place as “fine dining” or elaborate, the food is rustic and very reasonably priced, which we like. 

The plates are fun, often times decorated with political and satirical fancy, and even the names of some of the dishes are unique. We just had to sample the Maize Cake Jewish, only to discover that it was smoked salmon, crème fraiche, Bermuda onions, caper berry and lime ($12); and yes, you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy this one, but it sure helps. 

The pan seared Loup de Mer was one of Scott’s favorite dishes of the evening. A sea bass filet served on a square plate and accompanied by five vibrant streaks of different sauces (chimichurri, ahi pinca, salsa verde, ahi romesco and ahi Amarillo....if any of that means something to you other than “terrific flavors”), it proved to be tender, fresh and bursting with tangs and zests.  It was also a beautiful dish at which to look, and well worth the $28. 

Full? Keep going with the unusual and particularly yummy Thai Tamalli, which was a tremendous combination of fresh corn masa, shrimp, basil, mint, slantro, lemon grass,Thai chili, ginger garlic salsa that resulted in a superlative blend of savors and spices.

Leave room for the desserts; they should not be overlooked. The outrageous, Patel Cafe, came as a breathtaking display of everything chocolate, comprised of pastel café, mocha sponge, espresso crème, toffee honeycomb and Colombian chocolate ice cream ($10). We can’t say enough about this dessert and it was worth every single unfathomable calorie. 

The Coconut dessert was a coconut and pineapple bread pudding with roasted pineapples, papaya and the best, creamiest coconut sorbet we’ve ever tasted ($9). We’re drooling all over again just writing about it.

We don’t like spending weekends inside and yet the lighting here is so nice and open that you don’t feel like you’re indoors. We also want something “sweet” on the weekends, and boy do they have this and more (and we’re not just talking about Preston and Christine).

Almost as soon as you are seated,a basket of hot almond flavored blue corn muffins are rushed to the table and quite frankly, this and an espresso would have been enough to keep us happy all day.  There are too many great items to mention, but there were three standouts for us. 

The Waffles de Jalapenos Confitados ($13), are contemptible. Who would have thought that waffles with Jalapeno peppers would have made for a good taste-treat, but trust us they do (order it with a side of thick-cut smoky bacon that will easily make you forget about your impending heart attack). 

The Panqueques (pancakes) are like some alien (no pun intended) form of pancake we’ve never before experienced ($12). The thin cakes are layered with a nutty chocolate, and bite after bite delivers a sweetness that is truly incomparable.   

Lastly, the Eggs Benedict are a Latin take on this age-old dish with chipotle bernaise ($13), and the result is stupendous.

Thursday through Saturday are the most popular and fun nights, so make sure to reserve ahead. Brunch is still relatively unknown, so you can enjoy a nice afternoon in a bright, airy space without having to wait in line just to get inside. Do yourself a favor and come to Playa, come hungry, and leave happy. We did all of the above, and we’re glad we did.

Appetizingly Yours,

Michael and Scott

The Dining Duo

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Following is a list of experiences that either made our day, or caused us to cringe. We welcome your stories and will post them if they're interesting or particularly nasty! Please email them to us at: FabDiningDuo@aol.com

MAGNOLIA -- Hollywood
(Not a "Loser", but a great "save" by the restaurant)

When Michael called at 3pm to change our reservation from 6:00 to 7:00pm, the hostess answering the phone put him on hold for five minutes (then she claimed it was lunch rush-hour) and then was rude to him, hanging up in the end without saying goodbye. It left such a bad taste in our mouths (pun intended) that we decided to forego eating there and went to the restaurant next door. On the way inside, Scott spotted what looked like "managerial" type folks setting the tables at Magnolia. He stopped and told them what had happened, and why we chose to eat elsewhere that night. They were owners Laurie and Ron, and they were horrified at the treatment we received at the hands of an inept hostess. They were so apologetic that Scott felt badly for even telling them what had transpired. They both insisted that we come back for dinner on them (they didn't know we wrote reviews). If that wasn't enough, when we finished dinner at the restaurant next door, we asked for the check and was told by the waiter that Laurie and Ron had picked it up as an apology for what had occured!

We say: "Class Act"! We'll be back to Magnolia and suggest you go too....................!


COUPA CAFE -- Beverly Hills
(a DEFINITE Loser!)

