All posts tagged: Restaurant

Eating Cliffside at Sierra Mar (Big Sur)

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*Photo from Post Ranch Inn website. If you’ve read my post on California’s most beautiful coastal city, Big Sur, and are so inclined to visit…you’ll definitely want to consider making reservations at Sierra Mar. The fine-dining restaurant rests cliffside at the Post Ranch Inn Hotel. It would be my dream to stay the night here one day, but for $1,000 per night, it’s currently a little out of my budget! My fiancé and I headed here for their lunch menu which features a three-course pre-fixed menu OR a five-course tasting menu. The staff was extremely friendly and explained the menu selections to us very thoroughly. I would describe the cuisine as fresh California fusion. There’s everything from fancier meals like lamb to a good hardy kobe beef burger and of course seafood. You also have the option to order à la carte from the prefix menu selections. The portion sizes were very good for such a nice dining experience. We both were more than full and had food leftover to take home. Although lunchtime wasn’t busy, …

Chirashi Bowls at Murakami on Melrose

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My new favorite sushi trend, Chirashi bowls! Chirashi means “scattered” and that’s exactly what these bowls are, an eclectic mix of fresh fish on top of rice. I tried a Chirashi bowl for the first time at Murakami on Melrose Ave. They are known for their bowls and have a variety of combinations to choose from or you can build your own. Each bowl starts around $14 at 3-4 items and up. I am huge fan of Spicy Tuna, so I tried the “Spicy Trio” which included: spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail and spicy salmon. I love these bowls as an alternative to traditional sushi rolls because I feel like you get a lot more fish for your buck! Murakami also has other traditional Japanese dishes on their menu, but I highly recommend giving the bowl a try! If you’re going carb-free, you can request your bowl on mixed greens. Enjoy! MURAKAMI 7160 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 692-1450 Hours *Lunch | Mon ~ Fri: 12:00 pm ~ 2:30 pm | Sat & Sun: 12:00 pm ~ 3:00 pm …

Hand Rolls at KazuNori | The Original Hand Roll Bar

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To all of my loyal Sugar Fish fans, you must try their new hand roll bar in downtown LA. It’s called  KazuNori | The Original Hand Roll Bar. This hot spot is a hand roll lover’s dream and is served authentic Japanese style. The small countertop restaurant seats around 20 people. We went late on a Tuesday night (around 10pm) and had no problem finding a seat. You’re given an order form and small pencil to choose from the pre-made hand roll menu which comes in options of 3-5 or you can order à la carte. Each option comes with their daily special and two other specialty rolls (i.e. scallop, yellowtail, tuna, lobster etc.) The preset combination is a bit cheaper than ordering à la carte and is similar to the style of the Sugar Fish menu. KazuNori serves it exactly the same too! You can see the chef preparing your hand rolls fresh in front of you and  they serve them one at a time. The best part, the taste…cold fresh fish on warm …

Crostini’s at Fig and Olive: Melrose Place

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Looking for a trendy chic restaurant this weekend or even for a Valentine’s date? If so, now is the perfect time to try Fig & Olive on Melrose Place. The upscale restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with its elegant white decor. It almost feels as if you’re eating in a luxe garden patio at night in some foreign land. The menu features a variety of fresh and healthy Mediterranean inspired dishes. They have a wide selection of appetizers, including a mouthwatering selection of Crositinis. The dishes are in the $20-$30 range, but the portions are a generous size so I don’t think you’ll be left hungry. They also provide bread with three different types of olive oils from around the world for you to try before or during your meal. Your server will explain the origin of each oil at the table. I came here for dinner on a Wednesday night and was surprised at how crowded the restaurant was. You will definitely want to make reservations when coming here. It is the perfect place to meet …

Chinese Fine Dining at Mr. Chow in Malibu

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If you’ve been in LA long enough or frequent celebrity-gossip blogs, you’ve probably heard of the fine dining Chinese restaurant,”Mr. Chow.” Asian-fusion cuisine seems to be a big “thing” in LA and I can’t say that I’m mad at it. Most people are familiar with the Beverly Hills location on Camden Dr. (parallel) to the famous Rodeo Drive. However, LA has two locations. I recently tried Mr. Chow Malibu which is inside of the high-end shopping center, Malibu Country Mart. The menu is very similar in both locations…delicious. The dishes are meant to be shared and served “family style.” One of the more popular dishes is the Mr. Chow Noodles. You can typically catch one of the noodle chef’s coming out in the middle of your dinner to demonstrate the process of making noodles to the entire restaurant. If you’ve never seen this before, you’ll be highly impressed with the precision that goes into it. Lychee Martini Mr. Chow Noodles Water Dumplings Drunken FishShrimp Fried Rice & Velvet Chicken*Additional favorite (not shown): Green Shrimp  

But First Coffee…at Alfred Coffee and Kitchen Melrose Place

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I finally got to see and sip the hype of Alfred Coffee & Kitchen on Melrose Place. This trendy LA coffee shop slowly began to coat my Instagram feed from bloggers, friends and co-workers. I have a Nespresso machine at home which I love, but my curiosity couldn’t help but wonder why is this place so good (other than the cute, “But First, Coffee” cups of course…)?! Well first things first, it’s in a great location. Somewhat off the beaten path on a street that’s safe to walk across in LA. I didn’t have much trouble finding parking on the street at 11am on a Saturday. The coffee shop, in between two cute boutiques, is two stories high. The bottom floor is where you place your order for coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads. There is seating below, but it gets pretty crowded due to the ordering line. The line moves quickly and while you wait, you can shop through the truffle chocolate shop inside, Compartès. Since  it was a warm day, I decided to go with …