Mark's Pick - Asia Los Feliz

Location: Atwater/Los Feliz
Cuisine: Cal Asian, Steak & Sushi
Price per person (incl. drinks): $40 & up
Website: http://www.asialosfeliz.com/


So the dinner club went on a sort of "hiatus". I did still go to several places but there was so much going on that I had no time to put the dinner club together. So it's back on again and for the month of November, Mark picked Asia Los Feliz located just off the 5 fwy near the 9 hole golf course. I gotta tell ya...the food was pretty amazing. So amazing that I kept eating and I completely forgot to take pictures! The place was small but very comfortable. Not a ton of people so you could actual hear yourself and others in your party have a conversation. I loved the place and I highly recommend it. I had the spicy tuna mountain for an appetizer and the lobster mac & Cheese truffle for my entree. To drink I had the Pomegranate mojito. All were fantastic. If there was anything disappointing, I would have to say it was parking. Asia Los Feliz has it's own parking but it's valet only at $4...$5 if you tip. Other than that, great for a small group dinner, first date and they even have Happy hour specials. Try it, you'll definitely like it.

Next month is Nisha's Pick. See ya and until then keep eating!

Leilani's Pick - Fraiche

Location: Culver City

Cusine: Rustic French & Italian

Price per person: $40 (incl drinks)

Website: http://www.fraicherestaurantla.com/

Fraiche was Lelani's pick for July and I never got around to writing - because things got incredibly busy. I'll tell you this much, though. I've been her ten times since. Fraiche is my favorite restaurant. From the amazing drinks to the decadent desserts (and I normally don't have dessert). Jason Travi is an amazing chef and they also have an equally amazing bar chef, Albert Trummer. I recommend you get a reservation in advance. This place is ALWAYS crowed - there have been star sightings of Hayden Patinierre and Patrick Swayze amongst others. Thierry Perez keeps a wonderful staff and knows just how his restaurant can create a perfect night. Have him pick your bottle of wine and you cheese plate. He knows the restaurant business well and will make sure you are served well. The floor to ceiling windows and the bar lounge give the perfect invitation to stay for hours. Fraiche will keep you coming back for more. Check out the site to see pictures of the the entrees. It'll blow your mind.

Scott's Pick - Engine Co. No. 28

Location: Downtown Los Angeles
Cuisine: Inspired by the Regional Cooking of Firehouses Around the Country
Price per person: $25-$65 (incl. drinks)
Website: http://www.engineco.com/

Scott's pick for May is an old pick of mine since I used to work in downtown L.A. Although I had been here 2 times over 5 years ago...coming back was like a brand new experience. Scott chose a place near his new home. He took a walk to get to know his surroundings, found the Engine Co. No. 28 and I must say...he made a FANTASTIC choice. We had a small group this time (you flakers are just horrid ;) ), but the small group was nice. It was intimate and to make things even better...the food was fantastic. Check out our entrees (you're damn right I tried everything!):

Braised Beef Short Ribs - this was mine...the beef just melted in your mouth

Creole Red Beans & Rice - Mark's entree - awesome andouille sausage

Fried Shrimp Po-Boy - Leilani's entree - tastey and filling

Pan-Fried Panko Crusted Basa Sole - Aaron's entree. The sole was fresh and with caper salsa...YUM!

Smoked Salmon - Danny had an appetizer for his entree...huge and delicious

Pan-Fried Louisiana Crab Cakes - Esther's entree - these crab cakes are so far the best I've had

Firehouse Chili - Sherice's entree...look at the pic...need I say more?

Chicken Fried Steak - Scott's entree...I wish I had some of those potatoes but everything else was awesome!

All of the entrees, appetizers and drinks were pretty awesome. The prices were reasonable and the company was great. What more could I ask for?

Next month is Leilani's pick...which she has already chosen! We're going to the newly opened Fraiche in Culver City. Capacity is 10, if I could persuade the owner to give us another table, I will. I'm also creating an extension to this club (Mark makes fun of me because I'm in so many clubs) which is called, "Try it, you might like it, you food snob" - the thing is...I love finding new restaurants and trying them. I see new places all the time, so this extension is to try other places that I choose with small groups, on any day for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Just let me know if you're interested and I when I find a place, I'll call you up and we'll have some food. There's no set date and time and also, no more than 5 people.

Anyway...don't forget to comment and keep eating!!!

