NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA IN LA-MULBERRY STREET PIZZARIA

    

     I LOVE New York style thin crust pizza. It's my favorite. Especially a good slice dipped in ranch dressing...I know, classy right? lol. Unless the pizza is SO amazing it doesn't need ranch, but pizza dipped in ranch is probably the best combination, if you've never tried...GET ON IT.
     Anyway, there are a couple Mulberry Street Pizzarias around LA, one on Canon and Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, & one in Sherman Oaks and Encino on Ventura Blvd. It's just a casual pizzaria, nothing fancy.

     After having the best pizza I ever had in my life in Brooklyn, (read my blog posting about Di Fara pizza in Brooklyn, New York), and Pizzaria Mozza which is "supposed" to be the best pizzaria in Los Angeles, I heard a lot about Mulberry Street pizza and decided to give it a shot. I've been to the one on Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills and the one on Ventura Blvd. in Encino.
     Mulberry is defintely a good represenation of New York style pizza. The slices are super thin, and a good size. Would I say it's amazing? Definitely not. It's good, and if you like New York style pizza, I think Mulberry Pizza is a good option. Nothing special about the pizza, just an average good slice. I only ordered by the slice though and the pizza wasn't fresh out the oven. It had been sitting there, which is normal in most pizzarias, but next time I want to order a fresh whole pie, pick it up and bring it home. I feel like if I got my slice fresh out the oven it would have been a LOT better, and I feel like I can only judge fairly after having fresh out the oven pizza. But most pizzarias if you order by slice they just warm it up for you so there's nothing wrong with that, I just don't really understand the hype I've heard about this place. There was nothing to complain about, but I defintely didn't leave impressed. I guess when I've had the best it becomes hard to please me...lol

Chicken, tomato, basil slice

Classic pepperoni slice

So if you want New York style pizza in LA, Mulberry Pizza is a well-known option!

Mulberry Street Pizza

http://www.mulberrypizzaria.com/



xoxo,

FATHERS OFFICE, SANTA MONICA

It's Sunday, my favorite day of the week! SUNDAY FUNDAY. I decided to do the Santa Monica Stairs today, which for those of you who don't live in the area, or have never done them, they are steep, tall steps in Santa Monica with beautiful views of the ocean at the top. People go there to exercise- it's a great workout!

Me in front of Father's Office!
(After working out at the Santa Monica Stairs excuse the no makeup!)

     After a great work out I built up a pretty good appetite and decided to go to one of my favorite spots- Father's Office. It's in Santa Monica on Montana Ave. between 10th and 11th street. They also recently opened another Father's Office in Culver City, but the Santa Monica one is the original. They have amazing food, and their Office Burger is voted the #1 burger in LA according to some articles and magazines. I have been to Father's Office many times, and I definitely think their burger is one of the best in LA. Also, they have unique beers on tap that you can't get in grocery stores if you are a beer drinker. I always get the beer cider, which tastes like apple cider. Bomb.

View of the bar and beer on tap

Always packed!

     Their sweet potato fries and regular fries are one of the best I've ever had. You must order the sweet potato fries a la carte (and they literally bring it out to you in a mini shopping cart lol), and they are my favorite sweet potato fries. So flavorful, light and crispy. You can get a side of regular fries with the burger, or in a cart as well. Both fries come with an amazing garlic aioli, and together, the flavor is incredible.



The most amazing sweet potato fries with garlic aoili



Regular fries that come with the burger for $2 more...AMAZING FRIES

     Now for the famous Office Burger. The burger comes out on a fresh french roll, oozing with a mixture of bleu and gruyere cheeses, carmelized onion, applewood-smoked bacon compote, topped with a salad's worth of arugula lol. The meat is cooked medium to medium rare, and even if you ask for it any other way, that's how they make it for you. They do not allow any substitutions to this burger at all. It comes the way they make it whether you like it or not. The meat has all the qualities of dry-aged meat-earthy but rich and that charred smokiness from the grill. It's cooked perfectly and is bursting with flavors. Dipped in a side of their garlic aioli, this burger is perfection.



Office Burger $12, Fries add $2 = $14



One of my favorite burgers of all time! Cooked perfectly



Cooked medium/medium rare. Best way!

***NOTE: Father's Office does not have ketchup. If you MUST have ketchup with your burger and fries, come prepared. I used to smuggle in my own ketchup, but this time I realized that everything is so good, ketchup is not needed. The garlic aioli is sufficient.

FATHERS OFFICE

1018 Montana Avenue

Santa Monica, 90403

http://www.fathersoffice.com/

ONE OF THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN...

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THIS PLACE!

    

~El TORITO GRILL!~



Margaritas baby!

