Marea, New York

Marea serves fresh, seasonal coastal Italian cuisine just a few steps away from Central Park in New York City.

Spago, Beverly Hills

We recently stopped in at Spago in Beverly Hills and ended up having an unexpected but good pasta tasting. This is a quick photo recap of our meal.

Bread

Hand crafted cocktail

Amuse-bouche

Agnolotti with fresh peas

Ricotta gnocchi with veal

Farfalle with Maine lobster

Spago
176 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Pink Taco, Century City

Pink Taco is located on the third floor of the popular Century City mall. If you've ever driven down the Santa Monica side of the mall, chances are you've seen the eye catching sign. Restaurant might not be the first thought that pops in mind, but the name will definitely start a conversation about the establishment. When Kevin from Pink Taco invited us to try their food we jumped at the opportunity. The restaurant has a new executive chef in the kitchen and plan on opening another location on Sunset where Miyagi's used to be.

The restaurant is huge with a very eye catching bar and a room surrounded by beads. The atmosphere screams fun and unwind. There is also a great patio with heaters for a nice outdoor atmosphere. The patio space would be perfect for a large party or after work cocktails with friends.

Menu
El Talache

11
Since Pink Taco is know for their margaritas, we had to try a few. This was a very light and refreshingly smooth margarita. It tastes almost like a mojito in a way with a stronger lime flavor. The rim of the glass had salt and pepper on it, which was a nice touch.

Cachonda

11
Being a big watermelon fan, I had to give this margarita a try. The watermelon flavor was very subtle and the drink was dominated by the tequila flavor. The chunks of watermelon soaked up all the alcohol. It's a good drink, but a little more watermelon flavor would be great.

Chips and Salsa

Complimentary
The chips are freshly made at the restaurant as well as the chunky salsa made with tomatoes, lime, cilantro, yellow onions and green onions. The chips were crunchy with just enough salt to bring out the corn flavor and not at all greasy. We had to refrain from eating the entire basket.

Fried Calamari

10
The calamari had a thicker crust than usual with some tender and some chewy pieces. This dish was just average and not something we would order on our next visit. The jalapeno aioli had a nice flavor and not too spicy.

Hornitos Lime Shrimp

12
This was our favorite appetizer. The large shrimps were cooked just right with the tail still on. The garlic sauce was tangy and very addicting. The bread was crunchy, but also spongy enough to soak up all the sauce. The lime flavor came through in every bite. Next time, we might order a side of rice to go with this dish so the garlic sauce doesn't go to waste.

Sabana de Pollo

16
When this dish arrived, we couldn't believe all the food that was on the plate. This dish was the best value for the price. The thin slices of grilled chicken are at the bottom of the plate and topped with black beans, sauce, cheese, caramelized onions, pico de gallo and roasted serranos. The dish was a flavor explosion and one of the best chicken dishes I've had in a while. The chicken breasts were tender and the caramelized onions added a wonderful sweetness to the dish.

Lobster Dulce Enchiladas

16
This was the dish we looked forward to the most during our meal. The idea of a sweet lobster enchilada was intriguing and difficult to imagine. When the plate arrived, we were both eager to dig in and almost forgot to take pictures. Upon cutting into the enchiladas, the first thing that jumped out was the generous amount of lobsters inside. Once we took a bite, we knew we were in love with this dish. The tortilla was tender and thin, the lobster meat was perfectly cooked, the sauce was creamy and sweet, but not over powering with a nice kick at the end that left a warmth in our mouths after every bite.

The enchiladas also came with beans and rice on a separate plate, which we almost forgot about because the enchilada was so good on its own. The beans held its shape on the plate, but it was very tender. The rice was toothsome with a slightly tangy tomato flavor. It's worth noting that the beans and rice here are cooked without lard to keep it vegetarian friendly.

Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos

15
Each taco was built on a corn tortilla topped with romaine lettuce, a large piece of grilled mahi mahi, cucumber, guacamole and a segment of grapefruit. The romaine lettuce didn't add anything to the dish and took up a lot of room, but everything else worked very well on the taco. The fish was cooked and seasoned well and the other toppings gave the taco a nice balance, including the slightly bitter flavor of the grapefruit.

Dessert Menu
Warm Brownie Sundae

7
Since the restaurant ran out of their popular dessert churrositos, our waitress suggested the warm brownie sundae. It was an excellent suggestion because the sundae turned out to be one of the best we've tasted in a while. The dessert was served inside a cast iron skillet to keep the brownie warm and soft. The texture of the brownie was melt in your mouth, almost like the inside of a lava cake. The ice cream added nice creaminess, which was cut by the raspberry compote. A well balanced and tasty dessert.

Overall, the food, service and atmosphere at Pink Taco were beyond our expectations. The hornitos shrimp, sabana chicken and lobster dulce left us wanting to try more of the dishes on the menu. The prices a slightly higher, but the food will help you forget that and the atmosphere will melt your worries away. If you have friends in town and want to show them a good time, take them to Pink Taco for great alcohol selection and tasty food. We'll definitely be back soon.

4 out of 5 Stars

Pink Taco

10250 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Parking

3 hours free in the garage underneath the mall.

Larchmont Bungalow, Mid-Wilshire

Larchmont Bungalow is located in Larchmont Village, a very charming shopping area in the Mid-Wilshire district of Los Angeles. For those driving down Larchmont Boulevard, it might be very easy to miss the humble sign for this bungalow. Thankfully, there was a small crowd waiting outside and I knew we were at the right place. Everything about the Larchmont Bungalow reminded me of a cozy and charming home. There are three large picture windows in the front with a very inviting stair case to the french door entrance.

