3 GREAT PLACES TO EAT IN LOS ANGELES
A few weeks ago, I jetted out of Pearson Airport in Toronto for a 3 day trip to Los Angeles. This was for work, so wifey couldn’t join me but I thought it was still important to document this on the blog. The Escape Manual was created to show young couples and young professionals how to get the most out of their travels no matter where, no matter how. Any great pictures of me on the blog or the gram are taken by Amara, so because of her absence there aren’t may pictures of me. However, the second most important thing to document on any trip is the food we eat, so that’s what this post will be about.
I have a few friends in the LA area and they recommended these eating establishments that I visited. Here are 3 great places to eat in Los Angeles.
- IN-N-OUT
Anyone who has been to California has probably been hounded by their friends telling them that they must go to IN-N-OUT. Three years ago I experienced this California hotspot for the first time. I thought it was good then but not mind blowing. This time I was told to get the animal sauce on my burger and fries. After picking up my rental car, I drove a few minutes to the location. It felt like there were more people working there than necessary and it was chaotic. I soon discovered, there was a method to the madness.
I ordered a cheeseburger with animal sauce, fries and a strawberry milkshake. This time the cheeseburger was worth all the hype. I am shocked that the animal sauce could make such a difference. It was sensational! I found out that there’s actually a secret menu. If you’ve tried that let me know what you think. Next time I’m in LA I’ll have to try it myself.
2. SAINT & SECOND
I met up with some old friends in Long Beach and they recommended this lovely restaurant. Long Beach is about an hour south of Los Angeles and you really have to endure some serious traffic to get there, especially with the poor state of public transit in the LA area. I have to say I enjoyed the calmer nature of Long Beach (and of course free parking). Saint & Second has a family friendly vibe but it’s also appropriate for date night. This area is known for sun and surf so that usually means SEAFOOD! So of course that’s all we ate.
We ordered a few things and shared most of it. Check it out:
– Fried Octopus with curried yogurt, cilantro, mint, micro shiso, fingerling potato.
– Sea Food Bucatini: Clams, mussels, cod, saffron broth, prosciutto, zucchini, fennel, bucatini pasta, parsley, grilled bread.
– Skuna Bay Salmon with basil brown butter, hazelnuts, green beans, creme fraiche mash.
If you’re into seafood, this was a taste of heaven. I’m not just saying that, the food was delicious!
I’m a very big fan of trying local beer. Our waitress recommended the Beachwood Brewing Foam Top Blonde for me and it was great.
If I had to nitpick, I’d say it’s lack of WiFi was a little irritating but maybe that’s a good thing considering the world is too obsessed with mobile usage as it is.
3. PERCH
If you’re looking for an up-scale and trendy spot without the snobbery then Perch is the place to be. Yes, they have valet parking if you want to feel like a baller, or you can park in the lot right next to the restaurant for $10 during the week (not too bad for LA). Head up to the rooftop and enjoy the wonderful views of downtown Los Angeles. If you’re into people-watching, Perch’s rooftop is one of the best spots in the city. Any restaurant with a good band will have my heart and this particular band took us all the way back to the 60s and I loved it.
Was the food as good as the rooftop experience? Maybe not to that level but it was good. I ordered the Boeuf Bordelaise; a braised short rib with roast garlic potato puree, beets, cippolini and pearl onions. I do wish the portions were bigger but all in all the food was good. Overall, it was a wonderful night out with friends, great music and decent food. That’s not a bad deal at all.
So there you have it, our LA food experience. We can’t wait to go back and check out some other spots. Hit it us up to give us your favorite spots to eat in LA or let us know if you tried any of these. With love, Bernie