Made in the US of A

We used to be big fans of Cafe Montana. We love tree-lined Montana Avenue. My friend A and I had lunch here Friday and had a fantastic server, so I do have to give some points for that. Also A really liked her lunch so points for that too. My personal frustration with this place is that the amount of food is miniscule. I am not a huge eater by any stretch of the imagination, but come on, let's get serious, there was barely any food on my plate and I had to ask for bread and butter. I had the Montana Chicken Hash ($12.50). Two poached eggs, grilled tomatoes, herb-seasoned chicken hash with potato, and cilantro hollandaise were served in a pile on a stark white plate. I have to say that I was digging through this mess to find the chicken. There were tons of potatoes, but barely any chicken. I find this disappointing on many levels. I make chicken hash, and as a pretty good cook myself, know that the ratio of chicken to potatoes should be higher. Anyway, onward and upward...strawberry lemonade was refreshing, so I drank that. My friend had the Grilled Chicken on Ciabatta ($15) with buffalo mazzarella, fresh tomatoes, pesto, arugula, and balsamic vinegar. She pronounced it delicious. I however, had the right to remain silent. Not. Going. Back. Cafe Montana 1434 Montana Avenue Santa Monica (310) 829-3990 Hours Daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

SALT has been in my own backyard for a couple of years now. We've been there a few times, a now I think it's time for a review. Service is delightful but food falls a little short to make this into a neighborhood fave. Chef-owner David Iino's skills are apparent with his seafood dishes and it would be great to see more of this type of classic cooking on the menu. Alas, that's where SALT falls short. The menu is small and not all of the dishes as wonderful as the salmon. I do love that Chef David comes out to check with customers about their dining experiences. Produce is fresh from local farmers' markets and local farms. So if anyone at SALT wants to take my advice, cook up some more of that fresh local fare and forget the Chicken and Waffles. Oh, did I say Chicken and Waffles? Yeah, I'm always a sucker for that dish. The Chicken and Waffles ($9) is two panko crusted chicken tenders with two mini waffles served with a metal cup of balsamic maple syrup. I've had them before and they were pretty good. This time the chicken was a bit burnt in some places, and for the most part, just didn't taste as good. Waffles were not light nor crispy. The Iceberg Wedge ($6) was just that a big wedge served with bacon, tomato, red onion, bleu cheese crumbles and dijon ranch. We ordered some Garlic Bistro Fries with Herb Aioli ($5). Fries were hot and aioli was tangy. The star dish was the Grilled Salmon with miso sauce ($24). Perfectly cooked salmon was accompanied by fresh baby seasonal squash. The salmon was delicious. And I should know as I shared this dish with my husband, much to his chagrin!  SALT 26500 Agoura Road #116 Calabasas (818)880-9260 Hours: Mon-Fri: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sat-Sun: 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Grilled Salmon, Garlic Bistro Fries

Never mind that it's awesome American cooking, we were in the company of two of our favorite people in the whole world, my oldest friend LLG and DL, her significant other. Before I begin the review, just a side note about LLG and the phrase, "you can never go back again." I beg to differ. You can go back again. LLG and I have been friends over 5 decades. Now there were times when we didn't see each other much, but in this great big brutal world, there was always a small thread that held us together, wherever our lives took us. We are still the four-year-old girls who shared a bag of Frito's, or held our noses and the now-defunct Jungle Compound. We even still call each other by secret names like "Ray and E.A." Yes, my friends, to some things, you can always go back. So when we met for dinner last week after a year long hiatus, it was just like we'd seen each other yesterday. In the jazzy lounge of Bandera, I spied my old friend and jumped for joy. My glass of Mer Soliel Silver ($15) in hand, we began, to catch up as we waited for our table. Once seated we ordered a truly delightful dinner. R enjoyed the huge French Dip Sandwich ($22) full of thinly sliced rare prime rib au jus with fries and kale salad. Oh, did I say kale salad? We substituted mac and cheese that was out of this world cheesy and crunchy! I had the Wood- Fire Mary's Free Range Chicken & Beef Ribs ($28) with cornbread and mashed potatoes. Ribs were tender, fall-off-the-bone delicious. Chicken was moist and flavorful. We also ordered Grilled Lamb Sirloin ($27) with mashed potatoes and broccoli and Grilled Scottish Salmon ($27) with with sauteed spinach. Both dishes were pronounced wonderful. For dessert we shared the House-Made Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich with Dark Chocolate Sauce ($10). This was outstanding. I think we may have licked the plate clean! Our dinner was one we will all remember 'til the next time we meet. Bandera 11700 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles (310) 477-3524 Hours: Mon-Wed: 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Thur-Fri: 5:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Sat: 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Sun: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: French Dip Sandwich, Scottish Salmon, Lamb, Roasted Chicken, Bef Ribs, Ice Cream Sandwich, Macaroni and Cheese.

