Los Angeles, SONA Restaurant

LTH,

Going to LA next week, have a list of must goes, topped by the original Tommy's at Beverly and Rampart for a burger


along with other long time favorites such as Langer's, Philippe's, Grand Central Market, the Vietnamese area in Orange County and Tommy's, or did I mention Tommy's already?

I am also looking forward to trying places that I have read about in the past year, Sahag's Basturma, Zankou Chicken, which are two of Erik M's recommendations, and Renu Nakorn. I'll also bring Jonathan Gold's Counter Intelligence for reference and on-the-fly dining.

I was wondering if anyone had experience with SONA I made reservations for a celebration dinner, based on a conversation my wife had with a couple from LA at Moto, but know nothing about the place, aside from what is on their web site.

Any info and/or suggestions for up or down scale dining appreciated.

Enjoy,
Gary

My great-aunt Marg's second husband Earl worked for the Pig N Whistle chain, and I in fact have his retirement watch from 1952. I saw not too long ago that a Pig N Whistle has reopened near the Egyptian Theatre; of course I saw this right AFTER a bunch of work that had me out there multiple times. But be sure and check it out for me, would you? And if you have a chance, also solve the Black Dahlia killing.

Mike G wrote:My great-aunt Marg's second husband Earl worked for the Pig N Whistle chain

Mr. G,

I grew up in Milwaukee where, for all of my youth, Pig N Whistle, along with the original Kopp's, were favorites. Both had curb service, excellent custard and were jam packed at all hours, especially in the summer.

Kopp's is still going strong, but Pig N Whistle is now a ~sigh~ Baker's Square.

I'll look into the Black Dahlia thing, but I also have a Falcon to find.

Enjoy,
Gary

Here'sa page on what the hell we're talking about. (Bizarrely, it also mentions the Black Dahlia murder.) Evidently this was the original, but they were a national chain; I just missed going to one in Denver, it had closed a few months earlier.

Later, after retiring from Pig N Whistle, Earl (he was a bookkeeper) went and got the exact same job for another 25 years at this place. The gals in the office used to ask him why he never married and he said, jokingly, "I'm waiting for Marg." Then Marg's husband up and died and it turned out Earl wasn't joking at all.

G Wiv wrote:LTH,

I was wondering if anyone had experience with SONA I made reservations for a celebration dinner, based on a conversation my wife had with a couple from LA at Moto, but know nothing about the place, aside from what is on their web site.

Any info and/or suggestions for up or down scale dining appreciated.

Enjoy,
Gary

This place sounds both hoity and toity...but I've never been. Enjoy.

stevez wrote:This place sounds both hoity and toity...but I've never been. Enjoy.

Mr. Z,

Seeing as we are going to SONA for a celebration dinner, both hoity and toity fit the bill. (which I imagine will be high )

I'll report back.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Any info and/or suggestions for up or down scale dining appreciated.

Enjoy,
Gary

DuPars in the Farmer's Market

Renu Nakorn--I fear from CH postings you are setting yourself up for a fall. With each chow opportunity so equally precious, this choice could a great tragedy.

Speaking as one who has been to Sripraphai (the best), Thai Ave (once) and TAC twice (both damn good), and Lotus of Siam (nearly the best, and the certainly most restaurant like with its superb wine list and gracious staff and reservations) eight or so times over the last two years, perhaps you don't realize exactly how good Chicago Thai cuisine has become?

I implore you to reconsider...

Steve Drucker wrote:Renu Nakorn
perhaps you don't realize exactly how good Chicago Thai cuisine has become?

I implore you to reconsider...

Steve,

I do know just how good Chicago Thai has is/has become, really.

I will, at your suggestion, reconsider Renu Nakorn. Also, now that I think of it, I had a conversation with Rob, who was there 5-6 months ago and his, if I remember correctly, opinion was Renu is good, but nothing exceptional.

Thanks for the heads up.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

Steve Drucker wrote:Renu Nakorn
perhaps you don't realize exactly how good Chicago Thai cuisine has become?

I implore you to reconsider...

Steve,

I do know just how good Chicago Thai has is/has become, really.

I will, at your suggestion, reconsider Renu Nakorn. Also, now that I think of it, I had a conversation with Rob, who was there 5-6 months ago and his, if I remember correctly, opinion was Renu is good, but nothing exceptional.

Thanks for the heads up.

