Travel Tips & Adventures

When we were in L.A. a week ago, we detailed some places to go, and people to see. Actually, we didn’t give you any people to see, but that won‘t be hard in a city of 4,010,000 (if you really can’t find anyone to see there are 11,000,000 in Los Angeles County).

So there are things to do, and people to see, but, also, you’ve gotta eat …

The old adage: If you can’t find a restaurant in the Los Angeles area …

What is hard to find is free parking … so, bring along your quarters, or don’t forget to get your parking ticket validated.

I am not going to attempt to be a restaurant critic here as I have been a film critic and know that everyone has their own opinions. I’ll leave it up to you to make up your own mind.

Over the next several days we’ll look at some options for both lunch and dinner.

Lunch

The Crab Cooker – Newport Beach, CA

Located on a nondescript corner in a former bank, this 58 years in business establishment is long on atmosphere and short on menu. If you’re looking for beef, go down the street, if you’re looking for chicken … keep walking. But if you are looking for seafood …

Scallops, Alaskan King Crab, Shrimp, Lobster, Crab Cakes, Salmon, Oysters, etc. all take their place on the limited menu. If you go for a plate, there are lunch and dinner prices which include: sauce, fresh lemon and a choice of fresh tomatoes, rice pilaf, Romano potatoes, or cole slaw.

Even though you might find chairs that look the same in the dining room, chances that there are the same two designs at any one table will make you run to a casino for much better odds!

Some of the wait staff has been employed for 35 years. That’s longer than most roll-off-of-your-tongue chain restaurants have been in business! The service is fast and furious and your lunch is served not long after your waitress has disappeared with your order.

I opted for the Shrimp & Scallops broiled on a skewer (lunch price $10.95). It was served with cole slaw and the Romano potato. The seafood is succulent and fresh; the accompaniments homemade-style.

The restaurant came highly recommended and it doesn’t disappoint in quality. Dress is definitely casual.

Parking: Okay, as I mentioned, it’s not always easy to find free parking. Such is the case at the Crab Cooker. It’s a little game the city of Newport Beach plays called … feed the meter! Put parking meters out in front of a highly popular restaurant and make it a twenty minute max time limit! Either you or someone else at your table has to get up in the middle of their meal and … feed the meter!

Crab Cooker: Great!  City of Newport Beach Parking Authority: Not so much!

Sun thru Thurs 11-9 p.m.
Fri & Sat 11-10 p.m.
Fish Market Open Daily at 10 a.m.

Newport Beach
2200 Newport Blvd.
(949) 673-0100
http://crabcooker.com

Tam O’Shanter – Los Angeles, CA

Having lived in Chicago for several years, I was familiar with Lawry’s The Prime Rib restaurant. But, I had no idea I would be eating in the establishment that started it all back in the 1920s. Tam O’Shanter is Los Angeles’ oldest restaurant operated by the same family in the same location.

Near Griffith Park just north of downtown Los Angeles, Tam O’Shanter is the first restaurant opened by Lawrence L. Frank and Walter Van de Kamp, who would later open Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. But it is the item that adorns almost every grocery shelf that would make them a household name, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt.

 

As you walk in the door, the modern goes away and the classic Scottish pub and restaurant take over. There are several themed dining rooms with swatches of Scottish Tartans on the walls, stained glass windows, fireplaces, Bagpipes on the ceiling …

Of course the dinner menu contains guess what … Prime Rib! Served with mashed potatoes and gravy, Yorkshire pudding, horseradish, etc.

There are also crab legs, lobster tails, and steaks. But in keeping with the British theme, they offer Fish and Chips, Bangers & Mash (sausage & mashed potatoes) and what I had for lunch, Toad in the Hole.

What? I’m not eating Toad, you say?

As with another frequently misread menu item, Welsh Rarebit (Actually Cheese, not Rabbit), there is ABSOLUTELY NO TOAD in Toad in the Hole.

Toad is actually Yorkshire pudding (sunken top pastry) topped with filet mignon, pearl onions and mushrooms in a Burgundy wine sauce. Don’t look at me, I didn’t name it!

Parking: FREE!!!! Lot is behind the restaurant. I suspect it might fill up for dinner, especially if there are large parties.

Ale and Sandwich Bar: Daily: 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Lunch: Mon-Fri: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner: Mon – Thurs: 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Friday: 5:00 – 10:00 pm
Saturday: 4:00 – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 4:00 – 9:00 pm
Brunch: Sunday: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm

2980 Los Feliz Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90039
(323) 664-0228

http://www.lawrysonline.com/tamoshanter_gen_info.asp

Tomorrow: More seafood and fancier settings.

Tags: Food, Los Angeles, Restaurants, Seafood

This entry was posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under Food, Historic, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.