Comments on: West Restaurant at The Hotel Angeleno http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/ foodblogging los angeles Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:44:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Bennie Salindong http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-111222 Bennie Salindong Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:52:28 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-111222 After the bad expierence I do believe that I understand why the meal was comped from the review above! This was such a great expierence to see what is exactly missing in the restaurant business here in Los Angeles! Grace and class with dish presentation!!!! I can go on and on with a list of other things which by the way this blog is for but believe me. The summary is great location, great atomsphere POOR SERVICE, lack of taste with food & presentation! After the bad expierence I do believe that I understand why the meal was comped from the review above! This was such a great expierence to see what is exactly missing in the restaurant business here in Los Angeles! Grace and class with dish presentation!!!! I can go on and on with a list of other things which by the way this blog is for but believe me. The summary is great location, great atomsphere POOR SERVICE, lack of taste with food & presentation!

]]> By: BonBon http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36939 BonBon Mon, 17 Jul 2006 07:01:34 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36939 Hello! So great to read your reviews and awesome photos! I recently put this place in my 'Must-Try' list and I think I will soon. Thanks! Hello! So great to read your reviews and awesome photos! I recently put this place in my ‘Must-Try’ list and I think I will soon. Thanks!

]]> By: Richard http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36882 Richard Mon, 17 Jul 2006 04:21:35 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36882 <i>the servers crowded around the table next to us</i> Maybe the servers got confused and thought the next table had the restaurant reviewers. Sort of like a Fawlty Towers episode... the servers crowded around the table next to us

Maybe the servers got confused and thought the next table had the restaurant reviewers.

Sort of like a Fawlty Towers episode…

]]> By: Jonah http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36544 Jonah Sun, 16 Jul 2006 18:05:08 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36544 Zteve - we were having a discussion about what we would do if we were handed a bill, I'm curious to hear what went down. There was no mention that the meal was comped until we were done. Looking forward to your write up. Zteve - we were having a discussion about what we would do if we were handed a bill, I’m curious to hear what went down. There was no mention that the meal was comped until we were done.

Looking forward to your write up.

]]> By: Zteve http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36505 Zteve Sun, 16 Jul 2006 07:19:13 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-36505 Cool article, interesting to see your take on it. Well, we had our meal tonight, and I've got a few different counterpoints. I'll tease the article with the fact they handed us a bill... Cool article, interesting to see your take on it. Well, we had our meal tonight, and I’ve got a few different counterpoints. I’ll tease the article with the fact they handed us a bill…

]]> By: Suzy http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35720 Suzy Fri, 14 Jul 2006 01:50:01 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35720 I think Jonah did a great job reviewing our dinner, but I have to say I wouldn't agree that it was an "excellent" meal- to me it was good/very good. It did not blow me away like other meals I have had in LA that I would label excellent. What was excellent was the quality of the ingredients and the flavors- I think the gnocci mushroom sauce was the best I have had. Also, it wasn't just that the towels were out in the bathroom-I could have ignored that. Two of the three stalls were not usable because they were a mess, and there was not one clean towel (they use cloth towels instead of paper). All of the used towels were in a huge heap on the counter and floor. I'm usually not pickey, but this was out of control messy and gross! I would go back for drinks and appetizers, definitely a place with a great view. Plus I think it is a good place for out-of-towners who want to dine somewhere that looks very Hollywood/LA. I think Jonah did a great job reviewing our dinner, but I have to say I wouldn’t agree that it was an “excellent” meal- to me it was good/very good. It did not blow me away like other meals I have had in LA that I would label excellent. What was excellent was the quality of the ingredients and the flavors- I think the gnocci mushroom sauce was the best I have had.
Also, it wasn’t just that the towels were out in the bathroom-I could have ignored that. Two of the three stalls were not usable because they were a mess, and there was not one clean towel (they use cloth towels instead of paper). All of the used towels were in a huge heap on the counter and floor. I’m usually not pickey, but this was out of control messy and gross!
I would go back for drinks and appetizers, definitely a place with a great view. Plus I think it is a good place for out-of-towners who want to dine somewhere that looks very Hollywood/LA.

]]> By: Jonah http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35679 Jonah Fri, 14 Jul 2006 00:18:46 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35679 Max- Our cake had the molten caramel, but I'm not sure about the pepper. If it was there, it wasn't noticeable. For our dinner, everyone was dressed appropriately, there was definitely an age shift from the early crowd to the later crowd though. Also, I am suprised about the parking situation, like you said, it's not in a high traffic area. The only people using that lot would be using the hotel or restaurant. Chill - Drinks for sure, timed with the sunset. Max- Our cake had the molten caramel, but I’m not sure about the pepper. If it was there, it wasn’t noticeable. For our dinner, everyone was dressed appropriately, there was definitely an age shift from the early crowd to the later crowd though. Also, I am suprised about the parking situation, like you said, it’s not in a high traffic area. The only people using that lot would be using the hotel or restaurant.

