POST AND BEAM (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Post and Beam
3767 Santa Rosalia Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90008
www.postandbeamla.com
Tel: 323.299.5599
$$ ($15-$30)
DineLA- $29 PP for 3 courses
Cuisine: Southern
Fri, 01/22/2016, 7:30pm Reservation
    (3.5 Piglets)

Southern food is hard to find in Los Angeles. Specifically, a dose of good southern food is like winning the lottery. Govind Armstrong and Brad Johnson have developed a menu to offer Southern cuisine as well as comfort food to us Angelenos. From good ol' shrimp and grits to hand stretched pizzas, you can find basically anything to satisfy your soul.

The interior

Table setting

The location is quite hidden in the Crenshaw Plaza. I actually had to drive in circles to find the place, but once found, I was a happy camper. The actual décor is very cozy and was poppin' for a Friday night. As far as the food goes, well, see for yourself...

WARM HOMEMADE CORN BREAD WITH WHIPPED HONEY BUTTER ($3.00 EACH): I thought the corn bread was just alright. It was a little bit on the dry end and I much prefer something with bits of corn in it. The butter was fantastic though. I probably wouldn't order this again. 

MAC N' CHEESE, HERBED BREAD CRUMBS ($5.00): This was a simple mac n' cheese but for some reason, I found myself digging my fork for seconds and thirds. It was creamy and satisfying with some crunch from the breadcrumbs. It became quite addicting for a dish that I initially thought was just okay. So maybe it really wasn't okay. I ended up loving it in the end. 

COURSE 1: HANGER STEAK TARTARE WITH CORNMEAL BLINI, CHILI SORGHUM, AND GARDEN HERBS. This was a good start to the meal. The tartare had a lot of flavor. Was it the best I've ever tasted? No, but it did satisfy my cravings. I loved the blinis, which are similar to mini pancakes. 

COURSE 2: BRAISED SHORT RIB, POTATO CELERY MOUSSELINE, SEASONAL MUSHROOMS, AND HERB SALAD. The short rib was a tad on the tough, fatty end. I loved the potato celery and together, the dish worked quite nicely. It was a heavy dish so I would suggest you order a light appetizer if you were to order this dish. I thought the dish was just okay. 

MY FAVORITE DISH. COURSE 3: CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE.  I loved this dessert. It wasn't overly sweet and the pecan concoction that came on the side was absolutely delish. It was almost like eating a chocolate pecan pie if you were to mix the two together. The texture was great and the pie actually tasted better the next day! 

Overall, Post and Beam did offer Southern comfort food with a modern twist. The restaurant isn't overly pricey and is a good place to take a date. For the amount of food we received and the price we paid via DineLA, it was a bang for your buck. 

Notable dishes: Chocolate Chess Pie

DRAGO CENTRO (DOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES, CA)

Drago Centro
525 South Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
www.dragocentro.com
Tel: 213.228.8998
$$$ ($30-$45)
DINELA- $49 PP FOR 3 COURSES
Cuisine: Italian
Mon, 01/18/2016, 7:00pm reservation
    (3.5 Piglets)

Italian is one of my favorite cuisines of all time. How could you not love a decadent bowl of pasta with your favorite sauce to go with it? To slurp those noodles is like slurping heaven into your mouth. With that in mind, I was excited to check out Drago Centro for DineLA. I visited this restaurant once prior to DineLA and had a wonderful experience. Now, it was time to see whether they were consistent with the food and service.

Drago Centro is a beautifully constructed restaurant. Nestled in the heart of Downtown LA, the eatery can be a bit difficult to find (I was at a loss trying to find the valet). Large windows with a contemporary ambiance bring sophistication to the restaurant. There is a gorgeous display of their wine collection that seems to be their focal point. 

The bar

The interior dining room

COURSE 1: BURRATA, SHAVED FENNEL, CROSTINI, HAZELNUTS, ENDIVE, TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE. This dish was delicious but a bit overwhelming. The burrata was creamy to the point that after a few bites, I was done. There was not enough of the crostini to absorb and balance the creaminess. The fennel was a nice touch that added freshness to the dish. Regardless, I still finished the plate (cause I don't like wasting delicious food), but my friend could only eat half. 

MY FAVORITE DISH. LE PAPPARDELLE AL FAGIANO ($20.00-NOT PART OF THE DINELA MENU): Pappardelle, Roasted Pheasant, Morel Mushrooms. This was an extremely flavorful dish. The pasta was cooked perfectly with the perfect texture and bite. The pheasant wasn't overly gamey nor was it dry. The morel mushrooms gave an earthiness to the dish. 

