What are some over-rated L.A. restaurants to you? Why, specifically? Only one each!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Melisse. 
It is fine, in fact, it is better than fine. 
But it is not a world class restaurant for me.

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Al & Bea's. I just don't get it. I've retried it many times over the years. The last time it was cold.

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The Apple Pan. If I want an iceberg lettuce sandwich, I'll make it at home.

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Langer's.

Din Tai Fung.

Shunji.

Philippe's.

Park's BBQ.

Bludso's.

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Guisado's - nothing wrong with it but not nearly good enough to justify standing in a long line.

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Donut Man

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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.

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Mayura/Annapurna

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Burger King (did you know they paint the grill lines on the burgers!)

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Umami burger

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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.

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Tsujita Annex.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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I'll play. 

I don't get the fuss over Night+Market Song. Thought it was very disappointing.

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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.

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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.

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The Hat and Donut Man.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Ruth's Chris. 

Roy's.

Gladstone's.

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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!

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Sugarfish.

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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.

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Mozza (both, it's a twofer)

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Red medicine. Overrated and terrible.

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Crustacian
Fig & Olive

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If I weren't so shy, I'd start two sister threads:
1) under-rated, and
2) over-priced LA restaurants.

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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.

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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.

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Phillipe's. Why, specifically? I don't know what to say other than the food is slop.

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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.

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Just reminded by another post, 800 Degrees belongs on this list.

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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.

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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.

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Animal is so overrated.

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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.

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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.

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Grub

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What are some over-rated L.A. restaurants to you? Why, specifically? Only one each!

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Discussion Summary

Al & Bea's Mexican Food

The Apple Pan

Langer's

Din Tai Fung

Shunji Japanese Cuisine

Bludso's Bar & Que

Guisados

The Donut Man

Annapurna Cuisine

Southern Spice

Chi Spacca

800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen

Brent's Deli Northridge

Greenblatt's Deli & Fine Wines

Houston's

Houston's

Tito’s Tacos

Mastro's Steakhouse

Mastro's Ocean Club

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles

Cafe Stella

Matsuhisa

The Hat

The Hat (The Original)

Costco Wholesale

Costco Food Court

Five Guys

Five Guys

In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger

Alimento

Father's Office

Father's Office Santa Monica

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Roy's Restaurant

SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

Taqueria Los Anaya

Soot Bull Jeep

Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria GCM

Milo & Olive

Crustacean Beverly Hills

Koi Los Angeles

Koi Japanese Cuisine

Los Cinco Puntos

Dan Tana's

Spago

Blu Jam Cafe

The Factory Kitchen

Chinois On Main

Guerrilla Tacos

RC Provisions Inc. a Giamela Meat Company

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles - Hollywood

Roscoe's Chicken And Waffles - Pico Blvd.

Mitsuwa Marketplace - San Gabriel

Mitsuwa Marketplace - Santa Monica

Sushi Kiriko

Sanya Korean BBQ

Grub Gals Catering & Event House

CVS

CVS

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