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HMS Bounty – reviews on yelp.

HMS Bounty
3357 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Neighborhood: Koreatown

(213) 385-7275

Going to a Greek restaurant, one should expect Mediterranean food, but when the menu states they have the best burgers in town, speculation takes place. I was walking on a sunny afternoon when I came across the restaurant Damon and Pythias. This place looked kind of one of those ignored places, that people walk by with an uninterested look expecting to find better food in other places, but once they taste their food, you will be surprised by it’s taste.

I ordered the burger along with a salad, didn’t know if it was a wise choice but once received, it was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t suspect that it would be over loaded with flavor. The burger had honey mustard, bacon, tomatoes, pickles, onions, lettuce, and a ton of cheddar cheese melted all over the angus beef patty which was grilled to perfection. Just the right amount of grease with the fresh crispness of the salad made a great meal. The Damon and Pythias know how to cook their meat, so go over there for the burger of your dreams, you won’t be disappointed.

Guest blogger: Kelly Brotman
kellybrotman@gmail.com

Additional posts by Kelly:

- July 17th 2010 – Cafe Elyse

*** Kelly is one of the many guest bloggers at LARestaurantDaily.com. Learn more about submitting your content to LARestaurantDaily.com ***

Sandwiches galore is what Philippe has to offer, but they also have sides, such as salads, soups, chili, and of course, desserts. Their famous sandwich is the French Dipped Sandwich, which is a French roll dipped with the “jus” from their meats. Sounds a bit odd, but it’s addicting. The potato salad makes a great compliment to any sandwich. If you’re looking for something different, they have picked eggs, beets, and even pig’s feet. Yep, that’s right. Pig’s feet.

Philippe isn’t just any sandwich shop, they get a bit classy with their wine and beer list, so you can take your meal up to the next level. They open at 6am and it’s worth coming in early just for their breakfast specials. Their French toast is thick and will melt in your mouth. If you’re looking for a healthier breakfast, they’ve got cereals, and even fruit.

Opened in 1908, they stay true to their recipes and are eager for customers’ feedback. They’ve been in the business for a long time, so they know what people like. Their proud of what they do and as they say on their website, only their prices have changed. Philippe is probably one of the best places to go to for a sandwich and the original French dipped sandwich was created here, so you know it’s got to be good.

Philippe The Original Restaurant
www.philippes.com
(213) 628-3781
1001 N Alameda St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Mon-Sun 6am to 10pm

Vegan food at its best can be found here at The Veggie Grill. Their dishes are colorful, healthy, and tasty. Their salads are incredible. They look like works of art, you’ll want to take a picture before you dig in and scarf it all down. The Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich is so delicious that it’s hard to believe that it’s not chicken. LA Mag has even named it one of the best “cheap-eats” around. As if that’s not a good enough reason, then check out their website for more info about their mouth-watering dishes.

Although it’s a cheap place to eat, they also serve beer and wine, so you can dress it up a bit. Their tomato soup is perfect for a rainy day and will take you back to your mom’s home cooking. They’ve got a tortilla soup that tastes like a tamale crossed with veggies and some spices thrown in for good luck.

Best of all, you can customize your food to make it just how you want it. Vegetarianism is becoming more and more mainstream and it’s no wonder. With places like The Veggie Grill, many meat eaters will cross over to the other side. The downside? Parking is hard to find or expensive. But, hey, this is LA, what do you expect?

The Veggie Grill
www.veggiegrill.com
(323) 822-7575
8000 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Mon-Sun 11am to 11pm

With southern cooking and good service, this award restaurant is casual yet elegant. You have the choice to make your dining experience how you like it. Southern hospitality can be found here in LA at Harold’s and Belle’s Restaurant. Their prices are moderate, but they have specials, such as their Happy Hour Special for food and drinks.

Harold and Belle’s Restaurant is a family affair that began way back in 1969 with a husband and wife team that wanted to bring home-style New Orleans cooking to California. Their cooking has grabbed many people’s attention and they’ve been consistently winning awards since 1999. With signature dishes such as Gumbo, Fried Chicken, Jambalaya, and Fried Crawfish, you’ll surely lick your plate clean.

