Go Burger, Hollywood

We happened upon Go Burger while walking to the metro station from the Arclight. From the outside, it looks like a sports bar that serves burgers, but once you walk in and see the shake menu, it's hard to leave without trying one. Plus, who doesn't love a good juicy burger with a thick milkshake?

The restaurant is very open with large windows to let in natural sunlight and several TVs for sports enthusiasts. The menu is pretty straight forward, but the best section is under "Spiked Shakes." We've been making "adult milkshakes" at home for years and we're so glad to find a spot in LA that serves them. Unfortunately, neither one of us was in the mood for an alcoholic beverage so we will have to come back and try Go Burger's version.

Wafflel Bites
7

This is a great plate to munch on while watching a game. Who knew a plate of waffle fries toped with cheddar, bacon, sour cream and jalapenos could be so satisfying. Can't wait to make this at home for our next party.

Cookie Monster
7

We couldn't eat here without trying a shake and are very glad we picked the cookie monster. Made with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and blended with chips ahoy cookies, it was the perfect milk shake to go with the burger. They even serve it with a boba size straw to make it easier to get the chunks of cookie. Not a cheap shake, but for people who don't have shakes often, it's worth the splurge.

The Classic Burger
9

The classic burger is made with 100% black angus beef served on a toasted bun and all the normal fixings. It was juicy, flavorful and really hit the spot. The proportions were just right and nothing overpowered the rich and meatiness of the beef.

Overall, the food was solid and the service was on point. The prices were higher, but about right for the area. We would stop by again the next time we're in the area and in the mood for a good shake and burger combo.

4 out of 5 Stars

Go Burger
6290 West Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028

Parking
Street parking or take the metro to Hollywood and Vine and avoid the parking issue.

Read Full Post

Ink, West Hollywood

Ink is the much anticipated restaurant by Michael Voltaggio who made a name for himself on Top Chef. We almost never visit a restaurant within the first month or two of opening, but Ink was an exception. The restaurant is located on a well known retail section of Melrose Ave., just across the street from Alexander McQueen. The entrance to the restaurant is nestled behind a metal gate and the minute we stepped inside, we were greeted by the hostes who was keeping a very watchful eye on diners arriving and departing. The dining room is open with tables and booths along the walls and the dim lighting adds a feeling of privacy.

The menu that changes constantly

Vodka lime, ginger, soda
10

This was Ink's take on the Moscow Mule made with fresh ginger. The mint, lime and ginger balanced the vodka, but it still packed a punch. Good crisp and refreshing start to the meal.

Hamachi parsnip-sesame cream, grapefruit, jalapeno
16

The picture doesn't do this dish justice. The colors and flavors were absolutely amazing. All the components on the dish worked well together and highlighted the fish, which was cut just thick enough to stand up against everything. The grapefruit and jalapeno added a lightness to balance out the heavy strong soy flavor. The fried parsnips on top were light and reminded me of dried ramen noodles.

Dungeness crab smoked mayo, bok choy "kimchi"
9

This was a very simple dish compared to the others and our least favorite. The crab was wrapped in nori and deep fried. The freshness of the crab came through and the batter was very light. The mayo added a light smokey flavor to the crab, but the fried baby kimchi was too salty to eat.

Halibut cheeks red pepper dashi, shishito peppers, kelp pasta
16

This was the our favorite dish of the night. The halibut cheek was cooked perfectly and the dashi broth was the best we have tasted. The large thin sheet of kelp pasta was tender and light. Even though it's not appropriate to lick the bowl, we were tempted.

Beef tartare horseradish, hearts of palm, sea beam chimichurri
15

This was a fun dish to eat. The horseradish puff was cold and creamy, almost like ice cream, but very light in texture and not overpowering in flavor. The pickled shallot puree was sweet and brightened the flavor of the beef. The hearts of palm was crunchy and earthy and salty and crunchy crisp tied it all together.

Rye lemon, angostura, peychaud's, anise
11

A stiff drink to have mid-way through the meal. The anise help cut the bitters in the cocktail.

