So when do we get the trip report???

Here’s the lowdown on the Golden Steer: It is a great slice of "old Vegas." Red banquettes, emblazoned with a suitable moniker, e.g. the "Oscar Goodman" booth. Good meat, served in enourmous cuts, generally perfectly cooked. Get the Caesar. Honestly, one of the best ever, with plenty of garlic, anchovy, and egg. A baked potato the size of a football, properly dressed with the works. Toast redodent of a ton of garlic and soaked in butter. Oh, and a ridiculously good tomato, anchovy, and capers salad, dressed with a perfect, piquant vinagrette. Sinatra on the hi-fi, and a bartender who pours with a generous hand. To me this place is what Las Vegas used to be and still should be. I’ve been to that zany town a hundred times, I’ve eaten everywhere in town, and I never fail to go back to the Steer.

I actually work at South Beach Bar and Grill in Ocean Beach (OB to the locals) and will second the recommendation. If you make it there, ask if Brendan is working (that’s me). Have fun on your baseball sojourn!

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Also opinions on the Golden Steer Steakhouse and The Steakhouse at Circus Circus both in Vegas.

My wife and I are frequent visitors to Las Vegas …………………..lol we’re there a lot, we’ll be leaving again this week-end, it’s only a little over a hour flight from San Jose and a casino picks up the tab……………………… Linda loves to gamble I love to eat…………..
Golden Steer Steakhouse and the Steakhouse at Circus Circus are mediocre to fair…….
I feel that the steak house at Harrah’s is one of the best "The Range Steakhouse"
Please remember these are not Roadfood kind of joints. you will need to make reservations and $$$
http://emilive.com/portals/650/tour/2433/4.html

one short sidebar, calling Las Vegas "Vaaaaaaagas" is like calling San Francisco "Frisco"
that’s only done by east coast tourists, …….Right BT?

I lived in San Diego for a dozen years and I know it well.

Fish Tacos-
Rubio’s, several locations…they were at Jack Murphy (Qualcomm) and I bet they are at the new ballpark too. Really good, and damn reasonable. Also check out South Beach Bar & Grill in O.B. for excellent views and great food including tacos.

Burrrritos-
any of the "Berto’s" . No kidding. ROberto’s ALberto’s HUMberto’s etc.

I just got back from Phoenix and you MUST try Phoenix Ranch Market at the corner of Thomas and 57th. It is the MOST FANTASTIC Mexican market this side of the border that I have ever been to. They also have a food counter with incredible food assembled to order. I tried the sopes with "al pastor" pork, but was later told that I really blew it by not getting their famous carnits! We bought melon agua fresca (they had 8 flavors in additions to their fresh juice bar) and cactus salad to go along with 5 different kinds of ceviche. Other folks in my party ordered the beef fajitas, an "al pastor" quesadilla and tacos. All were incredible! Be sure to ask for some grilled jalapenos on the side!

I guess it IS just called "Car Wash" Burrito. It is is at the corner of Alvarado & Sunset. It is on the Southeast corner. There is another burrito place on the Northwest corner (Welcome to L.A.!) that is not as good. But that one does stay open very late, so if you need post-bar food, that one is OK, but ask for no rice…they use it as a filler. This is not too far from Dodger stadium, so you could go on the way back to the hotel.

Also Dos Burritos on Hollywood, next to the Pantages. Good location if you are checking our Groemann/Mann’s Chinese and other touristy things. It is a little hut. The bar called "The Frolic Room" next-door is fun too.
Dos Burritos
4734 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 644-0416

In general, I have found any place with the name "Michoacan" in the title tends to be good. You will encounter lots of lard (Manteca), and "specialty meats" if you have a vegetarian with you, and also some non-English speakers. There is usually an order and a pick-up window. If you are not up on your Spanish, here is a primer:

You will rarely see beef and pork called by anything other than their cooking method. Other meats are called by their names.

