Sushi On Brand is as the name says, on Brand Boulevard, across the street from Porto’s. There are, of course, non-sushi items on the menu (teriyaki and tempura), but it seems like almost everyone in the restaurant was eating sushi, whether they were sitting at a table or at the sushi bar. Upon entering Sushi On Brand, the first thing I did was spot Kim and sit myself right in front of him. First thing I ordered was - no surprise - the Spicy Seared Albacore Platter. For people who don’t enjoy hot dishes, note that this really isn’t a very spicy dish. There’s just a small kick in the sauce that is poured on top of the seared albacore, which is topped with some crispy red onions. If you still have doubts about the spiciness level, I’m sure that Kim (or any of the sushi chefs there) will be happy to make this dish without the kick for those with a sensitive palate.

Next up was another one of my favorites, the Spicy Rainbow Roll. My companion told me that on his last visit, he made the mistake of ordering the plain rainbow roll, and it wasn’t nearly as good as the one in this photo. The difference is in the sauce. I have no clue what Kim puts in the sauce, but I just know I love it. Each cut roll has two different types of fish, shrimp, green bean, avocado, and caviar. I might be missing some ingredients, but this is what I savored in each bite.

The special toro was quite good, but in all honesty, not that special. I truly feel that the way Kim makes the spicy seared albacore and spicy rainbow roll is unique to him. The special toro was very tender, but I don’t think it is very different from what you would find at any decent sushi restaurant. One thing that may be uncommon, however, is that Kim gave generous portions of toro for sushi. As you may see in the picture, there are a couple slices of toro per rice ball, and the toro even wraps underneath.

Another one of my favorites is Tempura Lobster Roll. I typically don’t order this at sushi joints, however, because I find most of them go way heavy on the tempura and are very stingy on the lobster. I can tell you that this wasn’t the case today. I loved tasting lobster in a lobster roll. Imagine that!

So a few side comments:
1) Parking is hard to find. There are spaces in front of the restaurant, but they are almost always full. Behind the restaurant, however, is a parking lot. It’s metered parking but you can park there for three hours, and it’s 50-cents per hour.

2) I usually include prices when I post an entry, but I have no clue what the prices are here. My friend was kind enough to treat me to this wonderful meal.

3) All of the sushi chefs at Sushi On Brand appear to be pretty good. If you want to specifically go on days when Kim is there to make his signature dishes, he’s there every day except for Thursdays and Sundays.

Sushi On Brand
308 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 241-0133

M-Th: 11:30am-10:30pm
F: 11:30am-11pm
Sat: 4pm-11pm
Sun: 4pm-9:30pm

The first time I went to Adana, I was told we would probably be the only people eating there. While a statement like that would usually make me wary of a new restaurant, it came from one of my most trusted eating buddies, so I thought I’d give him the benefit of the doubt and tag along. How awkward could it be?

I don’t think the ovens were even on when we walked in. They didn’t have most of the items on the menu. In order to serve us properly, one of the owners went into the supply closet to fish out two plates, just for us. Somehow, this how they have existed (reportedly) for the past ten years. What on earth did I get myself into?

• Eating in a furniture store after hours.
• Travelling back in time and spying on yourself eating a meal.
• Chewing into a microphone, with the only real ambient noise being the occasional swoosh of a passing car which you could choose to convince yourself was the sound of the ocean.

I don’t think I have ever had a meal like that before, and I probably won’t have another meal like that anytime soon (except during return trips to Adana). Still, I wonder if there are more Adanas sprinkled throughout the area, just waiting to be discovered and tasted.

Last week I posted a query regarding this place. You can read the recs I received here –

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/340730

I’m going to adopt Poet Kitty’s style for this review (thanks, PK – you rock!)

Very chic, cosy and large bar area. Warm vibe. French reproduction – stamped tin ceiling, little (faux) paintings, period light fixtures and other decorative touches everywhere. Comfy, deep red leather booths in large wing of restaurant. But they spelled a few French terms incorrectly on their menu! Hmmmnnn…

Cocktails: They have several champagne cocktails (made with a cheap local bubbly). Most of us girls went for the champagne with pomegranate juice, which was very nice. $14 or $18, from memory. I thought I might have to drive (my sweetheart drank two “very good” Sapphire martinis throughout his meal) so I opted for the fanciest champagne they had by the glass – Tattinger – $24. It was fine, but pricey, non? Four of us had two or so cocktails with their meal, three of us had one cocktail and shared a bottle of Iron Horse Pinot Noir ($54), which I liked.

