FinerThingsLA's Blog

Happy Hour @ Xlixe

FinerThingsLA — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:34 +0000

Downtown is fast becoming the spot to grab a great slice of pizza (Pitfire, Garage, Purgatory, Pizzanista….)…or should we say a great Xlixe of pizza? Xlixe opened up late last summer near Little Tokyo, and since I just got filled in on their great happy hour deals, I won’t hold Xlixe’s creatively-hipster-spelled name against them. (By the way, it’s pronounced ‘slice’ if you couldn’t figure that one out.)

Happy hour at Xlixe runs from 4-7pm during the week and ALL DAY on the weekends. Everything on the happy our menu is $5 and under. Including booze. This happy hour couldn’t be any more wallet friendly if it tried. Here’s what you can expect when you stop in:

All pints: $4
Sangria: $5
Truffle Fries: $3.95
Garlic Knots: $1.50
Brazilian Cheesy Bread: $1.75
1/2 dozen hot wings: $4

And, of course, there’s pizza. Though oddly not included on the happy hour menu, pizza at Xlixe will only cost you $2.50 and up per slice or starting at $10 to build your own 12″ pizza (specialty pies start around $15). If you work in the area, they’ve also got a pretty tasty lunch special: $5.99 for 2 slices + a soda.

Xlixe. 432 E 2nd St. (213) 620.0513. http://xlixe.com/

SuperBowl 2012

FinerThingsLA — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:57:24 +0000

This year’s superbowl involves two teams that already went head to head a few years back. I couldn’t really care less who wins. I wish San Fran made it, but alas they didn’t. I really wish Seattle had made it, but well, despite a so so finish this year, Pete’s just not making it happen yet.

Last time the Pats and Giants matched up I watched the game, and paid full price for my booze and food, at BJs in Westwood. Rookie mistake. Sports bars tend to be packed and need to offer very little to get your business on Super Bowl sunday. The best deals are always at the less expected spots – and the deals are mighty fine.

Here are this year’s LA area Super Bowl Sunday parties that we think deserve some serious consideration:

Seoul Sausage Company at The Forge (Hipsterville): Can we say best deal ever? I think we can. The party starts at 2pm and will cost ya $20 to get in. And that twenty is well worth it. Tickets get you all you can eat seoul sausage and a custom nacho bar as well as an OPEN BAR from Ketel One and Deschutes Beer, free desserts from Snow Monkey, giveaways at half time and beer pong and football squares competitions to last you entertain you between commercial breaks. Tickets available online, and get em fast!

Splitz (Little Toyko & Eagle Rock): The game will be on at Splitz on 3 TVs + you can enjoy Happy hour and $4 pints all day long. AND their delicious mediterranean food. Yum.

The Downtown Independent (Downtown): Opening up at 3pm and screening the game live on their big-ass movie theater screen. There will also be stadium style food and drink specials of one variety or another.

Casey’s Irish Pub (Downtown): All day happy hour starting at 11:30am + the promise of having the games volume on loud and clear (so you can actually hear the play calls rather than pretend you know what all those referee arm motions mean..)

Nick & Stef’s (Downtown): $39 stuff-yourself-silly buffet of tasty tailgaiting treats. Menu includes steakhouse sliders, pizzas, hot wings and chili. And to wash it all down you can enjoy $15 pitchers and $5 wells. Party runs 2:30-8:30pm (that is six hours of all you can eat!)

RBar (KTown): Doors open at 2pm and food+drink specials will be offered alllllll dayyyyy.

Te’Kila (Hollywood): Lots and lots of deals this year at Te’Kila for Super Bowl Sunday. Lets start with the fact that there will be HAPPY HOUR from 4-8pm. Then add to that $15 pitchers, $3 domestic pints, and a $20 gameday special that includes 12 hotwings, 4 tacos, and a pitcher of beer.

FiveOFour (Hollywood): From 2-8pm this louisianna-lovin’ hollywood spot will be featuring a Shrimp and Crab Boil including Corn and Red Potatoes as well as $3 bud and bud light pints. And, every time your team scores, you’ll get a free shot (gonna have to pick a side in advance!)

Surly Goat (WeHo): Head over to this spot with one of the best beer selections IN THE NATION and enjoy a special $5 Superbowl Box (is this in reference to a cheap hooker? a box of food? A box of wine?) as well as some awesome prizes.

Isla Cantina (WeHo): Not sure what time this party is starting, but whenever it is, it will be offering up $3 draft beers, FREE fusion shots, two-for-one specialty cocktails, raffles and prize drawings. They are encouraging reservations, so if you have an inkling desire to go, make ressys just in case.