Oh my gawd....Nothing says crap like coupe catastrophe. If it's not bad enough that the food is marginal, when the restaurant made yet another mistake on our food order, the Venezualian owner suggested that we try some of their deserts: "Do you like chocolate?" he suggested. We love chocolate, and so he sent over 3 chocolate deserts (very mediocre, by the way). When the bill came, all three were on the bill. When we informed the server that we didn't order the deserts and that it was a mistake, the owner came over and started screaming at us (and our very pretty lady guest). He said that he doesn't give away free food and that we were not welcome to come back (but our very pretty lady guest was).
We say, "Send it back"! And were not alone. You can blow a cannon through this canon restaurant without hitting anyone and now we know why!

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*(Mozza is not average!)

www.mozza-la.com
6602 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 297-0100

You, our faithful reader, know that The Duo is always reviewing the newest hot spot. Even though there has been so much written about one of our favorite LA haunt’s, Pizzeria Mozza, we’re here to bring you news hotter than a wood-burning pizza oven: within a few short weeks, you will no longer have to stand in line to munch on the crackling crust to die for. Finally you’ll be able to get this extraordinary pizza to take home at, “Mozza2Go”, which is opening right next door the Osteria.

As you probably know, there is no accommodation at the present venue to provide for take out food. So this is great news for everyone wanting to sabotage his or her diets. In addition to obtaining a quick fix for your pizza habit, the new space will also serve as a private cooking school for you alone with the master of all things pizza, or for up to thirty of your most intimate friends.

The restaurant décor itself is nothing mesmerizing, but it serves as the tableau for an extraordinary selection of palette-pleasing pizzas and much, much more. It’s a simple, large room with high ceilings and a long bar stretching along two of the sidewalls. It’s dark ruby walls, wood floors, wood tables and simple hanging lights provide a din over which you’ll have to speak loudly, or simply replace the conversation with stuffing your face.

The Dining Duo has never walked out of Mozza hungry or dissatisfied. We would venture to say this is the best pizza that we have ever sunk our perfectly bleached teeth into. We owe this to the genius chefs Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery fame, and Mario Batali of Del Posto in NYC and B & B Ristoranti in Las Vegas. Between the La Brea Bakery incomparable dough and the simple but perennially fresh fare and spices (all from farmers’ markets), the taste sensations of everything we order is superb.

Our favorite is the house made Fennel Sausage, peppered with red onions and scallions at $15. Our modus operandi is to always order an appetizer and two pizzas. We highly recommend the Fried Squash Blossoms oozing with fresh ricotta ($8), which are lightly fried and served piping hot so the cheese melts in your mouth as the flavors devour your taste buds. Scott is not a meat eater but savors the sauce of the Meatballs al Forno ($12). In that dish, there are three balls (the oddity of such not lost on us) that are spiced just right and served with, once again that fabulous La Brea bread, and accompanied by lots of marinara sauce. We are both corn eaters and the Corn al forno ($8) is a corn on the cob sensation that is served golden brown in spots, which we love. There are three pieces that arrive piping hot at your table by very friendly runners. Speaking of friendly, Pilar, our waitress was nice, pretty and spoke with a slight lisp that was either from eating hot pizza sauce, or hailing from Spain.

If it’s the season (only a couple of months a year), try the Ramps, guanciale with English Peas and panna pizza ($18), a leek and scallion combination, albeit overly salty, is an opportunity to try something unique and usually unavailable. All of this good cookin’ can be accompanied by a wine list that is extremely unique, composed of 50 wines under $50. Chris Miller, the wine director, will suggest something perfect for your wine palette.

The desserts looked yummy, but who ever has room after stuffing yourself full of everything and anything on the menu. Of note is the caramel copetta with marshmallow sauce and salted Spanish Peanuts ($9). Then waddle back to your car (park on the street and avoid the expensive valet parking) and wish that you were Karen Carpenter.

The Dining Duo’s Note: There are no food pictures for this piece because we were asked by the staff not to use a camera in the restaurant.

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The Kress
6608 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 785-5000
Hours: Sun, Tues, Wed 5 - 10 pm, Thu-Sat 5 - 11 pm

The Dining Duo has never been much for old Hollywood. The traffic is bad, the streets are dirty and crowded, and the homeless and hucksters are plentiful; but every now and then we are proven wrong, and The Kress takes full credit for us eating our hats, seasoned and cooked to perfection, of course.

