Golden Chicken, Greek and Mediteranian Restaurant, Burbank, CA

164 E. Palm Ave #103
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 846-5687
Hours: * Mon 11am-3pm * Tue-Sun 11am-10pm


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Right in the heart of Downtown, this is a very good (though not amazing) greek restaurant, with beer and wine that is a great for a quick bite for lunch, or if you are heading to the AMC theaters for a movie. The food is tasty, and the service is quick (and has changed, you now sit down and they give you menus and take your order instead of ordering at the counter which you used to do). Well worth a quick bite.

Galway Bay Market House, Deli, Annapolis, MD

Galway Bay Market House
25 Market Space
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 263-8333

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On our recent trip back to Annapolis to take care of my father's dogs, my lovely girlfriend Kelly had been fiending for a Ruben, so when doing a little look at main street we saw the sign in the Market House, and decided to try it for lunch the next day. We were both expecting a restaurant, but when we went in we learned that the Market House is a city owned premises where various food places rent and have stands, and the Galway Bay was one of those stands, where you get your food and take it outside to sit at little tables around the building or stand up at bars around the inside in between the food stalls. We were a little put off, but decided to give it a try.

Ben's Delicatessen, Delicatessen, Burbank, CA

271 E. Orange Grove
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 846-6227

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Kelly and I were driving to get some lunch in Burbank today, and decided to try this place, because of the sign about how great the corned beef was, so we decided to try the Reuben's. The Reuben's I must say were pretty tasty, though not quite as good as Victor's. Well worth trying out in Burbank though.

Daily Grill, American Restaurant, Burbank, CA

Daily Grill

2500 Hollywood Way

Burbank, CA 91505

(818) 840-6464

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At the Marriott Hotel near the Burbank Airport, this place is fairly expensive, and has OK food, though actually they have pretty incredible hamburgers. I used to love the Daily Grill, when we used to pick up Nicoise salad's with rare Ahi Tuna, and it was fantastic. Unfortunately the menu seems to have changed, and everything on it is incredibly expensive. The service is decent, and fast, but the menu is pretty pricey, and there was not too much I wanted on it.

Big Wangs, Sports Bar, Hollywood, CA

Big Wangs

1562 North Cahuenga Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 469-BIGW (2449)

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A Hollywood sports bar, with a pretty decent bar menu. The parking is valet only (unless you can miraculously find some street parking), and you pay in advance, so bring $5. The place has a few pool tables, and is surrounded by televisions, and has some tables to sit at, and then a bar area. You can get pitchers of cheap beer, and some large portions of food.

Father's Office, Pub and Restaurant, Santa Monica, CA

Father's Office

1018 Montana Ave.

Santa Monica, CA 90403

(310) 393-BEER

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I have been reading about this place like crazy, with a huge write up in both Los Angeles Magazine and also FOOD AND WINE magazine, and had been dying to try out this bastion of beer and burgers, which has won tons of award and accolades all over the place. This is one of the hippest places in town, and the line outside, and lack of parking add to that image. The place has a ton of beers on tap, with many obscure beers, as the owner/chef is trying to make beer the new wine. The place is tiny too, and you literally have to wait like a hawk to try and get a seat as soon as people get up, and then sneak in, and then you must order from the bar, and they will bring the food to your (though you get your drinks at the bar).

Now I really wanted to love this place, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed.

Hot Wings Cafe, Chicken Wings and Beer, Glendale, CA

314 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203-2304
(818) 247-4445

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These are some of the best Hot Wings in Los Angeles, coming in 4 flavors, up to quite spicy, and the prices aren't bad either. My only complaint is the service could be better, but what can you do when the wings are this good?

K&L Wine Merchants, Wine, Hollywood, CA

K&L Wine Merchants
1400 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 464-WINE (9463)
Hours: Mon-Sat from 10am to 8pm, Sunday from 11am to 6pm.

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My girlfriend and I had seen this place when they bought it, and that it was opening as we left the Arclight theaters each time, and had been excited to see it open, and even tried it on the first day. In fact I have been meaning to blog about it for sometime, but just never got around to it (though I did post about some of the wine I got there). This place is fantastic, with a knowledgeable staff, a huge selection, really good prices, and inexpensive wine tastings. Hollywood has really needed someplace like this for sometime, and I am so happy it is here now. Not only that, but the place was recently listed as one of the 10 best online retailers in Food and Wine magazine (June 2007), and is known for it's 2 excellent stores in Northern California, so you can't go wrong shopping here.