Taberna Mexicana (Bev Hills): Not only will this 90210 spot be offering happy hour drinks all afternoon (3pm – 10pm), but they will also be serving up a four-course buffet during the game for on $20. What is a four-course buffet? Basically four stages of stuff your face madness. Each course corresponds with each quarter in the game, with a guacamole and mushroom quesadillas in the 1st, salads+tostadas in the 2nd, build your own taco bar in the 3rd, and dessert buffet during the 4th. Plus some prizes, and of course the big show on a big TV.

Napa Valley Grille (Westwood): We know you aren’t willing to sacrifice your Sunday bottomless mimosas for a little football, and now you don’t have to. This superbowl NVG is offering a special small-plates brunch with $4 Bloody Marys, $4 Glasses of Sangria, and $12 BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS! This week’s small plates brunch will include a bunch of man-food, like wild boar ribs ($7), and chicken wings for just 50Cents! And if bottomless bubbly isnt your thing (and you’re effing nuts), you can always throw back some $2 PBRs.

Palomino (Westwood): Opening up early at 3pm and offering a menu of $5 “bowl bites” including Mini Kobe Corndogs, BBQ Chicken Sliders, and Pancetta Mac N Cheese. Plus some fun pre-game actives.

Rush Street (Culver City): We can always count on this raucous spot with killer food to have a great party for any and every holiday, especially super bowl Sunday. This year’s party includes the game broadcast on 14 TVs, $4 miller lights, specialty themed cocktails, and a “super bowl mega menu.” We hope that menu includes their jaw-droppingly-good turkey burger, because its amazing.

City Tavern (Culver City): In honor of this year’s big game, City Tavern is opening up an hour early (at 2:30pm to be precise) and offering happy hour ALL DAY long. There will also be $10 craft beer growlers as well as a menu of football-appropriate snacks like meatballs and spanish corizo pigs in a blanket (real meaty man food!)

Basement Tavern (Santa Monica): The SuperBowl party under the Victorian last ALL night this Sunday (2pm – 2am) and features an ALL day happy hour ($3 beers, $5 wells, $5 wines, + 1/2 off wine bottles). Plus, order two drinks (which we assume you will in the first 20 minutes of arriving), and you’ll get access to their tasty BBQ spread for free! Food will include hot dogs, burgers, and standard bbq fare.

Pourtal (Santa Monica): Happy hour pricing on beer + wine from 2-7pm + the game on four TVs.

The Federal Bar (NoHo): Doors open at noon and the party is going down upstairs. They have piqued our curiosity with mention of “amazing drink specials” and BBQ. Plus a nice big TV to watch the game and commercials.

Charlie’s (Redondo Beach): We found this one thanks to the lovely lady over at LAWonders. Spend $75 and drink to your liver’s content/demise, while also scarfing down as much food as you possibly can from their game day menu.

Mai Tai Bar (Long Beach): Starting at 11am head over to this LGB spot and enjoy shot specials and prizes. Book a party of 6 or more and you’ll get a free prize package from Jack Daniels and Ketel One. Buy a shot of Jack Daniel’s honey (what is that? it sounds delicious) and you will get a ticket to be entered into a raffle for some free shiz given away at the end of every quarter.

Chipotle (3rd Street Promenade and Brentwood locations): For those that want to party in the comfort of their own home (and enjoy the benefit of DVR), Chipotle is offering a deal at its 3rd street and brentwood locations for their boxes of burritos. Order a whole box of burritos in advance (you can download the order form online), and they will be HALF OFF on SuperBowl Sunday. Offer is available on boxes of 6 burritos or more.

We’ll add more to the list as we learn about ‘em…

Bottomless Mimosa Guide: La Poubelle

FinerThingsLA — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:01 +0000

image via LAist.com

The Spot: La Poubelle Bistro (Hollywood/Franklin Village)

Brunching hours: Saturdays & Sundays starting at 10:30am

Bottomless Deal: Bottomless mimosas, kir royale, or bellinis for $15 ($7 for one)

Menu highlights: Croissant French Toast with crushes walnuts and caramelized bananas, Breakfast Crepe with heirloom tomatoes, fresh ricotta, and applewood smoked bacon, Scramble Eggs with truffles.

