Eat in West Hollywood: George's Greek Grill

Chicken Kabob Plate made with grilled chicken breast marinated in lemon, extra virgin olive oil, and spices, served with tzatziki, basmati rice, and a Greek salad


Gyro Sandwich made with a combination of shaved beef and lamb, served with tzatziki

George's Greek Grill serves delicious Greek food on Santa Monica Boulevard, a block and a half east of San Vicente, in West Hollywood. 

When we stopped by last weekend, I had a delicious Gyro Sandwich made with shaved beef and lamb, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and tzatziki sauce. The beef and lamb was very tasty. The cut vegetables were surrounded by a soft pita I really liked. I would definitely order the gyro again.

My mom enjoyed the Chicken Kabob plate made with grilled chicken breast marinated in lemon, extra virgin olive oil, and spices as well. 

If you've visited George's Greek Grill, what did you try?

George's Greek Grill

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8807 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Sunday - Thursday 6:30pm - 11:30pm, Friday - Saturday 6:30am - 12am

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Eat in West Hollywood: Urth Caffé (Pt. 3)

Sunrise Pizza made with sausage, pancetta, mozzarella, potatoes, poached egg, and brown sage butter


Mocha Mint

While in Los Angeles the past week, I visited Urth Caffé for lunch and after-dinner coffee on three separate occasions.

One of my after-dinner drinks included the Mocha Mint topped with whipped cream. This was quite a treat. It had a nice chocolaty mint flavor throughout. Warning: This is clearly a drink for those with a sweet tooth.

For lunch, I tried the Sunrise Pizza made with sausage, pancetta, mozzarella, potatoes, poached egg, and brown sage butter. It was a pretty solid pizza. The best part was definitely the toppings: slightly spicy sausage with sliced potatoes and a poached egg to boot? Mmmm... I would have liked the crust to be a bit crispier however.

If you've visited Urth Caffé recently, what did you try?

Urth Caffé

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8565 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Sunday - Thursday 6am - 11:30pm, Friday - Saturday 6am - 12am

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Eat in West Hollywood: Urth Caffé (Pt. 2)

Blackout Pound Cake 

A couple weeks ago my mom and I visited our favorite coffee shop in town: Urth Caffé.

We finally accomplished our goal of trying one of the delicious cakes they always have on display. We ordered the Blackout Pound Cake with our usual Italian Cappuccinos. The cake was as chocolaty as expected and went well with the perfectly prepared coffee.

If you've visited Urth Caffé recently, what did you try?

Urth Caffé

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8565 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Sunday - Thursday 6am - 11:30pm, Friday - Saturday 6am - 12am

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Coffee in West Hollywood: Longshot Coffee

Latte

I stopped by Longshot Coffee for the first time last week. Located right outside the West Hollywood Library, this coffee shop serves an Australian roast that's stronger than I'm used to. My latte had a bold flavor and was less milky than lattes I've had elsewhere. Maybe it's an Australian thing?

If you've visited Longshot Coffee, what do you recommend trying?

Longshot Coffee
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625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Monday - Friday 7 - 7, Saturday 8 - 3

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Eat in West Hollywood: Lemonade

Herb Roasted Chicken sandwich with mozzarella, basil pesto, and arugula

While visiting Los Angeles this past weekend, I stopped by Lemonade for lunch. Lemonade is a New American deli that serves sandwiches, salads, desserts, and several types of lemonade. They have multiple locations across four counties in Southern California with plans to expand to the Bay Area. Their West Hollywood location on Beverly has a bright, photogenic interior perfect for a casual lunch with friends or family.

I ordered the Herb Roasted Chicken sandwich, which came with mozzarella, basil pesto, and arugula. It was pretty good. It was served warm so the cheese was nicely melted. The ingredients were fresh and all the flavors complemented each other well.

The next time I stop by I'd like to try the Seared Ahi Tuna with Crushed Orange-Ginger Ponzu and a giant Chocolate Hazelnut macaron for dessert.

