Square One

I'd passed this place so many times on my way back and forth to Hollywood. But after finally reading a tempting little description in the LA weekly I had to try it. We were up early on a Saturday morning and made our way west on Fountain Ave. Located just across from the Scientology Center (yikes) Square One is a little slice of heaven. Everything here is so very good. And most everything here is sourced locally. The infamous Nueske bacon was thick and tasty with a deep smoky flavor and my over easy eggs were tasty. Mrs. Marvin had the skillet prepared eggs with Chorizo and cheese that arrived steaming hot and still in the pan. Spicy and wonderful, matching nicely with Gruyere cheese. And my favorite part, they have great coffee from Intelligentsia. At 3 bucks for a bottomless cup it's a bargain for sure. And the freshly squeezed orange juice was perfect. Also there are a variety of fresh fruits and jams. We tried the vanilla pear which was unusual and tasty.
Friendly and attentive staff make this our new fave spot for a quiet morning meal. A must for breakfast in my opinion. They serve lunch too but who can wait?

Sanamluang

This is a Thai late night all time favorite. Sanamluang is found at Kingsley on Hollywood Blvd. I'm usually passing by this place on my way home late at night. And since they're open 'til 4am that suits me just fine. Frequented by Thai locals and those in the know. Noodles are an easy call here. Try the General's Noodle soup big enough to share or any of the other more mysterious varieties. Their great Pad Thai hits the spot every time. Shrimp cake is a good starter with sweet&hot sauce for dipping. And Pad Prik King, spicy green beans and shrimp with rice. Or feeling really hungry and had a few? Try the pork belly with Chinese broccoli served over steamed rice. Yes. Chewy and crunchy stir fried bits of deliciousness paired nicely with slight bitterness of Chinese broccoli. Perfect at 2 am or 2pm. Along with an iced coffee or tea this is a reasonable meal anytime of day or night.

Empress Pavillion

Now, I'll admit it. This is one of the first places I'd ever had Dim Sum. So it certainly holds a place in my heart.
Anyway, Empress Pavillion is a loud and thriving heartbeat of a restaurant. Get off the 110 at Hill and you're there. Find a spot in the lot, get a number and prepare to wait a bit. If you happen to get here after 11:30 or so you may be turned away. Very popular with folks after church on the weekends. I often see tables with three generations represented. With lazy susans for getting those dishes to everyone around the biggest of tables. And then there's the dozen or more carts pushed by women who will tell you what they have. Sometimes in Chinese sometimes in English or maybe both. It can get a little crazy. But that's half the fun. Getting a bunch of little dishes to share and trying new things. We always get the Chinese broccoli served with a savory oyster sauce. Probably good for you but I don't care. Har Gow, Shu Mai, steamed pork buns and a good variety of vegetable and seafood dumplings. I usually skip the fried stuff here but there's that too. Don't forget to try the spare rib rice with a bit of Chinese sausage. Or just the pork spare rib by itself. Steamed with a bit of black bean and chile. Almost every time we go, I try something I've never had before. Just recently it was shrimp dumplings with shark fin. The time before that whole prawns, head and all. Yum. Can't find a favorite item? Ask one of the jacketed waiters or go find it on foot if you dare. Just be sure to bring your card to be stamped in the appropriate area. One of my all time favorites.

Los Feliz Cafe (Eatz Cafe) at The Los Feliz Golf Course

Even if you don't play golf you can enjoy Eatz Cafe. Located at the Los Feliz Golf Course on Los Feliz Blvd. Eatz is frequented by golfers and non golfers alike. Enjoy a meal outside accompanied by the gentle plunking of the putting area. And watch as golfers young and old finish up at the ninth green. I find it rather relaxing here. No pressure, no scene, no frills. I often go here before or after a round of golf. Or for a late breakfast or lunch any day of the week. Good cheap burgers, ham and cheese and omelettes etc. And the breakfast sandwich is a no brainer. But be sure to ask for no mayonnaise unless that's how you like it. Go figure. Dog and kid friendly too. This place recently changed ownership but the menu remains virtually unchanged. The only exception is they now have a better selection of beers. Cheers and Fore!

Fred 62

We've been going to this place for a few years now. Fred 62 is open 24/7 365 days a year. And there have been a few times I have thankfully gone here when I knew my alternatives were few and far between. If you've never been there it's a diner. But not just any old greasy spoon. Their large menu features all the classic diner faves and much more. Good burgers, shakes, pancakes, omelettes and everything in between. I usually enjoy the New Amsterdam breakfast sandwich with eggs, bacon and hash browns all on a buttery bun. Along with a few cups of their decent coffee. It's a cheap and delicious cure for what ails you. Or if hair of the dog is what's needed, they've got decent selection of beer and wine and champagne for you Mimosa drinkers. And they offer more than a few Asian dishes that are surprisingly good. Udon or Soba? Yep. Thai noodles too. Thai Cobb is a nice riff on the Cobb salad with a Thai twist. Great and gooey "Mac Daddy & Cheese" with bits of jalapeno served piping hot. There's pretty much something for everyone here. Grab a seat at the counter if you're alone or in a hurry with your dining companion. Or be prepared for a short but worthwhile wait on the weekend.

