Aside from Santa Monica, whose cuisine I praised last week, we had several note worthy meals in LA proper. The shining star would have to be Little Door, a semi al fresco paradise of antique mirrors, intertwining trees, vibrant flowers, impeccable service, and wonderful food. It's a special occasion place with a memorable Mediterranean menu. I had a great Braised Alaskan Halibut with Bouillabaisse Broth and Aioli Sauce.
We were also quite impressed with breakfast at Toast, a restaurant we had read mixed reviews and complaints about “sceneiness” but found the ten minute wait to be completely worth it. The menu is vast and diverse and we all had trouble deciding between several yummy sounding options. I landed on a mild shakshuka that was served with fresh flour tortillas and a refreshing glass of fresh grapefruit juice.
This week's drink pick, our lovely Avalon hotel also offered many quick, easy and tasty meals throughout our trip. I highly recommend the mushroom omelet and the smoked salmon, though service can be a bit spotty depending on the day and time. Still, there's little to complain about when you can grab convenient and good food in the setting of a pool side cabana.
For my Mexican fix, I went to Casita del Campo a relaxed favorite of my friend who is now an LA local. It's a dark, old school kind of place and while their appetizers (flimsy salads and weird meatball soups) are not the grandest, their entrees – a garlic grilled shrimp in particular are more impressive.
See photos here.
But what do you think?