If you've visited Lemonade recently, what do you recommend trying?

Lemonade
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9001 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048
Open: Daily 11am - 8pm

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Coffee in West Hollywood: Verve Coffee Roasters

Nitro Cold Brew

A couple weeks ago, I stopped by Verve Coffee Roasters on Melrose between Doheny and Robertson in West Hollywood. In recent years, this Santa Cruz-based coffee roaster has expanded across Los Angeles. I tried their Nitro Cold Brew, which was quite a treat. It had the bold flavor cold brews are known for, but theirs was unique. It's definitely the best cold brew I've had.

Besides their wide selection of delicious coffee, Verve has a great space inside and on the accompanying patio. The interior features a lot of modern touches and sleek lines, while the outside is a bit of an oasis from the busy neighborhood.

If you've visited Verve Coffee Roasters, what do you recommend trying?

Verve Coffee Roasters
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8925 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Daily 7am - 9pm

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Coffee in West Hollywood: The Assembly

Cappuccino 

The Assembly is a hip coffee shop in West Hollywood that's been around for about six months. They serve Counter Culture Coffee and are located on Robertson between Santa Monica and Melrose. I ordered a cappuccino when I stopped by that was prepared perfectly.

Apart from the delicious coffee, they're also known for their friendly staff and sleek interior. I spoke with a couple of the employees, discussing their great space and how it could easily be located in San Francisco or Oakland. The crisp interior includes white walls that bring a lot of light in and sleek tables and benches for patrons.

If you've visited The Assembly, what did you try?

The Assembly
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634 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Monday - Saturday 7 - 7, Sunday 8 - 5

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Eat in West Hollywood: Night + Market

Nam Khao Tod: crispy rice salad with soured pork, raw ginger, onion, peanuts, cilantro, and chile


Khao Soi Haw: mae sai curry noodles with braised hanger steak, beef tendon, pickled mustard greens, bean sprouts, red onion, cilantro, chile oil, and crispy noodle


Beef Grapow made with chile, garlic, Thai basil, and a crispy fried egg


Ice Cream Sandwich made with homemade coconut ice cream, coconut rice, and a sweet bun

Night + Market is a hip Thai street food restaurant located on Sunset near Doheny in West Hollywood. A critical darling, Night + Market recently earned on a spot on Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold's year-end top 10 list with their Pig Blood Soup. (Gold's other favorites include Jitlada in Hollywood and Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle in West LA.) A weeks ago, I visited Night + Market for dinner for the first time with my foodie friend, Jing.

We shared four dishes, family style. We began with the Nam Khao Tod, a crispy rice salad with soured pork, raw ginger, onion, peanuts, cilantro, and chile. In terms of flavor, it's skewed towards the sour end of the spectrum. Each bite was filled with so much flavor that it was a lot to take in. It was also spicy and had a strong ginger flavor. It was a bit overpowering for me to try a second time, but it was definitely worth trying something so different.

We then tried the Khao Soi Haw, my favorite dish. It's made with mae sai curry noodles with braised hanger steak, beef tendon, pickled mustard greens, bean sprouts, red onion, cilantro, chile oil, and crispy noodle. Again, the flavor was unique and the beef was very tender. A perfect spoonful would include some beef covered in the delicious curry and some noodles to balance the dynamic flavors. I would definitely order this again.

The third dish was Jing's favorite. It was the Beef Grapow made with chile, garlic, Thai basil, and a crispy fried egg. Like the Kaho Soi Haw, the beef was cooked perfectly as was the egg, which complemented the dish well. This goes well with a plate of rice.

The final dish for dessert was the Ice Cream Sandwich, which, unsurprisingly, was unlike any I've had before. It was made with homemade coconut ice cream and coconut rice, served on a sweet bun. Although the flavors individually were mostly sweet, they became sour when combined. We're not sure if this was an intended effect or just an ingredient in which we're unfamiliar. Next time, we might try the Mango & Sticky Rice.

