santa monica: urth caffe

tommy helps himself to brunch at urth caffe...


bread pudding with apples and warm milk


salmon scramble

tommy says: bread pudding is nice and warm and tasty! the salmon scramble was ok, but a bit too salty and could've used a smooth goat cheese to add another texture and creamy flavor. it gets pretty crowded on weekends which can make finding seating troublesome at times.

urth caffe
2327 main st
santa monica, ca 90407
(310) 314-7040

www.urthcaffe.com

burbank: porto's bakery

tommy hearts porto's potato balls and sweets...


meat-filled potato balls





pan con lechon (roasted pork sandwich): slow roasted pork, mojo garlic sauce, and grilled onions, on a grilled cuban bread


tres leches
strawberry shortcake

tommy says: yummmm... potato balls! sandwiches were ok. desserts were really good. have had breakfast sandwiches in the past which were yummy. also, bonus: pretty cheap! they've also got another location in glendale.

porto's bakery
3614 w magnolia blvd
burbank, ca 91504
(818) 846-9100

www.portosbakery.com

santa monica: bread & porridge

tommy tries the bread, but no porridge at bread & porridge in santa monica...


complimentary corn bread


mac 'n cheese


beef stew


shepherd's omelet: omelet with spinach, mild goat cheese, mushroom and onion. served with roasted red potatoes


blueberry tart with vanilly ice cream

tommy says: mac 'n cheese was pretty decent. beef stew was no good, super bland; the base basically tasted like thick peppery water. omelet was tolerable, but the ingredients weren't evenly dispersed so all the cheese was clumped in the middle and there was just too much spinach.

bread & porridge
2315 wilshire blvd
santa monica, ca 90403
(310) 453-4941
http://www.breadandporridge.com

venice: agra indian kitchen

tommy finds some decent indian food at agra indian kitchen in venice...


complimentary soup


vegetable samosas


chicken tikka masala
bhendi masala: okra sautéed with onion, tomatoes and herbs


naan
volcano lamb

tommy says: finally found good chicken tikka masala in los angeles!! samos and naan were good too. bhendi masala wasn't so great, and the volcano lamb was crazy spicy (spicier than vindaloo) and couldn't really tell what it tasted like except hot. will be back for samosas, naan and chicken tikka masala... the search for other yummy indian dishes continues...

agra indian kitchen
2553 lincoln blvd
venice, ca 90291
(310) 827-0050
http://www.agraindiankitchen.com/

west la: raku

tommy tests out raku in west la...





pork belly


agedashi tofu


bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms





miso black cod



tommy says: was hoping this was related to the raku in vegas, but it isn't. food was ok, but nothing exciting. bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms were the good. black cod was ok, but not as good as asakuma.

raku
11678 w olympic blvd
los angeles, ca 90064

(310) 478-3090

west la: le saigon

tommy is pho sho about le saigon...


spring rolls


pho saigon dac biet: rice noodle soup with cooked and rare beef

tommy says: pretty good pho, though the cooked beef was a lil tough. will probably stick to pho with just rare beef in the future. spring rolls weren't bad either.

le saigon
11611 santa monica blvd
los angeles, ca 90025

(310) 312-2929