Berkshire pork tenderloin charcoal crust, macaroni and cheese, leek
20

Although the pork was perfectly cooked and very tender, the mac n cheese stole the show. By far the best mac n cheese we have ever tasted. The leeks three way a fun idea and we loved that the fried ends were also edible. The dish could have used less of the leek ash.

Wagyu hanger steak ras el hanout yogurt, black garlic, mushroom chicharron
24

The hanger steak was very tender and melted in our mouthes. The chicharon was out of this world and the yogurt added a slightly tangy and creamy texture to the dish.

Veal cheeks red curry, nante carrots baked in salt, fried sticky rice
18

Since we loved the halibut cheeks so much, we had to try the veal cheeks. The cheeks were meaty and fatty and held up well against the red Thai curry. The coconut went perfectly with the curry and the carrots added a earthy sweetness. We could have done without the rice.

Overall,we had an wonderful meal and left with some very memorable flavors. Unfortunately, Chef Voltaggio was not working the night we dined at Ink, which was a disappointment, but all the more reason to go back. We also didn't try any dessert because we were so stuffed after the veal cheeks. The dishes were well thought out and executed with a few minor misses. The dinner was well paced and our waiter took time to explain every dish in detail. We had a wonderful experience from the ambiance to the service to the food. We look forward to going back when Chef Voltaggio is on the line and trying some of the new dishes.

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Ink

8360 Melrose Ave.

West Hollywood, CA 90069

Parking

Metered parking along Melrose and Valet in front of the restaurant.

Read Full Post

Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Culver City

Five Guys burgers are all the rave these days. It started as one burger shop in Virginia that has expanded all the way to the west coast with locations popping up all over the place. Many say it puts In 'N Out to shame, but there are still plenty of locals that rank In 'N Out as the top fast food burger joint in Los Angeles.

At Five Guys, there are two types of burgers, regular size or little. Regular comes with two patties and little comes with one patty. The price for every burger includes all the topping options except additional cheese and bacon. In addition to the usual toppings, Five Guys offers grilled onions and mushrooms, green peppers, A1, BBQ and steak sauce. Order a burger "All the way" to have every toppings listed on the first row. Since everything is cooked to order, the wait is a little long. Luckily, each location has a box of peanuts for customers to munch on while they wait.

Regular Fries
2.99

The fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with just enough seasoning. I can't imagine what the large would have looked like because the regular portion more than enough to share between two people.

Bacon Cheeseburger

6.79

The cheeseburger was giant. The patties were meaty and flavorful but on the dry side. The BBQ sauce topping was light and the burger could have used another layer. This burger can easily be shared if you're not a big eater.

Little Hamburger

3.79

The little burger was the same width as the regular burger, but with one less patty. We got this with tomato, lettuce, ketchup, grilled onions and mushrooms. The patty in this burger was also on the dry side, but the toppings were nice and juicy.

Overall, the burgers at Five Guys were decent. If the patties weren't on the dry side, it would probably receive 4 stars. The range of toppings and delicious fries might get us back to Five Guys sometime in the future. The box of peanuts are a nice bonus too. It's hard to compare to In 'N Out because it's a completely different type of burger and flavor.

3 out of 5 Stars

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
600 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230

Parking
Free parking in the mall lot.

Read Full Post

A-Frame, Culver City

Roy Choi's "Modern Picnic" A-Frame opened in 2010 and became a much buzzed about newcomer on the West Side. The restaurant is just a few doors down from the gastropub Waterloo and City on a nice little stretch of Washington Blvd. The restaurant is smaller than one would expect with some outdoor seating. The interior is simple with park picnic bench style seating where multiple parties are seated at the same table. The tables are equipped with metal cafeteria style silverware containers and nicely designed small plates. The menu items are familiar but with a twist and everything is meant to be shared.

Two Time
11

The two time was made with Kettle One vodka, passionfruit, hibiscus and lime bitters. It was a very strong drink with a touch of tangy fruitiness.

King Antilles
11

The King Antilles was made with Rhum Agricole, pineapple, lime and a fresh chili. The rum flavor was strong and the chili made the drink quite spicy, which left a burning sensation on the tongue. It's not for those sensitive to spiciness.

