Relax, these are just opinions. :-)
Here's mine at the moment: Chiba Sushi, on Saticoy.
I know many foodies who insist this is the best sushi they've had in L.A., and I've been here three times total in the last few months (due to a friend who moved out there). It was always damn good - but not amazing,
People are highly defensive about their sushi restaurants, and I'll say that Chiba is definitely a very good place with a cool owner/chef. But it's certainly not in the rarified upper echelon territory of places like Sushi Sushi, to me.
In-And-Out. I like it a lot, but the adoration that people pile upon it is a bit beyond my understanding.
2nd on In-And-Out; never thought it was more than ordinary, and the "secret menu" is about as secret as, say, Charlie Sheen's ego...
Agreed!
Agreed as well. I just don't get the love.
Well, in fairness, it seems one step up from Carl's Jr.
And twenty down from Red Robin.
Couldn't agree more.
In 'N Out is HEAD AND SHOULDERS above all other hamburger restaurants. For one thing, their hamburger patties are made FRESH in the restaurant, not frozen. The potatoes for their French Fries are sliced right there before your very eyes. It doesn't get any fresher than that.
I love their "Animal Style" burger. The grilled onions mixed in with the melted cheese is DELICIOUS!
I can't understand why these other folks and poo-pooing In 'N Out. I think they produce a damned good product.
In Northridge on Tampa Ave at the entrance to Costco, is an In 'N Out right across from a Five Guys. I've tried Five Guys and it's mediocre at best. Look at the parking lot for each as well as the drive through lines. The lot and line at In 'N Out is ALWAYS jammed while at Five Guys your could roll a bowling ball across the lot and not hit a single person. THAT alone tells you something.
Next best I would say is Carl's Jr. The rest, McDonald's, Burger King, etc. can all fight for last place.
I think the point is that you're not exactly setting a high bar by stating it's better than McDonald's, etc., and that while it's decent (although their fries are terrible), it simply is "over-rated." Not bad, in fact better than most fast-food burgers, but still over-rated.
People come from all over the world and hear about INO and try it, and they feel let down, simply because the hype is ridiculous, far above its merits.
Again, a quality product, but the hype is why there are 7 upvotes.
I think the 7 upvotes is because it is the most accessible of any of the places on this list so far, with the exception of Burger King.
As for "people come from all over the world" and "feel let down"- how would you know?
I've got friends who can barely make it from the airport to stop at INO, so any evidence of this can't be more than anecdotal.
You're comment, "although their fries are terrible" says QUITE A LOT about you. They cut the potatoes FRESH; right in front of your eyes, dude! So you prefer the frozen potatoes at McDonald's and elsewhere to the fresh cut and fried potatoes at In 'N Out???
Thank God you're not a restaurant critic as the whole industry would fold based upon your reviews.
Settle down chief. Just because they're fresh cut doesn't mean they are good. In and Out fries have a very short half-life be for they become soggy, limp an tasteless. My guess is that they don't double-fry them Belgian-style, so they only can cook them at a lower heat to avoid scorching.
Totally agree with this. I like In-N-Out's burgers. A lot. Though I agree that they are over-hyped, I can't think of a better burger at that price point. Their fries, not so much. They do not double fry, and that is the problem.
Oh, and hms1952, Thomas Keller uses frozen french fries, so you might as well call out the James Beard Foundation and Michelin for their reviews, too.
Frozen fries are blanched at the factory and then frozen. A quick drop in the fryer gives them that second fry, so yes, I prefer those to fresh cut, once-fried taters.
Marché Moderne, an excellent French restaurant in Costa Mesa has excellent fries with their steak frites and moules, and they too we've been told are frozen!
Thomas Keller??? We're talking about hamburger joints here, not upscale Beverly Hills restaurants.
I like the fries and hamburgers at INO but I agree that there is too much hype.
Settle down yourself, bud! They DO NOT have "a short half-life" because they don't sit around long enough to become soggy as they do at other restaurants. In 'N Out serves them as fast as they can cook them.
We can agree to disagree, dude, but there's no need to be disagreeable. It's all OPINIONS! You have yours, I have mine. Last I checked, this IS the United States of America, where EVERYONE is entitled to express their opinion on anything.
Being fresh cut doesn't make them taste better if they're not cooked properly. INO fries taste like crap compared to those from McD's.
Agreed.
For fast-food type of fries, frozen is often better than fresh-cut. Actually, not often, always better.
Now, if you're talking fries a la minute, then fresh cut, twice fried in preferably duck fat, dusted with some sea salt, is the way to go.
Crap??? Hardly, dude! You actually LIKE McDonald's fries? OMG.
I think McD's fries are superior to INO's. But the best fries I have had in a long while are the ones at Chickpeas on Melrose. Their falafel is OK, but the fries are delish.
Dude, you either have an unhealthy obsession with the place or your some sort of corporate shill.