Sherice's Pick - Genghis Cohen

Location: West Hollywood on Fairfax

Cuisine: New York Style Chinese

Price per person: $25-$45 (incl. drinks)

Website: http://genghiscohen.com/

Like it - but I'd never love it

I know this is a long time waiting, but forgive me, I was on vacation and I'm just getting back to reality now. Genghis Cohen was fun. It was great that a lot of people made it. I liked it...but it was definitely hard to have a conversation since there were so many people there. They have live music and the food is pretty tasty...but the service was ...meh. At the end of the meal, when we paid...the waiter made the mistake (or was it really?) of charging my card a $100 more than he should have. Did he think I wouldn't notice? Parking is just awwwwww-FUL. This place is pretty popular? Why don't they have valet? We had pretty much everything from noodles to tofu to duck to shrimp. Like I said...it was yummy and the drinks were...let's just say that New Yorkers really know how to pour. Victoria took some great pics!

All in all...I think we had a great time. Scott volunteered to do May and all I know is that it will be somewhere in downtown L.A. I had to postpone to May 18th, though. I hope you all can make it...till then...keep eating!

Kim's pick - The Bungalow Club

Location: Los Angeles on Melrose & Formosa

Cuisine: American

Price per person: $25-$65 (incl. drinks)

Website: http://www.thebungalowclub.com/main.html

Kim's pick is the perfect place to have an gathering of up to 25 people. The Bungalow Club offers private rooms, lively bars and and outdoor dining with private bungalows for a romantic dinner with your significant other. We sat in the romantic indoor dining room that can seat about 24 people but 15-20 comfortably. The room features a sofas and intimate dining and boasts of deep colors in the reds, purples and oranges. The Dress code is enforced...although I came in with flip flops but not without a few glares from the bouncer and a couple of patrons.

Kinda sorta liked it...

I recommend this to have a theme party as I did once a few years ago in the outdoor patio. I had a bachelorette party for one of my friends. I've also been on a date there and the bungalows are a nice touch to keep the romance. My eyes were much bigger than my stomach as I ordered several appetizers starting with the Ahi Tuna Tartar (pretty damn tasty), Bangkok Hummus and Avocado eggrolls. For my entree I had the Lobster tail. I'd bank on the tartar and the hummus. The eggrolls and the Lobster tail were good, but if I'm gonna spend that much it's gotta be more flavorful!

Ahi Tuna tartar (what was left of it!)

Avocado Eggrolls

Bangkok Hummus

and...the lobster tail...

I didn't have one of their specialty drinks...just my usual - Tanqueray and tonic with some bitters. I do recommend that you try this but it doesn't have to be at the top of your list. The ambiance was the best part....

Next month's dinner club host is Sherice. As always...2nd Friday of the month. Hope to see you there!!!

Elaine's Pick - The Crepe Vine Bistro

Location: Old Town Pasadena
Cuisine: French
Price per person with drinks: $25-$40
Website:

http://wwww.thecrepevine.com/

LIKE IT!!!

For the first "Try it, you might like it" Dinner Club meeting, I chose something close to home. This place is a warm, cozy, cute little French restaurant in Mills Place (next to Burke Williams). The atmosphere was absolutely lovely and they sat our party of 12 in the back booth. I had a taste of everyone's meal...because you know...that's how I roll. I think the best entree was the Mussells! Oh wait...and the escargot...wait also the La Mer Crepe...you know what, you name it, all the food was pretty good there and the company was fabulous. I highly recommend the place to got for a nice lunch or maybe to have some fine wine at the bar (they've got a good selection).



We ate so many mussells!!

MOULIN bananas, dark rum and vanilla ice cream....All gone but YUMMY!!

Since this is the first post on the blog, here are some details about the first meeting:
Everyone who went should post comments on this blog.

• Please start off with "Like it" or "Don't Like it" and then talk about your experience.
• Kim Bullock volunteered to be the next Dinner Club Host
• Dinner Club will be on the 2nd Friday of every month
• The host should email me at Layneeserendipity@gmail.com of the location and details 2 weeks before the next meeting so I can send the Evite out.
• At each meeting someone should volunteer to host the next one
• There is a 15 Maximum Capacity for each meeting since it's hard to get reservations. If we can add more to certain places, we'll definitely let you know. PLease be prepared to split the added gratuity in places that serve large parties
• After the meeting. the host should go back to the "Try it, you might like it" Blog and start a new post so others can comment.
• If you have questions, feel free to email me or call me (626) 676-0131.

Happy Eaters!! Elaine and Leilani!

See ya next time!

Elaine