Like a mirage, the moment you open the door to this palace of a restaurant, it is clear that you’ve arrived into something special. The main dining room is cavernous (seating 175), yet richly warm, if not exotic. It is framed by a gigantic Asian-inspired chandelier that looks like an upside-down cake and seems to be back-lit by red neon. Our eyes took in the giant golden booths that afford a sense of privacy, as well as the comfy banquettes and tables. Above, the intricately wood carved ceilings were itself a thing of beauty and painstakingly restored to its 1930s splendor; and this was only the dining room. After spending nearly 30 million dollars on dolling up the old Kress department store (which was more recently, Fredericks of Hollywood), the San Diego based visionaries created a 38,000 square foot, 5 floor city exotica offering the beautiful people everything from affordable fabulous dining, to a giant curved sushi bar overlooking the main room, to hob-knobbing with the likes of LL Cool J, The Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, and more.

Now back to the food, and it was terrific. After being seated in one of those giant gold round booths by a gorgeous girl, the equally gorgeous Nate rushed us water, while the well-trained and informed (and cute) Mathew came right to our aid with food suggestions. Chef Travis Kamiyama has taken over the business and menu planning aspects, and after opening a host of restaurants since he was 14, it shows. Chef loves bringing people of all varieties together and bridging the gap through food, and he’s reduced the original prices to do so.


The Chef is Japanese born and American raised, and his food is Asian-inspired, reflecting elements of Korean, Chinese, Japanese and other Southeast Asian locales. The highlights are the sushi, wok items and the grill. He uses only the finest blue-finned tuna, the king of all tunas, selecting those nearly translucent fishes originating from Spain, Malta and Croatia. The Blue-eyed tuna is from Hawaii, and the meat of the fish we experienced was super red, not showing a lot of fat. The Lobster hails from the North Atlantic coast, and the Kompachi is from Japan. No scrimping here.


Reflecting an “Eo Mae” style from Tokyo, none of the dishes we tasted were overly sauced like many restaurants we’ve experienced as of late. Even the rice served is freshly milled right at the restaurant, ensuring freshness and quality of taste.


The standout were so many but don’t miss the Lamb Chops with some caramelized onions at $22, which Scott particularly enjoyed.
Michael loved the Kobe Beef (American, but tasted close to Japanese) at $39 in a red wine reduction sauce. The Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll gives Katsu ya and every other sushi restaurant in town a run for their money at $18, it was fresh and delicately prepared. The daily fish inspiration, sea bass, was indeed inspired in its ultimate freshness and its light flavor ($24).
We weren’t crazy about the chocolate dessert we tasted, but the plate of five Crème Brulees in sake cups
more than made up for it. Each one had its own unique flavors, ranging from vanilla to peanut butter, and it was out of this world. Hard to believe we had room after the eat-a-thon to devour desert, but it was well worth the calories and the price at $8. We’re anxious to go back and try their warm Banana Split ($23).

For something unique and European, as well as Eastern, this is the place. Come for the food, take in the fabulous décor, drool over the people and spend the night wandering the building—downstairs to the Kress basement nightclub, upstairs to the happening rooftop bar that’s bubbling with energy and raging hormones. Just don’t valet park your car, or it could set you back $20 bucks. Never mind, we parked on the street.

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Cube
615 North La Brea Av
LA 90036
323 939 1148

11 AM-10 PM Mon- Fri
11 AM-11 PM Sat

The Scene: Cheese bar with tables
Cuisine: home made pasta
Must Try: Lamb Sausage Lasagna
Star Rating: 1.50
Average Cost: Entrees $10 to $17


Cube is definitely not the place to eat if you’re rushing. With delicious food as a lure, getting past the tenuous “service” is a challenge, but doesn’t seem to stop a young crowd from coming.

On a tired parcel of La Brea south of Melrose, this “cheese bar” reminds us of a European deli for takeout goods, and perhaps a place to rest your feet. The atmosphere is minimal and sports only a half a dozen simple wood tables inside, with an equal amount of metal tables outside.

