san fernando valley - reseda: firehouse

tommy finds his go-to for gyros at firehouse in reseda...

chicken gyro salad

gyro

tommy says: consistently good gyros and salads.  salads are well dressed, and the gyro meat is always tender and tasty - even the chicken! the tzatziki is a good consistency, not too thick and not too runny, and has a nice tang to it.  portions are generous.  pita is always warmed up and yummy. a great take-out or casual dine-in option.

firehouse restaurant
18450 victory blvd
reseda, ca 91335
(818) 881-3118

san fernando valley - studio city: black market liquor bar

tommy hangs out at black market liquor bar...

dill potato chips, sea salt, malt vinegar aioli

burrata, roasted apple, speck, saba

young kale salad, pickeled shallot, fiore sardo, botarga, crushed egg

fried cauliflower, lemon aioli

smoked trout toast, pickled veg, egg

hand cut pappardelle, pork shank ragu, stracciatella, arugula

kurobuta pork cheek, creamed polenta

tommy says: food is pretty good, but heavy.  the chips were nice, and not over dilled. kale salad was drowning in dressing and cheese. the burrata and smoked trout were both very good. pappardelle was kind of thick.  the fried cauliflower had a thick batter on it which was unexpected and unwanted.  been here a few other times and they weren't at their best on this particular visit. things were still good, just not great.  the menu changes from time to time, so here's hoping that next iteration is a but lighter (but keeps the smoked trout).

black market liquor bar
11915 ventura blvd
studio city, ca 91604
(818) 446-2533
http://blackmarketliquorbar.com/

san fernando valley - van nuys: el criollo

tommy mambos his way over to el criollo in van nuys...

rabo encendido: oxtail stewed in a criollo wine sauce 

lomo saltado

tommy says: oxtail stew. get it. love it. don't be shy about picking every last bit of meat out of those crevices of the bones. it is rich, tender, and fantastic. the lomo saltado was just okay.  it had more of a chinese-y flavor than other versions, and the meat was sliced a bit thin. 

el criollo
6622 van nuys blvd
van nuys, ca 91405
(818) 785-8625
http://www.cubanfoodlaonline.com/

san fernando valley - sherman oaks: ramen by omae

it is always a good time for ramen, especially when it is ramen by omae...

original pork broth ramen with thin noodles

burnt kogashi miso pork broth ramen with thick noodles

chashu bowl

tommy says: if you like a thick, rich ramen broth this is the place to get your fix.  of the handful of visits, the menu has been tweaked about three times, but it never disappoints.  the server stated that the burnt kogashi would be spicy, but it really was not anything requiring a warning, quite mild and more smokey than spicy.  at one point a chashu bowl was listed on the menu, but wasn't on the most recent visit.  ordered it anyway and it was mind-blowingly good (and different from their previous rendition).  how can a simple chashu bowl be mind-blowing?  the pork was unbelievably tender and the sauce was hauntingly good - it is so simple, but done amazingly well. worth a visit just for the chashu bowl alone.

ramen by omae
14425 ventura blvd 
sherman oaks, ca 91423
(818) 784-8981
http://www.ramenbyomae.com/

san fernando valley - sherman oaks: cafe bizou

tommy ventures off into the valley to try cafe bizou...


french onion soup


beef strogonoff: fettuccini, sliced ny steak, onions, and mushrooms in a burgundy wine sauce


monkfish on saffron shrimp risotto with fried carrots in a lobster sauce

tommy says: food was bland all around. the monkfish was dry and risotto was not creamy at all.

cafe bizou
14016 ventura blvd
sherman oaks, ca 91423
(818) 788-3536

www.cafebizou.com

van nuys: doctor hogly wogly's tyler texas bbq

tommy gets down with some bbq at dr. hogly wogly's in van nuys...


brisket and pork ribs


brisket and hot links
macaroni salad

tommy says: the brisket and hotlinks are tasty! the ribs are good too, but the brisket is where it's at. the sauce is the key to it all with a hint of sweet and a lil kick of spice. the side of mac salad is unnecessary and not that good.

dr. hogly wogly's tyler texas bbq
8136 sepulveda blvd
van nuys, ca 91402
(818) 782-2480
http://www.hoglywogly.com