BRAISED PORK BELLY: Soft Polenta, Brussel Sprouts, Sage Fonduta. As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to have it. Unfortunately, the pork belly was a tad bit dry and lacked seasoning. I normally love fat but it was actually a bit overwhelming for me. The brussel sprouts were good and so was the soft polenta but that was about it.  

PASQUINI ESPRESSO, POURED OVER A SCOOP OF GELATO. This was a good affogato dessert. The espresso was strong and the gelato was creamy. I don't think you could really mess up this dessert unless you mess up the gelato and espresso. 

CHOCOLATE AND OLIVE OIL TERRINE, SALTED CARAMEL GELATO, ALMONDS. I loved this dessert and it was probably the best dish out of the dineLA menu. The terrine was rich in chocolate flavor and wasn't overpowered by the olive oil. The gelato was perfect and the marcona almonds added a nice touch and texture to the dish. Perfect! 

Overall, the food is decent but not as wonderful as my first visit at Drago Centro. The waitress we had was not very accommodating. In fact, she disappeared for awhile and it was hard to flag her down. So in essence, consistency needs a bit of work as well as the service. Would I come back? Sure! I'm always down to give a restaurant another shot. If it can be as good as my first visit, then I'm sold!

Notable Dishes: Pappardelle and Chocolate and Olive Oil Terrine

A & J RESTAURANT (IRVINE, CA)

A&J Restaurant
14805 Jeffrey Rd #D
Irvine, CA 92618
http://aj-restaurant.com/
Tel: 949.786.3585
$ (under $15)
Cuisine: Taiwanese
Sat, 01/16/2016, 5:30pm Walk-in
    (4 Piglets)


On these rare cold, winter evenings in Southern California, I often crave for some comfort food. The feeling of something warm in my tummy generally makes me a very happy person. Fortunately in Irvine, there sits a restaurant that has since franchised straight from Taiwan. Known for their spicy beef noodle soup, A&J Restaurant is the epitome of comfort food.

The interior

A&J Restaurant contains a plethora of various noodle dishes. The décor has since been revamped to something a bit more modern since its opening over 15 years ago. And as for the wait time, expect a long one. The eatery is definitely a popular pick amongst Irvinians (if that is even a word).

SLICED PORK EARS WITH HOT AND SPICY SEASONING ($2.95): This is one of those appetizers that you either love or hate. It has a chewy texture that is similar to tripe. The flavors are well balanced with a hint of spice that hits the back of your throat. For only $3.00, why not?

CHINESE STYLE FRIED CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP ($8.55): The chicken that comes on the side is delicious. It's crispy and moist and reminds me of the Chinese fried pork chop but with chicken as the protein instead.

These are the noodles that come with the fried chicken noodle soup. The noodles are chewy but the broth itself is pretty bland. I think this would be perfect for anyone who is feeling under the weather.

SCALLION PANCAKE ($3.95): These pancakes were super dense and crispy. They were good but for $3.95, I'd rather just buy a frozen version and cook it on the stove myself (or make them on my own).



MY FAVORITE DISH. SPICY BEEF TENDON NOODLE SOUP ($9.25): This dish is so good. The spice level is perfect and hits you at all the right spots. The tendon is super tender and cooked well. The bok choy adds a nice vegetable to the dish and the noodles are chewy and filling. The perfect comfort food.     

Overall, A&J Restaurant delivers authentic Taiwanese cuisine without putting a dent in your wallet. It is affordable and tasty. There are a number of noodle soups I still have yet to try, but I always find myself going back to the beef noodle soup that they are known for. The only downfall is that their locations are in Asianville or the OC. Tip: It's cash only so bring those dollar bills with you!


Notable dishes: Spicy Beef Tendon Noodle Soup

COMMONWEALTH (BURBANK, CA)

Commonwealth
222 S. Glenoaks Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502
http://restaurantcw.com/
Tel: 818.845.2225
$$$ ($30-$45)
Cuisine: American
Fri, 01/08/2016, 8:00pm reservation
    (4 Piglets)

Nestled deep in the city of Burbank sits a tapas restaurant serving dishes inspired by cuisine from around the world. The food is fresh and contemporary without being overly pretentious. It is probably one of the smallest restaurants I've been to in awhile. In lieu of being claustrophobic, the restaurant seems to be rather cozy and intimate.

