LGB - Los Angeles - South Bay/Long Beach/Central LA - L' Opera - terrific Italian spot near the convention center / Pine Ave.
LGB - Los Angeles - South Bay/Long Beach/Central LA - Madison - very good American in stunning former bank building with 30 ft ceilings near the convention center / Pine Ave.
LGB - Los Angeles - South Bay/Long Beach/Central LA - Lashers - interesting restaurant in former private home - try the fried green tomatoes in spicy Cajun sauce with andouille sausage
On this trip it has become so obvious to me that in some cities terrific restaurants are part of iDine whereas in some towns it is just the bad or mediocre places
It's out of the city, but the food is good, and more importantly, they sell discounted movie tickets for the Showcase Cinemas next door at $7 a ticket! (No expiration date for the tickets, no blackout movies, cash only). If you have a car, it's certainly worth a drive to the suburbs for an inexpensive dinner and discounted tickets. It's not fine dining, but it's a great deal.
LGB - Los Angeles - South Bay/Long Beach/Central LA - Madison - very good American in stunning former bank building with 30 ft ceilings near the convention center / Pine Ave.
I want to say I've been there ... something about a tray full of spilled drinks rings a bell ... or was that somewhere else in LGB?
Excellent food, great for a business lunch. Valet Parking, 100% smoke free. Patio for outdoor dining available. Decent wine list with 4, 6, or 8oz. glasses
I've found a new favorite!
Just went to Hanabi (located in Brentwood, TN) , a new addition to the iDine family, and the food was great! I'll be honest, being from DC, I didn't think folks in Nashville knew how to do sushi but -wow- the place was busy and the food was top notch. I was really impressed!
One of my clients, and fellow iDiner, recommended this place and so we went there for lunch. Later that night, I went there for dinner too - like I said, I was impressed. Just so you know, it's kind of confusing to get to since it's in an office park.
For lunch, I tried 3 rolls - Caterpillar (presentation was excellent), Dragon and Bull's Eye (you'll love this if you like sushi AND fried foods). This was a lot of food. Have them bring out the rolls as they are made instead of bringing all the food out at once.
For dinner, I had some nigiri (very fresh) and the pork katsu (unbelievably tender and juicy). If you go there for dinner and are a dessert person, you will die and go to heaven when you try their tempura fried ice cream. I'm salivating just thinking about it.
I found this on the internet about them. Apparently, it is one of Nashville's top 10 favorite restaurants according to this food critic: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....=2007706220367). Just in case the link doesn't work in the future, this is what Jim Myers, the local food critic had to say:
Hanabi Japanese Restaurant
214 Ward Circle, Brentwood, TN
Great sushi anchors this gem deeply hidden in the folds of Maryland Farms, but the native specialties such as unctuous hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail cheeks), and chawan mushi (a savory baked custard) mark it as truly authentic. The fact that it's a haunt for Japanese business types relocated to our automotive corridor attests to its quality.
Last edited by fried.food.is.good; Jul 4, 07 at 6:56 pm.
Reason: fixed spelling errors
Location: Lost in the endless suburbia that is Los Angeles. FT member #71.
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While I would not define it as great, a very above average casual Italian chain in Greater - Los Angeles, is Spumoni. Visited the Calabasas location last night for the second time and all four of us gave it strong thumbs up.
Prices are in the $12-20 entree range, with a reasonably priced premium wine line. Service last night was excellent (the store was 85% full at 7pm).
There are five restaurants in this chain, but AFAIK only the Calabasas and Stevenson Ranch (Santa Clarita) locations are participating, per the MP Dining site.
While I would not define it as great, a very above average casual Italian chain in Greater - Los Angeles, is Spumoni. Visited the Calabasas location last night for the second time and all four of us gave it strong thumbs up.
Prices are in the $12-20 entree range, with a reasonably priced premium wine line. Service last night was excellent (the store was 85% full at 7pm).
There are five restaurants in this chain, but AFAIK only the Calabasas and Stevenson Ranch (Santa Clarita) locations are participating, per the MP Dining site.
So buy gift cards at the two outlets that do participate to use at the other locations.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fried.food.is.good
Just went to Hanabi (located in Brentwood, TN) , a new addition to the iDine family, and the food was great! I'll be honest, being from DC, I didn't think folks in Nashville knew how to do sushi but -wow- the place was busy and the food was top notch. I was really impressed!.
Had to point out that your username is Fried Food, yet you are recommending a raw fish place! Ah, the irony.
Had to point out that your username is Fried Food, yet you are recommending a raw fish place! Ah, the irony.
LOL! I still tried to stay true to my fried food ways by ordering fried rolls. Oh, and the fried ice cream dessert with pound cake was out of this world. I'm trying to finagle another trip down there soon!
