Meltzerz Restaurant Reviews

LEBANESE

2009-09-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

Carnival
4356 Woodman Ave, Van Nuys

Cost for four (before tip): $54.90

This was a really disappointing meal. The service was lousy, the hummus and shawarma were bland. The freshly fried felafel were yummy, but overall it didn't come close to the food of the nearby Pita Kitchen. Do yourself a favour and go there instead.

"SCOTTISH"

2008-09-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

Tam O'Shanter Inn
2980 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90039

Cost for 5 (before tip): $131.50

This was the most expensive establishment we've visited so far on this gustatory adventure, and also one of the most disappointing. Most of us found the food very ordinary. It certainly wasn't Scottish, just regular American food, which made it surprising that there were no vegetarian options. Nor were there any child-sized portions, so at $30 for a steak, our guest Aussie Gringa elected to share with Broadway Baby (formerly known as Lava Girl).

Dr. Drool: Simply mediocre. If I wanted bland food I could eat at Coco's. Overpriced and undercooked.

Peg Leg Scooty: Bad smell, bad food.

Aussie Gringa: The steak was good, but the veggies weren't. The decor was a bit over the top, but the company was great!

Broadway Baby: I loved the staff's outfits, and liked the restaurant itself; it had the look of the seven dwarves' house. The bathrooms had a lot of flowers and a makeup center. My steak was phenomenal.

BonzaMum: I wasn't prepared to pay $22 for tilapia, so I elected to just have steamed veggies. Sadly I still had to pay $16 for that!! Ack!

We spoke with friends the next day who are familiar with this establishment; they told us that the hand made potato chips at the bar are the only things worth eating.

BRITISH

2008-07-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Buchanan Arms
2013 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506

Cost for 4 (before tip): $78.13

BonzaMum: The open plan dining room was far from empty, but was not at all noisy. I appreciated that. My dinner of fish and chips was delicious -- the batter was light and not greasy, the fish delicate, though the chips could have been cooked a little longer (I've developed the American preference for crisper, rather than softer, chips.) All in all, a satisfying overload of carbs and fat. If you want comfort food and don't care about calories, this is the place to go.

Peg Leg Scooty: The cockaleekie soup was really really really really good. As for the shepherd's pie, it was good but not special. It tasted just like what it was: ground beef, mashed potatoes and cheese. There was no way I could get through it all, not because I was full, but just because I got bored with it.

Dr. Drool: Generous portions, delicious food. Battered, deep fried zucchini ... what's not to love?

Lava Girl: I loved it all. The soup was awesome, and so was the steak and mushroom pie. The crust was delicious, and the vegetables and chips were not overdone; they were just right. I thought I didn't like apple crumble but really loved this dessert too. The bathrooms were clean.

CREOLE/CAJUN/SOUTHERN

2008-06-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

Les Sisters Southern Kitchen
21818 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Cost for 4 (before tip): $61.38

This is a basic no-frills shopfront restaurant. Drinks are served in mason jars, and a commercial smooth jazz radio station provides the background music.

The three omnivores in the family all chose the same meal -- ribs -- and really enjoyed them. Unsurprisingly, there was not much for the lone vegetarian to eat beside side dishes.

Dr Drool: Not much to the ambiance or presentation but the rib dinner was everything a Southern rib dinner should be. The ribs were meaty but a bit bland; they could have had more kick. The best candied yams I've had outside the south.

Peg Leg Scooty: Great hush puppies, but bad smooth jazz music. Overall: YUMMY.

LavaGirl: I really liked the ribs and hush puppies, but the bathroom smelled like a port-a-potty.

BonzaMum: I didn't go in with high expectations, so I was not too disappointed. The salad was sad -- browned iceberg lettuce and a few thick slices of bitter cucumber. The red bean and rice were fine but uninteresting, while the collard greens had a good texture but I didn't care for the flavour. This is not a restaurant I'd go back to.