Chill the frick' out. People are entitled to their opinions.
The burgers are decent - yes, they're better than BK and the other bottom feeding chains - but their fries are pretty darned crappy.
McDs fries are in the top 20 in the country. And that's not a list that includes just fast food.
Now, you may not like "beef flavored fries"... 'sfine. But McDs cut corners on everything except their fries, which are generally the best thing there.
They care about their fries.
Gotta chime in here. I like their fries, but they're reconstituted and frozen. Pretty great considering, but not considering? They're a pale imitation to the fries they made back in the '50's - those were fantastic. And they've slowly gotten worse and cheaper and easier and more about productivity than taste.
In and Out oughta figure out the twice fried (and some refrigeration in the middle). It's an extra step, it would cost them more, but good god would they be improved!
The reason their fries are terrible has nothing to do with freshness, rather the fact that they don't salt them out of the fryer. They provide salt on the side which of course does not stick.
Their burgers are just ok... Best drive through you can get though.
That's not entirely true. While I agree that salting them out of the fryer would benefit the fries from a taste standpoint, the texture is what they are really missing. Bear with me here, it's not all perfect, but this is the basic idea:
I think many would agree that the perfect french fry is a salty, hot, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside affair. French fries actually benefit from being flash frozen after being par boiled, which gets the inside soft and delicious, but, more importantly, releases the starch. When this happens, and then the fries are flash frozen, the starch on the outside of the potatoes is frozen as well. The starch is what gives the crispy deliciousness. Potatoes that are not par boiled and frozen do not get a chance to release all their delicious starch and end up as soggy oily potato sticks, not what we all know and love as delicious fries.
Because In N Out doesn't boil and freeze their potatoes, this ever-important layer of starch never has a chance to manifest itself, resulting in a much less crispy fry.
Again, this isn't the EXACT science, but the idea is there.
"People come from all over the world and hear about INO and try it, and they feel let down, simply because the hype is ridiculous, far above its merits."
We could probably say that about Disneyland too. Some people will ALWAYS be let down by something. One of my friends hates his Bentley.
I have a number of friends from the east coast who HAD to eat at INO when they visited and they have became huge fans.
I think In-N-Out is really great. Their service is friendly, their restaurants clean, and it's pretty quick considering the amount of people that are usually there. I switch between a burger animal-style and a grilled cheese. However...their fries. Are the worst. And that makes me almost never go there. And ordering them "well-done" or animal style or with cheese is just an unsatisfying way of masking them.
I think the fries are okay if eaten IMMEDIATELY. And I really do mean IMMEDIATELY. But, even then, they're still not as satisfying as McD's....
I've always eaten the fries first (out of the bag) on the way home. And, sadly, they ain't what they used to be. :/
While I waiting for my order the last time I was at INO, I watched as a worker took a ginormous container of oil and pour it into the frying trough while all baskets were down cooking fries. Talk about bad greasy limp fries. I haven't been back since.
Well if you are going to a fast food place you'll typically be eating everything as soon as you get it. I like their fries and the ones at McDonald's but maybe that's because I like the ones that are greasy, salty, and a little soft. So maybe I just boosted someone's argument here.
Whether or not In-N-Out is overrated depends on exactly which claims were being made on its behalf in the first place. If it was "the greatest burger ever!" then yeah, that's a hell of an overstatement. But if it was "best burger at the $3.xx price point in a large-ish chain" ... then that's not such a crazy claim to make.
totes.
What in the world do you mean by "totes"?
Totes = totally
As in, "totes too cool to type out 'totally'"
OK...so if I understand what sarahbeth is saying is that she agrees with raytamsgv is that In 'n Out is fine for a decent $3 burger, but that the widespread adoration for the place is beyond her comprehension. I guess I agree completely, and find it incredulous that so many CH's find it so wonderful.
LaScala. Their over-hyped chopped salad is iceberg lettuce, processed turkey or salami and shredded cheese with garbanzos and shitty vinaigrette dressing for $15. Sucks.
Bottega Louie. my downtown work compadres raved about it. a must-go-to for lunch. so I finally went, and the food was only okay,...even if the food was better it was so insanely loud and obnoxious,...even more so on weekends. Veto.
Agreed. Have been twice for dinner. It was good, but not up to the over-the-top hype surrounding it, and far too loud (though that's a basic design issue with many newer L.A. restaurants).
I like the place. I'd have been disappointed if I walked in expecting great food but my expectations were low to middling.
I find the food enjoyable if not revelatory and, unlike the vast majority of this board, I like the loud atmosphere, especially when the place is pumping on a weekend night.
agreed. nearly 10k yelp reviews for okay food.
desserts are decent and good eye candy during dinner time.
Better for breakfast. But very loud. Great pastry presentation.
Loudest restaurant I've ever eaten in that didn't involve a DJ in making the noise
Agreed. But great desserts.
Melisse.
It is fine, in fact, it is better than fine.
