los angeles - downtown: bestia

 tommy buys into the hype at bestia in downtown la...

dry aged new york carpaccio, chilies, mint, rosemary, champagne vinegar, shallots, sea salt

smoked mackerel crostino, burrata, tomato jam, sea salt

creamy polenta, cornmeal, sweet onions, potatoes

spaghetti rustichelle, sea urchin, squid ink botarga, garlic, calabrian chiles, bread crumbs

cavatelli alla norcina, ricotta dumplings, housemade pork sausage, black truffles, grana padano

frozen mayer lemon custard tart, graham cracker crust, brown sugar whipped cream

tommy says: an incredible meal!  the carpaccio was perfectly balanced, a good hit of acid, salt, and tiny kick from the chilis and crunch from the shallots; the rosemary wasn't overpowering and played nicely, and the mint added a freshness.  the smoked mackerel was ok, but the mackerel flavor was muted and the creaminess of the burrata won out.  the polenta was outstanding - one of the best ever (possibly only outdone by cut).  combining polenta with the potatoes is pretty much genius.  both of the pasta dishes were fan-freaking-tastic.  and that frozen mayer lemon custard tart was the perfect finish - not too heavy, nice bright lemony flavor, a very nice graham cracker crust, little meringue chips that magically dissolved in your mouth, all topped with an addicting whipped cream.  run, don't walk to bestia. 

bestia
2121 7th place 
los angeles, ca 90021
(213) 514-5724
http://www.bestiala.com/

los angeles - downtown: lazy ox canteen

tommy dines at laxy ox canteen...

pig ear chicharrones, escabeche, tomatillo salsa, harissa

toad in a hole, crispy pork, brie mornay, brioche, poached egg

okra, jalapeno salsa, bacon

polenta, roasted mushroom, creamed greens, yellow curry oil

suckling pig, wild rice, mashed potatoes, roasted corn, cole slaw, bbq sauce

tommy says:  if you come here, you must get the pig ears - really great!  the toad in a hole was good, but quite rich and filling.  polenta was a bit on the soupy side and flavor-wise was not bad, just not something i would get again. okra was slimey (but it is okra, so to be expected, i suppose) and couldn't find the bacon that was advertised.  suckling pig was underseasoned, but came with a nice big crunchy piece of skin.  mashed potatoes tasted like it came from a box.  roasted corn was good, but they didn't have to really do much to corn to make it good.  overall, a bit of a mixed bag...

lazy ox canteen

241 s san pedro st 

los angeles, ca 90012

(213) 626-5299

http://lazyoxcanteen.com/

downtown la: gorbals

tommy grubs at the gorbals...

bahn mi poutine

dry aged burger, onion 7 ways

duck latkes

roasted bone marrow with walnuts

lamb meatballs, pesto, artichoke, spinach risotto

broccoli, soy, brown sugar, malt, chilies

brussel sprouts, bacon, apple, cider, honey

tommy says: the bahn mi poutine is a crowd pleaser, but they no longer use pickled carrots or pickled daikon, which is a bummer. instead they use pickled jalepenos only (they used to use fresh when they had the pickled carrots and daikon).  these changes have diluted the bahn mi-ness of the dish.  the dry aged burger is surprisingly a really great burger, and dare i say it? - it rivals la's temple of burgers, father's office. duck latkes and lamb meatballs weren't bad, but nothing to write home about.  the bone marrow was a disappointment, they actually mix the walnuts with the marrow and then re-stuff it back into the bone.  the walnuts are just too overpowering; do not expect some smooth, jelly/custard-like marrow. oddly enough, the broccoli is pretty amazing - it is deep fried which changes the texture and is a bit addicting. the brussel sprouts were also quite tasty; the classic addition of the bacon is never wrong, but the apple went really well with it too.

the gorbals
501 south spring street
los angeles, ca 90013
213-488-3408

http://thegorbalsla.com/

downtown la: patina

after a long hiatus, let's get this party started right, with a fancy dinner at patina...

setup for caviar (lost the photo of the actual caviar)

cote de boef 

the bone from the boef and potato puree

sweetbread, veal cheek, and veal tenderloin

tommy says: caviar was something new and fun, though it took a while to setup.  the 1 oz tin came with egg whites, egg yolks, shallots, chives, creme fraiche, and buckwheat blinis.  just mix and match whatever toppings you like - good stuff.  the chestnut and lobster agnolotti (appetizer, not pictured, sorry) were pretty incredible flavor-wise, though the pasta was perhaps a tad bit too firm, but that is arguable, depending on how al dente you like your pasta. cote de boeuf had the most delicious crust on the outside and the meat was just amazing.  the potato puree was like a cloud, it even deflated a little when putting the spoon into it to scoop some out.  the veal was a bit of a disappointment - tenderloin was not so tender, cheek was too too soft, but the sweetbread was great and had a lovely batter on it. 

patina
141 south grand ave
los angeles, ca 90012
(213) 972-3331

http://www.patinarestaurant.com/

los angeles - downtown: ciudad

tommy tried the happy hour at ciudad...


chicken and carnitas tacos


fish taco

tommy says: the sangria was cheap ($4) but so gross. the carnitas were dry, the chicken and the fish tacos were ok. happy hour is monday-friday 3-7pm, sundays 5-9pm. drink specials include the gross sangria, margaritas, mojitos for $4.

ciudad
445 s. figueroa street
los angeles, ca 90071
http://www.ciudad-la.com/

los angeles - downtown: langer's deli

tommy fills up at langer's deli...


#44 - hot pastrami, sauerkraut and nippy cheese grilled on rye
#19 - pastrami, swiss cheese, cole slaw, and russian style dressing

tommy says: yummmm... langer's is known for their pastrami sandwiches with #19 being the most popular, but #44 was equally tasty, if not better. simply delicious!

langer's
704 s alvarado st
los angeles, ca 90057 [map]
(213) 483-8050
http://www.langersdeli.com/

los angeles - downtown: wokcano

tommy continues his downtown happy time at wokcano...




salmon sashimi, albacore tuna, spicy yellowtail roll

tommy says: so-so food, friendly service. the fish was ok, but the roll was weak. wine and beer specials $4-5, food specials $3-6.50.

wokcano
800 w 7th st
los angeles, ca 90017 [map]
http://www.wokcanocafe.com/

los angeles - downtown: library bar

tommy gets happy at library bar in downtown la...



apples $5, their summer special drink, library lemonade $6. tommy says: loved the atmosphere! washington apples were excellent! happy hour lasts until 8pm. stella $4, cosmos, margaritas, washingtonapparently, you can order food from wolfgang puck express next door and they bring it over. all in all, a great place to throw a few back and unwind!

library bar

630 W 6th st, ste 116-a

los angeles, ca 90017 [map]

(213) 614-0053
http://www.librarybarla.com