Help! My boss and I are taking clients out to dinner in LA next month, and lucky ol' me got the job of selecting restaurants. I have tried searching old threads, and didn't come up with much, so I throw myself on your collective mercy…

I need at least three places that are nice, but which don't have very high-style food. It was only recently that my boss's wife and I persuaded him that there are good things to eat that are not covered with tomato sauce and mozzarella, and the only things he'll drink are Canadian Club and white zin . Fortunately the clients are pretty undemanding folks. We'll be based in Universal City. So far my only idea is McCormick & Schmidt's (spelling?).

And, for when the boss leaves town, someone mentioned in some thread I can't find, a place called something like Dinah's (nothing like a good memory, huh?) that sounded like a funky 50s sort of place. When I first read about it, I promised a trip there to friends coming in from the forests of Pennsylvania, and now I can't find it.

Many, many thanks for any help.

Dinah's is an old style restaurant on Sepulveda Blvd. , about 2 miles north of LAX (I believe on the corner of Sepulveda Blvd. & Centinella Blvd.). This restaurant is a westside tradition. Nothing fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but lots of old time waitresses who have been there since the dawn of time, small prices and HUGE portions (different days of the week have different all you can eat specials, and typical 50-60's diner decor (lots of vinyl and formica etc). Lots of the locals eat here, expecially for breakfast.

Mrs Onedog's relatives from Sweden were visiting us once and were driving around on their own just exploring and they "discovered" Dinah's....---> quote, "so much food for such a small prices. They kept on bringing food."

Have a great idea,please don't make a reservation until I can e-mail later from the house. And NO it does not involve TRI COLOR PASTA!

McCormick & Schmicks (sp?) is a very nice seafood type of restaurant located downtown in the library tower building. Very nice and the bar area is usually crowded friday afternoons/evenings. There is also a newer McCormick & Schmicks in Manhattan Beach which is fun and also crowded during friday/saturday evenings, as well as one located in Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. I like the Manhattan Beach one better than the downtown one.

Also downtown is The Pacific Dining Car, a very fine old style steakhouse where the steaks are superb, service is wonderful and with a very nice wine list. http://www.zagat.com/search/detail.a...tner=0&ID=5987 If you want to visit the Westside of Los Angeles, The Pacific Dining Car also has a location in Santa Monica. Same great steak, service and wine, just on the westside. Reservations would probably be a safe bet, but you could probably get a table w/out reservations. I have eaten at both locations, and I like either one. Pricy, so make sure you put this one on your expense report.

For mexican style restaurant downtown, try Ciudad. This restaurant is owned by Mary Sue Millikan and Susan Fennigar of "Two Hot Tamales" fame. Good food, lots of fun. http://www.millikenandfeniger.com/CIUDAD/CIU/ciu.htm

You can also try the Border Grill, also by Mary Sue and Susan. Either of these two restaurants are sure to please. Also, Mary Sue and Susan still (occasionally) actually work in the kitchens, so could be a neat way to impress the boss and clients with a celebrity sighting. http://www.millikenandfeniger.com/BG/BGSM/bgsm.htm

In the Universal area are two very nice italian restaurants, Micelli's (sp). Ask your hotel for the italian restaurant that is very close by where the waiters sing. Great italian restaurant, good service and nice food. Ask anyone in the area, they will know what you are asking about.

Also, try Ca del Sole, another nice italian restaurant just a few blocks from Universal. Good food, reasonable prices, and a nice outdoors patio. I have never eaten at Ca del Sole, but the Mrs. has and she recommends it.

If you like Italian food and REALLY LIKE WINE, try Valentino Restaurant on the Westside. Excellent italian food and a wine list like no other. Zagat: http://www.zagat.com/search/detail.a...tner=0&ID=6131 and gourmet.com http://www.epicurious.com/g_gourmet/...valentino.html

My favorite restaurant on the Westside is Cafe Del Rey. Great tasting food and a view of the Marina that is just superb. http://www.zagat.com/search/detail.a...tner=0&ID=5609

La Cachette is a tiny little (I would recommend reservations) restaurant in Century City that has great tasting french style food. It's pretty hard to find, but just remember that you need to be on "Little Santa Monica Blvd.", not Santa Monica Blvd. and you won't have any problems finding it. I've only been here back in the days when I had an expense account, but if I remember, the prices were pretty reasonable. http://www.zagat.com/search/detail.a...tner=0&ID=5854

Lots of restaurants on La Cienega Blvd. in Beverly Hills, known locally as Restaurant Row. Here is where all the trendy ($$$) restaurants are, but there are also many reasonable priced.

I can tell you about many more "local" restaurants with good, home style food and excellent prices if you need.

So many restaurants, so little time.




