BRÜ HAUS, Los Angeles

BRÜ HAUS, cool little crowded gastropub on Wilshire Blvd.  Easy to get into, AND they serve really cool food.   As for food, they had a variety of exotic sausages. Unfortunately they were out of stock on a lot of them. My first choice was the habanero tequila chicken, but I had to settle with the duck and somethingerother.  I definitely want to go back and try the other cool stuff that they had.  The great thing is, if you’re not too thrilled about it, instead of driving somewhere else, you can always just go next door in either direction where bar hopping in LA is actually doable!

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What Kind of Burger Are You?

Fatburger

www.fatburger.com

I was on my way to my favorite burger joint (In N Out), then got persuaded to try something different. It had been a while since I’d been to Fatburger and so I figured I’d go.  I actually really liked it, except I forgot to ask them not to put relish. I don’t like that stuff. I think the most exciting thing was that they had a soda machine with like a million flavors, like Peach Sprite, and Cherry & Lime Lemonade.  The burgers are good too. Real meaty. Real Tasty. Oh and if you’re trying to watch your carb intake, they’ve got a salad version as their “lettuce wrap.”  I guess the advantage of going here as opposed to In N Out  is that you have more options of what you want on your burger like bacon, eggs, mayo, relish, etc., plus their burgers patties are bigger too, of course, their prices are a tad higher.  Still, its good to switch it up sometimes.  What do you think, are you an In N Out fan, or do you prefer other meatier burgers over the taste of In N Out?

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Guido’s Ristorante, Santa Monica

I went to this place on recommendation.  We ordered the Ravioli Di Aragosta and Eggplant Parmigana.  I liked the Eggplant Parmigana because it had a good amount of melted cheese on top, but overall was not very flavorful.  The Ravioli Di Aragosta is their homemade ravioli with stuffed lobster in a champagne cream sauce.  That type of dish is just so much for one person to take in because it’s just so heavy.  So between the two of us, we split the eggplant and ravioli and still had some left over.  I must say that others told us that this was a really great place to go to, but honestly I wasn’t all too impressed.  The atmosphere was a little dark and somewhat old school Italian mobsterish, but I guess it’s cool if you’re into that!

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The Penthouse @ The Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica

This next restaurant/lounge is a super fun place to go and one of my favorites in Santa Monica.  I find myself going here quite often because it suits every occasion, whether it be just to get drinks with friends, or celebrate a birthday. But the best feature of The Penthouse is the absolutely GORGEOUS decor.  Overlooking the ocean, it is THE perfect place to go to early in the day for brunch or late enough to catch the sunset and breathtaking views.  The nightlife alone gives it a different feel. We ordered a cabana, had a beautiful dinner, and followed the music to the dance floor.  I ordered the New Zealand Snapper that comes with potato gnocchi and steamed clams.  I have to admit, it was very light and delicate. The fish had a slightly crispy exterior but coated in a delicious white wine and garlic sauce.  The gnocchi was made to perfection.  Of course, the servings are rather small. But if you want the best bang for your buck, order the crab cakes. They’re the best. Everything was of excellent quality. Oh, and apparently I got a little overzealous when they brought my food because I forgot to take a picture of it! Doh!

Braised Short Rib

Brick Pressed Jidori Chicken

Crab Cakes

Cauliflower Gratin

Strozzapreti

Happy Birthday Crissy!

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South, Santa Monica

Having a lovely time with the ladies of National Ladies Professional Group @ the sports bar South in Santa Monica. There are mixed reviews of this place, mainly because of the service and the fact that it gets too crowded.  However, I went on a Sunday so parking was easy to find and it was not crowded at all. Not to mention, we had our own little private room.  The food looked good and was reasonably priced.  I wasn’t too hungry so I just ordered chicken wings.  If you’re looking for a casual place to catch a game and order some appetizers, then it’s a go!

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Monster Thai, Sherman Oaks

Was running around, doing errands, getting a car wash, ya know…and came across this tiny little Thai restaurant.  I’m obsessed with Thai soups and this one was da bomb!  Also ordered Thai iced tea, beef & broccoli, and Pad Thai (a classic). If you don’t like peanuts, be sure to let them know when you place your order or else they’ll add it to practically everything! I like that they didn’t use too much oil. Overall, I felt the quality was really good especially in comparison to the price. Actually, now that I’m looking at the pictures, I know what I don’t like about this place. I didn’t like how the broccoli wasn’t covered in the sauce.  I like my food really saucy but, like I said, this was more on the healthier side.  By the way, this was enough to feed two people with a little left over as well.

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Bay Cities Deli, Santa Monica

If you asked me what my favorite sandwich place is, I’d only have one answer: Bay Cities Deli.  If you’ve never been, can I just say that YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!! It is absolutely THE BEST sandwich I’ve EVER HAD!!!  Located near the beach, on Lincoln and Santa Monica Blvd, makes this a perfect spot to hang out at on the weekend.  Basically, its an Italian deli that is packed with people, ALL THE TIME.  Every single time I’ve gone, there has always been a long line…because it’s THAT good.  Take a number and look over the menu so that you’re prepared with your order by the time they call your number.  I usually order and split a large God Mother and a Turkey sandwhich, spicy, and ask for “the works.” The best part is that they bake their own bread and load it with meat! Most large sandwiches run around $8.  Ughh, it’s so good I can’t wait to go back!

Freshly Baked Bread

The Godmother

Turkey

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Cafe Bizou, Sherman Oaks

I just went here to grab a glass of wine and dessert and ended up loving it!! I cannot wait to go here for dinner. This is a great place to go with a date that you want to get cozy with because you will by the end of the night!   The dessert I ordered was the chocolate and raspberry flourless cake.  Delish. But, there’s more to come!

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