But it is not a world class restaurant for me.
Melisse's Carte Blanche Menu, for me - I think their "TEN" offering is sufficient and highlights the stars of the show. The extra 6-7 courses on the carte blanche fell flat for me and was not worth the extra $$$. Felt completely ripped off.
Tragic. At their price point, and with all of their pretenses they pretty much have to be in order to justify themselves. I shall save myself the disappointment.
So, so agree with you CB.
Al & Bea's. I just don't get it. I've retried it many times over the years. The last time it was cold.
Crazy. I don't even like bean and cheese burritos, but every time I go there I feel invigorated by them. I am not sure I've ever had a better burrito actually, they just seem quintessentially perfect there.
I guess to be fair I have no comparison basis though since I never order them anywhere else haha
The Apple Pan. If I want an iceberg lettuce sandwich, I'll make it at home.
Finally, someone had the stones to challenge Langer's pastrami hegemony! I've honestly tried to like the place but it just doesn't do it for me.
You're trying too hard. Just get a Dr. Brown's, plain thick cut pastrami on rye and pick your mustard. Nothing more, nothing less.
one does not need stones to challenge or disagree with what a large group feels is delicious food, all that is needed is a smart phone, or a pc, or a lap top, or a tablet, or a friend that has any of the mentioned items that will allow you use of it…its just an opinion, in this case, a weak one.
Not loud enough, eh???
OP asked for one example, but since you gave 6, let me respond:
Langers - I like it and can't name any BETTER pastrami, but Brent's is good as is Greenblatt's...
Din Tai Fung - agreed, overhyped, but not BAD
Shunji - never been
Philippe's - Totally agree, completely OVERHYPED. Cole's is much better as is Houston's
Park's BBQ - I am a BIG fan. I have not had any better Korean BBQ in LA, although their banchan often disappoints
Bludso's - I am from Texas originally, and Kevin's Q is the real deal. For me, Phillip's is a distant second. HOWEVER, the mash up location on LA Brea sucks!
My over-rated award goes to...<drumroll>...Tito's Tacos, cause they taste like ass.
i dont know whats worst, the "tacos" or the commercials.
Had take away from Bludso's (Compton location) this weekend, and it was excellent. =)
Sorry if this seems silly, but what is it that makes one KBBQ better over another if not the banchan? In my experience, it's pretty similar across the same price level, and at various places, the main difference is in the banchan. What am I missing?
Quality and cut of the meat (even at comparable price points)
Type and selection of meat, not just pork versus beef but offal versus sweet breads (even at comparable price points)
Coal versus gas
Grill aparstus
And of course the "f.q." of the waitresses
What is f.q.? And...what are you looking for in all of these categories that makes for the better KBBQ?
I feel like the only charcoal I've seen is Soot Bull Jeep?
Also, forgive my ignorance, but are sweetbreads not offal?
- Park's BBQ does lay charcoal above their gas grill which imparts an acceptable amount of charcoal flavor.
- Sweetbreads are offal, but they are not available at literally any Korean BBQ I have been to, and I've been to quite a few. The type of offal typically found at Korean BBQ is honeycomb tripe (ryang) and small and large intestines (gopchang). None of these can be classified as sweetbreads.
- Banchan isn't the only aspect by which Korean BBQ's are judged. Many of these Korean BBQ's also operate as legitimate Korean cuisine restaurants, which is to say Korean entrees are also served at BBQ's. Stews, soups, fishes are all fair game, and those are the areas where Park's BBQ really shines.
Anyone who thinks Park's BBQ is overrated either doesn't like paying a ton of money for Korean BBQ or doesn't have a very strongly backed opinion. I'm willing to forgive for both, but don't purport that you can objectively (read: in absentia of financial considerations) make a case against Park's BBQ being one of the best KBBQ's in the city and get away with it.
+1 for Philippe's, I never got their whole mystique...tough grey roast beef on soggy bread, seriously? I also agree with others on this thread who feel that In 'n' Out is overrated.
Din Tai Fung, on the other hand...
Got to agree here with ipse - went to Din Tai Fung tonight and on the way home I'm thinking - how is that place great and Palace Dim Sum sucks? If there is a difference, it was pretty subtle.
Park's - didn't get all. And some people rave it's one of the best restaurants in L.A. The novelty of cooking your own food is lost on me. What next? Bus your own table?
Do like Langer's though everything else there is pedestrian at best. I gotta say, when I want pastrami - I go there.
Shunji - fine, just nothing there that triggers that mega-delicious button.
And so on...
The waiters will cook it for you at Park's, unless you want to practice your ninja grill skills.
hey foodiemahoodie,
re: Langer's - i was in the same boat as you, but after reading some CH threads here, i tried out their Beef Tongue & Liver Sandwich and it was delish! :>
i also really liked their Corned Beef Hash.
Have you even been to Park's? They cook your food for you.
Langers: debatable.