Bouchon Las Vegas, French Restaurant by Thomas Keller, Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas, NV

Bouchon Las Vegas
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 10101
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 414-6200

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I have wanted to go to Thomas Keller's the French Laundry since I saw Anthony Bordaine go there on his old Food Network show, A COOK'S TOUR, and started learning that this was the number one restaurant in the US, and when I went to NAPA, I ended up going to the number 3 restaurant the BISTRO JEANTY instead and loved it. And then again it was Anthony Bordaine who showed me about Bouchon Las Vegas, but this time on his travel channel show, NO RESERVATIONS. And on the plane ride to Vegas to go to NAB this year I was reading Anthony Bordain's book THE NASTY BITS, which had the article that he was writing about Bouchon when he did the show, and I knew my girlfriend and I had to go. We called at 3 in the afternoon (they are not open for lunch) and got reservations for 9:30 PM. And I recommend you get there early and ask for directions, because the restaurant is quite well hidden away in the new tower, but it is quite nice inside.

Kelly and I got there a few minutes early, and got a table outside in the courtyard next to a fountain. It was a bit overly windy, but quite warm, and an amazing setting. The place is gorgeous. And when you sit down, the menu is a piece of paper wrapped around your napkin, so you can keep it. The wait staff was very good and helpful, and the food was honestly some of the best I have ever had. And the price was quite reasonable. With 1000Ml of wine, and an order of Oysters the dinner for the 2 of us was just under $150 with tip. Quite reasonable for food of this quality. If you are ever in or near vegas, YOU MUST GO TO THIS RESTAURANT NO MATTER WHAT! IT IS AMAZING!!!! Now I have to try THE FRENCH LAUNDRY!!!!

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Bar and Bar food, Las Vegas Nevada

Margaritaville

3555 Las Vegas Blvd. So.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

(702) 733-3302

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Honestly, while I have to admit to actually liking a few songs of Buffett's, but really I dragged Kelly here because I was hoping to get one of those meter long Margaritas, to look like an idiot, and walk around Vegas, but unfortunately they didn't have them. Still they did have quite good margaritas, we got the largest order of Nachos I have ever had, and the floor show was at least entertaining.

Bistro Provence, French Restaurant, Burbank, CA

Bistro Provence

345 N. Pass Avenue,

Burbank, CA 91505

(818) 840-9050

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I have been reading about this little French Restaurant for some time in Los Angeles Magazine, and decided I finally had to give it a try. It is strangely located in a strip mall in between a Starbucks and a Dry Cleaners with an Albertsons and a Bank of America, and is only about a block from my girlfriend's house, so where better to go for her birthday celebration? Well, maybe The Hungry Cat just spoiled us, but honestly this place seemed only mediocre. Not bad, but not amazing in any way shape or form.

Topz, Hamburger Restaurant, Toluca Lake, CA

Topz
10119 Riverside Dr.
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
(818) 766-9066

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I had been looking forward to this place, which bills itself as having the LEANEST BURGERS IN AMERICA for a while, since one of the producers I have been working with mentioned it to me. And I have to say I was very disappointed. I was not too impressed at all, though I did like the syrups and formulas you can add to your soda, though they can't be good for you, and don't make up for the unimpressive and borring hamburgers and fries this place serves.

The Italian Fisherman, Italian and Seafood Restaurant, Toluca Lake, CA

10760 Riverside Drive

Toluca Lake, CA 91602

(818) 487-3777

GOOGLE MAPS

Where my girlfriend wanted to eat was closed, so we kept driving down Riverside and saw this place right next to Baja Fresh, and decided to give it a try. I must say whomever wrote the menu did a fantastic job, because when you read it you will want to try everything. Everything sounds amazing, but the thing it is it is all lies. Especially ones like "WE ARE HOME OF THE GREASELESS PIZZA!" because this is damn greasy pizza, and the crust is just nasty. The food was terrible, and it took quite a long time as well. I was so unimpressed that I will never eat here again and tell anyone not to try this either.

Victor's Liquor & Delicatessen, Delicatessen, Hollywood, CA

1915 N. Bronson Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90068-5601

(3230 464-0275

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This place is at the corner of Franklin and Tamarind Ave, and has a liquor store that makes great (if expensive) sandwiches, and is also a restaurant next door with again delicious sandwiches, though the prices are way too high. You have to experience the food though, it is pretty damn good, and the sandwiches are huge (though they should be from $10 to $15).

2005 Brander Chateau Nuef Du Pink, Santa Ynez, CA Ros

After a bottle of the excellent 2005 Torre Quarto Guappo Rose Puglia, Italy at the Hungry Cat, I tried a glass of this second excellent Ros