     El Torito Grill is different than the regular El Torito. It's more upscale and they have a different menu as well. I went to El Torito Grill in Beverly Hills after work with my work buddies, (there is also one in the Sherman Oaks Galleria) and the food is pretty good! They have a great happy hour.



Before they bring you your food, they of course bring you fresh chips and salsa, but they also bring you warm, homemade tortillas with butter. This was my favorite part! It's worth to go there just for this if you just feel like ordering drinks.

I ordered the Chicken Tortilla soup to start...yum!

Roasted chicken salad...for my coworker that eats healthy lol

Lobster Quesadilla- I ordered this. Could have had a little more lobster, but still sooo good! *Highly recommended.

Chili Relleno- Oozing with cheese! Roasted pasilla chile, jack cheese, cotija cheese,

goat cheese, red chile sauce, pineapple-mango salsa, peruvian beans, pasilla-cilantro rice, sweet corn cake

Shrimp tacos for cheap!

CARNITAS YUCATÁN

Slow-roasted garlic, achiote, lime and orange marinated pork, citrus-habanero marinated red onions, peruvian beans, pasilla-cilantro rice, fresh avocado relish, sweet corn cake

Had to have Mexican flan for dessert of course! Rich and really creamy...my favorite!

For a location near you:

EL TORITO GRILL

www.etgrill.com

LAZY OX, DOWNTOWN LA

 

     This cozy and causal Gastropub located in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA, is what I'd like to call an undercover hotspot. Most people who do know about it absolutely love it, but many people don't. Lately, I've been more into going to downtown LA because it's something different, especially because it's up and coming. There are also some great spots for foodies. The Lazy Ox is located a couple blocks from the famous Edison lounge/bar, so if you want to eat out before going to the Edison, the Lazy Ox is a great choice. I walked over there for a drink right after eating. The food at the Lazy Ox is ecclectic and unique, yet prices are still reasonable. The restaurant that comes closest to it, would be ANIMAL, because of the exotic dishes. Some people may find the food a little bit too out there, but I appreciated the innovative ways it was put together, and the perfect combination of flavors in every dish I ordered. The Lazy Ox is usually packed at night during the peak hours, sometimes up to one hour waits. I went early so I missed the rush.

     The service was great. The food came out pretty quickly, and everything was very good. These are the things I ordered:

The Bellwether Farms Ricotta Fritters- with saba and saffron honey- this was so good. The saffron honey added a sweet/cinnamon taste to the ricotta fritters. The cheese just oozed out. Very interesting combination of flavors.





Dashi Marninated Yellowtail with avacado, hashbrown & tonburi- this was my favorite. The fresh taste of diced yellowtail atop a bed of avocado. Two warm hash browns on the side. A unique combination but similar to spicy tuna on rice cake...loved it!

Carmelized cauliflower with olive oil, roasted pine nuts, garlic & rehydrated pepper flakes- very unique tasting. Had a kick to it, loved the flavor!

7oz Lazy Ox Burger with cantal cheese & green peppercorn mustard- loved this burger! The meat was one of the most flavorful burger meats I've ever had and it was cooked perfectly. Rare-medium. Great burger, and you know I LOVE my burgers...

 



     If you are ever in Downtown LA, this is one spot I defintely recommend. It's unique and the food tastes like top-quality 5 star restaurant type food, but in a cozy, gastropub setting with fair prices. They are known for their beers too! Very different beers, and they also offer beer samplers which is fun. Beer and wine only though, no hard liqour. I'll definitely be back at the Lazy Ox to try more of their ecclectic dishes soon.

On my way Downtown for dinner :)

THE LAZY OX

241 South San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 626-5299
www.lazyoxcanteen.com

Till' next time!

BANZAI SUSHI, CALABASAS

     This has been my sushi spot for YEARS. Located a couple blocks from my house, Banzai sushi was my "go-to" sushi spot in high school. Whenever I'm home and am craving sushi, I go to Banzai.

      Banzai is in Calabasas, right across from the famous Sagebrush Cantina, and also down the street from the Calabasas Commons. Sushi is one of my favorite foods, so I love a good sushi spot. I wouldn't say Bonzai is the best sushi restaurant out there by any means, there are better places for sushi, but I really like Bonzai. It has a nice vibe, inside is always packed, and the outside heated patio (the patio is covered during winter) has flat screen TV's that usually always has a sports game on. I usually like sitting on the patio.
     One of my favorite sushi rolls ever is from Banzai. It's called the Manhattan Roll. It's a spicy tuna crunch roll, topped with avocado, eel sauce and spicy mayo. If you know me, you know I love anything with avocado! This roll has a lot of it...
 

MANHATTAN ROLL...my favorite!