This is diner food in full "swing!" Neon lights, stripes, electric lights, plaid booths, and eclectic photographs abound as soon as you enter this noisy joint on Lincoln and Broadway. We ate here today for National Grilled Cheese Day as Swingers is rated one of the top 10 grilled cheese sandwiches in LA. We started off with some homemade Chicken Vegetable soup ($3.75) which was delicious and filled with chunks of chicken and fresh veggies. We had to try the Stuffed Grilled cheese Sandwich ($7.95). Sourdough bread is stuffed with sharp cheddar and jack cheese, fresh guacamole, sliced tomato, and grilled onions. I love the creative thought put into this dish, but I have to say, not my top choice for NGCD. It needed a lot more cheese and wasn't buttery enough for me, but then again, remember, it's me. Fries were crisp and tasty. Sides include fries, Swingers salad, soup, mashed potatoes, steamed or sauteed spinach, steamed broccoli, fruit, brown rice, or onion rings ($1), sweet potato fries ($1.25), or sauteed quinoa ($1.95). Of course I had a chocolate malt ($6.00) to finish off the meal. That malt was the best part of my day so far! Topped with whipped cream, thick and icy cold, I drank almost all of it! Cupcakes ($3.95) line the counter and and are too irresistible to pass up! Get one to go in flavors like vanilla bean with sweet butter cream frosting. For anyone out late, you're in luck; Swingers is open til 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday! Swingers 802 Broadway, Santa Monica. (310) 393-9793 Sun-Wed: 7:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. Thur.-Sat: 7:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m.  Swingers Hollywood 8020 Beverly Blve. los Angeles. (323) 653-5858.

Recommended Dishes: Homemade Soup, Malts, Hamburgers, Sandwiches, Late Night Snacks, Fries, Grilled Cheese.

Known to many as "the hottest restaurant in LA," Craig's really does deliver! Craig Susser, the former manager of Dan Tana's opened this West Hollywood eatery serving upscale American comfort food in 2011 and it reminds me of an old Hollywood celebrity hangout. Which indeed it is. Check out the papparazi in front, then check in and get seated at your gorgeous, comfy booth. Service is both excellent and super friendly. Our server, Timothy, went above and beyond to make our dining experience delightful. Start with a glass of Mer Soleil ($21). We couldn't resist. This lovely buttery, rich golden Chardonnay started our meal off on a perfect note. Enjoy the crisp, garlicky bread but save room for an appetizer or a salad. The Classic Wedge ($12) with blue cheese, fresh tomatoes, and creamy blue cheese dressing was just a prelude to what was coming. Honey Truffle Chicken ($28) was one of the most interesting dishes I've had in a long time. Boneless chicken filets are southern fried with a truffle honey infusion and served with mashed potatoes and garlic spinach. This dish is noteworthy and a must try! Organic Roasted Rosemary Chicken ($27) is another winning dish, but then again, anything made with Mary's Chicken always is. The star of the meal was the sausage stuffing that came alongside the Rosemary chicken. It tasted like a gourmet Thanksgiving explosion in my mouth! And then, because I'm me, we had to try the Mac 'n' Cheese ($10). And yes, it's right up there with some of the best in LA. This comfort food's just like the one your mom used to make, served in a skillet, piping hot, perfectly seasoned, and best of all...cheesey! For dessert try the Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies ($8) served warm. We are already making plans to go back for some Meatballs, Pigs in a blanket Burratta Pizza, and some of Jerry Weintraub's Spaghetti Clam Show! Craig's is great for vegans and any pizza crust can be made gluten-free for $2. And now, as I drift off to dreamland, I will leave you with a final thought from the great author Orson Welles. "My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people." Craig's 8826 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood. (310) 276-1900. Hours: M-Sun: 5:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m..

Recommended Dishes: Classic Wedge, Meatballs, Pizzas, Honey Truffle Chicken, Roasted Chicken, Sausage Stuffing, Mac 'n' Cheese, Chocolate Chip Cookies.