Din Tai Fung: overrated, yes. still like it though.
Shunji: no.
Park's BBQ: no.
Bludso's: no.
Really? You think Park's is overrated?
I love Langer's sandwiches but probably agree about Phillipe's.
Where else besides Langer's do you get homemade pastrami? I mean made from scratch, not store bought, then simmered in water... Yuk.
You're entitled to your opinion, even if it's wrong.
Your case is weak even given your multitude of qualifications. I think you're tying your stomach with your wallet with most of these picks (they err on the expensive side of their respective categories) or being contrarian based on unreasonable expectations or outright naivete with the respective cuisines.
Din Tai Fung is objectively one of the best xiaolongbao's available in California (including the SGV) — the sheer craftsmanship of the dumpling justifies its appeal, and that's before you get to the fact that they have the perfect skin-to-soup-to-filling ratio that's essentially been honed to a science to a balance that's justified chain-like expansion from a region that's notoriously picky about its dumplings. Trust me, I've tried to find a better one for cheaper, too, and though there's maybe one place, it's not as consistent and it lacks the convenience of multiple locations (Arcadia, Glendale, South Coast).
Langer's pastrami isn't the outright best in the city; surprisingly, the title of best pastrami in the city is a genuine debate that's contingent upon bread preferences and how you like your pastrami sliced (or how good Noah Wexler's pastrami turned out that day).
Shunji: On the basis of that rice alone, just no.
Park's, as before stated, cannot be overrated unless someone promised you Korean BBQ cooked by floating cherubs and vintage Krug splashing down neatly into diners' chalices from a giant waterfall-like fountain. From a food standpoint, Park's is the closest thing you can get to a perfect, authentic Korean BBQ. They spare no expenses and they do not cut corners in the preparation of Korean cuisine. Their marinated kalbi is the finest in the city (and according to some Korean food critics, pretty much the world, though I'm more partial to a little more soy sauce, a little more charcoal and a little less sweetness) owing in large part to the fact that they use genuine crushed Asian pears in their marinade.
Bludso's: The best brisket in L.A., mostly by default. I can kind of see it if you're from cities/states that actually do real BBQ.
Why Bludso's? That is some fine, consistent, and tasty BBQ. Their chicken is on point, brisket delicious, rib tips sublime. Please explain.
The tortillas are massively overrated. They are not particularly good.
Los Anaya, for example, makes far superior ones. So does the simple truck German's.
Amen. They are way too thick IMO, they should at least make flour an option.
Disagree- the tortillas are the best part and I love the thickness. However, the fillings all taste very similar.
Plus I've never heard of authentic Mexican tacos served in flour tortillas. But then I'm no expert.
Corn was harder to grow in areas of Northern Mexico so they grew wheat instead.
http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/c...
Thank you. Those tortillas are pretty bad for being an alleged top taco joint.
f.o. It just isnt good, yet people swear its the best thing since sliced bread, LA will be a better place when they are all gone, the sooner the better.
it's so annoying when they attract national media attention as a good representative of LA cuisine.
What is f.o.?
Is F.O. father's office? There's only like 2 of them... ?
Yes, but lots of "fuck offs"
Is this code for "knock offs"? Who are the knock offs?
I haven't heard anyone talk about Father's Office in a long time. Are they really that overhyped? I recall enjoying their burger, and I don't really like burgers or blue cheese, so I figured that said something, though I've never had a craving enough to go back. I recall them having smoked eel on the menu that also seemed interesting though, but who knows. The general vibe of the place (the CC one) seemed awful though, it's true.
QUOTE: "Are they really that overhyped? I recall enjoying their burger, and I don't really like burgers or blue cheese, so I figured that said something, though I've never had a craving enough to go back."
I think that's exactly the point. I recall some people (not necessarily here on CH) 6-7 yrs ago talking about the burger as if it were the Holy Grail.
And, as you said, it's simply a good burger w/ some interesting ingredients that actually may actually be unappealing to people. Hype = Holy Grail; reality = simply a good burger. That means, IMO, it's over-hyped.
I assume the "f*ck off" is ipse referring to Chef Sang Yoon's policy of making no substitutions (or additional condiments).
Where are they overhyped? I haven't heard them talked about in several years personally and I feel like I keep abreast of most food press available.
Wonder what f.o. would do with a little gorilla theatre?
Like ordering the burger (I don't eat meat), then taking out 3 or 4 packets of catsup, making a big to-do about tearing each one open, and pouring it all over the burger, while definitely leaving my trash behind for all to see. My choice for overhyped L.A.
yup, two too many.
I will fully admit the first time I had the f.o. burger I thought it was incredible and raved about it. Second time I thought the caramelized onions and other toppings overpowered the burger, and wasn't worth returning to anytime soon.