Cube doesn’t serve liquor, but they encourage you to bring wine with no corking fee, a welcome touch. Of course, that means you actually have to wait for a server to open it, which might happen sometime before Christmas. We had to wait for napkins, cutlery and water (order bottled water as their tap is not filtered and tastes it). As long as The Dining Duo is griping, aren’t you tired of a darkened restaurant and being handed a menu with miniscule writing on it? Cube’s printing is so small that you might as well just ask the waiter (if you can find him) what he recommends.



Start with a flight of cheeses. Cube boasts a giant selection, and we were not disappointed. Just tell your waiter whether you like sharp, pungent, or mild, and enjoy the surprise that’s delivered. We did, especially when it was served on a chalk board with each name written by it.

After the intolerably long wait for our main courses (Scott went into the kitchen to secure napkins for us, which apparently didn’t bother the waiters), we were delighted to sample some of the delicious items on the menu. Pasta is a specialty; as they are owned by the Divine Pasta Company. The spicy lamb sausage ground with béchamel sauce and lasagna proved to be the highlight of the evening, with such a special blend of spices that its low price of $13.95 proved extraordinary. Aaron Eastland, the chef from Cube—formerly from New York—also excels on the home made goat cheese ravioli sprinkled with eggplant ($12.95). Try the roasted garlic pesto pizza, fired over wood; Although the latter was heavy on garlic, it was accompanied by walnuts and gorgonzola. Also worth tasting is the Spicy Italian Sausage at $14.95, which reminded Michael of New York’s little Italy.

Unfortunately, as good as the main course and appetizers proved, the desserts were disappointing. The bread pudding (again, delivery was pathetically slow) was bland and uneventful, and expensive at $7.95.

When asked if we would return, The Dining Duo said, “Yes, if we were in the neighborhood, but only if we brought sleeping bags for breakfast.”

Michael & Scottie

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Red Pearl Kitchen
6703 Melrose Ave

The Scene: Metrosexual Hot
Cuisine: Pan Asian Fusion
Must Try: Close your eyes and point to a menu item
Star Rating: 3
Average Cost: Prix fixe is the best option $45-$75


Only in L.A. can you eat dinner with gorgeous people all around you, AND be in a reality show at the same time. “The Hills” was filming at the table next to us, and we couldn’t decide who was more beautiful, the women or the men.

The Dining Duo enjoyed an Asian feast each time at the new, happening and hopping Red Pearl Kitchen. At the site of the old Alex & Citrus, just west of Highland, the only thing that remains the same is the odd floor. You hardly notice it once you walk past the attractive valet girls and through large exotic carved wood doors, it feels as though you’ve entered a South-East Asian opium den of another century. There’s a separate bar and lounge area, and the restaurant is a giant room filled with lanterns, warm creamy booths and dark teak wood tables.

The crowd is definitely young and pretty, and very metrosexual; the wait staff matched the look. That always makes eating a little more fun. Yet if you strip away the appealing façade, you’re still left with great service and dynamite food prepared by the Thai chef, Ped, who brings the influences of his homeland and those around him to each and every dish. The tasting menu, which the chef creates on the spot, is the best way to dine, and even though one half of the Dining Duo is a bit of a control freak (guess which one), we relented and ate so many interesting and tasty dishes that we just about burst ($45 or $75 per person).

For some of the highlights start with Dim Sum; the Ribs simmered in strawberries and cinnamon ($9) were a taste sensation and the Teriyaki glazed chicken ($9) put a whole new spin on an Asian staple. The use of exotic spices made the Udon Noodles smothered with a generous amount of duck and yellow curry sensational ($11). Chef Ped is big on shrimp, and every variation we tried was superb. Try the Black pepper and caramel shrimp ($16) and see what we mean. The chicken and mango fried rice, laced with basil, ($10) was outdone only by the Udon noodles simmered in bacon, smoky miso and topped with a fried egg ($12).

In true orgasmic style, even the desserts are called “happy endings”, and they were; don’t miss the Vietnamese Coffee Sundae which just about made us have our own happy endings ($6). Hang on to your receipt because if you come back the following Monday, regardless of how many folks you bring, the eats are half price on everything.

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The Hungry Cat
1555 N Vine St
Hollywood, CA 90028
3234622155

2.5 stars

Ambience: Urban casual
Must try: The Pug burger & Crab Soup
Price: Entrees range from $8 to $22
Scene: In and out kinda place


“The kitchen’s small, but the food’s good” – Charlie, the Waiter.

