West LA

I kinda hate myself for that title, but I’m sticking with it. Over the weekend my ladyfriend reminded me that she purchased a Groupon for Steingarten LA. We’d been there a couple times before, both times when it was raining. It’s a pretty zen experience, gazing out the front window at a rainy Pico Boulevard, sausage in one hand, Words With Friends in the other. It’s gotten to the point where I crave sausage every time it rains.

Well this past weekend it was not raining but this Groupon was jonesin’ to be spent. We headed over to Steingarten LA around 1pm for some lunch. We didn’t grab our usual front window seat because there was a solo act over there (that’s what I call someone that dines by themselves and spends the whole meal eavesdropping on my conversation.)

I’ve been trying not to drink too much (early New Year’s resolution most likely to be broken before the ball drops. God damn there is a lot of innuendo in this post already) so I decided to replace those calories with the Korean BBQ Nachos. These nachos were pretty amazing. Sliced red bliss potatoes, short ribs, scallions. If I were a marathoner I would eat this once a week. Instead I run on a treadmill maybe a few times a week tops so I need to space these visits out.

Sausage time. I always walk into Steingarten LA thinking I’m going to order something Anthony Bourdainish. The alligator and pork sausage? The salmon sausage? The rabbit and spirit? As interesting as it would be to eat a part-bunny/part-ghost sandwich, I always feel overwhelmed and end up going for a safety sausage. This time it was chicken and apple, but, on a pretzel roll!

The chicken, apple, and cinnamon of the pretzel roll went together like a 2 year old’s birthday party. Everyone’s smiling, sharing, complimenting each other and having a great time. I’ve never been to a 2 year old’s birthday party but I’ve already typed that example and I don’t feel like thinking of another.

My ladyfriend, henceforth known as Lady Sausalot, had the vegan chipotle sausage. She said it was “super good” and she ordered it topped with grilled peppers and chopped onions. She also ordered a couple really hoppy beers so I wouldn’t be tempted to sip/drink half of them. That was nice of her. Good ol’ Sausalot.

Steingarten LA is a pretty cool space. We’ve already covered the big front window, but there’s also a friggin’ sunroof and a back patio that features some sort of flaming terrarium. You’ll have to see it yourself and give me a better description. The staff is really friendly, the menu is overwhelming in a good way, and the price is right.

And that, is 460 words about me eating sausage.

Steingarten LA
10543 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 441-0441

http://www.steingartenla.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SteingartenLA
https://twitter.com/SteingartenLA

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Friends, subscribers, long-tail searchers,

These are busy days in West LA. When the days are busy, the nights are tired. When the nights are tired, I cannot be expected to even microwave a burrito. I must be catered to at a local eatery or at the very least, a friendly Grubhubber, LA Biter, or Seamlessian must arrive at my door within 45 minutes with brown bags full of greatness.

Luckily, there are plenty of options in all directions of my Sawtelle neighborhood. Over the past couple weeks, we have taken full advantage. I need to start checking in on Foursquare before I leave these places, I keep missing out on deals.

Manpuku

I don’t know why I came back here. I went here for lunch last year when some guy in the office raved about their lunchtime steak deal. It was pretty eh then and it was even more eh when I went full on barbecue. My palette is not refined enough to recognize whether or not I’m getting a good deal on high quality beef and chicken when my wallet remembers getting an endless supply of both at Road to Seoul a few years ago.

Nong La Cafe

It’s not my fault, the those hunks of meat were really that blurry. I’m not the biggest pho fan, I’d rather head up the road to Chabuya any day, but the Mrs. was feeling a cold coming on, and I figured I’d take one pho the team.

Here’s the thing, we get there and she orders a banh mi. Not cool. I ordered the meatiest pho on the menu. It’s hard to tell from the photo but that bowl was the size of a Fiat. I tried my hardest to fit all the meat, noodles, veggies and broth into my stomach, but it was not happening. You win this round Nong La Cafe.

I would go back here again if they’d dim the lights a little. I haven’t gotten the whole neat noodling thing down yet. I still need some time to slurp in the shadows before I’m ready to go public.

Pig and Whistle

Well, of course I love the Pig and Whistle. I had the burger, it was great, then we walked to the Hollywood Bowl and watched Wilco. Best night ever? Maybe. I realize this isn’t in anywhere near Sawtelle. Sometimes I leave my neighborhood. Sometimes.

North End Pizza

This is my favorite delivery pizza place. My woman partner has complained in the past that if you ask for olives or anything else that could possible come in a can or jar, they will just dump the whole thing, juice and all, on top of the pizza. My response to this is: Stop complicating our pizza. Some pepperoni, maybe a tomato and some onions. That’ll do. Let’s not get fancy.

This time though, I did get fancy and I ordered the Sicilian pizza. This thing is enormous. Order it on on Sunday and you’re good for the week. Unless you’re Sicilian. I guess?

En Sushi

Moving to a new neighborhood (well, back to our old neighborhood) means choosing a new local sushi place. There are a few options on Sawtelle that we have not checked out yet, but we’d been to En Sushi in the past and it is pretty solid.

There’s a bit of a bar scene here. Most people that come here seem to head straight for the bar. Not the sushi bar, but the booze bar. There’s a cool waterfall backdrop that just helps those drinks go down that much easier. Also: Garlic edamame. Why not.

So there’s that. I’m spending the next few weeks cooking everything in my freezer so I can save all my carb loading for clam cakes and hot wieners on my trip to Rhode Island later this month. It will be worth it.

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I promise to work on my stealth photography.

This was originally going to be a post about heading to Bru Haus but we walked in there and couldn’t find a place to sit, so we left. Our options were then Q’s or Cabo Cantina. I’ve never woken up the day after a Cabo Cantina night without an obscenely painful hangover, so Q’s it was.

Q’s Billiard Club and Restaurant is a fun place. It’s like the place your rich friend’s dad got after the divorce. Full bar, beer on tap, red pool tables, and lots of pimped out loungey furniture. What’s not to like?

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