Bread: Excellent – fluffy and freshly made, more Italian style than French, methought. Came with this delicious spread – mayonnaise, garlic, a touch of black olive tapenade and possibly balsamic vinegar. Everyone loved this. It was an optimistic start to the meal.

Appetizers: Mine was the crab cake. Medium in size and very meaty. Good flavour. My guy had the prosciutto-wrapped scallops with white corn ragout, sage brown butter. This dish was easily the best thing I tasted all night. Two fat, perfectly cooked and scrumptious scallops but swimming in a pond of butter/oil that floated next to the corn relish. I found that a little off-putting. Someone had the caesar salad, which was massive. I tasted the lobster beignet (a special) – decent morsels of lobster encased in a lot of batter, which was crispy on the outside but soggy inside. Nicely presented in a cone of paper inside a tall, metal parfait ‘glass’, atop shoestring fries.

Sides: There were loads of delicious-looking sides on the menu. The only one I tried was the creamed corn, which was sweet and yummy. The steamed asparagus hollandaise looked nice.

Entrees: Mine was a big disappointment. I just can’t go past duck in a French restaurant, but this “duck two ways” ($24) was really ordinary confit leg and pink, chewy sliced breast on a smattering of cherry sauce. The halved artichoke was undercooked. Potato gratin was unremarkable. I ended up taking most of my main meal home. Duck salad for lunch!!

My guy also ordered the duck and cleaned his plate, though.

I really wish I’d taken a ’hound’s rec and gone for the short ribs a la Bourguignonne with red wine sauce and horseradish cream… But then again, would it have been better than at Lucques?

Dessert: We all shared two desserts; the berry cobbler which was okay and not too syrupy, though there were nuts in the crumble (ugh!) The chocolate, hazelnut and banana crepes were fantastic, featuring a crunchy toffee element that was there ’till the last bite. I should know – I snagged it!
Damage for 7 diners, $608.00, before tip.

THE BAD – One girl’s dish came out wrong AND cold. She’d ordered the chicken crepes and got the vegetarian. To their credit, her meal was replaced within 10 minutes and was hot.

Also, we asked if they could put $200 on every couple’s bill and $100 on the single girl’s bill. They said they could do this, but hers (same girl as the wrong meal!) came back with $120 total, which didn’t seem fair. I told her to send her bill back, but she just ate the extra cost. I certainly wouldn’t have.

RESTAURANT REPORT CARD - French 75 Bistro, Visit 1

Ambiance A
Service A (but the place wasn’t crowded)
Food (Taste) B-
Food (Presentation) B
Wine/Drinks B
Value C
Vibe/Energy/Scene B-

Overall Experience B-

Final word – Decent menu, many choices. We had a very nice time with our friends, but I probably wouldn’t go back. Too many better places in LA to knock my socks off and leave a similar hole in my wallet.

French 75 Bistro

3400 W Olive Avenue,
Burbank, CA 91505

right next to Arnie Mortons

(818) 955-5100

www.French75Bistro.com

BTW – There are four other locations – Newport Beach, Irvine, Century City and Laguna Beach.

I had my doubts when I first found Riverside Cafe. From the outside, it looked hardly more than a shack. Since I was meeting someone there, I decided it was too late to turn back. I was a little surprised when I walked in and found a cozy little restaurant. It seats about 18 people inside, but there is a little patio outside which can seat another dozen or so guests. As I sat and waited for my very tardy friend, I noticed the awards they have received. In addition to “Best Chef,” they also won “Best Service.” It’s easy to see why, as the friendly, warm waitress (who I think is the owner’s wife, but I could be wrong) brought me over a couple of magazines to read so I’d have something to look at while I waited for my friend.