Enjoy,
Gary

It was nothing special, but I kinda hold out hope for Renu Nakorn 'cause it has the history and it has a pretty interesting menu and at least one dish, the grilled catfish with garlic-jalepeno salsa was as good as anything here in Chicago. So, I was interested to see Wiv's take, and see if he did a better job of crackin' the code than I did with the LA hounds.

To digress just for a second. The other day we were driving down Harlem on the way to what we thought was going to be Salaam II (turned out to be the even better, new El Hana (which I will post on at some point). We were getting hungry and cranky navigating the truck laden portion of south Harlem. We considered briefly, this Thai restaurant that we've been meaning to try at around Harlem and 75th. We have a sneaky opinion that it is a very good place because of its location very close to the Thai Temple. Yet, we decided against Thai the other day. Know why? I did not feel like working for a meal.

To me, more than any cuisine these days, even more than Chinese, Thai demands work. Imploration (is that a word) to get the real stuff. And we all (even Thai speaking ErikM of all people) have experiences of getting less than we thought at Thai places. The Zim family and the VI family had an excellent meal at Thai Home-Made, tasting pretty right, and then we found out that they considered the stuff they served us, "toned down" (which, of course is the subject of the great debate, does this make you want to go back or not). But it happens.

Anyways, back to Renu and Wiv. I know he has a good history of working Thai places. Makes me interested in how he'd find Renu Nakorn.

Rob

Steve Drucker wrote:Renu Nakorn--I fear from CH postings you are setting yourself up for a fall. With each chow opportunity so equally precious, this choice could a great tragedy.

Speaking as one who has been to Sripraphai (the best), Thai Ave (once) and TAC twice (both damn good), and Lotus of Siam (nearly the best, and the certainly most restaurant like with its superb wine list and gracious staff and reservations) eight or so times over the last two years, perhaps you don't realize exactly how good Chicago Thai cuisine has become?

I implore you to reconsider...

My recent visit to Renu Nakorn was not disapointing, although it was not earth moving, either. I was dining alone, so it was hard for me to try very many dishes, and the first thing they brought out, I think it was some Norther Larb, was quite tame (even though ordered thai hot). Once I talked to the waiter a little more and explained that I really did mean thai hot and that I know what I was talking about, the main course had a little more kick to it. The food was good, although, like you said, not as good as some places right here in Chicago. Still, it's worth a visit.

As G Wiv mentioned Philippe's in his OP...

So many months later, I came across this photo report from a regular LA Board participant at Chowhound.

It certainly doesn't begin to capture the majesty of the place, but it's good enough for a daydream.

Erik M.

I was in LA about a month ago, and definitely ate quite well whilst there.

Table 8 in West Hollywood is excellent. Great food in a cool, very LA setting.

Bob's Donuts in Farmer's Market makes apple fritters that are worth walking in LA for. An excellent choice indeed, especially if the Du-par's in Farmer's Market is closed for renovation, as it was in late January when I was there.

GWiv,

Have you eaten at Guelaguetza? You probably have but if not--I believe it is written up in Jonathon Gold's book. It's an Oaxacan place near Koreatown that I thought was really good. The food was delicious and homey--think moles. And not moles poured over grilled cuts of premium meats--but rather gnarly chunks of shoulder, ribs, and tails braised slowly in mole. I also had great huitlacoche-masa creations. Everyone in the joint when I was there was ordering up clayudas with tasajo (dried beef) and queso fresco. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is low key, but festive. Plenty of street parking too.

trixie-pea

Guelaguetza
3337 1/2 W 8th St
LA, CA
213-427-0601

trixie-pea wrote:GWiv,

Have you eaten at Guelaguetza? You probably have but if not--I believe it is written up in Jonathon Gold's book. It's an Oaxacan place near Koreatown that I thought was really good. The food was delicious and homey--think moles. And not moles poured over grilled cuts of premium meats--but rather gnarly chunks of shoulder, ribs, and tails braised slowly in mole. I also had great huitlacoche-masa creations. Everyone in the joint when I was there was ordering up clayudas with tasajo (dried beef) and queso fresco. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is low key, but festive. Plenty of street parking too.

My first visit was to the location on Palms Blvd., and I was left cold*. Now that I've been to the shop on 8th St. I don't have any intention of budging. I have always been quite pleased with it. I have never been to the location on Olympic, but FWIW, I think that it is overseen by the same family.

