Made in the US of A

Lobster & Beer was a last minute decision for us, but I'm glad it was! Everything hsappens for a reason, so they say...and tonight was no exception! We had dinner plans that fell through so decided to try Lobster & Beer as we have driven by it literally hundreds of times. Situated on the corner of Motor and Palms Avenue, this is a small place that packs a mighty punch! Tons of craft beers, wine, and cocktails are available and definitely go with the big screen tv's showing all your favorite sports. If you're a fan of crustaceans like I am, you'll find everything you want and more on the menu. Tonight we enjoyed the New England Clam Chowder with huge fresh clams, vegetables, and chunks of tender potatoes. The white clam broth was outstanding. Now I am a huge Connecticut Roll fan, and I've the best of them all over the country. This one is at the top of my list! Fresh, warm Maine lobster is cooked in herb butter. A tiny bit of mayo, Old Bay seasoning, and chopped scallions finish the roll off. For $12 more you can double the lobster, but trust me, you won't need to. The amount of lobster on this roll was amazing! We also enjoyed some fresh, crunchy, crispy tater tots alongside. Now, one wouldn't think that a lobster place would have chicken to die for. One would be making an incorrect assumption! The chicken wings are some of the best in the city! We enjoyed the lemon pepper wings and wished we had gotten more! Service is friendly and staff is extremely on top of everything. Derek helped us and did an excellent job. If you love lobster (and beer), this is the place for you! I highly recommend! Beer & Lobster 3456 Motor Avenue, Culver City (424) 298-8106 Also located in the South Bay and Koreatown with new locations soon to open in Hollywood and Santa Monica. 

if you're looking for a little taste of New York in LA, you must hit up Employees Only in Weho for cocktails and dinner! The post-modern architecture and boisterous bar are just the right touches for a hip and trendy dining experience. Located in the former Baby Blues space on Santa Monica, the space even boasts a psychic next door! But come for the cocktails, if nothing else. Some of the EO classic cocktails like the West Side are refreshing and delicious. In this delight, Meyer Lemon Charbay vodka marries fresh lemon juice, fresh mint, and soda. This happy foursome is a sure fire winner! There are so many other yummy choices too like a Manhattan, Billionaire, or the Mata Hari.  The wine list is interesting and several spirit-free cocktails enjoy their own special place. Shrimp Tempura is outstanding served with fermented chili sauce and charred lemon which brings out the brightness and flavor of the shrimp. Caesar salad is a huge winner with Niman Ranch bacon, organic little gem lettuce, parmigiano, anchovy dressing, and crunchy croutons. This is definitely one of LA's best Caesar salads! For mains the Crispy Bird, is the way to go. Chicken is juicy and bursting with flavor. The Waygu burger with taleggio, onion rings, and caramelized mushrooms is outstanding too. Make a reservation, you must!

Employees Only 7953 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood (323) 536-9045 Hours: M-Tues: 6-11pm Sun, Wed, Thurs: 6-11pm, Fri-Sat: 6pm-12am Bar Hours: Mon, Tues:6pm-12am, Sun, Wed, Thurs: 6pm-2m, Fri-Sat: 6pm-2am

There is kind of a shortage of great places to eat in Malibu but tonight we found a winner! All-day eateries are all the rage right now and Ollo fits the bill perfectly. There is a wide range of breakfast selections, among them overnight oats and breakfast tacos. Lunch time will find patrons munching on garlic shrimp or filet mignon chili, but we come for the dinners. Tonight we started with the homemade matzo ball soup. It's full of fresh herbs,a yummy matzo ball and plenty of carrots. We also enjoyed the grilled lamb chops with Swiss chard,garlic mashed potatoes, and black garlic Demi glaze. Lambchops were juicy and plump, just the way we like them! We also had the Malibu Chopped Salad with tons of veggies, turkey, avocado and blue cheese. Portions were big and hearty and can definitely be shared. Of course we didn't pass up dessert and had the warm chocolate cake with peanut butter crunch, strawberries, and fresh whipped cream. I only had a bite but that bite was heaven! Ollo is now on our list of Malibu favorites!

Ollo 23750 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (in the Ralph's Shopping Center) (310) 317-1444

Call for hours.

I love my neighborhood and now Yours Truly Venice is one of the reasons. I had the pleasure of dining here for lunch today, enjoying the modern California menu with my sister-in-law, Robin and both of us could not stop raving anout the food! Chef Vartan Abgaryan's cuisine is what Los Angeles is all about! The restaurant is housed in the former Salt-Air building on Abbot Kinney, just a hop, skip, and a jump from my house. Today was the first day that Yours Truly was open for lunch and we were the third party of the day! We were greeted by the amazing Matt, and given top-notch service trough out the meal. I must mention the decor too because it is so simple, yet beautiful. 
We began lunch with the wonderful avocado hummus with salsa macha, (think Chile-laced peanut butter), peanuts, lime, and house-made sa' atar flatbread. This dish was so delicious and refreshing. Next we had the Grilled Little Gem Caesar Salad. The dressing was so tangy, and perfectly complemented the lettuce, Parmesan, pomegranate, and silver anchovies. We shared the Chicken Cordon Bleu Club as our main course. The chicken in this sandwich is marinated and dipped in panko. It was so crispy that I could have eaten it alone and been happy. But I didn't. The sandwich comes with pepperjack, bacon, tomato, and spicy mustard on whole wheat toast. I promise, it's the perfect combo! We were so full that we had to walk all of Abbot Kinney to make up for our gluttony! Yours Truly was so amazing that I can't wait to go back for dinner! 

Yours Truly 1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice (310) 396-9333

Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5:00-10pm Friday/Sat 5:00-11pm

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm

Brunch Sat/Sun 11am-3pm

If you're looking for great American food in the beautiful Palisades Village, Hank's is the place to go. We had dinner last week and I can't wait to go back! Classic American comfort food headlines the menu here and is served for branch, lunch, and dinner. Hank's has a great wine list and we started with the Penelope Sauvignon Blanc. We also enjoyed a great margarita while we waited for dinner. The French Onion soup was piping hot, cheesy, and delicious! We'd definitely order it again! We also enjoyed the wedge salad with heirloom tomatoes. The fried chicken wings were outstanding and perfectly cooked. The hamburger was juicy and flavorful and served with lettuce, tomato, Hank's special sauce, and a house made pickle. The pickle was fantastic! We loved the homey atmosphere and excellent service too!

Hank's 1033 N. Swarthmore Avenue Pacific Palisades (310) 427-3077 Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 am-10 pm Sunday 11:30am-9pm