Recommend Your Independent Restaurant

BarTopDancer · 12-03-2007, 12:47 PM

Spurred from Bubba Gump - it seems we have an affinity for independent restaurants over chains on this board. Let's spread the word.

Yes, I realize we have the RTS area but I was hoping this could be an easy to use suggestion list.

Manga Manga in HB (Golden West and Edinger) - Italian food. Reasonable prices, great service

Gypsy Den in Costa Mesa - Sandwiches. Good prices, spotty but expected service

Memphis in Costa Mesa - Soul food. A little on the pricey side. Great food.

Thai Bamboo Bistro in Irvine (off Shady Canyon) - Thai food. Reasonable prices. Excellent food and service.

Gemini Cricket · 12-03-2007, 12:54 PM

Angelo & Vinci's in Brea. Italian
North End Pizza in Burbank. Italian
Caravan in Glendale. Middle Eastern

Not Afraid · 12-03-2007, 12:58 PM

Long Beach favorites:

Lashers
Open Sesame
La Creperie
Gazellia
Christy's
Fora
Bono's
Nico's
Delius
La Parolaccia
Cafe Ambrosia

Restaurants that started here but now have more than one local location (and I still will enjoy their food):
Kings Fish House
SuperMex
Johnny Reb's
Hoff's Hut / Lucille's

Ghoulish Delight · 12-03-2007, 01:05 PM

Mamob's Cafe - Glendale. Fantastic Cuban fast food.
Watson's Drug Store and Soda Fountain - Orange. Classic American diner food in classic American diner setting. 100+ year old location.
The Filling Station - Orange. An actual converted filling station. Awesome atmosphere, great for patio eating.
Rutabegorz - multiple locations (Fullerton, Tustin, Ornage). Specializing in vegetarian/vegan cuisine, though they've got non-veggie options as well.

LSPoorEeyorick · 12-03-2007, 01:15 PM

Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga - organic/romantic
Geisha House in Hollywood - Japanese/"hip"
Cafe Figaro in Los Feliz - organic French
Corn Maiden gourmet tamales at the Hollywood Farmers Market
Thaitalian in Pasadena - Thai/Italian fusion
Akbar in Pasadena - Indian
Fred 62 in Los Feliz - Retro diner
Good Neighbor in Studio City - American breakfast/lunch
Pink Pepper in Hollywood - Thai
Maria's Italian Kitchen in West LA - Italian

Snowflake · 12-03-2007, 01:24 PM

In Alhambra, Wahib's Middle Eastern

In SF

Magnolia Pub
Chai Yo (Thai)
and many more!

JWBear · 12-03-2007, 01:26 PM

Let's see... (in no particular order)

Luigi's d'Italia in Anaheim

In Long Beach:

Park Pantry
Franchelli's
Pot Holder
Magnolia Cafe
George's Greek Cafe (2 locations)

Lakewood:

Heritage Cafe
Honey's

Venice:

Cafe 50's
Sidewalk Cafe (ocean view!)
Rose Cafe
The Firehouse

Not Afraid · 12-03-2007, 01:31 PM

How did I forget Park Pantry and George's?????

lizziebith · 12-03-2007, 02:26 PM

Love Rutabegorz in Fullerton -- Angelo and Vinci's too, although I still remember the good old days when it was "backstage dining" under the ropes at the Fox.

Now I'm in the SFV, and our faves are:

Bollywood (Indian of course)
Fox and Hound (Cornish Pastie at its finest! -- oh, and I've seen Eric Idle there *swoons*)
Oyster House (hubby loves oysters)
Michael's Grill (an old fave, Mardi Gras, merged with this place -- great beignets!)
Ribs USA (playing cards stuck to the ceiling, and peanut shells all over the floor)
The Smoke House (cool old Hollywood-mafia place)

I'll put more as I think of them...

Morrigoon · 12-03-2007, 03:20 PM

The Snooty Fox in Laguna Hills - breakfast/lunch place, low prices, awesome food
Haus of Pizza in Costa Mesa - super cheap and tasty Italian food, just off Harbor at Adams.