Overall, this was a very interesting dining experience. I've never tried so many dynamic flavors together in one meal. I would definitely visit again, opting for a beef dish and a few new items on the menu.

If you've visited Night + Market in either West Hollywood or Silver Lake, what did you try?

Night + Market
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9041 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Tuesday - Sunday 6 - 10:30

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Eat in West Hollywood: La Conversation

Classic Salad Nicoise with ahi tuna, green beans, red onion, new potatoes, Roma tomatoes, hard boiled egg, Nicoise olives, and balsamic vinaigrette




Tostada Salad with iceberg lettuce, black beans, feta, onion, tomato, cilantro grilled corn, and grilled chicken on a baked flour tortilla


Eggs La Conversation with scrambled eggs, croissant, and filet mignon


Cappuccino

After walking by La Conversation for years, I finally visited this French cafe and bakery a couple weeks ago. Located on the West Hollywood side of Doheny north of Santa Monica, La Conversation is known for serving a variety of omelettes, salads, pastries, and more.

I tried the Classic Salad Nicoise with ahi tuna, green beans, red onion, new potatoes, Roma tomatoes, hard boiled egg, Nicoise olives, and balsamic vinaigrette. It was pretty good. All the ingredients were fresh, prepared perfectly, and tasted great together. They gave me a generous portion of seared ahi tuna. My mom enjoyed her Tostada Salad, as did my brother like his modified Eggs La Conversation. I also had a cappuccino with the most foam I've ever had. It was stronger than I'm used to, but I'm definitely not complaining.

The highlight of the visit was seeing the restaurant's interior. It's a lot larger on the inside with its high ceilings covered with red and white striped wallpaper that resembles fabric waving in the wind. Along the walls, you'll find a few paintings, porcelain vases and plates, and elaborate chandeliers hanging from above. Within their bakery display cases, there's a wide selection of éclairs, tarts, cakes, and other treats.

When we visited, we noticed that there were many Europeans patronizing the cafe which seems like no coincidence. After all, La Conversation feels like more of slice of Paris than a bakery on the Westside. I will have to try dessert the next time I stop by this quaint cafe.

La Conversation
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638 N. Doheny Dr., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Monday - Saturday 7 - 7, Sunday 8 - 4

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Eat in West Hollywood: Marco's Trattoria

Grilled Salmon and Spinach Salad with caramelized onions, tomato, and balsamic vinegar


Chicken Picata with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables


Frutti di Mare with shrimp, clams, scallops, and calamari

Marco's Trattoria serves traditional Italian food in the heart of West Hollywood.

When I visited for the first time with my family last month, I tried the Frutti di Mare. This linguine dish came with all the seafood you could ask for, including shrimp, clams, scallops, and calamari. The sauce was tasty and the seafood was fresh and plentiful. It's the perfect dish for fans of seafood and Italian cooking alike.

I tried a bit of my parents' dishes, beginning with the Grilled Salmon and Spinach Salad. The salmon was fresh and the salad was dressed perfectly. The Chicken Picata was tangy in all the right ways and was complemented well by the mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side. I also had a bit of the Lasagna Bolognese (not pictured), which was everything you want in the classic Italian entrée and then some.

Marco's is great if you're looking for delicious Italian cuisine on Santa Monica Blvd.

Marco's Trattoria

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8200 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046
Open: Monday - Wednesday 7am - 10pm, Thursday - Sunday 8am - 10pm

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Eat in West Hollywood: Sweet Lady Jane

Seven Layer Chocolate cake

Like Urth Caffé, Sweet Lady Jane is one of those places I've passed by for years, but never tried until recently. Whenever we drive by this West Hollywood bakery, my mom would always rave about their cakes. Well, it turns out her praise was for good reason.

While taking an after-dinner walk around the neighborhood one night, my mom and I stopped by their Melrose location. Since they have so many cakes to choose from and everything looks very good, it took us a while to decide on the Seven Layer Chocolate cake. Fortunately, this was the right choice. We're both chocolate fiends and this definitely satisfied our craving. True to its name, the cake has seven layers of yellow butter cake with six layers of French chocolate buttercream in between. The cake is then covered with a poured chocolate and decorated with chocolate buttercream roses.