Intelligentsia

OK, after reading this was one of the few places doing the Clover extraction per cup. We had to try it as I am a full on twitchy coffee fanatic. We were going to be driving through Silverlake anyway that morning. There was a looong line out the door but we decided to go for it anyway. Thankfully, the line moved rather quickly and we got our order and grabbed a seat outside. This place was good but Mrs. Marvin was not quite sold on her 6 dollar cup of Autumn blend. She felt the blend was just too complicated and overly complex for her palate and not really what she'd hoped for(Not to mention a bit overpriced.) I tried it and liked it but perhaps that's just how it is with blends. No regular mocha as they were out of chocolate. How does that even happen? I dunno. Anyway, I had a nice iced Americano that was good to last icy drop. No pastries this time but maybe the next. Good but a bit far for my daily dose of Java. I'll keep going to Kaldi in my neighborhood but I'll be tempted to stop here any time of day I'm passing through Silverlake.

The Bowery

The Bowery is a smallish Bar & Bistro pretty much right across from the Palladium in Hollywood. In my opinion they have the best burger around. Which is a bold statement I clearly realize. (Don't write me about Father's Office either. The burgers are very, very good. But no ketchup? C'mon.) This tasty sirloin burger comes served on an English muffin with a choice of Gruyere, Roquefort, Cheddar, St Andre', grilled onions and sauteed mushrooms. And arrives juicy and cooked to order. We sometimes get two different combinations and then cut them in half and share. Bacon & cheddar and Gruyere with mushroom are our favorite combinations. Or if I'm not feeling like a burger, I'll get the Steamed Mussels (Moules Frites) with leeks, garlic, white wine and Saffron. Served with their thin and crispy hand-cut fries. They also make a nice dry martini. Other standouts for me are the Steak Frites with choice of Roquefort or Red wine sauce and the Classic Caesar salad. Old School and delicious. Sure, it's loud sometimes. But this is a starting point for the evening out. Nice to go there before a concert or whatever you've got planned. Consider going before 8 to avoid a crowd and enjoy a slightly more quiet atmosphere.

The Kitchen

Pondering the eternal question, "Where are we gonna eat?" When we begin to lose hope or are too hungry to think too hard we head to the Kitchen. It's always good if not great. Not necessarily cheap but good. Standout dishes for me are the ribeye steak special when it's available. If it's on the daily specials I absolutely must have it! It comes with some Gorgonazola on top of the steak along with truffle oil fries and asparagus, yow! Downright delicious. Or try the meatloaf that's almost as good as your Mom's. Roasted half chicken is also great and a never miss with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Fish and chips? Uhuh, pretty darn good. Calamari? Yeah, but just OK. We usually take picky eaters from out of town here. And everyone raves about the fresh food and nice variety. Cheap small salad is big enough to share as a starter and quite tasty. An out of town friend swore that the pork chops were some of the best she'd ever had. We've never ever made it to dessert here as the portions fill us up nicely. Maybe someday...
Friendly staff, decent service. Used to be BYO but now there's beer and wine I believe. (corkage? No, thanks.) Go there. You will be back. Gets quite busy so go a bit earlier to avoid a wait. Dinner for two is about 40 dollars.

Tacos Villa Corona

Am I a creature of habit? Yes. Do I stick with a winner? Yes. So, That's why I go to Tacos Villa Corona at least once a week. Located on Glendale Blvd. in Atwater Village. Villa Corona is a tiny little place that's big where it counts. All I ever order lately is the Spinach Breakfast burrito with bacon. And oh, the bacon!! My friends and I have had a few discussions about this heavenly stuff. They won't tell you where they get it, I've asked. It's that good. Big smoky chunks of bacon tucked into your eggs and cheese etc. makes it the best burrito around. There's also tacos and quesadillas and beef burritos as well as others. All good, all cheap and fantastic! Cash only so hit the ATM before you go. Lunch for two is usually around 10 bucks. Occasionally closed at random times but still great when you can get it. Don't forget the homemade salsa that is perfect in my opinion. Nice family owned place with friendly service! Viva Villa Corona!

Pho Cafe'

Ok, I read an article about Pho Cafe' a few years ago and it prompted us to try it. (I believe it was Westways the AAA mag.) We've been going there regularly ever since. Located in a strip mall where Sunset meets Silverlake Blvd. with no discernible sign. Pho Cafe is truly a hidden gem. A good selection of the usual rice noodle Pho available in soup as well as cold and hot bowls. There are several Vegetarian items too. I usually order the Chicken Pho Ga which is my all time favorite. In fact I've never ordered anything else! If I'm feeling a bit ill (or hungover) this spicy broth and noodles is just the ticket for me. Mrs. Marvin usually gets one of the cold bowls with beef, noodles, herbs and an egg roll. If we're really hungry we get the shrimp spring rolls or the Vietnamese crepe. The latter comes with rice paper wraps and lettuce to fold it all up and enjoy the hot and cold, the crisp and the soft, the salty and sweet. You get the idea. Top it off with a Mexican Coke in a glass bottle or a beer for a reasonable meal every time . Usually about 25 bucks for two makes it quite affordable. This place is bright and sometimes a bit noisy but I don't care one bit. This one is a sure bet every time.

