I’m disappointed that the restaurant industry is not very concerned about all the busy people who do want to sit down with friends and have a good meal at the latest “IT” place in town. This is not an LA problem. It happens that when a restaurant is popular, whether it be NY, DC, San Francisco, or Chicago foodies are treated with disregard when trying to make a reservation in advance. I travel quite a bit and have out of town guests I like to plan for so why the cold shoulder when you call and ask “so when is the first date you have a table on a Thursday night?”.

Yes I know about the “no shows” and time consuming banter some people impose on busy restuaurants when calling in for a table several weeks in advance.

Take an example from David Bouley’s restaurant in South Beach called “Evolution” in the Ritz Carlton. The French Laundry still remains popular and maintains a wait list for customers. Many inimate restuarants that are hot, and have reservations that are hard to come by put a limited number of slots on line and secured with a credit card. If you are a “no show” you are charged a fee. I’d had a problem with the concept at first, but it more professional than giving a potential customer the brush off because they can’t score the secret handshake du jour.

Dolce on Melrose has become a ghost town for hiring staff who scared away paying customers with their winey, snotty, attitude but the place was never….. really….about food…was it?

I was hoping the opening of M Osteria would make obtaining a table at M Pizzeria a little easier, but my guy remarked, rather ominously, “Don’t count on it.”

I think the (fairly) reasonable prices and excellent fare at M Pizzeria will keep the joint jumping.

Good to see all the various viewpoints - I’m not surprised its a great place.