Cole's French Dip

This past weekend my lady and I went on an adventure downtown. She told me about Cole's closing and I was like “Okay.” I had not even been there and vaguely knew it existed. She really likes old places and history and wanted to get it before it was gone. We drove there as she battled traffic and evil GPS systems and the line went around the block. This was about an hour after the place opened. We ended up heading to Grand Performances and then headed on the Angel's Flight to discover that Grand Central Market (which we have been to plenty of times) was right there! We had eaten from this Mediterranean food truck before the show because everything was closed. We grabbed some donuts from Mister Donuts and then headed back to Cole's.

My god.

Okay, so for whatever reason our same parking spot was available the next block over so we got in line. She wondered about the online ordering and everything was like “Nope!” We waited in line for about 45 minutes before the guy at the door let us inside which was good because I am one of the few people in this state that hates the smell of weed (people in line and this Jamaican spot next to Cole's supplied it).

We get inside and have to wait some more. Its pretty much as soon as a number of people leave they let that many people inside. You have to order from the bar where the bartenders are also service drinks. I saw some people leave the bar and let my lady know to grab the seats. She finally got my attention as I was about to order and I sat down. It was super loud in there and the music sounded better outside. People are ordering drinks right over your shoulder as you eat. Sure it was better at a table but that wasn't happening. We got a pastrami and a pork French dip because they were out of beef. She liked it. I thought it was fine. They have crazy ass hot mustard for you to use that was like pure horseradish. It also came with garlic fries which were too garlicky for me.

Location: Its literally down the street from Skid Row. As we waited in line I kept my eye on her car. There are homeless people all over and random shouting. Cole's is right on the street so there is cars and buses blasting you with fumes while you wait. Walking back to the car there are hobos all over the place and one carrying a scooter I'm sure he stole.

Price: I didn't pay so I don't know but I'm sure that it cost too much based on what people online are saying.

Service: Long. Not sure what this place was like before the closure announcement but everything is a long wait. Wait outside. Wait inside. Wait for food. Old waiter dude was nice and bartender lady as well. One male waiter was apparently a dick. 

Cheesecake Factory

My lady and I went to the Cheesecake Factory. This time I remembered that the portions here can be crazy big so I didn't get a big ass appetizer like I did last time with them nachos. I got this spicy shrimp appetizer that was really good. Wish the tails were off. I wish everyone would remove the tails. She got a clam chowder where she didn't eat the clam because of a video of a live one she saw recently. They look gross. Her appetizer was crab bits and it was good to her. I got a Cuban sandwich that was good just wish it had more mustard. It was enough for two meals for me. She got this big ass salad and chicken sandwich that was good as well. We skipped on the cheesecake.

Location: Its pretty. We sat outside next to a beach. Parking was about seven bucks and right near the entrance.

Price: This place always seems to cost too much to me because I'm a cheapskate but the portions are so big it makes sense to have it.

Service: Could seriously be worked on. They may be understaffed of something but our waiter had a lot of tables and it took forever for me to see him to get the check and pay for the meal and get to-go boxes.

Alcove And Jeni's Ice Cream

Me trying to stay on track with my food blogs. This weekend I went with Cam to Alcove. We went to a lot of places looking for mulch and donating clothes when she mentioned coming here. I thought we hadn't been here since pre-pandemic but it turns out that we had went in 2022. We got seats pretty fast near where we have sat before. I got a lemonade and chicken sandwich with fries while she got a big ass salad. Damn, that was a really good chicken sandwich. Top three I've had.

After we ate she said we should try this ice cream place that was across the street. As soon as we walked in we went “Ooooh...” It smelled good in there. I decided to get a waffle cone with a double dough. Cam got a popcorn brittle one and a lemon something that were both also good. We just sat there cooling off eating incredible ice cream. It was nice.

All The Food Since February

I know I wait far too long between food posts. Its pretty damn terrible and I have now put myself in a situation where I have a LOT of food to write about since February. I am gonna try my best to remember everything about them. Some will stand out for how good it was. Okay. These will not be in order. Here we go.

Butcher Baker The Cappuccino Maker

One of the favorite spots for me and my lady. We have been here a few times and each time the food is great. I do recall a guy wearing terrible cologne sitting near us this time. I got steak and eggs and it was so good. Their portions have increased since we had last gone. Would definitely go back again and again.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse Review

L and I went to Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse for Dine LA this year. Last night actually. We did not enjoy ourselves. I have not done a review like this in a while but then I have not had such a miserable experience like this in a long time. We had whittled down our food options to five places and I wanted this one because I was in the mood for a good steak and she liked the idea of getting butter cake. She really likes butter cake. We got directions for this place and it was nowhere near where I thought. It was at the Century City Mall. I had not been there for a long time and neither had she.

Very Late Food Blog

I still take pictures of the food when I go out but for some reason can not stay on top of posting the images here. So I made a little video with some of the food I've had this year along with some random late ass images. 