CUBAN

2008-05-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Guantanamera
916 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506

Cost for 4 (before tip): $66.02

We ordered:
Empanadas (beef and chicken)
Papas rellenas con picadillo (mashed potato balls stuffed with ground beef)
Sopa de frijoles colorados (red bean soup w/sausage, bacon, squash and potatoes)
Bisteck de palomilla en su Jugo (top sirloin steak)
Congris (black beans and rice)
Plantanos maduros fritos (friend sweet plantains)
Vegetales mixtos

Dr. Drool: Very nice decor in the Cuban flavor. Dinner was very tasty! Nice live violin and cuban muzak. Service was pleasant but slow, and my chair was uncomfortable. 7+.

Peg Leg Scooty: The empanadas were great, and the sauce was amazing. All the meat dishes were really good. Bathroom was fine. The new Indiana Jones movie is awful. 7.5 out of 10.

LavaGirl: Live music was A+. The bread was lovely. The bathroom was big and had a Spanish rose. The chairs were big and comfy. Excellent steak, beans and rice. I loved the chocolate icecream with hot fudge sauce. 9 out of 10.

BonzaMum: Well, the carnivores in the family were very impressed, but this vegetarian was not. The vego options were paltry. The yucca was odd, the steamed veggies were swimming in butter, and the black beans were plain. The only thing I loved was the sweet plantains, and the live music (electric violin, not too loud). 6 out of 10.

ETHIOPIAN

2008-03-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

Nyala
1076 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90019

Cost (for 4) before tip $67.43

Oh my, has it been a year since our last review? That speaks volumes about our family's finances in the last 12 months. But last night we celebrated new jobs with a new (to us) gastronomical experience. And we gave it the thumbs up.

All food (except dessert) at Nyala is eaten with the fingers, scooped up in a crepe-like, spongy, sourdough bread called injera. We chose the meat sampler, the vegetarian sampler, Shrimp Tibs, and Doro Tibs. It was all served on one platter and we dug in.

Dr. Drool:
Great decor, bright and colorful paintings, large window with good sunlight. Good music, and a large inviting room. The meat dishes were wonderful, very good tastes and quite different from each other. The cold spongy bread was a bit off putting. Desserts were a disappointment, Italian ice cream and Greek pastry? Nothing African?? 7.5 out of 10.

BonzaMum:
I thought the injera had an odd texture and I didn't really like having to have a mouthful of bread with every taste of lentils and veggies. I would have appreciated another method of transporting the food to my mouth. A spoon, maybe? I don't mean to sound horribly western -- hey, I use chopsticks -- I just didn't really want 50% of my meal to be spongy bread. But that aside, the vegetarian dishes were very tasty. 7 out of 10.

PegLeg Scooty:
Welcoming interior and a nice, helpful waitress. The meat dishes were very good, but they were not spicy enough for me. I asked for more spice, which was great, and they let me take some home. The bathroom was nice except for the fact that there was a window that anyone walking in the alley could see into. The dessert (baklava) was amazing but I have never had this dish before so it could be just as good anywhere else. 8 out of 10.

LavaGirl:
They should serve decaf coffee, because I'm not allowed to drink caffeine and I wanted to enjoy the coffee ceremony. I thought the music was nice, and the place smelled good. Stevie Wonder likes it there (his signed photo was on the wall). The waitress was not focused because she was talking with her friends at the bar. But the food was delicious, and so was the tea. I liked the spices in both. And the BAKLAVA was great. 9.5 out of 10.

INDIAN

2007-04-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

India's Tandoori
19006 Ventura Boulevard, Tarzana CA 91356

Cost for 4 (before tip) $42.15

Overall: Clean, quiet, delicious.

Lava Girl: I got the Lamb Biryani. This was my favorite food EVER!

Peg Leg Scooty and Bonza Mum: We shared the Dil-e-Baha Vegetarian combination bargain dinner. It was all delicious, especially the Saag Paneer.