Mmmm... huevos con salsa, barbacoa de chivo, enchiladas con mole coloradito, estofado, enfrijoladas...

Guelaguetza
11127 Palms Blvd.
310.837.1153

Guelaguetza
3014 W. Olympic Blvd.
213.427.0608

Erik M.

* I have heard that the Palms shop is run by a "relative" of the family that runs the 8th St. shop, and not by the family itself.

I've been to both the Palms and 8th St. Guelaguetza and I did not notice a distiction in the quality of the food. On the other hand, the service was way, way, way better at the Palms location, but it was also lunch vs. dinner.

It is such a cool place, and I wish the 2 Oaxacan places in Chicago could come close to the menu at Guelaguetza. I am always pestering them at Taqueria La Oaxcena to add more stuff, tclyanuas spread w/lard, cemitas, etc., but they think the stuff just won't sell in Chicago.

trixie-pea wrote:GWiv,

Have you eaten at Guelaguetza? You probably have but if not--I believe it is written up in Jonathon Gold's book.

Trixie-Pea,

No I have not, but after your recommendation, and reading Gold's review (#122) it's a must stop next time I'm in LA.

I really should post about SONA, suffice to say I have mixed feelings about SONA, mostly on the negative side.

All sizzle, no steak comes to mind, but that's not really accurate as there were a couple of standouts. But, then again, we had a tasting dinner, which gives them a better chance of hitting a winner.

Service was terrible, surprisingly uninformed, there was a $140 mistake on the bill and they started breaking the tables down while there were still customers in the restaurant.

SONA aspires to be one of the best in LA and, with 3-tables of customers in the main dining room, they start breaking down the tables and stacking the chairs to prepare for the clean-up crew.

As an example, dinner for four at SONA was exactly the same cost as Avenues. We left Avenues feeling we received excellent value for our dining dollar, aglow with good cheer for GEB and Avenues. I felt mildly ripped off at SONA, ok, maybe ripped off is too strong, but slightly abused, and not in a good way, covers it well.

OK, SONA rant over.

Thanks again for the pointer to Guelaguetza, looking forward to going.

Enjoy,
Gary

Erik M. wrote:As G Wiv mentioned Philippe's in his OP...

So many months later, I came across this photo report from a regular LA Board participant at Chowhound.

It certainly doesn't begin to capture the majesty of the place, but it's good enough for a daydream.

Erik M.

Erik,

Funny, I have similar looking down from the side entrance stairway shot.




Lamb w/blue cheese.


Enjoy,
Gary

Nice pictures, G Wiv.

Iced Tea and Lemonade? Smart Man.

Recently, some folks over at LA CH have been debating the relative merits/demerits of the lamb and blue combo. It would seem that a number of them feel the cheese overwhelms the succulent lamb. I dunno. It has always worked for me.

Regards,
Erik M.

Erik M. wrote:Recently, some folks over at LA CH have been debating the relative merits/demerits of the lamb and blue combo. It would seem that a number of them feel the cheese overwhelms the succulent lamb. I dunno. It has always worked for me..

Erik,

Lamb and blue cheese works for me as well, though I'm generally a fan of blue cheese. Blue cheese stuffed olives, blue cheese topped burgers, blue cheese/tomato/onion........

Speaking of LA French Dip sandwiches, here's a few pictures from Cole's you might enjoy. Cole's French Dip, beef, was not working for me that day, but the faded glory, old downtown LA atmosphere was amazing.



French Dip, Lamb Ribs






Enjoy,
Gary

Coles French Dip
118 E 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-622-4090

GWiv,

So I'm was sitting here, waiting patiently for you to get back from LA, and report on your food escapades---and I just now realized that this post was started back in July. Duh.

trixie-pea

A recent report on the Palms branch of Guelaguetza, at thedeliciouslife.

G Wiv wrote:Speaking of LA French Dip sandwiches, here's a few pictures from Cole's you might enjoy. Cole's French Dip, beef, was not working for me that day, but the faded glory, old downtown LA atmosphere was amazing.

Restored Cole's challenges Philippe's as downtown's French dip king*

It appears Cole's has gone through a complete refurbished including kitchen revamp and menu by Neal Fraser of L.A.'s Grace.

Cole's
118 E. 6th St
Los Angeles, CA
213-622-4090
http://www.colesfrenchdip.com

*Thanks go to Ms. Chu for the pointer to the LA Times article