Mashti Malone's Ice Cream
Neighborhood: Hollywood

1525 N La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Linden G. writes: I keep calling it Fallujah.

Maybe because this stuff is the bomb. A taste explosion. An invasion of your taste buds.

It's Faloudeh. And it's one of the yummiest sorbets I have ever had. It's a rosewater sorbet with semi-cooked rice starch noodles. I…

Fogo de Chao
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

133 N La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

stephy s. writes: Did you know that it was possible to actually gain 5 lbs over the course of 1 meal. I didn't think so, but just for shits n giggles, I weighed myself on my way out the door to Fogo and sure enough, upon my meat coma's return, I was in fact, 5 lbs…

Tommy's Original World Famous Hamburgers
Neighborhood: Westlake, Silver Lake

2575 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90057

jessie j. writes: this was quite possibly the most disgusting looking burger i've ever eaten, which didn't seem to matter because when i was done i was greedily licking the wrapper for little fallen soldiers of chili.  i was in love and wanting more.

admittedly, the…

Amoeba Music
Neighborhood: Hollywood

6400 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028

WAFFLES H. writes: "If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

                          THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
                           FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
                                        WAS MUSIC"

-Kurt Vonnegut

Heres to Kurt V., heres…

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
Neighborhood: Santa Monica

1517 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401

susan j. writes: 97! Here!!
98! Yes, that's me.
99! Right here!

No, we are not taking roll call. This is the daily ritual of Bay Cities Deli.

1. Try to skillfully snatch a parking spot (Note: newbies beware. parking is a bitch).
2. Run and grab a number
3. Wait patiently…

Farmers Market
Neighborhood: Mid-City West

6333 W 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Winfield H. writes: Sunday morning.  I wake up hungover and drag my ass out of bed.  I throw on some semi-clean clothes and walk to the nearby gas station convenience store.  I purchase a bottle of Fruit Punch Gatorade and immediately chug it.  

I head over to the…

Surfas
Neighborhood: Culver City

8777 W Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230

Kevin C. writes: I remember the prepubescent joys of scarfing down Chuck E. Cheese pizza, followed by token-induced rage at Wach-A-Mole.  The teenage years provided plenty of 8-bit memories, marked by late night Tecmo Bowl sessions with the crew. I think college may…

Santa Monica Farmers Market - Sunday
Neighborhood: Santa Monica

2640 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Jason C. writes: Hating a farmer's market is like hating a puppy riding a rainbow. Yes, the Sunday Santa Monica Farmer's Market is one of the best two ways to start your morning. Grab a crepe, delicious tamale or hit the famous omelet stand. (Note: Two can share one…

Vista Theatre

4473 Sunset Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Diana N. writes: huge

clean

popcorn was super buttery

i was with a hot date

i found parking next to it

i went to vons across the street and bought a tub of ice cream to eat inside

overall, the best damn night ever. i think this is possibly the greatest theater in ALL THE…

Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
Neighborhood: Hollywood

5919 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Lauren S. writes: Maybe it was an off night.

Maybe the performers still had a bad case of food coma from the 6 helpings of trytophan filled turkey they ate two nights before.  For that...I'm not going to make my review as bad as it could be.

I was misled.  All these 5…

Han Bat Sul Lung Tang
Neighborhood: Koreatown

4163 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90020

Dave L. writes: Shul Lung Tang Power.

When my HP is low, and I've run out of magic red potions and bottled fairies, I make my way over to Han Bat and throw down 9 rupees for a steaming bowl of Shul Lung Tang. When I am done, I emerge from Han Bat invigorated with the…

Hollywood Farmers Market
Neighborhood: Hollywood

Ivar & Selma Ave
Between Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards
Los Angeles, CA 90028

heather g. writes: 4 stars, for a nice way to spend a Sunday morning. Nice selection of fruits and veggies, cheaper than the grocery store, but probably not less than Farm Boy or TJ's.

