Restaurants In Review
I’ve been busy looking for a new contract and a new loft, but not too busy to EAT! Here’s a little of my bitches (and praise) from the past few days of eating on the run.
The Great Steak & Potato Co. is now open in the Spring-Broadway corridor on 300 block of Spring (next to First Cup Caffe). It seems like they’ve had signage there for at least 9 months, but finally opened last week. I’ve eaten there twice; mainly because they are open at 6 am and on my way home from gym I’ll stop and get a sandwich and a baked potato to re-heat later. Their sandwich and meat is in the same league as Hoagies and Wings (a couple of doors down on Broadway), and I like their fries better, as well as having a baked potato option. They are not open on weekends, relying heavily on workers from the Ronald Reagan building across the street. Nothing amazing here, but nice fast food place with what seems to be consistant food.
Saturday evening I went to the Redwood Bar & Grill around 7pm- I had been wanting to try one of their hamburgers as they won the best burger downtown in the LA Downtown News last year. The place was dead save for a few folks at the bar, but the service was excellent, and a pretty bartender was sitting next to me at bar eating her dinner, so I was quite happy that it was slow. The burger, while a good, hand formed patty, was not exceptional, and the bun was kind of greasy (I’m not a big fan of “if it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face” or whatever that ad campaign was- the less the greasy and mess, the better for me). The cost is kind of crazy too- $22 total bill for burger (+ bacon) and 1 beer, tip not included. I’ll go back, but more for bartender than burger (oh, she said she had never been to The Edison and didn’t think she’d like it- interesting comment…)
Yesterday, Sunday, I headed out to get a late lunch- I arrived at Lime Cafe hoping for carne asada tacos and they were CLOSED! Then I figure a “Julie’s chesseburger” from Weeneez would be great, and they were closed too- was it a Father’s Day thing? Lime Cafe I’m a little concerned about pulling this closing thing, as they don’t even have a web site to communicate this kind of information to the locals and general public alike. Somehow I don’t feel like that place is going to survive. And Weeneez still lists “Red Dot Cafe” on it’s website (with no mention of cheeseburgers on the menu) so it is relying on word-of-mouth as well, I guess.
I ended up at my old standby, Pete’s Cafe, where consistancy is probably their strong point. Service can definitely be an issue there, but not yesterday, as I had a very friendly young lady take care of my requests so rapidly I could not believe it. And she was very pretty too- although I am sure I am not her type as I don’t have enough tatoos to match hers… but I did get my breakfast quesadilla within 5 min of ordering, and they did not take my food away this time when I went to use the restroom. Considering the hours that Pete’s is open, serving a late night menu until 2am, I think they do a reasonable job, and I know I will continue to go there when I want eggs at 2 in the afternoon.
I may go try Lime Cafe again tonite, and see how they do during “prime time”- I really, really want them to be successful, but all the signs are telling me I better not get too “hooked” on their carne asada…
I’m trying to recall if it was the taco you had? (at Lime?) they were so messy.. I am used to having the soft tacos be doubled up.. with shredded meat. Can’t complain as the carne asada was good but there was so much on it that the weight of the taco ripped the tortilla up pretty good. They would make a great taco salad if it was an option. I think the beans need to go off the tacos too.
I might go back one more time but for the carne asada burrito. It’s alright and as I was saying to Joe today (I’m at Banquette at the moment.. by OBDVD) that it’s good but I’ve had better (and I’ve had MUCH better too) but it’s alright, I just wish it was a little more reasonable on the price point.. Maybe they should consider doing table service, as that might be more in line with the speed and the alcohal served there.
Is $14 margarita pitchers good? I can’t recall the last time I ordered that much alcohal in one sitting. I think it was at Chevy’s or something (the chain?)
I like the Steak chain. I love their fries. I think their steak sandwich is less greasy than hoagies and wings. Hoagies & wings still has that yummy cheeseburger and the wings… but for the steak and the fries I’ll be going back to the chain place there. I think there’s enough customer base for both of them. Also when Julie isn’t open I can still have my cheeseburger at Hoagies & Wings. The hours and the food product are varied just enough to make a niche here.
I can’t say the same about Lime unfortunately. =(
June 16th, 2008 at 5:08 pmThanks for reminding me- Meeko. My one and only time at Lime Cafe, I basically had to tell the kid how to make a taco- a taco does not have beans nor rice, but he kept trying to make it that way. I asked for brown rice on side- rice was good but I never get excited about that- and DO NOT put it in my taco! It sounds like you had an “open faced burrito” or something.
I just get sick of downtown restaurants thinking so BIG (”we’ll be open until midnight, but maybe stop serving food at 9:30″) then closing on a whim. At least I’ve never run into a time when Pete’s was closed when they said they’d be open.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:20 pmhey did you end up going to Lime tonight?? I ate dinner at Hoagies & Wings with Ed. The cheeseburger is still good but not sure how many more times I will get over there.
Still haven’t moved the cats over to the new place but more of my stuff is over there. Cats should be over there by the end of the week I guess, and then so will I.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:19 pm“Yesterday, Sunday, I headed out to get a late lunch- I arrived at Lime Cafe hoping for carne asada tacos and they were CLOSED! Then I figure a “Julie’s chesseburger” from Weeneez would be great, and they were closed too- was it a Father’s Day thing? Lime Cafe I’m a little concerned about pulling this closing thing, as they don’t even have a web site to communicate this kind of information to the locals and general public alike. ”
I TOO went to Lime on Sunday to find it closed. I was so disappointed as I have developed a craving for it (despite the chip switch)… Since Julie Rico still owns the Lime space (formerly red dot) and is still in charge of the gallery in the space, I’m surprised she hasn’t begun hosting a website for Lime.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:08 pm[...] I must apologize to Julie as I thought Weeneez was open on Sundays, but she set me straight and said it nev4r was. I guess I just assumed it was as I ate at Lime Cafe [...]
June 21st, 2008 at 6:26 pm