Chi Spacca just didn't do it for me. I would never, ever pay that price to eat there. I know it is fairly beloved by reputable people, but, my thoughts were:
Huge steak. A bit rare for my taste (and I like meat rare). Not on the level of a steak you get at Cut or Minetta Tavern in New York, which is tough competition but they put themselves there with the pricing. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I was not bowled over by it.
None of the sides or salads were particularly memorable, and the desserts could have been from any decent Italian restaurant. Best thing of the night (by far) was the foccacia--which was nice, but at over $100 a person I need more than this. I think it is by far the weakest of the 3 Mozza options, and I'm not in a hurry to try it again.
Re: Chiba. Local to us. We quit going years ago because the water (and tea) tasted so bad. Did they ever invest in a water filter?
Bestia. It's good, but not excellent, and the way some people I've talked to get all hyperbolic about it, it makes me think that Bestia is a little overhyped. We ordered a ton, and found the appetizers to be very good, the pastas and the mains pretty good but honestly slightly disappointing (textures, flavors, proportions were less successful than starters), cocktails and desserts here and there. It's definitely a hot table and it has a fun vibe, kind of, but as far as the food goes, it's overall good, but not spectacular. Given the fanfare and difficulty of securing a table, one might think it's above the city's other Italian offerings, but in my opinion, it's really just a different style. Lardo in my old fashioned? Not really me, but also the pork chop was rather weak in terms of cooking. Food wise, it's a B+ overall imo, good and solid but nothing quite commensurate to the type of hype it garners.
Hear, hear... I like the vibe at Bestia, but the food takes a second seat.
def agree mark. Bestia was OK for us, but nowhere near the crazy hype / fawning by some people (nor the "sorry we have no reservations available during a normal dinner hour for the next 4 weeks" (unless you pay money and use an App that sells reservations (what a ripoff and sad state of affairs that our society has gone onto)).
You are completely correct. The pork chop is extremely disappointing. Overall Bestia is just fantastically overhyped. It is solid, and does some things really well, but I would greatly enjoy understanding how they are so booked all the time.
Agree completely. Many things at Bestia are very good, but many are just ok...for example, the pastas and pizzas are not special. And I can't think of a more uncomfortable restaurant in L.A....the din is incredible. But it's always packed and reservations are very hard to come by. I don't get it...but then again, I don't get the adoration that In 'n Out gets on this board.
800 Degrees. Two times I went toppings were like soup, fell right off the pie with the cheese. Have heard its better if you ask for it to be cooked a bit longer so one more chance is in order.
The crust wil be crispier if you like it that way.
which location?
I started noticing that too. HIGHLY RECOMMEND asking for extra crispy. I think as it got more popular, the cooks are pressured to make room in the ovens by cooking the pies for less time. Just ask. I've found it to be much better that way.
Mastro's. So much butter. When I asked them to cook my steak a little bit more (it was rare, not medium rare) they brought me a hot plate with an inch of butter in it. The lobster mash is neither lobster, nor potato. It's butter in a bowl.
That lobster mash is a joke on people who want to throw good money away...it is just terrible. But I like the steaks...or did before the BH outpost became such a circus - it feels like going to Mastros-land now, a weird semi-adult theme park.
People are going to crucify me but I think Boa had a MUCH better steak than Mastro's. Shot's fired.
Union Kitchen in Pasadena. I've occasionally had very good food there, but not mind-blowing, and just as often it's been terribly disappointing. The much-lauded squid ink garganelli was half raw (nowhere near al dente) and acrid with truffle butter. Braised pork ribs were falling-apart tender but flavorless, as if they were the end result of pork stock and suitable, at most, for a staff meal. West Coast mussels held leathery nuggets the size of my thumbnail; when I pointed this out I was brought a second serving (not much bigger and even worse in flavor), with the explanation that the Oregon mussels were spawning and "frustrating'; so why not take them off the menu or source them elsewhere? I'm all for eating locally and sustainably; I do it all the time at home, and very well. Maybe that's one reason Union frustrates me. The place is jammed with customers willing to shell out lots of money to worship at the Shrine of St. Alice, and they seem to think this is the greatest thing Pasadena's ever had, but I just don't get it. It feels a bit like The Emperor's New Clothes to me.
Agreed that the truffle butter rendered the dish almost inedible.
Union was a complete disappointment to me. The garganelli was perfect on my visit - but the tagiatelle and orecchiette were horrible. The one thing I loved was anything item that was pickled. A complete waste of time and money, IMO.. .and definitely overrated.
Eaten @ Union several times and would previously agree. They've had a hard time with keeping kitchen staff.
But lately UNION is bringing it!
Try again. Hopefully the kitchen staff will be the same.
Space is still cramped and dismal, IMHO.
Animal. I think that the place is good, I just don't think that it's THAT good. The manner in which some people revere this place borders on farce.
I'll also +1 on Apple Pan and Philippe's, neither of which are anything special.