5-Grain pan de sal
4

The pan de sal arrived straight out of the oven with Plugra butter sprinkled with sea salt. The sesame crust was nice and crunchy and the center was soft and fluffy. The butter was a nice compliment.

Scallops in the Raw
11

Thin slices of scallops sitting in clarified watermelon juice and topped with Thai basil, cucumber, and pickled watermelon rind. The scallops were tender and served room temperature. There was no acid in the dish to offset the richness from the oils and to bring all the components together.

Kitchen Fries
6

The thick cut fries consisted of purple Okinawan sweet potato, yam, and Korean sweet potato served with a kimchi sour cream. The fries were mushy on the inside and not crunchy on the outside. The tangy dipping sauce was the highlight of the plate.

Baby Back Ribs
11

The ribs are air-dried and coated with a hoisin-chili glazed and then fried. The exterior was crispy and the interior was tender on half the ribs. Unfortunately the hoisin glaze was very salty and killed the flavor of the ribs.

Furikake Kettle Corn
6

The kettle corn was very average mixed with some corn puffs. Some pieces were soggy while others were light and crunchy.

Cracklin beer can chicken
19 whole

The beer can chicken was cut into four pieces and served with kimchi, a century egg with sides of salsa Roja and Verd. The chicken is cooked on a rotisserie for 6 hours then flash fried. The skin was crispy but the meat was very dry, including the dark pieces. The egg was probably the highlight of the whole dish with a subtle sweetness.

Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop
21

The pork chop was served with grapefruit, pickled scallion, and polenta cakes. The pork was tender and moist and all the components on the plate worked well together.

Sesame Leaf Wrapped Shrimp Tempura
11

The shrimp tempura was served with segments of cucumber and a shoyu dipping sauce. The tempura was light and the dipping sauce highlighted the sweetness of the shrimp.

Banana Bacon Cream Pie
7

The banana bacon cream pie was scrumptious. The salty bites of bacon mixed with caramel banana and vanilla cream created a perfect marriage of flavors. Perfect with a cup of coffee.

Chu-Don't-Know-Man
7

Who knew curros and chocolate milk float could be so addicting. The thick and dense pieces of pound cake churro really soaked up the chocolate milk and vanilla ice cream after every dunk. The cinnamon sugar on the churro also went well with the chocolate milk float. This was a great dessert.

Vietnamese Style Coffee
4

Vietnamese coffee was good, but nothing special.

Overall, the food at A-Frame was very inconsistent, with dessert being the highlight of the entire meal. Most dishes fell short in flavor and seasoning. The service was erratic and the music was so loud, it was hard to carry a conversation. Definitely not a good spot for a first date. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn't live up to all of the hype.

2 out of 5 stars

A-Frame
12565 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90066

Parking
Metered parking on Washington and free parking in the neighborhood side streets.

Read Full Post

Waterloo & City, Culver City

Waterloo and City is a British gastropub that caters to both people looking for a snack and a few drinks after work and people looking for a nice spot to dine with friends and family. The restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area right before the entrance, a long and open bar area to the left, and a slightly more secluded dining area to the right. The big windows around the restaurant welcome the natural light that brightens the dining rooms. The black tables and chairs combined with the dark colored walls give the restaurant that nice pub feel.

The Westside 
10

The "pub-tails" have great names and are all very different. The fresh watermelon in the Westside was hard to resist. This was a really well balanced drink that highlighted the flavor of the watermelon. The lemonade didn't overpower the drink at all.

Bread Basket
Complimentary

The bread basket came with four different types of bread that all had distinct characteristics. Some were light and soft, while others were spongy and dense.

Smoked Salmon Terrine, Fried Egg, Sauce Gribiche 
12


The terrine had a subtle smoky flavor that didn't overpower the salmon. The runny yolk from the fried egg added a rich layer of creaminess to every bite and the gribiche gave it a slight tang and crunch from the pickles and capers.

Chicken Liver & Foie Gras Mousse
12

This was a dish I could have devoured by myself. The mousse was rich, airy, creamy and melted right into the toast. The jam also added a sweeter element to the mousse that cut down on the richness.

