the fox will eat the hen: March 2010

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Counter: Hollywood

The Counter has opened yet another location in Southern California this week, near the intersection of Sunset & Fairfax. The Counter is a one a kind Burger Joint where you create your own burger. On a Bun or in a Bowl? Maybe a Fried Egg and Honey Cured Bacon? The combinations are endless, or almost endless... 312,120 to be exact!

I will be posting a full review later this week. If you haven't been to The Counter yet, I suggest you make it the next Burger you eat.

Here is a list of all the California locations:

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Soda Pop's

Wanna go grab a some lunch at Soda Pop’s? Sounds like a quote from a 1950’s TV series, when in reality, Soda Pop's is a recently opened sandwich shop on La Cienega just north of the Beverly Center. It is run by three guys from Boston who I feel have been inspired by the new generation of Guy Fiere’s and Adam Rickman’s.

It is a very clean environment with lots of wood and stainless steel, but still gives the warmth of an intimate sandwich shop. All of the food is prepared in an open kitchen and you can hear and smell the bacon sizzling on the grill while you wait for your BELT. These guys also make their own Potato Chips that are simply amazing.

They have one of the largest displays of soda I have seen. You can even get Coke & Fanta in half liter GLASS bottles.

I have eaten a lot of BLT sandwiches in my life and these guys have seemed to create a BLT on a whole other level. It is called the BELT and is your mom’s BLT on steroids! Imagine two slices of toasted French white bread topped off with Apple Wood Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado and an OVER EASY EGG!

Today was my third visit to Soda Pop’s, but I still cannot stray from the BELT with Barbecue Chips and a large Coke in the bottle. They have cookies and Rice Krispies treats that look amazing as well as slices of Sicilian Pizza on the weekends.

Soda Pop’s also offers a wide variety of salad’s including a Caesar, Cobb, Mixed Green and Nicoise, all of which you can add on Shrimp or Chicken if you are looking for some protein.

These are a few of the other sandwiches that have caught my eye, but have not tried yet:

Steak Bomb
Meatball Grinder
Chicken Parm
Italian
French Ham & Cheese
Grilled Cheese & Tomato

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Morton's Power Hour

When someone says the words "Morton's Steakhouse," the first thing you think of is not necessarily a great place to go for Happy Hour. But you are wrong.

Over the past few years Morton's has been transforming the bars in their restaurants into the one of a kind Bar 12:21. The bar gets the name 12:21 from the opening of the first Morton's restaurant in Chicago, IL on 12/21/78. These newly remodeled bars feature multiple flat screen TV's, more seating and some great appetizers which are properly named "Bar Bites."

Morton's offers what they call Power Hour which is their version of the Happy Hour. It takes place 7 days a week from 5-6:30pm & 9pm-Close. This is one of the best Happy Hour deals in the US when you consider the quality of food you are getting for a price that's next to nothing. All of the Bar Bites are available for $5, with Beer & Wine going for $4 & $5.

The key is to only order the drinks from the Power Hour Menu. A cocktail will cost you anywhere between $10-$14 depending on where in the country you are dining, but you can choose from one of four Power Hour drinks for only $7. I personally recommend trying two of the Bar Bites and a Bud Light, which comes to the grand total of $14. If you told someone you could fill up at Morton's for less than $20 including tax & tip, they would think you were crazy.

If you are looking for something a little more substantial than a snack, you can get a Morton's Prime Cheeseburger with Fries for $15, get a Sam Adams to wash it down and you're still only looking at $19 before tax & tip.

Everything on the menu is classic comfort food, but my favorite would have to be the Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip served with toasted slices of French Bread. Top it off with some Mini Cheeseburgers and you will be stuffed!

The Beverly Hills location has three 40" TV's that always have sports from open to close. It's a great place to go with friends and get some "cheap" food before going out or while watching a sporting event. Nothing goes better with Monday Night Football than some Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip.

'Bar Bites' - $5
*Three Miniature Crab Cakes
Iceberg Wedge Bites
Chicken Goujonettes
*Three Prime Cheeseburgers
*Jumbo Lump Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
*Four Petite Filet Mignon Sandwiches
Blue Cheese French Fries

Beer - $4
Sam Adams Seasonal
Budweiser
Bud Light

Wine - $5
BV Coastal Cabernet
Canyon Road Chardonnay
Cavit Pinot Grigio
Columbia Crest Merlot

Morton's Mortinis - $7
Power Hour Cosmo
Power Hour Gin or Vodka Mortini
Power Hour Mojito
Power Hour Jim Beam Manhattan

Not all Morton's locations currently off Power Hour so make sure that you call ahead. The following locations all offer Power Hour:

Downtown LA
Burbank
Beverly Hills
Woodland Hills
Santa Ana
Sacramento

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Tomato Pie

Tomato Pie is the best Pizza Joint to hit L.A. since Mulberry Street. While Mozza and other restaurants offer more fancy pizzas, Tomato Pie keeps it real.

(Meat Lover on left & The Grandma on right)

Located on Melrose next to Sportie L.A. and across from Fairfax High School, this place has some of the best slices in town. There is also a second location on Hyperion in Silver Lake.

Hands down, the favorite is the "Grandma" which was ranked by GQ as one of the Top 25 Pizzas in the U.S.A.

(Hot Wing - Syracuse Style)

"Grandma: Also known as the “Margarita” after the Italian queen in the year blah blah. Actually it’s the first pizza ever invented. Italian Moms loved to make this at home with fresh filleted tomatoes from the garden that they would marinate for a whole day before using. This super simple pie with very light spots of Mozzarella has only an Olive oil base with no sauce per se. Just the Tomatoes crushed by hand and topped with grated Romano and Fresh Basil. It’s perhaps the greatest pizza on the planet."

My personal favorite is The Grandma but there is a close tie for second between many others: