Los Angeles' foodie Twitterati went into a tailspin on Sunday when they caught Chicago-based Top Chef Master Rick Bayless dissing the city's favorite food writing son, Jonathan Gold in a Tweet: "@thejgold Thought a Pulitzer meant you checked facts. Sneering at me for something I never said is either mean or sloppy. I'm offended." more ›

It's a shame that not every diner can sit down with Rivera's John Sedlar and listen to him tell the stories of his dishes while they dine. Sedlar is a gifted storyteller in person, however the power of myth, history, and culture are also embedded in every bite of the beautiful food he has on the menu at his popular and welcoming downtown restaurant. more ›

Looking for a way to express your inner gastronome this Bastille Day? Lucky for you, L.A. is full of fine French dining (as well as some options for the more budget-minded). A number of restaurants are offering prix-fixe menus if you're feeling like a splurge: $130 per person at Melisse, $85 at La Cachette, and $48 at Comme Ca. Or, you can try out the newly opened Anisette, which LAist conveniently checked out last month. more ›

Next Door Tapas is a swanky and intimate little lounge in Studio City, perfect for a weekend or late evening bite -- just don't plan on being there before 6pm. Despite the 5pm opening that's advertised on most review websites, we showed up at 5:30 only to find half-dressed tables and an unready staff. The wine menu was quick to arrive once we were seated, however, and we found the lounge to be a relaxing environment for a romantic rendezvous (well, up until the large party of cougars showed up, but whatevs). more ›

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We've been hitting DineLA's Restaurant Week pretty hard over here at LAist, but I just wanted to make a few quick observations about my great experience at Simon LA last night. We arrived about half an hour early for our reservation, but the hostess seated us promptly, in a friendly and welcoming way. Our waitress got our drink orders in quickly, and our appetizers came out within minutes of placing our order. This place is ready for Restaurant Week. I saw quite a few other tables with the prix-fixe menu -- Simon LA has been getting some good marks on the boards for its great R-Week experience. more ›

This is hilarious... and weird. Back in 1998, my family took my grandmother out for her 89th birthday to a restaurant that fused French and Asian. The quaint little restaurant in Chicago's suburban North Shore village of Wilmette was appropriately named Chinsoiserie. The seven of us were seated and we immediately ordered fifty dollars worth of delicious appetizers. When it came time to order our meals, half of what we desired sent the waitress... more ›

Thank God for the New York Times and its latest scintillating trend piece, which bravely goes out on a limb to inform readers that as crazy as it may sound, Koi and Republic aren’t the only two restaurants in Los Angeles. What? A New York publication writing arrogantly and stupidly about some aspect of Los Angeles culture? Stop the presses! In her New York Times regional trend essay Los Angeles: Where Stars Are in the... more ›