      This is my classic roll I get from Bonzai everytime. I also love Banzai's Lobster Dynamite Roll. It's heavy, but spicy and so good. I usually always order the Spicy Tuna on Rice Cake, they have a great one, but this time I didn't. We got the Special Albacore Sashimi with jalepenos, garlic and fried onions in ponzu sauce, and also the Sea Bass appetizer which is freshly grilled in a miso sauce. (The picture below is half eaten lol, sorry!)


Miso Grilled Seabass



Special Albacore Sashimi. So flavorful and fresh tasting!

 

Lobster Dynamite Roll



LOBSTER DYNAMITE ROLL...SO BOMB!

 If you are ever in Calabasas and want sushi, Banzai is one of the good spots to go to.    

 

BANZAI SUSHI

23508 Calabasas Rd

Calabasas, CA 91302

http://www.banzaisushi.com/

GET ON IT.

8oz BURGER BAR ON MELROSE---BEST BURGER IN LA? FIND OUT!

"8oz Burger"

     The other night I went to 8oz Burger Bar on Melrose in LA. I was hearing a bunch a hype about this place, people saying it was supposedly the "best burger in LA", or right up there with Umami Burger and Father's Office. Being that burgers are my favorite food, I drove all the way out there from my little neighborhood in Calabasas, to find out the truth about all the hype, and to inform my loyal food blog followers if this place is worth it or not. OPRAH said that the short rib grilled cheese steak sandwich was the "best sandwich in America". So of course, if OPRAH approved this place, I had to try it ASAP, lol.

      8oz Burger Bar is a gastropub with a cool and trendy vibe with booths and high top wooden tables. It has a full bar with wine and unique beers on tap as well. We ordered their "chocolate beer" that is made with coffee and chocolate. A little heavy for me, but still unique and tasty.

     Their signature burgers are "The 8oz" and "The Melrose", and quoted from their website on http://www.8ozburgerbar.com/, their burgers are made with the "highest quality humanely raised, hormone-free Black Angus sirloin, blended with short rib, chuck, and tri tip. We grill our burgers over live Texas oak, giving them an unmistakable taste that is all our own. Our natural grass-fed beef, free-range turkey and bison, and homemade veggie/vegan burgers can be customized endlessly with the long list of seasonal, house-made extras, sauces, and sides. You'll love our homemade pickles, thick-cut bacon, garlic roasted tomatoes, and caramelized onions; just a few of the things we make in our own kitchen."
     ALL their burgers are cooked medium to medium rare. I ordered the "8oz Burger" with Bel Paese cheese and a side of spicy mayo, and we got the famous "short rib grilled cheese" that Oprah loved. We also got a side of truffled potato skins...



"Short Rib Grilled Cheese" with Bel Paese cheese and onion marmalade $8


     The short rib grilled cheese was simple, yet satisfying. I kept wanting to dip it in spicy mayo and the garlic aioli we ordered though. It needed an additional sauce. It tasted like good brisket in a panini. Although it was yummy, I would still prefer a good burger over it. Truffled potato skins were different, and very good. I always get fries, which I love, but this was a unique and nice change.



"Truffled Potato Skins" $4

      Now to my burger. The 8oz Burger comes with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and their special sauce. I added a creamy cheese called Bel Paese to it. I LOVED their special sauce whatever it was. The burger was delicious, BUT I feel like it wasn't cooked medium/medium rare. It was almost too cooked that it wasn't juicy enough. The meat was a little dry. I was expecting really juicy, good quality tasting meat, and I felt like it lacked a little. It tasted like it was cooked medium well to medium well plus. I like my meat medium rare and it just didn't taste like it was cooked that way which was surprising because they emphasized they only cook the meat to medium/medium rare. The bun was a tad bit dry for me too. But other than that, I really enjoyed it and thought it was overall very good and flavorful. I like Flemings, Father's Office & Umami burgers more, but if the meat was cooked perfectly, than it would be in the running for top best burgers in LA. I feel like I need to go back again and give it a second try to see if the meat will be cooked differently, because I still really enjoyed it.



"8oz Burger" with Bel Paese cheese



     For dessert, we order an Apple Pie Milkshake, made with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, and real chunks of apple pie, with sprinkled pie crust on top. It literally tasted like an apple pie with vanilla ice cream in a cup lol. So good! 



Apple Pie Milkshake

     Overall, this place is very good. They have a unique menu with items I didn't mention such as their "Kobe Corn Dogs", made with Kobe beef, their "Chicken Pot Pie Croquettes", a variety of fun milkshakes, etc. I recommend this place. Even though it's not my FAVORITE burger, it's still pretty damn good. Let me know what you think! If you aren't from the Los Angeles area, they have locations around the country as well.

    For the menu and a location near you go to:

8oz Burger Bar

7661 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046

323.852.0008

http://www.8ozburgerbar.com/