When I read the topic, Animal was the first restaurant that came into mind.
agreed
I went to animal in it's very early opening days at least a half dozen times in a couple week span. Working on a play late night nearby with a large cast. Got told each time that the menu changes every day. No. It didn't. I was there yesterday and saw the exact same menu. And once I ordered the blueberry cobbler and got peach - which had been on the menu the week before... must have been sitting in the freezer. Some of our cast liked it and others were middling to dislike, but the only other late night choice was Cantor's.
Only one? That's tough. I'll go with Pink's. I mean it's a fine hot dog and all, but who in their right mind would line up for even ten minutes, much less 45, to get one? Utterly mystifying.
Huckleberry - good pastries but that line on the weekends is out of control. Certainly not worth the hassle of finding a table and dealing with the crowds.
I don't think they planned to be quite as popular as they are unfortunately. It was a spectacular place when it first opened, and hardly anyone was going. The details have obviously begun slipping since they went from making 5 khao soi's a night to 500 though. A real shame. Maybe they'll come to grips with it over time though. *crosses fingers*
Not sure it's overrated per se, as I don't really know anyone who's crazy about the food, but the fact that Cafe Stella continues to do the business it does mystifies me. I end up there maybe once a year and always walk away disappointed.
Matsuhisa. Stuck in a ponzu drenched 80's time capsule. Everything over-sauced to death. Spring mix and martini glasses. Completely dated, and not in a nostalgic way. I don't get the continued accolades.
Jerry's Deli.....WAY OVER PRICED and OVER RATED!
I've tried Langer's and personally, I don't know WHY people make such a fuss over it.
Brent's Deli in Northridge and Westlake Village is your WINNER if you want great food, portions and prices.
Intelligentsia. Can't deal with their coffee or their attitude.
Trois Mecs. High prices, low quality.
Alimento--OK, I've never been, but the whole double-tipping thing just turns me off.
Alimento--OK, I've never been, but the whole double-tipping thing just turns me off.
_________________
Well, I guess then that makes Saturn overrated in my book.
I've never been, but that whole thing about the rings only being an asteroid belt just turns me off.
+1 on Trois Mec. Been twice and have left scratching my head each time. Petit Trois, on the other hand, is a total gem. Hard to believe they come from the same hand.
Yes, I've found this same thing. It truly seems like two wholly separate places, with zero connection. I brought it up the last time I was at Petit Trois, and they told me they recently fired the manager of Trois Mec, as well as most of the kitchen and front of house staff in order to try and clean it up due to constant complaints though...
Maybe I'd try it again if good reports come out in the coming months.
Trois Mec, yes, horrible. I heard they recently fired everyone though, so maybe it will improve.
Alimento is pretty good. They make the best liver dish in LA.
What is being discussed here in terms of Intelligentsia?
Their espresso is top notch. I agree they are overrated in the sense that people act as if there is no comparable coffee in LA sometimes, but I do not see much room to say they are actually bad in any way. However, I only order single origin espresso's, and cold brews, so perhaps their pour overs are the weak link?
Totally agree with Intelligentsia coffee being over-rated!!!
I has a sharp taste that I do not enjoy, but so many places feature it as their house coffee.
Yes, it is mainly based on one sandwich but for us it is Bay Cities Deli with the godfather sandwich - an average sandwich at best and completely overhyped
I can see 'overrated' (although I 100% disagree, I can at least accept it)
But 'average?' I tell you what, pick 10 sandwich places at random. Report back if you still think the godfather is 'average.' Up for the challenge? Yeah, I wouldn't be either.
bay cities is average, there are definitely better out there, ive never had anything there that made me feel that ive got to go back.
youve set yourself up with that challenge.
Maybe you didn't read it properly. I said pick 10 sandwich places AT RANDOM. The fact that you could find 10 sandwiches in the whole city you like better is fine, but it doesn't make bay cities average.
I said take 10 sandwich places AT RANDOM.
90% of these places use the exact same meat as Bay Cities. Maybe another 8% use worse meat. Then there's the 2% that use super high end meat.
.5% (at best) use better bread. 99+% use worse bread. The whole reason people love Bay Cities is because most of us who love it care a lot about the bread, maybe more so than the meat. My guess is everyone who thinks it's overrated either doesn't care about the bread at all, or for whatever reason prefers soft fluff white bread.
Please, take the challenge as written. Report back.
I bake my own crusty loaf bread and generally detest "soft fluff white bread."
I was not impressed w/ the bread used for the Godmother. I was even less impressed w/ the bread they have for sell elswhere in the store that is apparently baked in-house.
Milo and Olive (and presumably Huckleberry) both have WAY better bread, IMO. THey may be in the 0.5%, but they're also w/i a 2-mi radius.
::shrug::
Did you have the plain Godmother or did you include "the works?"
A delicious sandwich which they feature is the Little Don Lorenzo parma prosciutto, water mozz, fresh basil, roasted tomatoes, olive oil, pepper on a mini baguette.