Commonwealth only honors two seatings a night: 6:00pm or 6:30pm or 8:00pm or 8:30pm. The countertop is for walk-in patrons and they do not take reservations of parties exceeding 8.  

The interior

AMUSE BOUCHE

FRESH DAILY OYSTER...BY THE PIECE ($3.00): Tobasco, Ponzu Salsa, Cucumber Fennel Relish. Kusha oysters were served tonight and boy, were they extremely fresh and delicious. Perfectly briny and the perfect size, similar to Kumamoto oysters but slightly bigger. The Tobasco sauce had a good kick. The oysters were so good that we ordered another four more! One of the best dishes of the night!



MAINE LOBSTER AND TRUFFLE CROQUETTES ($15.00): Black Truffle, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Caviar. The croquettes were crisp with a delicate center. The lobster was succulent and the best part? The chefs were not flimsy when providing the amount of lobster to top each croquette. A good dish overall.

FRIED CHICKEN ($9.00): Salt and pepper fried, Cumin, Maple Dijon. The chicken reminded of the Taiwanese popcorn chicken you get at the cafes, except these were bigger. The chicken was moist and not at all greasy. They were extremely crispy and the sauce went perfectly well with the chicken: not too sweet with the right amount of acidity.

TRUFFLE MUSHROOM RISOTTO ($14.00): Mushroom Medley, Mascarpone, Truffle Butter. A really delicious dish that is well balanced and earthy from the mushrooms. I thought it was extremely satisfying and comfort food at its best. I enjoyed the creaminess and it was probably one of the better dishes of the night.

GRILLED OCTOPUS AND BRUSSELS ($14.00): Thai Vinaigrette, Fresh mint, Chile. The octopus was actually cooked superbly. It wasn't overly rubbery like how octopus can be when its overcooked. The Brussels were delicious and went well with the octopus. The sauce was amazing...acidic, sweet, tangy, and delicious.

NUESKE BACON AND BURRATA ($7.00): Onion compote, Grapefruit, Crispy leeks, Grilled Bread. This was probably my least favorite dish of the night. I'm a big fan of burrata and bacon, but for some reason, the dish with all the components were a tad bit much and didn't mesh well together.

The chefs having a good time ready to cook up a storm

MY FAVORITE DISH. BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING ($8.00): House made whip, caramel, crisp prosciutto. This was so freakin amazing. The pudding was rich and complemented the salty and crispy prosciutto nicely. It's not your typical budino you would find at other restaurants. It's definitely creamier than most budinos you would find. Everything went well together and this was a perfectly constructed dessert.

Overall, Commonwealth is a gem in the Valley. It's hard to find spots like these and this place is definitely a bonus in the city of Burbank. Parking can be found across the restaurant at an automotive shop. The menu is perfectly constructed, whether you just want small bites or something substantial. The restaurant satisfies all palates alike.




Notable dishes: Butterscotch Pudding and Daily Oyster by the Piece

DINE LA RECOMMENDATIONS (JAN 18-31, 2016)

Restaurant week in Los Angeles is just around the corner! It is a perfect way to try those restaurants you've always wanted to try and revisit some of your favorites. The following are my top 3 participating restaurants I recommend checking out and 3 restaurants I want to try:

MY RESTAURANT WEEK RECOMMENDATIONS:

REDBIRD ($25-LUNCH)
OpenTable

Redbird is Chef Neal Fraser's restaurant offering contemporary dishes that are sophisticated and innovative. The food is delicious and the location itself is worth a visit. 

Order: Heritage Pork Tenderloin



SIMBAL ($39-DINNER)
OpenTable

Located in Little Tokyo, Simbal is one of those restaurants that brings you to Southeast Asia without having to take a plane across the Pacific. You are exposed to dishes that range from China, Thailand and Vietnam. Expect dishes that are bursting with flavor with a seasoned touch.

Order: Coconut Flan



POK POK LA ($15-LUNCH; $29-DINNER)
OpenTable

Chef Ricker transports you to Thailand with dishes that are authentic with others that exude his creativity. The ambiance is reminiscent of a pub in Thailand. The food is meant to be shared and is a bang for your buck!

Order: Chicken Khao Soi



MY RESTAURANT WEEK "WISHLIST"


POST AND BEAM
OpenTable


DRAGO CENTRO
OpenTable


Reservations to the participating restaurants mentioned can be made using OpenTable (and you'll receive points toward a future gift certificate). Any other restaurants you recommend I try? Let me know!