Probably not the healthiest food out there, it sure is good. Portions are large and there’s butter in just about every dish. While the prices aren’t too cheap, you’ll get a huge amount of food, so it’s easy to split a dish with a friend or two. If you’re looking for some fantastic southern food and southern hospitality, then come to Harold and Belle’s.

Harold & Belle’s Restaurant
www.haroldandbellesrestaurant.com
(323) 735-9023
2920 W Jefferson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Mon-Thu, Sun 11.30am to 9pm
Fri-Sat 11.30am to 10pm

There’s more to German food than meat and potatoes and the Red Lion Tavern has many dishes to choose from. Of course, there’s tons of German beers on tap that help add to the authentic experience. The Red Lion Tavern offers sausages and other meats to go with the beer that you can enjoy in a casual atmosphere.

If you’re just looking for a snack, there are also warm pretzels, cheese platters, and even fish and chips. Upstairs you can find a beer garden where you can enjoy your meal in the fresh air. Be aware that people can smoke up there, so the air might not be as fresh as it should be. There’s music as well every once in a while when the piano man comes in and helps serenade the night away.

The downside is that the parking is bad, however, you might be able to park in the other businesses’ parking lots later on at night. It’s a great place to kick back and relax with friends while enjoying a great meal and authentic German beer.

Red Lion Tavern
www.redliontavern.com
(323) 662-5337
2366 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Mon-Sun 11am to 2am

Everyone loves the Irish and rightly so. They’ve got the brogue, great beer, leprechauns, Irish dancing, and are fun people to be around. The Irish also have smashing pubs with good pub fare and good beers on tap. There’s other liquor also available if that’s to your fancy. Always eager to please, they set up a chili dog bar during football season. Best of all, it’s free!

The wait staff is on the ball and always on hand to pull another pint or fill up your glass so you can cheer on your team. Not the place to go if you’re looking for a quiet place to sip your drink. During sports season the place does tend to get a bit rowdy.

The fish and chips are always good, try putting vinegar or mayo on them. Different, but delicious none the less. The bangers and mash are terrific as well. If you’re not ready to branch out and try Irish food, then you can find typical pub fare such as mozzarella sticks and hamburgers to boot. Timmy Nolan’s is a great place to go and bring out the Irish in you. With so many Irish in the US, chances are you’ve got a bit of Irish blood in you.

Timmy Nolan’s Tavern
www.timmynolans.net
10111 Riverside Dr
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
(818) 985-3359
Mon-Fri 11am to 2pm
Sat-Sun 10am to 2am

Pub fare that’s vegan isn’t something that you find every day, but Pure Luck Restaurant provides just that. Even non-vegans will enjoy their delicious choices they have on offer. They’ve got a variety of beers on tap to complete your dining experience. Vegan is the key to this restaurant with faux fish and tofu serving as the substitute for meat in popular dishes such as the Baja Fish Taco. While those who aren’t vegans might be put off at first, the taste is so slight that they will hardly be able to tell the difference.

On negative thing with this place is that from the outside it looks rundown. Part of the sign is missing and you might even think that it’s closed, but it’s not. Perhaps down to keep it a secret or simply because they can’t be bothered with the upkeep, don’t let that keep you away, the inside is full of life and if you go during peak hours, you’ll have to wait a bit to get a table.

The people running the restaurant and the servers are friendly and helpful, ready to explain things to people who might not be accustomed to their choice of ingredients. Prices are definitely good, yet another reason why people choose not to eat meat. It’s small and cozy and you’ll instantly feel at home here at Pure Luck Restaurant.

Pure Luck Restaurant
www.pureluckrestaurant.com
(323) 660-5993
707 N Heliotrope Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Mon-Sat 11am to 12am

As part of a chain, you’ll get no surprises when you go to The Melting Pot in Pasadena. Known for its fondue, salads, and desserts, it’s a bit pricey, but often worth it. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t get five stars. The two biggest complaints about this place is the food and service.