Although each slice is about $7, it could feed a whole village or, at least, that's what it seems like. My mom and I split our piece (she had the triangular end that's not shown) and still had leftovers. I'm not much of a cake person, but at this point, I've pretty much converted in the name of Sweet Lady Jane. The cake is very moist, perfectly baked, and you can tell it's been made by expert bakers, who are very proud of what they're doing. It's the kind of cake that requires a pause or two between bites because, yes, it's that good. I also ordered a latte, which complemented the cake perfectly.

If you have a sweet tooth to fill, make your way over to Sweet Lady Jane immediately. In addition to cakes, they also have tarts and other pastries that look equally delicious. Although the store is small inside, it's quite an experience eating the best cake you've ever had with some great, helpful service to boot.

Yearning for more photos from Sweet Lady Jane? Right here, right now.

Sweet Lady Jane

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8360 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 10:30pm, Friday - Saturday 7:30am - 11:30pm, Sunday 9 - 9

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Coffee in West Hollywood: Urth Caffé

Japanese Tea Latte made with organic matcha green tea

 
Mocha Mint (left) made with mint flavor, whip cream and mint chocolate shavings (not shown)

I've known about Urth Caffé pretty much as long as I've been conscious of my surroundings. Located on Melrose between La Cienega and San Vicente in West Hollywood, this organic coffee shop was definitely one of the highlights of my recent trip back home. Since I wasn't really into coffee until recent months, this was my first time visiting a place I've passed by hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

After being urged by the good people on Yelp and my personal foodie friends whose opinions I trust and cherish, I ordered the Japanese Tea Latte made with organic matcha green tea. Saying it was good is an understatement. Since each serving is so large (I ordered a small), it's the kind of drink you sip slowly over the course of a nice conversation with a friend. The green tea has a lot of flavor, although it wasn't too overpowering.

I also tried some of my mom's Mocha Mint, which was even better than mine. It was a mint fiend's dream: creamy, delicious, and refreshing. It traditionally comes with whip cream and mint chocolate shavings, which my mom opted out of trying. Next time I visit, I'll be sure to order the whole shebang.

After finally visiting all these years later, I now understand why this place is always packed. It's not just because it was on Entourage; it's because they've got some damn good coffee and pretty excellent service to boot.

Want to see more photos from Urth Caffé? Step right up.

Urth Caffé

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8565 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Open: Sunday - Thursday 6am - 11:30pm, Friday - Saturday 6am - 12am

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Eat in West Hollywood: Norms

Veggie Omelette with mushrooms, tomato, onion, bell pepper, jack and cheddar cheese, and avocado, served with hash browns and toast

Like many people who grew up in Los Angeles, I've been going to Norms ever since I was a kid. It's a classic diner with all the food you know and love. On my most recent trips to LA, I've made it a point to eat there because I know I'll enjoy a good meal for not very much. (Sometimes I need a break from being disappointed by overrated brunch spots and to just get back to the basics.)

My favorite dish at the moment is the Veggie Omelette, which comes with every vegetable you want, plus a good serving of cheese and avocado on top. I also like their breakfast entrees because they come with the options of hash browns and toast.

The clientele features a little bit of everyone: hip people from West Hollywood who may or may not be The Next Big Thing as well as families, churchgoers, and truckers. They have 17 locations in LA and Orange County so there is most likely a Norms near you.

Norms
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470 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048
Open: Daily

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Work It, West Hollywood: Jing Pan

This is my close friend Jing Pan. Being the avid Yelper that she is, Jing introduced me to Salt's Cure in West Hollywood, Momed in Beverly Hills, Animal in Los Angeles, and Saffron & Rose Ice Cream in Westwood. She's been supporting the blog from the beginning, even accompanying me on my early hunts for street style subjects when I was too chicken to approach strangers by myself. 