Carnitas: Pork, braised, then fried

Carne Asada: Steak, sometimes tough, but good

Carne de Res: Beef

Pork: Puerco

Al Pastor: a method of cooking and flavoring, kind of "BBQ" usually pork, can be beef

Sesos: Brains

Lengua: Tongue

Birria: Goat (Not common outside of specialty restaurants)

Cabeza: Head meat (Not common)

Para llegar: to go

Con todo: With everything

Lechuga: Lettuce

Cebollas: onions

Frijoles: Beans

Arroz: Rice

Here is my husband’s take on sushi:

I like Noshi Sushi on Beverly & Hobart.
Noshi Sushi
4430 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 469-3458
It’s "working man’s sushi" – big portions, good prices, crowded & busy.

Go there late, say an hour before closing, & they give you really huge cuts of high quality fish.

If you want to refer them to an experience send ’em to the soup nazi of raw fish:
Sushi Nozawa
11288 Ventura Boulevard Suite C, Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 508-7017
If you sit at a table you can order off the menu… if you sit at the
bar you must bow respectfully & eat what the chef wants to feed you (you
can tell him you;re allergic to stuff, but DO NOT ask for California
roll. Result: "No sushi for you!") Everybody that’s told me about this
place says the bar is the way to do it. Probably darned expensive too.

Have fun!!!

Elise — you are dead on. Zankou and Killer Shrimp were my two favorite LA meals. I didn’t write enough about Zankou’s in the blog entry because WJ and I had discussed the place the previous night on instant messenger, I just couldn’t think of the name. I didn’t mean to downplay how much I enjoyed the meal there, though. It was top notch — and CHEAP!

Oh, does anyone know the Cobb salad situation at Musso and Frank’s?

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Originally posted by Benzee

Hello all,

Can’t help you out with the food stops you want to make , but an interesting lodging experience I’ve enjoyed is staying aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach . The interstate takes you right to the entrance to the complex and are away from the crowds . The ship is a floating hotel , prices vary but online bookings are discounted I believe. Many movies and TV shows filmed aboard the Queen including my favorite The Poseidon Adventure pre capsize scenes and publicity photos .

I guess you are not afraid of ghosts…the Queen Mary is very haunted.

If no one has guessed yet from my restaurant reviews, I love wooden interiors!!! (I worded that carefully). The guestrooms are gorgeous, with old wood everywhere. Tiny bathrooms though, of course. Long Beach is a long haul from Dodger stadium, but if anyone stays there, the Sunday brunch will blow your mind. The centerpece of the seafood buffet table is a live harpist!

Nice bar, and frequent firework displays!!!

PS, in case you are wondering why I am not putting in my 2 cents on the food yet, I am researching the addresses first. "The burrito place under the carwash on Sunset" won’t cut it…

But I agree about Zankou from Stevekoe’s log!!!! Shwarma "sandwich" and roast chicken are both "Musts". Order them both! It’s still under 10 dollars! They are opening one near me in Burbank, and I will be so fat by next year! It is family-owned, but they are opening up all over the place. Looks like there is even one in Anaheim…

http://www.zankouchicken.com/chicken_zankou_location.html

Benzee

I do love the Southwest type foods offered in abundance throughout the Phoenix area but while in Arizona the first stop for me and my gal is Chompie’s …New York style Deli-Restaurant and Bakery …..for my bowl of matzo ball soup and a corned beef and pastrami on rye sandwich……….. Linda and I feel Chompie’s is the very best west of the Hudson River……….. It would be very interesting to see what you think……… if you do go the deli at 92nd in Scottsdale is the full service deli
http://www.chompies.com/
Mercado Del Rancho Center
9301 East Shea Blvd. at 92nd street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

Just to totally through you a curveball,
Chino Bandito looks to be exactly opposite of what you want. To me it shows that things don’t stay static in the West’s new cities, as the owners are both Valley of the Sun Natives and this seems natural to them. Colliding cultures..

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Hello all,

Can’t help you out with the food stops you want to make , but an interesting lodging experience I’ve enjoyed is staying aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach . The interstate takes you right to the entrance to the complex and are away from the crowds . The ship is a floating hotel , prices vary but online bookings are discounted I believe. Many movies and TV shows filmed aboard the Queen including my favorite The Poseidon Adventure pre capsize scenes and publicity photos .

Benzee