Dr Drool: I got the Tandoori Chicken combination bargain dinner, and was disappointed with the chicken itself. It was all dark meat, and a bit tough. I've had much better elsewhere. But the side dishes were good, and I liked Lava Girl's lamb!

MEXICAN

2006-11-18T21:31:00.000-08:00

Señor Fred
13730 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Cost for 4 (before tip) $64.84

Overall: Upside -- the food, including the complimentary salsa, is delicious. Downside -- It's really dark in there (hate that). The bathrooms are dirty, ugh. And our service stank.

Lava Girl:
I like the bouncy booth seats. They were fun (even if everyone else got mad when I kept bouncing). I shared Dad's dinner; it was pretty good. I LOVED my dessert (Kahlua Mousse Chocolate Cake).

Peg Leg Scooty:
No burritos on the menu? What's with that??? Luckily, the Señor Fred Combo was muy delicioso.

Dr Drool:
The fireplace was a nice addition to the ambience, but it was just too dark. The room has a lovely pressed tin ceiling; it would have been nice to be able to see it better. I thought my strawberry margarita had a strange after-taste, but Fiesta Tostada was very good (except for the shell, which was stale).

BonzaMum:
The menu is one of those annoying many-paged, ring-bound affairs that's full of ads. Spare me the ads, please. Just gimme the food. I'm often disappointed with restaurant salads, because they taste just like something I'd make at home. Not the Ensalada Chapeada (chopped salad) -- it surprised me with its blend of flavours and textures. The mint was an inspired touch. Very, very good.

CHINESE

2005-10-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

Bamboo Inn
14010 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Cost for 4 (before tip) $89.25 ... but we could have fed 7 with the amount of food we ordered.

Overall: It took us nearly two months to get to this restaurant, because Dr Drool kept putting it off. He is NOT keen on Chinese food. But as it turned out, he was more than pleasantly surprised.

We shared:
• Three-Flavoured Sizzling Rice Soup VERY NICE
• Fried Shrimp
• Shrimp Toast
• Egg Roll
• Crispy Wontons
• Noodles and Vegetables LAVA GIRL'S FAVE
• Fried Rice
• Sweet & Sour Chicken TO DROOL OVER!
• Mu Shu Pork VERY GOOD
• Fish & Black Bean Sauce DELICATE AND DELICIOUS
• Aloha Shrimp DR. DROOL: "THE BEST DISH I'VE EVER EATEN"
• Orange Beef EXCELLENT

Additional comments from ...

Lava Girl:
• Good stuff: Good smell, excellent food. I LOVED the noodles.
• Bad stuff: We were in a booth and kept dragging the tablecloth whenever we got in and out.

Peg Leg Scooty:
• I like the atmosphere (fish tanks, paintings, flowers, etc).
• A confusing selection, but the food was delicious.

Dr Drool:
• This place is way too busy. Waiters running everywhere ... it's frenetic! But the food sure is good.

BonzaMum:
• Not your usual chew-and-spew Chinese restaurant (ubiquitous in every Aussie town).
• We had menus with differing prices. The waiter blew it off with the explanation that the one with lower prices was old, but was unconcerned about the misrepresentation.
• I really liked the soup, the fish and the pork.

GREEK

2005-09-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

The Great Greek
13362 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Cost for 4 (before tip) $52.39

Overall: We were all pretty underwhelmed. This place might be more fun when the entertainment is in full swing (we went early). Perhaps going with a large Greek family would help, too.

We ate:
• Avgolemono Soup NOT POPULAR
• Greek Meatballs (keftethes) MIXED REACTION
• Blue Mediterranean Salad ADEQUATE BUT UNSURPRISING
• Combination Greek Plater, comprising:
o Pastitsio pasta THUMBS DOWN
o Moussaka TASTY
o Stuffed Grape Leaves GOOD
o Spanakopita ALL RIGHT
o Roast lamb TENDER, GOOD
o Oven-roasted potato GOOD
o Rice Pilaf FINE
o Carrots FINE

Additional comments from ….

