Restaurant Review
26 Oct 2017

The Arthur J – Manhattan Beach

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The Arthur J. - Manhattan Beach

The Astronomer and I rarely go out for steak, but when we’re craving a big ‘ol slab of red meat, we go big. Two Saturdays ago, we booked a sitter for June and made our way to Manhattan Beach to finally try Chef David Lefevre’s The Arthur J.

We are tremendous fans of the chef’s two other spots in the neighborhood, M.B. Post and Fishing with Dynamite, and were confident The Arthur J would offer similarly fabulous fare and fun.

The Arthur J. - Manhattan Beach

It must be noted that The Arthur J is a beautiful restaurant. The combination of dark, moody lighting and mid-century furnishings set the perfect tone for a lovely night out.

The Arthur J. - Manhattan Beach

To start, a glass of Prosecco ($13.50) for me and a cocktail for The Astronomer. He selected the “Captain Warburton” ($14.50), a Dark and Stormy made with house-made spiced rum, Thai basil, kiwi, and galangal.

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Now Closed
12 Oct 2017

P.Y.T. – Los Angeles (Downtown)

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P.Y.T. - Los Angeles (Downtown)

A recent date night took The Astronomer and me back to P.Y.T. to taste more of Chef Josef Centeno’s vegetable-centered cooking. We’d previously dined here courtesy of lentils.org and had a splendid experience. More vegetables, please.

P.Y.T. - Los Angeles (Downtown)

It was a balmy fall night in downtown. With reservations made a few days prior, we were seated immediately at a table for two adjacent to the bar. The restaurant filled up as the evening progressed. Vegetables for everyone.

P.Y.T. - Los Angeles (Downtown)

As we perused the menu, a slat of complimentary boiled peanuts arrived at the table.  The Astronomer loved the spice blend—a little salty and just a touch warm.
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Restaurant Review
04 Oct 2017

Fair Oaks Burger – Altadena

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Fair Oaks Burger - Altadena

The Astronomer and I first noticed Fair Oaks Burger while dining al fresco across the street at Pizza of Venice. Its promise of all-American burgers as well as Chinese and Mexican fare piqued our collective stomachs, so we agreed to stop in for a bite soon.  I like to support local businesses.

Fair Oaks Burger - Altadena

Our family strolled to Fair Oaks Burger for dinner last Friday night. I was craving a cheeseburger, June was in the mood for noodles, and The Astronomer was up for anything, per usual. Three cuisines under one roof is certainly convenient!

As we lined up at the counter and placed our awesomely diverse order—one cheeseburger, a plate of chow mein, and a carne asada taco—I kept thinking to myself that this was an “only in L.A.” kinda moment.

Fair Oaks Burger - Altadena

My cheeseburger combo ($6.19) was good, but not exceptional. Super Burger still makes my favorite cheeseburger in the neighborhood. The quarter-pound patty was cooked through, while the single slice of American was melty enough. It was served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, pickles, Thousand Island, and mayonnaise.

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