Back At Guisado's

L. and I went to Guisado's for lunch a couple of weeks ago in the middle of the week pretending were were those people that don't have to work. I like this place because it is consistent with their flavors. I got two beef tacos that were juicy as hell. L. got a chicharrones one that she thought was kinda mushy. She also got the ceviche which is always good and I am glad they made it a permanent part of their menu. I will always come back to this place.

Bazille At Nordstrom

This past weekend L. and I found this place called Bazille to eat. Never heard of it? Same. So we were near Del Amo Mall and did some shopping and started looking for places to eat. I kept joking about going to Chili's and she found some place but the address said Nordstrom. That was odd. So we headed there and sure enough the place is located on the second floor. We were seated immediately and ordered our food. I got a fried chicken sandwich because I like seeing how different places make them. L. got crab bisque and a chicken salad. I didn't like the bisque as she guessed I wouldn't since I'm not a lobster or crab man.

Musso & Frank Grill

A few days ago L. and I went to Musso & Frank Grill for a late birthday celebration for me. We went to Craig's a few weeks ago (images were too dark to write a full post about it) and that was good. Went to Eddie V's last year and that was great. But this place was straight up incredible. I had heard of it for years but just assumed I could not ever afford to eat at a place like it especially since its right in the middle of Hollywood. Shockingly it came up to more than $100 cheaper than Eddie V's. Seriously, I was afraid to look at the receipt and smiled when I saw it.

Eating At Thai Table Whittier

A few weeks ago Cam and I went to Whittier to hunt down some plants. It was cool. Then we wondered what was even out there to eat. We spotted this place called Thai Table and decided to see what it was about. Our standards are pretty damn high when it comes to Thai food after being to places like King & I (still miss that spot) and Toi up on Sunset. I was pleasantly surprised with how good this food was. We got the chicken potstickers for an appetizer which were nice and hot. She got an eggplant noodle for a meal which was good and I got chicken noodles and we split the chicken larb. Chicken larb always tastes better than pork larb. Go figure. The Thai tea was good, just mixed before it got to us.

Location: Located on the corner of a giant shopping center. Plenty of parking.

Service: Very nice staff. Just hard to get their attention for things like more napkins. They walk around with their eyes down.

Price: Very good price. Had enough food to leave having to walk it off and more for dinner the next evening.

Big Ass Meals At Cheesecake Factory

A few weeks ago L. and I went to Cheesecake Factory. We were supposed to go someplace nicer the previous day but I was feeling like a lazy asshole lump so we went here instead in Redondo Beach. I had not been to one in years and forgot how big their portions were. For appetizers we got I believe ahi nachos that tasted good and was massive. She got these rice deals that were good. For a meal I got fish and chips while she got a lemon chicken pasta dish. We took food home and split a slice of caramel cheesecake. All of it was good but when I end up here again I will for sure be getting just a meal because I didn't even finish the nachos. I tried.

Location: Nice. Right by a pier you can wander over to before or after eating. It was a chilly day but still looked pretty out. Parking was smooth. $5 to park in the lot if you don't wanna use valet.

Service: Fast service and they check on you just enough times. I got a refill so that is an automatic plus for me. I am big on refills.

Price: Price was good for the amount of food they give. You will end up with two or three meals from ordering just the one.

Yeastie Boys Bagel Sandwiches

Last weekend L. and I went to a farmers market on accident. We meant to head to this Yeastie Boys truck which we previously thought was over in Silverlake or something. Thankfully it was right up the street from me and, damn, this was good. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese with a delicious ass bagel while she got a salmon one. I took a bite of hers and it was super good. I will definitely be eating some more here and would be this coming weekend if it was for that dumb ass marathon coming through.

Location: Found one of the last spots at a meter nearby.

Service: Good and fast. That was one of the best bagel sandwiches I've had.

Price: Not sure. L. bought it for me since it was my birthday weekend.

Food Blog Videos

I have had a lot of food at a lot of places. I forget to post on here (and get lazy as hell about writing about them). I decided to make some videos of the places I've eaten since last year.

Tacos, Ribs, Beef Wellington, and Chicken Sandwiches

In an effort to make sure I don't fall too far behind on these food blogs I am going to make sure I try and stay up to date with these. The first place I'm going to talk about is Guisado's where L. and I went to get some tacos. She had never been there before and I had been there of course with JP and I really like this place. We ended up getting some tacos that weren't exactly what she was expecting but she still kind of like them but she and I really loved the ceviche that they had. They normally do not have this all the time so it was a cool surprise and a half and after having a bite of hers I had to get my own. They also have very bionic lemonade.

More Way Too Late Food Posts

Since the summer I have eaten at a lot of different places and tried a lot of new food. Have I been posting about them? No! Why? Because I'm a bum that was also dealing with depression. Now that I'm not I will post about some of the good food I have had over the months. I don't have pictures of everything like Vito's that I went to with Cam but rest assured that we went there before seeing a play and enjoyed it like always. But that new server can go to hell. She rude.

At the Santa Monica Pier L. and I went to this really good seafood spot. I got poke because I have been obsessed with it for a couple years now. She got clam chowder. Both were really good and the service was incredibly fast.

We also went to Leimert Park and got some Ethiopian food at a festival. This was enough for three meals for me. Everything was good.