And so set the tone for our dinner. You won’t go hungry at the Hungry Cat…but where in this urban casual venue was the cat? The industrial setting felt like we were eating in a small noisy factory, including exposed insulation and wiring. The tables are on top of each other, so forget privacy, and if you want your food served at the same time as your guests…well, there’s that small kitchen problem, so forget about that.

Our adorable straight-but-not-narrow waiter welcomed us with gusto, explaining the menu at this new spot in the Sunset & Vine complex (parking’s a bitch, so go for the lot around back). We had heard wonderful things about the Cat, but found only some of them well founded.

Michael compensated for the atmosphere with one of the best Greyhounds. There aren’t appetizers at this restaurant, so we tried some small dishes to start, like the Peel N’ Eat Shrimp with a tasty sauce; we chose to have them pre-peeled, which they did for $16 per half-pound. The Crab soup “Cambridge Style” is unique, loaded with crab, quite spicy, and very flavorful. The price of $8 was reasonable as the portion was large enough to split with a friend. Another starter dish was the assorted cheese platter with honey and walnuts, weighing in at $14. The cheeses were flavorsome, although not remarkable; but the honey and walnuts were perfect for Scott’s insatiable sweet tooth.

Michael couldn’t resist the huge Pug burger, served loaded with smoked bacon and a generous amount of avocado and smothered with blue cheese, delivered perfectly prepared at the requested medium rare. The lobster roll at $22 was a bit pricey for the duo, yet full of flavor; but not better than City Bakery’s lobster which, even at Brentwood’s prices, rolled in at $12. Both were accompanied with a sensational gigantic mound of crispy, thin “Longely” French fries.

The Hungry Cat is not big on variety (remember, it’s the “small kitchen” issue, which shouldn’t really be imposed on the customers) and so if you’re jonesing for something sweet and lip-smacking, your choices are narrowed to only one; well, two, if you count Charlie the waiter. That said, it was pretty sensational, composed of a mixture of chocolate bread and butter pudding a la alloro, and served in a large bowl for $8.

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VICTOR’S
1915 North Bronson Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90068
323-464-0276

Moving eastward, Victor’s Square, is in a mini mall, at the corner of Franklin & Bronson, not far from Home Depot, another favorite hot spot of Scott’s. This is fabulous deli-type restaurant, which has a very simple exterior and interior, with extraordinarily delicious food. Owned by Bill Gotti (yes, from the family, but please don’t ask about his gorgeous Reality T.V. star grand- nephews), he knows how to prepare food like Scott’s Italian grandmother, if only he had one who hailed from that country. Bill’s pastas, many of which are home made, are as good as most of the high-end restaurants in this city. One of my personal favorites (although be prepared to drink plenty of water), is the Pasta Jalisco which is made with Cuervo gold Tequila and jalepenos. The tastes are indescribable, unbelievably spicy and even at $20, we find it a bargain. Beware; this spicy HOT dish is not for the faint of heart. Bill’s meats are all cooked on the premises and his sandwiches, available in many combos, are “multi perfecto”!

This is a restaurant where we could eat three meals a day. The breakfast is always wonderful: we love their Eggs Benedict and vast array of omelettes. There is, of course, fresh juice and everything else one would expect with a fresh breakfast.

The dish that screams as being the best in the world is Bill’s Calimari. If you are a calamari lover, we dare you to compare this to anything else out there. Bill tells us part of his secret is in the use of the “thin wall” recipe, and then it is cleaned and battered on the premises. Thin walled is the remaining outer lining of the squid after it is cleaned. Honestly, we have NEVER tasted better and his cocktail sauce is the perfect combo of tomato and spices.

Bill also has a wonderfully extensive wine list by the glass and a wide variety of cheeses to accompany it; in fact, you could just relax, have a fine glass of wine, some pate and cheese, and walk away satiated. Ask about their monthly wine dinners, which are a wonderful way to gain knowledge and get acquainted with a particular genre of wines, which is how Michael met Bill about 26 years ago.

And although one would not call this great eatery fancy, we can assure you there are plenty of Hollywood types that hang out here. Someone we all know was enjoying a boisterous birthday party for herself at the table beside us when one night we just “dropped in”!

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