Anyhow, there's all sorts of goodies here, live music, arts and crafts, soaps, for 7…

The Cheese Store Beverly Hills
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

419 N Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Julie G. writes: I was meeting the lovely and svelte Max M. here today for a pre-lunch cheesegasm, and not knowing where it was, I walked right by. Then it hit me, the stinky waft of cheesy feet pits beckoning me back into the cool folds of this lovely little…

Papa Cristos C & K Importing
Neighborhood: South Los Angeles

2771 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006

ericka L. writes: oh mah gawd.

i have to type in lower-case letters because my voice is quieted with the awe i have for this place.

i. effing. love. it.

my first time there was this past tuesday night with the besty, who had never been there either. we wanted to hang out…

The Pleasure Chest
Neighborhood: West Hollywood

7733 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046

Carrie R. writes: um..."Hi...do you happen to have any more of this Kama Sutra lubricant" (I hold up my empty little sample bottle).

"I don't know...let me take a look," says a woman with multiple piercings in her nose, lip and eyebrow. "Actually, no.  We have this one…

Mann Village Theatre
Neighborhood: Westwood

961 Broxton Avenue
Westwood, CA 90024

Nancy K. writes: This is a must see when in Hollywood.  They have the hand and foot prints of the stars and you can get yours done as a souvenir.

Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi

114 W Channel Rd
Santa Monica, CA 90402

Mary C. writes: What do I have in common with Christina Ricci, Mark Wahlberg, and John Goodman?  

We all enjoyed dinner last night at Giorgio Baldi, one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to.  I've been here a few times now, and the meals have been…

Center For Yoga Inc
Neighborhood: Mid Wilshire

230 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Thu D. writes: Since I've been on a yoga kick lately, this is my local joint for PEACE and STRENGTH.

The wonderful thing about this location is that it's CLEAN (no old body sweat stank); the teachers are EXCELLENT (all levels); they offer a TON of classes at varous…

Wine Expo
Neighborhood: Santa Monica

2933 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Aunny D. writes: Holy Mary Mutha-O-Gawd, I have reached the Holy Land!!!!

Eric, you are a god among men. Eric happens to be the "beer guy" who is more than well-versed in wines and this weekend he helped me re-stock my bar with an incredible selection of Italian,…

Mastro's Steakhouse
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

246 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

theo n. writes: *HOW TO EAT LIKE A KING FOR $80/PERSON*

1) Ask for the wine/private room (more intimate)
2) Bring your own wine. ($25 corkage)
3) Skip their appetizers (Esp the expensive seafood platter)
4) Go for one enormous salad for the group (of 4)
5) Order bone in…

Boule
Neighborhood: West Hollywood, Mid-City West

420 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048

Irene S. writes: Talk about some chichi chocolate.  

At $2.50 per 0.5 square inch, all I'm saying is that there had better be traces of Cris and gold and maybe an A-List party inside with a hidden cushion-cut diamond for good measure.  That's what I thought, anyway,…

Joe's Restaurant
Neighborhood: Venice

1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

Kaz S. writes: When I heard this place just got a Michelin star for 2008 and I was invited to a small group dinner few nights ago, I was excited.
Excitement waned a little when I found out that La Botte and Saddle Peak Lodge where I had unremarkable meals also made…

Fingerprints Music

4612-B E 2nd St
Long Beach, CA 90803

Geoff L. writes: My wife thinks I'm a music snob.  I don't completely agree, I just like what I like and I'm kinda passionate about it.  I guess this makes me some what picky about record stores, too.  For every decent one, there are dozens of crappy stores that sell…

Fosselman's Ice Cream Co
Neighborhood: Alhambra

1824 W Main St
Alhambra, CA 91801

judy w. writes: I wrote a 5 star review for Fosselman's last year, but due to my recent experience here, I've been compelled to re-write it.

I love this ice cream.  And ever since I've had the taro ice cream at a vendor in Little Tokyo, I've done nothing less than…

Fisherman's Outlet Seafood Restaurant
Neighborhood: Downtown

529 S Central Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Shauna D. writes: Note to self- do not go to a seafood place on a Friday.

Another note to self- do not go to a seafood place on a Friday during Lent.

Additional note to self- why didn't you tell me this before today?!

