Los Angeles : The Early Verdict

The Early Verdict: Fraîche

BuzzEditor — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:24:00 GMT

Fraîche

Photo: Alen Lin

Fraîche

9411 Culver Blvd.
(Main St.)
310-839-6800

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
24	24	19	$54

"Superb", "imaginative" Mediterranean dishes and "light, delicious" desserts by husband-and-wife team Jason and Miho Travi "impress" guests of this new addition to the "buzzing" Culver City scene, housed in a "gorgeous" room with "large windows" and a "beautiful patio"; it's a "good value" too, and while some reviewers cite "shortcomings" in the front of house, many commend "awesome bar chef Albert Trummer" for "stealing the show" with his "original" cocktails.

This review offers a preview of surveyors’ feedback

Key to Zagat Ratings

Read Member Reviews of Fraîche

The Early Verdict: Abode

BuzzEditor — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:18:00 GMT

Abode

photo: Alen Lin

Abode

1541 Ocean Ave.
(Colorado Ave.)
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-394-3463

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
23	26	20	$93

“Gorgeous” “modern-retro” furnishings with “beautiful banquettes” set a “promising” tone for this sustainability-touting Santa Monica newcomer, which rewards early samplers with New American fare they deem “avant-garde”, “pleasurable” and even “gastrodynamic”; the coinage puts off others, however, who find it too “pretentious” and “overpriced for the food quality and portions”, given tasting menus ranging from $85 to $145.

Based on the reviews of initial visitors

Key to Zagat Ratings

The Early Verdict: The Penthouse

BuzzEditor — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:22:00 GMT

The Penthouse

1111 Second St.
(Wilshire Blvd.)
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-394-5454

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
20	28	19	$55

“Chic and modern” with a “fabulous” “view from the top”, this “exciting” New American arrival designed by Thomas Schoos (Koi) in the revamped Huntley Hotel is the “hippest place on the West Side”, complete with “individual cabana dinner tables” for groups; the cooking garners mixed reviews – from “delicious” to “needs to iron itself out” – and the bar scene tended by “cocktail waitresses out of a Robert Palmer video” can be “overbearing”, but most find the “expense” a “fair trade” for the ocean vista.

Based on the reviews of initial visitors

Key to Zagat Ratings

The Early Verdict: Pizzeria Mozza

BuzzEditor — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:48:00 GMT

Pizzeria Mozza

641 N. Highland Ave.
(Melrose Ave.)
Los Angeles, CA 90038
323-297-0101

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
26	19	22	$39

“NYers, eat your hearts out” jeer Angelenos over Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton’s “winning pizzeria” in Melrose serving “glorious” pies that early converts dub the “best in LA”, complemented by a “superb” list of “modestly priced” Italian wines; it’s “hard to get in” the “bohemian” space where there’s “little wiggle room” and the “noise is on steroids”, but the “attentive” staff “keeps tables turning”, and while cynics find it “overpriced” and “so trendy it’s silly”, others insist it’s “reasonably priced” and “worth the wait.”

This review offers a preview of surveyors’ feedback

Key to Zagat Ratings

The Early Verdict: Cut

BuzzEditor — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 17:01:00 GMT

Cut

photo courtesy of the establishment

Cut

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel
9500 Wilshire Blvd.
(Rodeo Dr.)
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310-276-8500

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
27	26	24	$119

“Back up the Brink’s truck” to Wolfgang Puck’s “sleek” and pricey new steakhouse in Beverly Hills’ Beverly Wilshire hotel, a meatery on a “completely different level” serving “fabulous” cuts of “real Wagyu” beef imported from Japan and domestic Kobe-style meat with “imaginative” sides and à la carte sauces; the Richard Meier–designed space “soars with light and roominess”, and the adjoining lounge, Sidebar, makes waiting for a table “almost enjoyable”; given the “expense-account” prices, though, some feel the service “should be more professional.”

Based on ratings and comments from early visitors

Key to Zagat Ratings

The Early Verdict: Simon LA

BuzzEditor — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 17:01:00 GMT

Simon LA

Sofitel Los Angeles
8555 Beverly Blvd.
(La Cienega Blvd.)
West Hollywood, CA 90048
310-278-5444

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
23	26	23	$59

“South Beach meets Beverly Center” at this “cool” “‘it’ spot” with a “non-hotel” look in the revamped Sofitel LA, where “rock-star chef” Kerry Simon creates “inventive” “refits” of American comfort “classics”, including an “outrageous” junk food platter dessert, when he isn’t greeting diners in the “noisy” room; the “service isn’t entirely on the ball”, but there’s a “nice buzz” in the Rose Lounge next door, where the “eye candy’s out of this world” and young enough, it seems, to warn “anyone over 30 to bring extra batteries for their pacemaker.”

Based on ratings and comments from early visitors

Key to Zagat Ratings

Los Angeles : The Early Verdict

The Early Verdict: Fraîche

Fraîche

Photo: Alen Lin

Fraîche

9411 Culver Blvd. (Main St.) 310-839-6800

The Early Verdict: Abode

Abode

photo: Alen Lin

Abode

1541 Ocean Ave. (Colorado Ave.) Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-394-3463

The Early Verdict: The Penthouse

The Penthouse

The Penthouse

1111 Second St. (Wilshire Blvd.) Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-394-5454

The Early Verdict: Pizzeria Mozza

Pizzeria Mozza

Pizzeria Mozza

641 N. Highland Ave. (Melrose Ave.) Los Angeles, CA 90038 323-297-0101

The Early Verdict: Cut

Cut

photo courtesy of the establishment

Cut

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel 9500 Wilshire Blvd. (Rodeo Dr.) Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310-276-8500

The Early Verdict: Simon LA

Simon LA

Sofitel Los Angeles 8555 Beverly Blvd. (La Cienega Blvd.) West Hollywood, CA 90048 310-278-5444

9411 Culver Blvd.
(Main St.)
310-839-6800

1541 Ocean Ave.
(Colorado Ave.)
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-394-3463

1111 Second St.
(Wilshire Blvd.)
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-394-5454

641 N. Highland Ave.
(Melrose Ave.)
Los Angeles, CA 90038
323-297-0101

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel
9500 Wilshire Blvd.
(Rodeo Dr.)
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310-276-8500

Sofitel Los Angeles
8555 Beverly Blvd.
(La Cienega Blvd.)
West Hollywood, CA 90048
310-278-5444