La Poubelle. 5907 Franklin Ave. (323) 465.0807 . http://www.lapoubellebistro.com/

Pinot Days Grand Festival Tasting

FinerThingsLA — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:00:22 +0000

It seems like ever since that movie Sideways came out, Pinot Noir has been having its moment. Yes, that movie did come out years ago (2004, to be exact), but let’s just call it a very looooong moment. If you, like Miles, are a fan of Pinot, have we got the event for you.

This Saturday, head to the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica for an entire afternoon filled with Pinot for the 3rd Annual Pinot Days Grand Festival Tasting. The tasting is open to the public from 1:00-5:00pm and tickets are $60 a pop. You may think that’s a little steep for a wine tasting, but it’s FOUR hours of wine, plus you’ll have access to taste over 300 Pinots from over 80 different Pinot Noir producers. We dare you to even make it through 100 of those wines.

There are a few other events around town to celebrate Pinot Days including a mini-tasting featuring the Pinot Noirs of the Santa Rita Valley held at Hotel Angeleno tonight ($35pp), and a Grilled Cheese/Pinot pairing at The Wine House ($35pp), also tonight.

Our tips for Saturday: (1) don’t be lazy and buy your tickets now, (2) don’t wear white.

For more event info and to purchase tickets to any of the Pinot Days events, click here.

Happy Hour at House Cafe

FinerThingsLA — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:20:01 +0000

While we tend to poo-poo happy hours that end at 6pm, we will give special credit to this one because its in our ‘hood and on our routes home from work. Which makes it the perfect place to stop in for a quicky glass of wine while we stall and avoid battling the back up of traffic that accumulates around Beverly/Crescent Heights every night)

House Cafe's Self Proclaimed 'Best French Onion Soup in LA'... and only $6 during HH!

House Cafe Happy Hour:

Mon – Fri, 4pm – 6pm

Deals include $6 plates made with some pretty tasty (and typically pricey) ingredients: like a burrata caprese salad, steak tartare, and sausage with polenta. The dishes highest on our radar? French onion soup (yum!), mac ‘n cheese (we must try it everywhere its on the menu), and tacos.

And to wash it all down you can enjoy any number of $5 glasses of wine, prosecco, or draft beer.

Other fun deals on the menu at House include a $68 3-course prix fixe dinner for two that includes soup or salad, your choice of cote de beuf or salmon, and dessert. And its conveniently available every night.

Now if only we could convince them to stretch those hours of happiness til 7pm…

House Cafe / 8114 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles / http://www.housecafe.com/

Matanzas Creek Dinner @ Bottle Rock

FinerThingsLA — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Yes, we know, it’s DineLA Restaurant Week. What we love about restaurant week: getting to try out new spots while filling up on multiple courses. What we really don’t love about restaurant week? That booze is not included in the price tag so we end up spending what we would regularly spend if not more at most participating restaurants (because yes, we can’t truly enjoy a meal without booze). Ya feel us? So here are our alternate plans for tonight: a 5 wine, 4-course dinner at Bottle Rock in Downtown.

Featuring wine from Matanzas Creek Winery from Santa Rosa/Sonoma, tonight’s dinner seatings run from 7-8:30pm. The entire meal with wine pairings will run just $55/person. For 5 wines and 4 (technically 6 if you count antipasto and dessert!) plates, that is not too shabby at all. You will definitely leave drunk+fat.

Here’s the menu:

Start off with a glass of the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, served with cheese, fruit and caviar (ooh la la)
1st course: 2008 Chardonnay, served with Sea Scallops on a bed of wilted spinach with pear, apple, walnuts and bacon
2nd course: 2008 Pinot Noir, served with Fig and Radicchio Salad tossed with arugula, colored beets, tomatoes, and kalamata olives with a black cherry-pinot noir vinaigrette
3rd course: 2006 Merlot, served with Roasted Duck with an apple and pear chutney over bright char and a Bennett Valley Bordeaux currant reduction
4th course: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, served with North County Tri-Tip, slow roasted medium rare in a Knight Valley anise au jus with a baby baked potato and roasted organic vegetables
Plus finish off with a medley of sorbet with organic berries

Remember, the dinner is tonight. So, call. Now.

Bottle Rock LA. 1050 S. Flower # 167. (213) 747.1100. http://www.bottlerockla.com/

$12.99 Dinners at TART

FinerThingsLA — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:30:10 +0000

The other night, over a lovely $6 happy hour priced glass of Pinot Noir at TART, we spent some time perusing their new menu.

It is amazing.

Yes, the food all looks great, but what really makes it fantastic is the fact that, starting at 4pm, every single meal at TART is $12.99. Yup, everything. And it includes not just your entree, but choice of three sides AND dessert. How they are making a single penny on this deal, we will never know (so when you go be sure to drink up and tip well to help your waiters/waitresses actually collect a pay check!)