Although she's been following the blog during its 4.5 years of existence, this is her first appearance as a street style subject. Since I know her, we had a little fun with this series of photos. Everyone say hi to Jing because she's awesome.

"Spotted" at Santa Monica and Vista.

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Psst! Have you heard the January Playlist?

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Eat in West Hollywood: Salt's Cure

2 x 2 x 2: Two eggs, two bacon slices, and two sausage patties


Daily Special: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy with a side of Two Eggs




Quiche du Jour

This past weekend, I had brunch with two old friends at Salt's Cure on Santa Monica Boulevard and Vista in West Hollywood. It was my first time visiting this popular brunch spot, although it probably won't be my last. 

I ordered the Quiche du Jour, which was served with a side of arugula. The quiche was very fluffy and light, while the arugula was dressed in a way that made it slightly tangy. Although each mouthful of quiche had a lot of flavor, the arugula complemented it perfectly. I also sampled some of my friends' bacon and biscuits. The bacon was thick and more sophisticated than the kind you'd find at a typical grocery store. The homemade biscuits tasted great with the jam, which was probably made in-house.

Overall, it was a pretty good brunch experience. There was a bit of a line so I'd recommend getting there early on the weekend. If you're looking for brunch made with locally sourced ingredients that leaves you with a clean palate, Salt's Cure would be a great place to try.

Salt's Cure

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7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046

Open: Daily 9 - 3, 5:30 - 10:30

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Psst! Have you heard the January Playlist?

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Eat in West Hollywood: Flavor of India

Buffet plate featuring naan, rice, dal, chicken tikka masala, paneer, and aloo gobi

Flavor of India has the best Indian buffet in Los Angeles. I've searched high and low for a dynamic and thoroughly delicious Indian buffet (mainly west of La Brea) and Flavor of India on Santa Monica near Doheny in West Hollywood always comes out on top. The buffet features a solid selection for meat and veggie fiends alike. Some of the most commonly prepared dishes include tomato and cucumber salad, rice, naan, dal, some type of paneer dish, sautéed cauliflower and potatoes (aloo gobi), chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, a lamb dish, rice pudding, and fruit. My personal favorites are the naan, paneer, and rice pudding.

I've never had a bad experience here and their dishes are nothing short of delicious. They have a very welcoming and cognizant staff as well as a lovely semi open-air atmosphere. If you miss their brunch hours, you are still guaranteed to eat a tasty meal from their dinner menu.

Flavor of India
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9045 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Lunch Buffet: Monday - Sunday 11:30 - 3
Dinner: Monday - Thursday 5 - 10:30, Friday 5 - 11, Saturday 3 - 11, Sunday 3 - 10:30

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Refinery29: Fashion's Night Out at 3.1 Phillip Lim

As mentioned yesterday, here are the original photos and unpublished outtakes I took at Refinery29's Fashion's Night Out party at 3.1 Phillip Lim in West Hollywood. Feel free to comment on your favorites (or your not-so-favorites) below.

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Featured on Refinery29

This past Thursday, I was assigned to take street style photos for Refinery29's Fashion's Night Out party at 3.1 Phillip Lim in West Hollywood. To see the published photos, either click on the screenshot above or on this link. Expect to see the originals (and possibly some outtakes) on the blog soon.

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Work It, West Hollywood: The Fur Scarf

MELROSE & ROBERTSON

Again with the unfocused photo, I know! You must excuse me because her fur scarf distracted me from checking the presets (my bad). Anyways, I like how this girl combined two elements that I have not seen worn together before - a fur scarf and a denim jumpsuit. I'd say the risk paid off. Would you agree?

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LAST BUT NOT LEAST

ROBERTSON & MELROSE

This is the last photo I took while at home in Los Angeles. I like how she was not afraid to mix patterns and still maintained a consecutive color scheme. (Remember ROYGBIV? She's got the three colors in the center down. Bill Nye would be proud.)

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