After not finding parking in the packed lot, I found…

Osteria La Buca
Neighborhood: Mid Wilshire

5210 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Ed to the M. writes: I got into LAX this morning, and have been in conferences all day until I checked into my hotel.  I wanted to take advantage of the sun so before heading over to Osteria La Buca I took a short dip in the hotel pool.  

This might have not been the best…

Busy Bee Market
Neighborhood: San Pedro

2413 S Walker Ave
San Pedro, CA 90731

Saul S. writes: Don't forget the bag of chips!

You can keep your New-Fusion-fluff and shove that California Roll up your ars! Just gimmie my "Bellybuster" Busy Bee's special with a generous stack of paper-towels.  

This modest neighborhood corner-store would make a…

Lost Souls Cafe
Neighborhood: Downtown

Harlem Place Alley
124 W 4th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Imelda M. writes: These lovely folks hold it down in the middle of gentrification and crap in downtown LA.

If you are looking for a place to read, think, listen to dope tunes, get your buzz on and keep your stomach fed, come here. It's a beautiful cafe in the Old…

Y-Que Trading Post
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz

1770 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027

stephy s. writes: Ahhhh yes, the Y-Que Trading Post or the place I like to refer to as, "Oh? You're running late to meet me for dinner on Vermont, no worries I'll go putz around Y-Que and giggle at the super cool and kitsch stuff they have here." Yes, mine is a tad…

Tiki Ti Cocktail Lounge

4427 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Aunny D. writes: For the record, Tiki Ti is much more fun at 4pm as opposed to late night when you're crammed in there like a sardine, next to an a-hole with a cigarette in your face and it is near impossible to get a drink. I'm glad I haven't reviewed this place…

Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe
Neighborhood: Westlake

2124 W 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90057

Wilbur L. writes: i simply adore mama's hot tamales.  everytime i have dropped in to get my tamale grubbin' on, the "mama" was there and took the time to explain (in detail) the different types of tamales that were available and provided me with great recommendations.…

Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria
Neighborhood: Hollywood

7994 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046

Jim A. writes: Living in Hollywood, it was always a long haul to get my lasagna boner properly stroked, and there are no better pasta sluts to do the deed than Alejo's at Lincoln and Washington in Marina Del Rey. Alejo's will first tease you with the amazing bread,…

LA Derby Dolls
Neighborhood: Westlake, Silver Lake

1910 W Temple Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026

reg t. writes: If you have never experienced Roller Derby, let LA Derby Dolls pop your cherry. Once you get  a taste of their rough stuff, you'll never look back.

I wasn't sure what to expect for my "first time". I got my VIP tickets on line and upon arrival, was…

The Spot

600 Pacific Coast Hwy
Ste 106
Seal Beach, CA 90740

Vincent T. writes: When I had my hair dyed blond a few years ago, Sandi, the owner, did excellent jobs on the color and haircut.  Until recently, she also had a skin care specialist from whom I'd get facials when I felt like having them.  The Spot also used to carry…

Stark Waxing Studio
Neighborhood: Silver Lake

3335 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Dave A. writes: If this is metrosexual than why do I feel so macho?

Major props to the ladies out there who do this regularly!  

As most of yous know there is a beach party coming up next week.  Well I ain't no Robin Williams but my ancestors were from a cold climate,…

Videotheque

1005 Mission St
# B
South Pasadena, CA 91030

Cristine O. writes: I heard about this place from my Film History professor and decided to check it out. The store is in a quaint little area... The last time I went, there was a handful of people sitting on the sidewalk painting some of the buildings. The time before…

Leonidas Belgian Chocolat
Neighborhood: Mid Wilshire

201 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Carrie R. writes: I have a confession.

A big one.

I went here purely to spite Diana H. lol  She mentioned a chocolatier on Larchmont and how she really wanted to try it but was afraid of chocolate meltage in the car so she refrained.

So, I, um...well...I had a couple of…

Pho-Siam
Neighborhood: Westlake, Silver Lake

1525 Pizarro St
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Sarah F. writes: Ok, it's all been said, but Pho Siam is a major find.

A few notes for the novice:

1. Don't be frightened by a foreign pubic hair on your pillow when you get there - remember, this muscle-pounding experience is only $40!

2. Don't get a room for 2 if…