Tar Pit

Hollywood glamour, whimsicle bar menu, great food. Read my review of Tar Pit

Damon's Steakhouse 73rd Birthday Celebration

Without knowing it was a special event, we walked into a 73rd birthday celebration at Damon’s in Glendale on June 11th. We had tickets to the Glendale Center Theater and thought we would have a light dinner at Damon’s before the show.

Balloons decorated the entryway and throughout the restaurant. Two huge birthday cakes (baked at nearby Porto’s) were prominently displayed for guests to see and taste later in the evening. As we sat down, we were given two raffle tickets to win prizes: bottles of rum, Damon T-Shirts, and $50 gift cards.

We started our evening with two $6 Mai Tais. As we looked around the restaurant, we noticed everyone had a Mai Tai on their table.

The kitsch-style Polynesian décor brought a smile to our face. The old Hawaiian-style theme looks a little like Trader Vic’s. The booths however are lumpy and the tables are worn, but as one sips a Mai Tai and listens to the Hawaiian music playing in the background, that can be overlooked.

Many of the waitresses have been here for over twenty years. They are sweet and efficient. When two busboys brought a Roast suckling pig around to every table on a tray with garnish, I felt I was at a Hawaiian Laua in Honolulu.

We started with a house salad. It’s served in a large salad bowl and tossed by our waitress. The creamy French vinaigrette looks just like the old fashion - Catalina salad dressing.
Rick ordered the Grilled Mahi Mahi served with a Hawaiian Pineapple salsa. Though the fish portion was generous, the fish was a little dry and the pineapple salsa standard tasting. Both of us ordered their famous twice baked potatoes. Again, a little too dry for my taste. They tasted as if they were made earlier in the day and left sitting in a warming drawer for hours.

For dessert we had the very sweet Coconut /carrot cake and a piece of Porto’s birthday cake. A drawing was announced and I won a Damon’s t-shirt. The manager arrived at our table congratulating me and thanking us for coming to the birthday party.

By the time we left, the place was packed with happy people sipping Mai Tais and having a great time. Don’t expect gourmet food, instead go to have a great time in a fun atmosphere, filled with friendly regulars.

Damon's Steakhouse - 317 N. Brand, Glendale, (818) 507-1510.

Catalina Kitchen in Rancho Palos Verdes

As we walked into at the Terranea resort, Los Angeles only cliff-top, ocean front resort, we commented on the views.  The resort offers 270-degree views of the rocky coastline, secluded coves and Catalina Island.  With four restaurants to choose from and a Discovery Trail along the bluffs, its a great daycation getaway.

We ate dinner at Catalina Kitchen near the resort's main pool.  It's very family friendly with a kid-size buffet table serving veggies and dip, fresh fruit, pizzas, mac-n-cheese, pasta with tomato sauce and fries. While our five year old filled her plate, we started with two glasses of their homemade Sangria and a mezza platter of hummus, tabbouleh (so fresh, I just kept spooning it into my mouth), ganoush, coriander and toasted pita triangles.  The three beet salad was heavenly.

All their steaks and chops are served with a homemade steak sauce, peppercorn or Bearnaise sauce.  The fresh fish, pastas and gourmet flatbreads are some of the most popular dishes served.

We discovered the resort's signature restaurant, mar'sel (Spanish for "sea" and French for "salt") for our next visit. This romantic oceanfront dining serves fresh contemporary Californian cuisine. Many of the herbs and produce are grown in tidy gardens behind the restaurant.

A staff member shared with us that the resort offers a Tide Pool Club for non-hotel guests.  For a fee, children ages 4 -12, between the hours of 6 to 10 pm, can play on computers, watch movies, go on scavenger hunts and have dinner. It's a great babysitter alternative. Parents can stroll along the bluff, enjoy a romantic dinner and sit by the fire-pits to watch the sunset.  There is a free parking in a small lot nearby, otherwise the self and valet parking are $20 and up.

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If you are too tired to drive home, the rooms are gorgeous.  Most offer ocean views and balconies. The beds are so comfortable, that you will want to come back again.  For reservations, go to http://www.terranea.com/.

Catalina Kitchen - 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (310) 265-2800.

Elements Kitchen Disappoints

There is nothing that ruins a fine dining mood more than a drunken man at a nearby table who talks loudly.  Especially an obnoxious, self centered drunken man.  Unfortunately, that is what we experienced when we tried Elements kitchen in Pasadena.

Located in the beautiful courtyard of the old Pasadena Playhouse, we were seated in a booth next to the prep kitchen window.  That was good and bad.  We watched them make my Farmer's Market salad (photo) and thought,  really for this, you charge $17?  It was entertaining to see them make the desserts, but disappointing to watch them scoop a dollop of creme fraiche from a plastic Alta Dena container. It took the magic of fine dining away. 

We started with Duck Confit "egg rolls" filled with wild rice, Brussels sprouts, veggies and a port and  pomegranate sauce.  It was tasty but greasy.  Next, we ordered the Monk fish Curry ($34?) with ginger, root vegetables, kaffir curry and a delicious steamed rice with nice size chunks of lobster.

For dessert, the Whole Apple Tarte Tatin was a disappointment, because I watched the chef piece it together haphazardly.  The menu stated sweet creme fraiche, instead it tasted like Alta Dena sour cream.

There are too many restaurants in Pasadena that offer small and large plates that are priced more reasonably.  They also seem to know how to contol or keep loud drunks away from guests. Sorry Elements Kitchen I was not at all impressed.

Kings Road Cafe has a Sibling

When we lived on the Westside, Kings Road Cafe on Beverly Blvd  opened in 1990 and was always packed with people. I'm told they make a great cup of coffee.

Now in Studio City there is a second Kings Road Cafe and it's filled with young and hip foodies.

The Panini's are very popular. My friend Noe ordered the Black Forest Ham with fontina cheese, garlic aioli, watercress and roasted tomato. It's served with a huge helping of red cabbage slaw.

I ordered the Vegetarian Burrito filled with sweet potato, spanish rice, goat cheese, guacamole, and grilled vegetables. It was served with a Caesar Salad. Delicious!

Kings Road Cafe serves breakfast until 5pm daily. I loved the Bridget's homemade Chai - soy chai latte.

Located across the street from my beloved Good Earth - 12401 Ventura Blvd., Studio City (818) 985-3600.

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 9:00 pm. Saturday 7:00 am - 9:00 pm & Sunday 7:00 am - 6:00 pm