Your local favorite joints to grab the grub

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Versailles, cuban place in the valley. Fanfreakingtastic.

Is that the same as the one in Venice? If so - Oh yeah damn good!

[MerryPrankster]

La Pinata, an excellent hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. They haven't failed me in 13+ years. And they're open until 3 am.

Top Dog in Berkeley. Again, very reliable. I love the Bocks with sauerkraut and hot mustard, my husband loves the Hot Links -- so we're both happy! And they're open until 3 am.

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

Is that the same as the one in Venice? If so - Oh yeah damn good!

Go figure I've been surfing the boards all this time and I never bothered to open up this thread. How lame am I?

Anyhow, I was going to ask the very same thing, but I see you already did.

I love the original Gypsy Den, and from time to time, I still like to stop by. Watch the hip kids be hip, and in the afternoon, watch the business crowd chortle about whatever happened in their work day. The other Gypsy Den, found in Santa Ana, in the art district, near some small galleries, never had the appeal or the same feel as the one in Costa Mesa. I'm a sucker for originals; copies just never do it for me, especially in terms of locations.

One of my favorite places is Tito's Tacos. Anyone ever go there? It's on Washington & Sepulveda, right next to the freeway. Steve & I tell people that it's kangaroo meat, but I think it's also laced with crack, because it's just too good to be true! A few years ago, when Steve asked me where I wanted to go for Valentine's Day, I actually said, "I think Tito's sounds good!" Of course, I'd worked a long shift that day and was too wiped for much more, but that had to be one of the most fun Valentine's I'd ever had.

I also love El Coyote, not so much for the food, but for the atmosphere. The food isn't so bad, but it's just so eclectic and cool. It's a head trip to sit in there, having conversation, eyes roving from object to object.. I love it!

For tequila, I like El Carmen. Long long long bar in a long long long skinny room. Paintings and posters of Mexican wrestlers... Far too cool for even me at times, and they have a tremendous tequila selection. I suppose I haven't grabbed grub there. Nix that, but I'll leave it here so that perhaps sometime someone will want to try the place out. HEHE.

Umm.. I've always like the Stinking Rose. Also a celebration favorite! So delicious!

I'll think of more later, I'm sure! And I'll get back on it...

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I may be in the minority, but I love, love, LOVE Bob's Big Boy over near Warner Bros. mmmmmmmmmmm .... Love that Big Boy!! Think I'll go get one after work tomorrow!


There's a great BBQ place out here in Ventura County. Woodranch BBQ is excellent. The make the best onion loaf that is paper thin, crispy and their BBQ sause is so perfect. I know of 3 location out here, but I don't know if they're anywhere else. Moorpark, Agoura and Oxnard. Yum Yum!!

[MickeyD]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

I may be in the minority, but I love, love, LOVE Bob's Big Boy over near Warner Bros. mmmmmmmmmmm .... Love that Big Boy!! Think I'll go get one after work tomorrow!


There's a great BBQ place out here in Ventura County. Woodranch BBQ is excellent. The make the best onion loaf that is paper thin, crispy and their BBQ sause is so perfect. I know of 3 location out here, but I don't know if they're anywhere else. Moorpark, Agoura and Oxnard. Yum Yum!!

Camarillo. Woodranch is the first local place that came to my mind.

ETA: One of my favorite things about Woodranch is that a friend of mine is a waitress there, and to this day, she ensures that my ex and his family have horrible service when they go there.

[Claire]

We have this new place in our neighborhood, right next to our Starbucks that is so excellent.....I've wanted to post about it, but how can it be my favorite place....since it's only been here a week?

But it IS. I've been there everyday after school with the girls. I loooove it! They have a roasting facility on site, so the beans are freshly roasted each morning...smells so good. I go to Starbucks in the morning and only order a grande soy latte, no add shots, no venti. Then in the afternoons I get a neighborhood roast black coffee while the kids have milk and cookies. Baker & Spice it's called.....by the way.

Good GOD, I love my neighborhood. Have I mentioned that lately??? We have three yum yum coffee houses in one block. Amaaaaaaaaaazing.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Claire

I go to Starbucks in the morning...

Claire's blood type is Latte positive.

[Claire]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Claire's blood type is Latte positive.

I need more blood in my caffeine stream......

[Baileykat]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Claire's blood type is Latte positive.

I was thinking she needed a "coffee intervention"!


Claire...we're your friends...we're here to help you...put down the latte slowly....

[Mousey Girl]

There is a local, family run Mexican restaraunt here that is killer. It is called La Colonia. The only problem is its location. It is located in a reeeeeeeeeeallllllly bad area of town. You turn your stereo off long before you enter the neighborhood, make sure you are wearing neutral colors, watch for kids in the streets (it is in a residential area) and do NOT flash any excess jewelery. The parking lot sports 20 ft high brick walls topped with razor wire. The opened a new one on this side of town but the food was lacking something.

Other than that, there aren't many independant choices here...all are franchises of large chains.