The inside is tastefully decorated with artist's work on the walls throughout the restaurant. To the left of the entrance is the in house coffee roaster and a counter with a tasteful display of coffees and teas.


To the right of the entrance are the "Order Here" stations and the oh so dangerous glass case of baked goods.


Large laminated menus are available in front of each cashier and can be picked up for customers to study before their turn to order. One side contains all the breakfast items and the other side lists all the lunch and dinner items. The good news is, breakfast is served all day at this bungalow, which is a huge plus in my book.

We were fortunate enough to bypass the line on the busy Sunday afternoon since the great people at Larchmont Bungalow invite us for a meal. The restaurant was so busy, I wondered why I was invited to review the restaurant. It seemed like they were doing really well. I did keep an eye on the line and it seemed to go by fairly quickly. Everything on the menu looked amazing and we gave Ken, the owner of Larchmont Bunglow the freedom to pick our dishes. Since the restaurant offers open seating, we opted to sit outside since the weather was perfect. I knew I was in good hands when I saw Cholula on the table. If there is one thing that I love with breakfast potatoes, it's a dash of Cholula sauce. Although we didn't receive any dishes with breakfast potatoes, I know it will be there for our next visit.


The service was very quick and friendly. The drinks came out a few minutes after we sat down and the food arrived about 10-15 minutes later. A very good pace considering how busy they were. I also noticed customers around us weren't waiting too long before they received their food. Benji, "the face of Larchmont Bungalow" also came by for a visit and we had a good chat about blogging and staying fit while attempting to eat the entire city. Benji made his way around to several tables and check in with customers, which I thought made this place feel even more like home. Now onto the food...

French roast


A nice french roast with a light and very smooth taste. No bitterness or sourness at all to the coffee and absolutely no need for sugar, cream, or anything else.

Mexican mocha


The Mexican mocha was a delightful surprise. This ice blended beverage has the perfect balance of cinnamon, milk, and sugar. No need for whipped topping because the drink has a natural frothiness. I think I just found my new favorite ice blended drink. They also offer a regular mocha made with Ghiradelli chocolate, which I am sure is just as good.

Seafood Breakfast Crepe
$14.95


When this plate arrived, my mouth started watering just looking at the large chunks of lobster claw on top of the crepe. There is a very generous amount of lobster and shrimp mixed with spinach, scrambled eggs and roasted red peppers. The lobster and shrimp were cooked perfectly and everything was well seasoned. The tarragon hollandaise sauce was creamy yet light, which made for a wonderful compliment to the crepe. I haven't had many savory crepes, but I thought this crepe had a great texture and thickness. There was also a selection of fresh local fruits on the plate, which all tasted like they were in their prime.

Red and Blue Velvet Pancakes
$12.95


These red and blue velvet pancakes are one of the specialties at Larchmont Bungalow. The plate arrived with three large and very thick pancakes each cut in half stuffed with cream cheese and topped with whipped cream cheese and toasted walnuts with a side of maple syrup. My eyes lite up when I saw this dish because I was really looking forward to it. If you are a fan of red velvet cake, you will become a fan of these pancakes. It's like tasting the shell of a pancake on the outside and a red velvet cake on the inside. The pancakes had just the right amount of sweetness and the walnuts were perfectly toasted. The pancake is so good on its own, there is almost no need for maple syrup. This dish has redefined pancakes for me and I cannot wait to have it again. This dish can be shared by at least two people and more if you order additional dishes.

Scallop and Shrimp Salad
$13.95


Deep fried scallops and shrimp with shredded red and napa cabbage, enoki mushrooms, parsley, cilantro and mint tossed in a wonderful miso dressing and finished off with crunchy potatoes in place of croutons. The scallops and shrimps were perfectly cooked. I've never had scallops deep fried and really enjoyed it. The salad had just the right amount of dressing and all the ingredients were allowed to shine. The mint was a very refreshing touch and the potatoes stayed very crisp.

Sea bass
$17.95


The last dish was a miso marinated sea bass with fried rice and salad. The two pieces of sea bass were both evenly and perfectly cooked. The miso flavor came through, but just the right amount so it didn't mask the natural flavor of the fish. The fried rice had asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, red peppers and a very generous amount of sliced avocado on top. All the vegetables were cooked just right and maintained a nice crunch. The mango, papaya and cucumber salad was a very nice touch and well paired with the peppery arugula.

The food at Larchmont is thoughtful, well balanced, refreshing, visually appealing and comforting. Add the cozy atmosphere and friendly, courteous staff and this restaurant has it all. Larchmont Bungalow is now one of my favorite casual restaurants in Los Angeles. This restaurant has brought back my confidence when it comes to ordering seafood. I'm usually hesitant to order seafood because it is so often overcooked or seasoned incorrectly, but I am 100% confident to order it at Larchmont Bungalow and cannot wait to try the rest of their seafood menu, including the grilled fish tacos. It has been a while since I had a meal where everything tasted spot on and the overall dining experience was flawless. It's hard to believe this place has only been open for a little over a year because it is already a well oiled machine. I would recommend this place to anyone without hesitation.

Larchmont Bungalow
107 N Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004



Parking
There is metered parking along Larchmont Boulevard and street parking on residential streets.