[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 10-25-2000).]

Universal City is very convenient to Pasadena, which has oodles of restaurants for every taste. I haven't been there in ages so I hesitate to recommend any specific restaurant, but I'm sure other FTers can suggest some good places. Or you can search the Zagat website.

Onedog has this one covered.

I think I might have been the one who originally mentioned Dinah's. As stated, it is "authentic 50's" not "sock hop 50's." I remember eating there and watched them bulldoze my minature golf course to make room for the San Diego freeway.

Also, I would second the vote for Pacific Dining Car *if* you are willing to pay high prices for great (but simple) food. This is a classic steakhouse, not one recently designed for the popularity contest. So they have good basic steak and fish and ... However, the steak might be $35 with no sides or salad. (Of course, this is cheap compared with Behrn's SteakHouse in Tampa, Florida). Dark, comfortable, and because they are open 24 hours, they are not rushing you out to "turn" the table.

I have been to the McCormick & Schmick's in downtown. Nice location. Not a fan because it reminds me of all the others in the chain.

Call me square, but for REALLY important clients, I love to retreat to the outdoor patio of The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena.

Kitty Hawk,

There are many, many good choices in the Los Angeles area. Other than tomato sauce, is there anything else your boss or your clients would be partial to? It would help in narrowing it down to some specific recommendations based on food preference rather than the scatter gun approach.

Also, will you have a car, and are you willing to navigate Southern California in search of a good meal? Otherwise you'll want to concentrate your search in the Universal City/Toluca Lake area.

Most of the restaurants are a real 'jouney' from Universal city.

The one not to be missed is just a few miles away in Studio City on Ventura Blvd only a short drive. It is ART"S DELI for the best in DELI foods. Complete menu. Lean pastrami and corned beef. I will bet you will find it hard to eat a whole sandwich.

Just a little further, is the BEST prepared chinese food in SHERMAN OAKS on VENTURA Blvd is BAMBOO Restaurant. Very Clean modern dinging room at reasonable prices. I lived and worked just a skip away. Still go there as my first choice whenever in LA. And I do miss it. Lunch or dinner is a treat.

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 10-25-2000).]

I can certainly vouch for "La Cachette." We were going to have my mother's 80th BD there, but the party was cancelled. We made a non-refundable deposit of $150, but they offered to fully cater a dinner to her condo as a gesture of good will (this is for 6 people). The food was great, and we had the full menu to pick from.

I was particularily impressed with their swordfish...it was some of the freshest and tastiest I've ever had. Entree prices are in the $20s...its not cheap, but I think its worth it.

Guido's!! I love this restaurant. Its in Santa Monica, and it has an "old style American-Italian restaurant feel." You definitely won't want sunglasses in there, but the service is very professional, and they still prepare the Caeser salad tableside. The prices are reasonable, and I'm continually wowed by the "cool but classy" service.

Brilliant! You folks are the best! Thank you all so much.

LA/EXP: We all (boss, clients, and self) are from NYC or environs, so there really isn't much we can't get here. I don't know too much about food preferences, so the usual suspects (French/Italian/seafood/etc) are probably safest. I'm willing to travel, but not huge distances (if you'd ever driven with my boss, you'd know why ).

--KH

PS onedog, have you considered changing your nick to topdog? Because you are in my book!

[This message has been edited by Kitty Hawk (edited 10-26-2000).]

Hugh distances in LA are measured by traffic and time to travel, what looks like short distance! Many of the places can be an hour drive.

Because I live half of my weeks in Los Angeles (about a mile from Universal City) and I eat out at almost every other weekend, I know restaurants. There is everything from okay to outstanding restaurants. One of your best guides would be actually Los Angeles Magazine, because its rare that restaurants don't meet expectations in their guide.

I have tons of favorites. are you looking for a fun experience, a business experience, a casual experience, what? (I know its your boss). Also, any preference on cuisine? Steak, Seafood, ethnic, etc.? Price?

There's tons in every category.

Encounter at LAX is a groovy place to drink and eat if delayed or when departing LA. In & Out (burger joint) is a genuine SoCal tradition. Nuovo Latino seems to be quite in right now. A few good examples are the aforementioned Ciudad and the Border Grill and Xiomara (sp?) which is in Pasadena.

We had a Flyertalk dinner at the Smokehouse which is close to Universal City. It's a MP Dining restaurant and you occasionally see celebrities eating there since it's across the street from a movie studio. It also has excellent steak and chops.

A great place in Hollywood is Jones which may have the best spaghetti on the west coast. Decent prices too even though it's a bit trendy now.

A very unique restaurant in Beverly Hills is The Stinking Rose. If you like garlic, you have to try this place.

Email me if you need more. I have a long list.