The food was quite an interesting array. The regulars swear by the seafood stew ($16) and the steak casserole ($13.50). I’m taking their word for it on the stew, as I don’t plan to have it as long as the weather remains above 80 degrees. Other specials include Shepard’s Pie (which I highly recommend), various sausages/andouilles, stuffed potatoes, and various burgers. My first time there, I did go for the Shepard’s Pie ($13.50), which was served with perfectly steamed vegetables. The flavor was wonderful, and it was really hard to go back to work after such a delightful meal.

I did make repeat visits after that. Other winners include the fish and chips, served with their own homemade tartar sauce. I have to confess, I wasn’t really that impressed with the tartar sauce, but I loved how crispy the batter was without being heavy. I also liked how tender the fish was inside. My only constructive criticism is that it is a little bland without adding lemon juice and salt on your own. The fries were good, too, but I’ve noticed that their regular french fries are much crispier than the steak fries that I got with this order.

My most recent visit was another new adventure. Riverside Cafe often offers interesting takes on burgers. I had one friend who tried the venison burger and loved it. I decided to try Jacob’s Burger ($8.50), which is a unique chicken burger. They take ground chicken and mix it with tomatoes and basil to form the pattie for the burger. A very generous portion of grilled onions were included. I could actually see the basil pieces as I bit into the burger. It was absolutely wonderful, but very filling for me. My lunch companion on this day opted for the calamari burger, which he enjoyed and devoured pretty fast. That is saying something considering we had potato skins for appetizers.

Miscellaneous Notes:

After 3pm, Riverside Cafe transforms a bit into a bistro. Additional fancy menu items, such as rack of lamb with mint sauce are offered as well.

Also, try the fudge brownies. It is doesn’t look like much, but it is so decadent.

1221 W. Riverside Dr.
Burbank, CA 91506
818-563-3567

Hours:
Tue-Fri: 11am-8:30pm
Sat: 8:30am-9pm
Sun: 8:30am-8:30pm

What allegedly makes South Street better than other cheesesteak eateries is that they use bread from Philadephia’s own Amoroso’s Bakery. Apparantly, this bakery supplies most of the hoagies that are used in Philadelphia. Additionally, they use a higher grade of beef, namely rib-eye.

Looking forward to chowing down on a fresh cheeseteak, I headed down. Unfortunately, I miscalculated the wait time and had to get my meal to go to not be late for a meeting. Thus, my impression is not of a fresh cheesesteak. Nevertheless, I was very surpised to find that it was still very good even after 10 minutes of sit time. The bread was warm with a slightly crispy outside and a soft inside. Better yet, it had absorbed the flavor of the beef, grilled onions, and cheese. The beef wasn’t stringy or dry. Rather, it was firm yet still juicy and easy to bite off. The cheese had a smooth flavor that helped to provide the distinctive taste of the cheesesteak without overpowering the other ingredients.

I only got the basic cheesesteak but you can also get it with mushrooms and peppers.
The fries and salad that came with my combo were below average. This could be because I got it to go or also because I got the end of a batch of fries. Given that I’m at UCLA at lot, I’m sure I’ll have ample opportunity to go back.

South Street
1010 Broxton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024

or

117 N Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502

I’ll say it again, Fatburger. The Last Great Hamburger Stand.

I sparked velvety dissention a while ago by soliciting people for their favorite burger joint, not a national chain. Of course, I violated my own criteria by throwing down for Fatburger, reasoning that even though they are growing through many states, and now even have an East Coast presence, they were still limited in overall markets.

Saying that my favorite burger is Fatburger, by implication, means In ‘N’ Out is not my favorite burger. This is frightening heresy to someone from Southern California, but I’m not from Southern California. Yancey Lovie opened the first Mr. Fatburger on the corner of Western and Jefferson in 1952. It has been an institution in LA since then, but honestly obscured by the reputation of In ‘N’ Out.

In a time where internal politics threatens to charbroil the good name of In ‘N’ Out, and the struggle over whether to extend the franchise beyond its cloistered borders, in 1986 Fatburger had already adopted a Machiavelian doctrine of expansion.

Fatburger’s manifest destiny has not sullied nor faded the quality of their burgers, at least not the original locations dotting Los Angeles like yellow pushpins. I haven’t eaten at any of the locations outside of California. Couple to that Magic Johnson’s policy of investing back into the South Central community, proving there is a great deal of profit to be made by investing in lower income areas. Yet, other high profile entertainers are also quietly looking into franchising up and down the East Coast.