Starting with the food, it isn’t the freshest and there’s not enough of it for the price you’re paying. And the service is excruciatingly slow. You’ll have to wait a long time for the server to come to your table and more time to eat what you’ve ordered.

Happy Hour is worth going to as the prices are more reasonable and you’ll get some fondue to go with it. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, try the Flaming Turtle Chocolate Fondue that’s loaded with chocolate, caramel, and nuts. Not enough for you? You’ll be getting marshmallows, fruits, and Rice Krispies. Overall, worth it for Happy Hour and the desserts, but otherwise, full meals here at The Melting Pot in Pasadena simply isn’t worth it.

The Melting Pot
www.meltingpot.com/pasadena
(626) 792-1941
88 W Colorado Blvd, 2nd Fl
Pasadena, CA 91105
Mon-Thu 5pm to 10.30pm
Fri 5pm-11.30pm
Sat 4pm to 11.30pm
Sun 4pm to 10.30pm

Chicken wings are a staple when the game’s on and with the World Cup going on this year, you should grab and order and cheer on your favorite team. Kyochon Chicken is famous for its Chicken Wings and Korean style dishes. Located on 3833 W 6th St, they also deliver just in case you’re too busy showing team spirit to pick up your order. If you like spicy wings, then try the sweet and spicy, just beware that they live up to their name. The Korean side of the restaurant can be seen in its Soy Garlic Chicken Wings. If you want a milder order, then try the Honey Wings. Their fries are classic wedge styled and come with dipping sauce. You could easily make a meal out of the wings and fries.

Service can be iffy depending on the time of day you go. If you go during a busy time, don’t expect much. However, if you go when there are less people, you’ll find that the staff goes out of their way to make sure you’re happy with your meal. Korean hospitality will shine through.

Kyochon recently changed their menu and with all change, it takes a bit getting used to. While they now serve beer, some of the popular dishes such as bulgogi and spicy fried rice are now gone. They seem to be opting for healthier rice balls and ditching the spicier options because they’re too spicy. With that being said, the wings and fries are superb and great now that football season is fast approaching.

Kyochon Chicken
www.kyochon.com
3833 W 6th St
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 739-9292
Mon-Sun 10.30am to 12am

Two other locations:
294 Fox Hills Mall
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 391-2449

123 Los Cerritos Mall
Cerritos, CA 90703
(562) 809-2449

Father’s Office serves an incredible burger – where it comes from I don’t know. I ordered up their high-end burger, sweet potato french fries, and was also given a salad by accident. After adding some crushed pepper to the salad it tasted great. Father’s Office is an ultra modern bar off of Venice Blvd. near Culver City. The outside seating deck is composed of polished wood and heat lamps in the ceiling. You order all your food at the bar and they card just about every patron that enters the bar. It’s a little annoying, they always have to ask every patron, “Have you been here before? You know how it works?” Yes, thank you; I’ve consumed food in restaurant establishments before – I should be able to figure it out. However, there are no hosts, no waiters, and it’s generally a little frustrating.

There is no order in Father’s Office, hence the name I believe. But check out the amazing selection of beers they have. I was told not to take a photo of their beer selection after snapping a photo.

The burger with sweet potato french fries cost $20 and I left a $1 tip. I was at first shocked, but then I remember the other two times I had been there and they had also been quite expensive. Is it worth it? I don’t know – depends on the size of your wallet. If you are going to make it out to Father’s Office, you need to come in the evening when the outside heaters are on, people are getting drunk, and you can enjoy the scene. It’s certainly a unique night scene. Lots of good looking people, professionals, and great food.

Check out Father’s Office on twitter or check out their google restaurant review.

Father’s Office – Yelp review
3229 Helms Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 736-2224

(*** / *****) three out of five stars

Price – way too expensive
Decore – way too cool
Food – burger and sweet potato fries are the bomb diggity