Chill - Drinks for sure, timed with the sunset.

]]> By: Chill http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35669 Chill Thu, 13 Jul 2006 23:50:56 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35669 Good review Jonah! I was really curious to hear about it. I have to admit I'd be hesitant to spend $100 for a meal where the restroom/service/etc. weren't impeccable. But the view looked fantastic, so going for drinks sounds fun! Good review Jonah! I was really curious to hear about it. I have to admit I’d be hesitant to spend $100 for a meal where the restroom/service/etc. weren’t impeccable. But the view looked fantastic, so going for drinks sounds fun!

]]> By: MaxMillion http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35654 MaxMillion Thu, 13 Jul 2006 23:36:26 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35654 Great write-up. Really fair. Funny, the chef asked me what I thought about the fluke, and I opined that it was cut too thickly (it was). Ours was served alongside some seared tuna on a dreamy tonnatto sauce. Both were great, if a little bit, um, chunkier than your usual crudo/carpaccio/sashimi experience. Yours looked sliced just right, but pretty pricey, yeah. I really enjoyed our meal, esp the soft gnocchi with fragrant mushroom sauce. This was about a month ago... Hey -- the choc cake I was served had a molten caramel centre (yum!) but there was cracked black pepper in the cake! Radical!! I also tipped on our comped meal, guesstimating 20% on the evening's meal and wine. But when it came to the parking, we were each charged $8.00 (I think I mentioned this in an earlier comment) as it turns out parking is $4.00 for the first 2 & 1/2 hrs, thence $2.00 per 20 mins. What a ripoff!! There is no justification for the (compulsory) valet fee to rise like that so dramatically after you've been there for over a couple of hours. It's the hotel's own parking lot and this is not exactly the heart of Bev Hills or Santa Monica, where parking is at a premium. I reckon anyone who lingers over drinks and dinner will get a rude shock when they leave. It's the very thing that can dampen the enjoyment of an otherwise pleasant evening. I really liked the view and the nautical/decking style decor, but I felt the elegance of this place was seriously let down by the number of hotel guests dining in shorts and flip flops. Yes, I know you are a tourist, but can't you dress for dinner, for crying out loud? Who wears shorts to a nice restaurant? I'm with you, Jonah. I'll go back for cocktails and appetisers and to drink in that view. Great write-up. Really fair.
Funny, the chef asked me what I thought about the fluke, and I opined that it was cut too thickly (it was). Ours was served alongside some seared tuna on a dreamy tonnatto sauce. Both were great, if a little bit, um, chunkier than your usual crudo/carpaccio/sashimi experience. Yours looked sliced just right, but pretty pricey, yeah.

I really enjoyed our meal, esp the soft gnocchi with fragrant mushroom sauce. This was about a month ago…

Hey — the choc cake I was served had a molten caramel centre (yum!) but there was cracked black pepper in the cake! Radical!!

I also tipped on our comped meal, guesstimating 20% on the evening’s meal and wine.

But when it came to the parking, we were each charged $8.00 (I think I mentioned this in an earlier comment) as it turns out parking is $4.00 for the first 2 & 1/2 hrs, thence $2.00 per 20 mins. What a ripoff!! There is no justification for the (compulsory) valet fee to rise like that so dramatically after you’ve been there for over a couple of hours. It’s the hotel’s own parking lot and this is not exactly the heart of Bev Hills or Santa Monica, where parking is at a premium.
I reckon anyone who lingers over drinks and dinner will get a rude shock when they leave. It’s the very thing that can dampen the enjoyment of an otherwise pleasant evening.

I really liked the view and the nautical/decking style decor, but I felt the elegance of this place was seriously let down by the number of hotel guests dining in shorts and flip flops. Yes, I know you are a tourist, but can’t you dress for dinner, for crying out loud? Who wears shorts to a nice restaurant?

I’m with you, Jonah. I’ll go back for cocktails and appetisers and to drink in that view.

]]> By: Maribeth http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/12/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35432 Maribeth Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:10:12 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/07/07/west-restaurant-at-the-hotel-angeleno/#comment-35432 It looks like there is about one total bite of fluke on that plate! Sounds like a good place for drinks and dessert, though. Good review. It looks like there is about one total bite of fluke on that plate! Sounds like a good place for drinks and dessert, though. Good review.

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