Lava Girl:
• I really liked Mum’s chicken and Dad’s potato
• The soup was too sweet for me
• The meatballs were good!

Peg Leg Scooty:
• At last, music to match the restaurant’s ethnicity!
• I really didn’t like the meatballs or the soup. Both tasted lemony, and I’m not fond of that flavor. I didn’t end up eating much.
• I thought the bathroom was kind of smelly.

Dr Drool:
• Everything on the platter was lukewarm—it all could have been hotter.

BonzaMum:
• I only ate a salad, which was just like one I’d make at home. No surprises, either good or bad.

HUNGARIAN

2005-08-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

Hortobagy Laszlo’s Cuisine
11138 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604

Cost for 4 (before tip) $84.50

Overall: Would like to go back when they have their visiting gypsies playing traditional music (which happens a couple of times a year). We’d probably just get soup and dessert.

We ate:
• Gulyas Soup EXCELLENT
• Chicken Paprikas UNINTERESTING.
• Veal Paprikas BLAND.
• Spicy Chicken Fettucine SPICY? NOOOO.
• Weiner Schnitzel with Parsleyed Potatoes DELICIOUS.
• 7 Layer Chocolate Cake FABULOUS.
• Apple Strudel WONDERFUL.

Additional comments from ….

Lava Girl:
• The restaurant smelled delicious.
• The bathroom was clean.
• Our waiter was very nice and very funny.
• The seats are nice and bouncy.
• There was a long wait for our main course.
• I loved the schnitzel and dessert.

Peg Leg Scooty:
• The best soup I’ve ever tasted.
• “Spicy” main dish was not spicy at all.
• 7 layer cake was to die for.

Dr Drool:
• Veal Paprikas was fairly bland. No interesting overlays of flavors.
• “Wow, this ain’t no Ralph’s strudel.”

BonzaMum:
• The chile plant centerpieces were a nice touch.
• Cloth tablecloths and napkins were appreciated.
• Our waiter, Sandor, explained that “Hortobagy” is a region in Hungary. He was very knowledgeable and pleasant.
• The main courses could have been a lot spicier. Disappointing after the great appetizer.

SPANISH

2005-06-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Cobras & Matadors
7615 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Cost for 4 (before tip) $82.20

Overall: Seems more of a date restaurant than a family restaurant (though the kids were welcome and enjoyed the food). Worth a return visit.

We shared:
• lomo embuchado & garocha: cured pork loin & aged goat cheese on raisin tostado YUM!!
• fire roasted sobrasada: ground chorizo sausage on olive oil focaccia WAY TOO OILY .. Scooty blamed his later nausea on this dish
• spanish style barbecued skirt steak marinated in orange juice & paprika LOVELY FLAVOUR!
• socca cakes: Mediterranean chickpea crepes with mojo de cilantro dripping sauce VERY DELICATE AND FLUFFY.
• sweet papas fritas with mojo picon & aioli dipping sauces GOOD.
• bacon wrapped prawns in garlic cream sauce PRAWNS WERE UNSPECTACULAR; CERTAINLY NOT WORTH THE $16. But the sauce was great with the papas fritas above.
• Churros OK. OVERFRIED.
• french toast THE BEST FRENCH TOAST WE HAVE EVER EATEN.

Additional comments from ….

Lava Girl:
• 100 out of 100
• Can draw on the tablecloth (brown paper)
• Best French toast in the world

Peg Leg Scooty:
• I really loved most of the food, but for some reason I came home and vomited all night. Everyone else ate the same things I did, and they were OK, so I couldn’t have been poisoned …

Dr Drool:
• The backlighting from the late afternoon sun coming in the front window made seeing my wife impossible. But the lighting is so dim inside, that I probably wouldn’t be able to see her after dark either.

BonzaMum:
• The first bite of lomo embuchado & garocha set the scene—it was heavenly.
• Loved the décor.