Restaurants

On the evening of October 9, 2012, Guy Fieri’s signature shining-red late-1960s Camaro convertible pulled alongside the curb of the New York Times building in the heart of Manhattan’s buzzing Times Square district. Fans of his string of Food Network hits including "Guy’s Big Bite" and "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives" knew something big was up. The normal throngs of theatergoers, foodies and bewildered tourists that cram the entertainment-on-steroids West Forties found themselves working their way around the long line of hip revelers piling in to experience the grand opening of Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar at 240 West 44th Street. Read More »

The team behind the respected Frida restaurants has another winner with Casa Azul Cantina in Westwood Village. Vicente Del Rio is the heart and soul behind the restaurant. His dedication to authentic Mexican cuisine in a setting that celebrates the culture of his homeland has made Casa Azul a culinary destination in the Los Angeles area. Read More »

South Redondo Beach is the place to go for a very special summer school program. Ortega 120 is offering monthly classes called Tequila University Summer School. Each class offers an amazing in-depth guided tasting of tequila and other Latin inspired spirits led by owner Demi Stevens, accompanied by a custom paired menu by co-owner Tommy Ortega. The restaurant held a pre-launch party on June 27, 2012 featuring Pura Vida tequila. A small group of lucky folks sipped the tequila straight, tasted some fresh cocktails and sampled authentic food while learning about the tequila. Read More »

If a restaurant has its opening delayed for more than a year and the proprietors have a well earned reputation for high quality modern Mexican cuisine, expectations run high when it finally opens. Mercado, the new restaurant on 4th Street in Santa Monica is the brainchild of owner Jesse Gomez and co-owner/Chef Jose Acevedo. Gomez and Acevedo also have a successful restaurant called Yzta Cocina Mexicana on the east side of downtown Los Angeles. Mercado features the same sophisticated cooking using only the best farm fresh ingredients and complements the food with professionally mixed cocktails. The market for upscale Mexican cuisine is pretty crowded on the west side of Los Angeles, but Mercado definitely has the right formula for success. Read More »

The Cahuenga corridor north of Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood is jammed with bars, clubs, restaurants and hangouts trying desperately to attract the abundant night owls in the neighborhood. Nestled into the middle of a mini-mall at the corner of Selma Ave. and Cahuenga Blvd. is District 13 a gastro pub that stands out from the crowd with an expertly selected assortment of craft beers and some fine pub food. Read More »