12-03-2007, 12:47 PM	#1
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Recommend Your Independent Restaurant Spurred from Bubba Gump - it seems we have an affinity for independent restaurants over chains on this board. Let's spread the word. Yes, I realize we have the RTS area but I was hoping this could be an easy to use suggestion list. Manga Manga in HB (Golden West and Edinger) - Italian food. Reasonable prices, great service Gypsy Den in Costa Mesa - Sandwiches. Good prices, spotty but expected service Memphis in Costa Mesa - Soul food. A little on the pricey side. Great food. Thai Bamboo Bistro in Irvine (off Shady Canyon) - Thai food. Reasonable prices. Excellent food and service. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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12-03-2007, 12:54 PM	#2
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Angelo & Vinci's in Brea. Italian North End Pizza in Burbank. Italian Caravan in Glendale. Middle Eastern
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12-03-2007, 12:58 PM	#3
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Long Beach favorites: Lashers Open Sesame La Creperie Gazellia Christy's Fora Bono's Nico's Delius La Parolaccia Cafe Ambrosia Restaurants that started here but now have more than one local location (and I still will enjoy their food): Kings Fish House SuperMex Johnny Reb's Hoff's Hut / Lucille's
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12-03-2007, 01:05 PM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Mamob's Cafe - Glendale. Fantastic Cuban fast food. Watson's Drug Store and Soda Fountain - Orange. Classic American diner food in classic American diner setting. 100+ year old location. The Filling Station - Orange. An actual converted filling station. Awesome atmosphere, great for patio eating. Rutabegorz - multiple locations (Fullerton, Tustin, Ornage). Specializing in vegetarian/vegan cuisine, though they've got non-veggie options as well. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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12-03-2007, 01:15 PM	#5
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga - organic/romantic Geisha House in Hollywood - Japanese/"hip" Cafe Figaro in Los Feliz - organic French Corn Maiden gourmet tamales at the Hollywood Farmers Market Thaitalian in Pasadena - Thai/Italian fusion Akbar in Pasadena - Indian Fred 62 in Los Feliz - Retro diner Good Neighbor in Studio City - American breakfast/lunch Pink Pepper in Hollywood - Thai Maria's Italian Kitchen in West LA - Italian
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12-03-2007, 01:24 PM	#6
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	In Alhambra, Wahib's Middle Eastern In SF Magnolia Pub Chai Yo (Thai) and many more! __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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12-03-2007, 01:26 PM	#7
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Let's see... (in no particular order) Luigi's d'Italia in Anaheim In Long Beach: Park Pantry Franchelli's Pot Holder Magnolia Cafe George's Greek Cafe (2 locations) Lakewood: Heritage Cafe Honey's Venice: Cafe 50's Sidewalk Cafe (ocean view!) Rose Cafe The Firehouse __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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12-03-2007, 01:31 PM	#8
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	How did I forget Park Pantry and George's?????
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12-03-2007, 02:26 PM	#9
lizziebith Wishing these titles could be longe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pearblossom CA Posts: 984	Love Rutabegorz in Fullerton -- Angelo and Vinci's too, although I still remember the good old days when it was "backstage dining" under the ropes at the Fox. Now I'm in the SFV, and our faves are: Bollywood (Indian of course) Fox and Hound (Cornish Pastie at its finest! -- oh, and I've seen Eric Idle there swoons) Oyster House (hubby loves oysters) Michael's Grill (an old fave, Mardi Gras, merged with this place -- great beignets!) Ribs USA (playing cards stuck to the ceiling, and peanut shells all over the floor) The Smoke House (cool old Hollywood-mafia place) I'll put more as I think of them... __________________ $ DO \|\| !$ DO ; TRY TRY: COMMAND NOT FOUND
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12-03-2007, 03:20 PM	#10
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	The Snooty Fox in Laguna Hills - breakfast/lunch place, low prices, awesome food Haus of Pizza in Costa Mesa - super cheap and tasty Italian food, just off Harbor at Adams. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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