Perhaps you mean The Godmother?
Many of these responses are to me spot on --- especially In 'N Out, Apple Pan, Pink's and Philippe's. But I'm really puzzled at the dissing of Langer's. That is some fabulous pastrami, maybe the best anywhere.
If a restaurant is fairly inexpensive, which these days I considerless than $20 pp all-in, then I don't really care if it's overrated...it's not a substantial financial outlay, and worst case scenario generally is you get fed and, hopefully, full. There is little downside in trying these places for yourself and forming your own opinion, which of course is really the only one that matters.
Places I don't get are Tar&Roses - not particularly comfortable space, am done with small plates/sharing, and the food just never wowed me. Animal and Son of a Gun have good food, but not worth the effort and attitude - again, I'm sick of sharing my food!
I could live without ever eating at a small plates restaurant again. I don't mind sharing large plates though.
"The plates are small, they're meant to be shared". Let this trend be gone. It's like trying to drive a racecar slowly...
If you like what I ordered get one for yourself 'cause I'm gonna dust it off pretty quickly. lol
For my overrated restaurant I'll pick Son of a Gun. Didn't think the food was that good for how jam packed and uncomfortable the seating was.
I don't think there are rules at most restaurants right? You can just order your own set of small dishes, or two of the same dish (for yourself, or to share) right?
The problem is until you've tried the dishes, you have no idea how big and filling they are. For instance, the hamachi at SOG is 3 tiny slivers of sashimi - you're stomach wouldn't even know you ate. But the chicken sandwich is huge...a full meal really.
Joans on Third. Parking sucks (not their fault, I know.) Lines are long. Seating is minimal. Food not so awesome and crazy overpriced. It is very cute inside, though. I do really enjoy larder-type places, like Olive and Thyme, Susina, etc...I just think Joans always ends up being more of a pain in the ass than it's worth.
It's a place to walk to for locals haha
I hope people aren't driving in the eat there!
It's not too far from me (but too far to walk). But I have valley friends who always want to go there! Luckily they have the Studio City one now, so they can go there. I hate being the wet blanket, but I'm ALWAYS ignoring them when they suggest Joans. Even if you find yourself on 3rd at lunchtime, there are so many better places to go IMO (Olio, Simple Things, etc).
Joan's on Third's Lobster Roll is one of the best, if not the best in L.A. when you consider both size and taste.
I agree to a certain extent. The parking and crowds are a pain at Joan's. I'm never impressed with anything from the deli case and the hot counter food is usually over cooked from sitting. But, they make great French-style omelets and potatoes. The goat cheese, asparagus is delicious.
What I like most about Joan's is the mini cheese shop, the grocery section with the house made dips, marinades & vinaigrettes, the mini ham & brie baguettes, frozen appetizers, desserts, etc. It's perfect shopping for picnics and last minute get togethers. Only for a small gathering though, too expensive otherwise.
I haven't had a bad meal at Osteria Mozza (after about 7-8 visits), Pizzeria Mozza can be quite loud and the service is inconsistent but the food was always good to excellent (~15 visits)
Doesn't mean that either Mozza joints are not overrated (apologies for the double-negative).
Reading through this, seems like people have various takes on what "overrated" actually means.
For me, anyway, overrated does not mean bad (it could, but not always). It just means that a place is often held in higher regard than it should, realistically, be.
So to go back to Mozza (either P or O), while both you and I may have had fantastic meals at one or both places (consistently, no less), that doesn't exclude either restaurant from being categorized as "overrated" if the consensus from hoi polloi was that, for example, Pizzeria Mozza made the best pizza in the world.
That's funny Thor123.
On chowhoundla it is hard to imagine more underrated places than these, though in the "real" world these are both highly thought of.
If I weren't so shy, I'd start two sister threads:
1) under-rated, and
2) over-priced LA restaurants.
IN & OUT BURGER! I used to think the drive thru line was so long because of the popularity until I went during Carmageddon. I was the only car in the drive thru and it still took more than 10 minutes. Slow service makes for artificially long lines.
I know I will get flamed for this as seeing another thread praising it's virtues, but Dan Tana's just does not do it for me. I have gone several times over the years, and every time I went, while I always had reservations, we were treated like c***. The only reason I kept going back was trying to please my dad because of an ethnic connection. The food was good but not great, and I just don't need to be treated like a piece of dog s***. And yes, while I am nobody famous, I am fairly well heeled and I dress appropriately and I am not a a*****e when I enter a restaurant. Sorry if you go out of business, I am not going to shed a tear.
I'm not sure if it's true everywhere, but LA has a long history of places that are schizophrenic. They are awful and treat you like shit if they don't know you and/or they just feel like it; they are terrific if they know you and like having you around even if you are a bit of an a-hole. I wish there was an easy fix for this. I doubt there is. Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown.