Yellowtail Crudo, Shallot & Ginger Dressing, Shishito Peppers
12

This was the most beautiful dish of the evening. The vibrant colors and delicate arrangement of every component almost made it hard to take a bite. The tomatoes tasted like they had just been picked with a sun kissed flavor. Every bite was fresh and delightful. Surprisingly with all the ingredients on the dish, nothing overpowered the flavor of the yellowtail.

Brussels & Bacon, Balsamic Vinegar  
6

The brussel sprouts were the only disappointment of the meal. The generous amount of bacon made the side dish overly salty. The brussels sprouts were roasted well with a nice caramelization on top.

Shrimp & Zucchini Blossoms Fritters, Piri Piri Hot Sauce
14

The fritters were fried to golden perfection. The crust was light and not too oily. The zucchini was still crunchy but cooked through. The shrimp flavor came through even with the hot sauce, which some might consider too spicy, but it was just right for our table. The presentation of this dish needed a little work. Perhaps serving them in a newspaper lined cone would be more appealing?

Maine Scallops, Corn Ravioli, Smoked Almonds, Tomatoes
25

The aroma of this dish was enough to make my mouth water. The scallops were cooked perfectly with a beautiful sear on top. The corn raviolis at the bottom added a nice burst of sweetness. Everything on this plate worked in harmony and gave this dish a freshness that really allowed the scallops to shine.

Bourbon Beignets, Creme Anglaise, Berry Jam
9

Although we were stuffed by this point, we couldn't pass on the beignets. They were fluffy and coated with a delicious bourbon glaze that was finger licking good. The berry jam and creme anglaise were both great, but the beignets didn't need any help.

Overall, Waterloo and City provided a great British gastropub experience from the food to the price to the service. The dishes came out at a steady pace and we never felt rushed even though the restaurant was packed. Our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations. There were great options on the menu for seafood lovers and meat eaters, which can be difficult to find. The dishes were well executed with the exception of the brussels sprouts and the drinks were very good. The happy hour and late night specials offer a good introduction for first timers. Don't miss out on this place if you are in the area.

4 out of 5 Stars

Waterloo and City
12517 West Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90066

Parking
Valet is available at the entrance. Metered parking on the street. Free parking on the residential side streets.

  Read Full Post

Versaille Cuban Restaurant, Encino

Versaille is a local Cuban restaurant know for its famous roast chicken and basket of garlic toast. There are four locations scattered throughout the city and every one I've been to was jam packed at dinner time. This location located in the San Fernando Valley on a fairly busy stretch of Ventura Blvd. We met some friends for dinner and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. The restaurant is one large dining room with minimal decorations and lots of tables and chairs to maximize the space.

It had been over five years since our last trip to Versaille and I couldn't wait for the basket of garlic toast. They weren't as buttery and garlicky as I remembered. The toast we received were barely covered and tasted more plain than garlic toast. They used to be drenched in the stuff, but I suppose the new version is better for my arteries.

Famoso Pollo Versailles
11.99

The half roasted chicken arrived with a huge pile of onions and a side of plantains. The aroma of the tangy garlic sauce swimming on the plate was mouthwatering. The chicken was juicy and moist and the sliced onions added a crunchy texture and slight sweetness to balance the sauce. The dish also came with a side of black beans and a plate of rice, which were good.

Bistec De Pollo
10.99

The chicken steak was served with the same garlic sauce as the roasted chicken and topped with caramelized onions. This dish also came with beans, rice and plantains. The steak was very thin and a little overcooked, which made it dry. It did taste good mixed in with the sauce, rice and beans.

Overall, Versaille definitely took the edge off my craving for Cuban food, but I am looking forward to my next trip to Miami for some of the best Cuban food I have ever had. The tangy garlic sauce is very addicting and the portions were big. Service was very slow, we waited a long time to get menus, water, bread, food and the check. The ambiance was casual and the dining room was very loud at full capacity. It's not the Versaille I knew, but it did the trick. I will definitely be on the hunt for another Cuban restaurant in Los Angeles.

3 out of 5 Stars

Versaille
17410 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316

Read Full Post