Hugo's Tacos

Ok, so after some time watching the space seem to languish. We noticed that Hugo's tacos was finally open. Oops. Nope, we were waved off before we could get in the driveway. Ok, a couple days later. It was actually really open. They have a large menu of tacos and the usual stuff we all need. They also use organic rice, beans and spices. Nice.
Pick your meat (or veg. or soy cheese), choose hard or soft shell, and then pick your salsa from 7 varieties from Pico de Gallo up to Salsa De Arbol. I had the habanero salsa with my chicken soft tacos. After a short wait we attempted to jockey for a seat at the three picnic tables and finally just sat in the tailgate of my car. Maybe a bit more seating? All in all decent and fresh. But, I'll still be going to Villa Corona for my breakfast burritos. Que Bueno.

Gingergrass

Gingergrass in Silverlake is a place we go often. It has good fresh dishes and is really quite reasonable with the most expensive entrees at around 13 dollars. They also have several vegetarian entrees with various soy products. I usually get the seafood cahn chua. Which is basically a seafood Pho with tomatoes, shrimp and the usual herbs, sprouts and lime to add to your liking. Although, I do prefer the chicken Pho at Pho Cafe at Sunset and Silverlake (there's no sign). Anyway, Mrs. Marvin has had almost everything on the menu. Her favorites are the caramelized shrimp and the pork chops. Oh and also don't miss the crispy squid appetizer. Always perfectly cooked with a spicy sweet sauce for dipping. Good, good stuff.

Home on Fletcher

So, we thought hey, "Let's try Home on Fletcher" for some good old American fare. There seemed to be a lot of people going there when it opened recently. After we payed to park (ugh) we made our way to a sunny table outside. Good so far. I inquired what beers were available on tap and the clueless waitress/actress had no idea and had to go check. Not a good sign. Mrs. Marvin ordered a Chinese Chicken salad assuming it would be a safe bet. Not so. She described it as warm, smelly and reminiscent of wet mop. Brutal. I foolishly ordered a turkey Reuben which arrived unmelted and full of processed turkey roll yuck. We swore never again. If this is home then I'm moving far, far away.

LA Mill Coffee

So, it's my first food blog ever. And where better to start than at the brand new LA Mill coffee. Mrs. Marvin and I went there bleary eyed at the last moment, promising to only go if we found adjacent parking. I should mention they have parking in back I failed to notice with my sleepy eyes...
After being somewhat taken a back by the decor, we were pleasantly surprised by the immense coffee menu and the friendly staff. We opted to start small with a shared pot of Dark Roast Clover coffee. Which I have to say was likely the best cup of coffee I'd had since we were in Japan last year. Which is funny since this L.A. Mill coffee is vaguely Japanese in it's feel and design.
Ok, so we ordered a few things after finding out some items were unavailable during the "soft opening'. Whatever. We started with the Not Quite French Toast. It was buttery and sweet and wonderfully crisp and satisfying. Probably our favorite. For my main dish I had coddled eggs with mushrooms and a bit of bacon which looked quite beautiful but were so very salty I almost thought there must have been a mistake. I struggled to finish it and decided it was not for me. Mrs. Marvin had eggs too since the sandwiches were unavailable. Decent and I was looking forward to our next meal there.
So, cut to our next visit. We decide that we must have the science class experiment looking Siphon Brew coffee prepared table-side. I should mention that we'd been out quite late the night before and I was in desperate need of caffeine. A nice and very talkative gent came over and began the ritual, explaining the process where water is heated from below and then passes to the above container blah blah blah. And then I notice all the coffee including the grounds traveling back into the pot. Ruined. Attempt number two. Carefully prepared and...also ruined. Next they call in reinforcements for a third attempt.
Now, I should tell you that there was an article in the LA weekly that very day with this very same guy pictured in the article going on and on about how skilled he was, how much training they require etc.
He assured us that this would be the last and final perfect siphon brew. Not so. Embarrassingly, he couldn't do it either and at this point we aborted since our food had arrived and gone cold during this time. A Clover pot and some chocolates were comped for our trouble and the manager apologized profusely but it was a bit too late. I guess that's why you don't see this process very often. It's hard. I imagine they are still working out some kinks and refining their service and menu.
We've been back a few times since then but only for takeout coffee and pastries. I've been ordering the Black Onyx coffee which is rich, dark and great with chocolatey notes without being sweet. And I bought some organic espresso beans to use at home which are quite good as well.
We'll give the dining room another try sometime soon but for the moment it's takeout or nothing.