I think a key (and I am a fan) is not to go after 8 pm and not on Fri or Sat. Its just too crazy later or on weekends and not worth the aggro. If you go by 7:30 during the week, its still buzzing but not so crazed that its not worth the hassle. Just my view.
I haven't been in a few years, but was never treated poorly there. Always had a good time, though, and left full and satisfied.
As for the different rooms, I prefer the left because of the bar, but many high profile people request the other room...it's not Siberia.
You know it was the look, the attitude, the condescension, more than where we ended up. Yes this was a few years back and I have only experienced it once before at the long gone Chasen's. Never, ever had a problem at Spago or Chnois on Main or The Bistro when they were the hot ticket. I dunno, just wasn't meant to be.
Phillipe's. Why, specifically? I don't know what to say other than the food is slop.
Was just driving down Melrose this morning and thought of a good one to add to the list: Blu Jam Cafe. I have no idea why throngs of people pour out into the street for some mediocre breakfast items every weekend. It completely boggles my mind.
I'll play. And I'm not limiting myself to just one.
These are in no particular order, and I'm sure I'm missing some ...
In N Out
Apple Pan
Melisse
Providence
Sweet Lady Jane
Donut Man
Bob's
Henry's Tacos
AOC
SOAG
Anything Ludo
Bestia
Factory Kitchen
Chengdu
Chinois
Sweet Rose
Guerrilla Tacos
Anything Roy Choi
... and as I said, I'm sure I'm forgetting more than a few.
Sounds like you get out too much.
And are not treated very well on those occasions.
Ha, that may be true. But I enjoy going out, what can I say?
And, typically, I feel very well treated. Have been fortunate to have some amazing experiences and meals.
What are your 3 top choices in LA?
For what? That's like asking me what are my top three choices for places to visit on holiday.
When asked, I usually try and tailor my response towards the individual's interests/tastes.
And as ipse notes above - I'm not saying some/all of these places are not good (whatever that means), just that they're overrated.
You're right, it is over-rated. But keep in mind the raters are usually the less discriminating sushi aficionados.
I had a friend (who works in Burbank) who insisted it's the best sushi in L.A. But ask him about Mori, or Zo, etc. and he draws a blank. My friends is an expert in his field but that field is not sushi.
Their service is horrible. Their "poutine" didn't have cheese curds and only gravy. I visited twice recently and was not impressed during both visits with the dishes that we ordered.
We live in L.A. and have become spoiled and picky. Since we now have the internet and social media outlets we think it makes us James Beard. The sushi people are the most insufferable.
The guys at Animal are doing great things. They care about food. They care where it comes from, how it's sourced, enjoy inventive preparations and it shows and it's delicious. And I don't know about you, but the servers always remember us and are real friendly without fawning.
You go to Animal to try and have a strictly authentic poutine?... That's your criteria?...
Can't help but chuckle at the thought of that I guess lol
Pork belly sandwich!
Roscoes Chicken and Waffles. I still eat there occasionally - because I like the flavor combination - but less and less. The breasts are almost always dry and over-cooked and the waffles are limp.
I don't get the crowds at a little Japanese place on Centinela called Sakura.
We aren't all that picky about our Japanese food. We do eat it a lot, though. My wife is Japanese American and she sometimes craves it. We go to J-Town more often than not, but not even the best reviewed places. LIke I said, we aren't that picky. We even like Mitsuwa food court. (We don't go to Sawtelle that much becaus of the crowds -- probably should go more via Uber.)
We can walk to Sakura -- it's less than a mile from our house. We pass it all the time. We don't understand the crowds. Every couple of years we give it a shot and we (wife, two grown sons) just don't like the food. Yet, it's always busy and friends of ours who like to eat good food like to go there. We think it's a Culver City thing -- people who grew up on it, like it.
Used to live near there and went a few times. It was purely a proximity thing for me. It was the best area sushi I found when I didn't feel like paying for K-zo and didn't preplan to make reservations.
I must disagree. Sakura has been my go-to spot for sushi for years. Fresh and delicious. I'd say give it another shot but it sounds like you already have.
We've eaten at Sakura over the years as well, through at least three different owners. The customer base used to be mostly Japanese folks in the adjacent neighborhood.
Back in the 90s, the owner sold to (I think) a younger couple - they kinda "upgraded" and expanded the menu, which drew more of a younger diverse crowd. This was necessary as the local Japanese resident population was getting older and their kids were moving away. The place suffered from a quality standpoint IMHO. I recall ordering some dishes with more premium ingredients (like matsutake) and got scraps.
The newest owner I think is a Japanese-American woman who seems to have a better handle on things. However, we don't think it's worth the wait, the dining room is cramped, and we usually only order certain dishes to go for my dad (the chirashi is pretty good).
Sakura's sushi bar does brisk business. It's straight-up average to above-average sushi that is meant for sushi eaters who are more than a few pay grades and levels of refinement below those who appreciate Mori, Kiriko, Tsujita et al.
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