While In ‘N’ Out strives for historical purity by not changing its menu, there is a secret menu of modifications that every Californian knows. Its sort of an inside joke to play on the tourists that will never know to order a double-double animal style. Fatburger’s only not-well-kept-secret is you can order it grilled or char-broiled.

Fatburger also has its own tradition known as the Triple Kingburger Challenge. Anyone who finishes a triple Kingburger (1 1/2 pounds) within six minutes wins a T-shirt, free meals for the week and their picture on the Triple Kingburger Challenge Wall of Fame.

Another important distinction is the toppings offered by Fatburger. Of course, I’m talking about the fried egg and chili. Tommy’s may be known for the most widely proliferated chiliburger in LA, but it is also reviled as the worst. In fact, the chili at most burger places leaves much to be desired. Fatburger’s chili is rich, spicy and dense with flavor.

That translates to the chili cheese fries also. Fatburger gets it right every time: they do not drown your food in the chili, after all, it is the meat you want to taste, otherwise you would just buy a bowl of chili. They confidently ration all condiments in perfect portion, so nothing ever overpowers anything else. In many burger chains, all the flavors are competing against each other for dominance of your tastebuds.

There are just so many unique qualities that separates this patty of meat slapped between a bun from all the other chains, but the quality is almost intangible. Everybody offers lettuce, tomato, mustard, pickles, onions.

It’s the atmosphere. It’s the fresh ice cream used in the dreamy shakes. The lemonade swirling through the plastic lemonade machine. Fresh, never frozen, meat. The shaker of salt they sprinkle on the patties while they’re cooking. The fries at absolutely trounce In ‘N’ Out fries.

And their complete lack of advertising. I’ve lived in LA for eight years. Unless I’m blind and/or deaf, I’ve never heard an ad for Fatburger.

So, Fatburger vs. In ‘N’ Out. In ‘N’ Out is clearly dominant, and I started to ask myself why. I’ve eaten both in the same day to make a comparison, and I never got that turned on about the In ‘N’ Out burger. What could have catapulted In ‘N’ Out over Fatburger, a clearly superior product.

I’m going to play the race card. It is my assertion that because Fatburger was located in predominantly African American communities, owned and operated by a black woman, it didn’t get as widespread exposure as In ‘N’ Out did until recent years.

But, it’s really not a race deal, it’s about location. Whites simply weren’t exposed to a Fatburger in their neighborhoods until the 80’s. Blacks had been savoring Fatburger since 1952, hoping, I’m sure, to keep the secret to themselves. All good things eventually get out and expand, and that’s exactly what happened with Fatburger.

How did a white guy from the East Coast learn about Fatburger before he even got to LA?

No helicopter looking for a murder,
Two in the morning got the Fatburger,
Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp
And it read ‘Ice Cube’s a pimp’

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t dislike In ‘N’ Out, I just don’t have that clingy nostalgia that clouds my judgment in these matters. For that, I have White Castle.

Enter Zeke’s.

Rene mentioned it was a current favorite back in June and Why we Type raved about its consistent excellence. The Bride-to-Be (B2B) mentioned that she heard from folks that this place was pretty good.

Hmm…Wedding dresses…or Ribs? No one really had to sell it to me…I was sold when I saw that there was only one table occupied at that early lunch hour. No wait, immediate booth sitdown.

B2B chose a “safe” yet scrumptious looking vegetarian burger, and one of her bridesmaids chose a bowl of chili. I took a spoonful and it was so rich and delicious on that cold afternoon! We never thought of adding sour cream to the chili, but the way it came made it that much tastier! And it was pretty obvious that I was going to be the brave soul who ordered the BBQ Ribs! Someone’s gotta do it, and as Maid of Honor, it was ALL ME!

OK wait. I have to confess here. I wasn’t all THAT brave. As I set one of the wedding books aside, I looked up to our kind waitress and asked if I could order from…the Kid’s menu for $7.95. After all, the wedding is in four months and I needed to start a regimen of working out and watching what I eat. Sort of.