Proof we are not lying.

Entrees for this lovely deal include: baked meatloaf, grilled pork chop, fried catfish, steak, salmon, chicken breast, baked tempeh, and a seitan loaf (what the heck is that?)

And as far as sides are concerned, they all sound finger lickin’ good. And did we mention you get to select THREE? Options include mac n’ cheese, fries, green beans, fried okra, collard greens, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, creamed corn and all sorts of other bbq and southern style sides. (For the full menu click here.)

And then there is dessert: your choice of twinkie, ding-dong, or moon pie.

This is basically the meal I dreamed of every day as a child. Though my Mac N Cheese would have been doused in catchup, as would my chicken… it was a phase…

Oh and did we mention the super duper good corn bread that TART serves to every patron? There are two types, a more standard super soft and crumbly corn bread, and a cheezier spicier one that is AWESOME. Its delicious. It was free. And we wolfed it down in seconds – the perfect complement to our glass(es) of Pinor Noir.

Tart Restaurant / 115 S. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles/ 323-932-1608 / www.tartrestaurant.com

Bottomless Mimosa Guide: Onyx Lounge

FinerThingsLA — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:00:36 +0000

Wow, we are now going into our third year of highlighting bottomless mimosa brunches around town. Who would have known we would be able to come up with so many options? Since mostly all our bottomless posts include the same information with a shpeal about our affinity for champagne, we’re going to change it up this year and just cut straight to the chase each week. Sound good to you?

So here we go with this week’s brunching destination…

The Spot: Onyx Lounge (Downtown LA)

Brunching hours: Every Sunday, 10am-3pm

Bottomless Deal: Bottomless mimosas for just $10 with your meal

Menu highlights: Mohawk Matt Omlette (with grilled rib-eye, peppers, japapenos, onions and cilantro), The Upstream (poached eggs, smoked salmon, caviar and hollandaise on an english muffin), Belgium Waffle (with candies pecans, vanilla bean cream and bananas), Spicy Garlic Fries

Onyx Lounge. 118 West 5th St. (213) 891.1144. http://onyxloungela.com/

Whole Hog Dinner @ Wood & Vine

FinerThingsLA — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:30:08 +0000

We were going to wait until next week to write this up, but seeing as spots are filling up quickly, we thought we’d give you a little advance notice. Even though we know you guys are all die-hard procrastinators, we suggest acting on this fast, like….now.

Have you ever wanted to eat a meal where every course is filled with pig? Yes? Then you’re in luck. Next Wednesday, January 25, at 8:30pm, Wood & Vine in collaboration with the snazziest butcher shop around – Lindy & Grundy -is hosting a Whole Hog Dinner. 4 courses of p-i-g.

The dinner will run $50 a person, with all courses being served family style. There are optional drink pairings with each course and for just $15, you can sample a flight of each paired cocktail with your meal.

Here’s a look at the menu:

Bits ‘N Pieces: Chef’s choice charcuterie, house-made mustard, pickled vegetables
A Head Starter: Pork cheek ravioli, braised beet greens, pork & foie gras broth
Main Course: Slow-roasted pork shoulder, parsnip puree, roasted fennel, pan gravy
Porcine Delight: Bourbon ice cream, chocolate-covered house-smoked bacon

We will never tire of chocolate-covered bacon.

Spots are limited, so call now or check on Open Table to make your reservations!

Wood & Vine. 6280 Hollywood Blvd. (323) 334.3360. http://www.woodandvine.com/

$1 Ice Cream @ Scoops Westside

FinerThingsLA — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:30:23 +0000

Ice cream lands a spot in my top 5 list of things I love to consume. If ice cream could get you drunk, it would probably take the #1 spot. Seriously. Can someone work on that? There are a ton of crafty, unique ice cream spots around LA, beloved by hipsters and us regular folk alike. Perhaps one of the most beloved of these is Scoops, which just last year opened up their location on the Westside.

To celebrate their 1 year anniversary, Scoops Westside is serving up ice cream for just $1 a scoop today. One dollar. All day long. Get there early so you can make sure to grab a scoop, today’s flavors haven’t been posted yet but we’ll update as soon as we get word. We’re hoping for red velvet and some goat cheese lavendar. Mmmmm.

For info on flavors check Scoops Westside twitter: @ScoopsWestside

Scoops Westside. 3400 Overland Ave. (323) 405.7055. http://www.scoopswestside.com/