Who am I kidding? I licked those babies clean, had some creamy mashed potatoes with country style gravy and a side of their honey smack your lips delicious baked beans! Rene, Why We Type… you two were so right! These ribs were finger lickin’ good! I rarely venture out to the Valley let alone the Glendale area, so it was a nice change of scenery and flavor. Thanks for the tip!

Zeke’s Smokehouse
2209 Honolulu Ave
Montrose, CA 91020
(818) 957-7045

Open Su - Th: 11am to 9pm
Fr & Sat: 11am to 10pm
(there’s a WeHo location too for Westsiders)

When India Sweets & Spices first opened in Glendale I’d say I visited three to four times a month.

Then I burned out on the chaotic lines and the food. I stopped by again twice this weekend en route to a Christmas shopping destination. I was delighted to see that my local incarnation of ISS has become better organized. The restaurant is less antiseptic now that the walls and ceilings are dolled up in baby blue scenic murals. The 50″ television is now placed at the end of the dining hall and it displays deliciously hammy Bollywood dance numbers. The ordering and food pick-up system is much less disorganized and the food is even better than when ISS first opened, in my opinion.

I got a Mysoor Dosa that arrived in half the time of prior visits. The dosa was perfectly hot, toasty and tart while its contents were savory and spicy. The next day I ordered a quick bhel puri snack. It’s a jumbled mix of boiled potato, minced onion, puffed rice and bhel (crispy Indian crackers), seasoned with yogurt, fresh coriander, cumin, chili, masala and tamarind sauce. ISS serves up seven flavored chats in the $2.49- 2.99 range. They’re quickly prepared and taste great with a mango lassi or just a big cup of cool water. Mostly, it’s nice to see a local spot come into its own.

India Sweets & Spices
3126 Los Feliz Bl.
Glendale, CA
90039
323-345-0360

I pick you up late at night after work
I said, ‘Lady… step inside my Hyundai
I’m gonna take you up to Glendale
…gonna take you for a real good meal.’
“Debra,” Midnite Vultures

I’ve been skimming reviews of Glendale’s Carousel for years. I have to say that the promise of live entertainment and Jillin dancers never really appealed to me. When we’re in the mood for Middle Eastern, we always head to nearby Marouch. It’s an old stand-by. But tonite it was my turn to make dinner.

I avoided organizing the meal until around 6:30p when the frantic digging through epicurious began. I found a few interesting dishes but then remembered hexod.us‘ Carousel review on Jonah’s new ning: LA Eats with Maps. It was the first time I saw Carousel in an appealing light. I had always thought Carousel would be a big, cheesey themed-restaurant experience, i.e., over-priced and filled with loud families and boisterous tables of birthday parties. But in Hex’s review, he recommends getting a bunch of small plates, which struck me as a perfectly casual, easy and affordable alternative to actually cooking something.

We parked our friend’s Prius right out front (470+ miles on one $24 tank of gas, people!). Inside our fellow diners were pretty much as expected; scattered tables of young families intermixed with large parties. But Carousel’s floorplan is spacious and the tables are thoughtfully layed out, so, there’s little unintentional elbow bumping.

We ordered an assortment of mezzas (appetizers) just as Hex advised: One cold plate (Mutabbal, a.k.a. Baba Gannuj); and four hot plates (Jhawaneh Msweh, Baid Ghanam, Kebbeh and Fatleh Oberjhin). The baba gannuj is very fresh and rich with a latent smokiness. The deep fried beefballs come hand-grenade sized and stuffed with pinenuts. They perk up nicely under a fat squirt of lemon. A loosely assembled terrine of eggplant, draped in a tart yogurt, resting on a bed of broken and buttery pita chips is a very pretty painted pony. The tiny and hot charred chicken legs coated in cool garlic cream easily won the gold ring.

The damage for our spin around the menagerie was somewhere around $48 w/ tip. The waitstaff is cracking, very attentive. Carousel stands on ceremony a bit more than Marouch but ordering Carousel’s small plates can spare you a towering meal and bill. Not a tear was shed when we found out there isn’t any live entertainment on Sunday.

Carousel
304 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91206
818-246-7775