Restaurants I Miss

I talk about food a lot, don't I? This is evidence to my psyche. You see what is important to me.

1. Toi Thai. As previously mentioned.

2. Le Saigon. The single most delicious Vietnamese restaurant in the world (though to be fair, I have not been to Vietnam). Two blocks from my old apartment. Their Bun Saigon Dac Biet Rice (you can say just give me the #8) which is vermicelli with charbroiled sliced pork (I get tofu), a Shrimp Skewer and Imperial Roll. Unreal. They knew me there. I would place my order and they would say, "It's you!" Nicest people ever. Sometimes I ate there for lunch and dinner in the same day and they would laugh about it. So healthy and light and delicious words don't do it justice.

3. The Coral Tree Cafe. Delicious Panini Caprese. I specialize in eating paninis and that one is the best I've ever had. (Factoid: this is the location of Dave's and my third first date. Yes, there were three.)

4. The Urth Cafe. Another amazing Panini Caprese. Different from the one above, and lovely in its own right. Also you will spot lots of famous people there.

5. Benito's. Delicious, greasy, flavorful, wonderful Mexican food, open 24 hours, and residing one block from my old apartment. Who orders a plain bean and cheese burrito at a Mexican place? I do, when it's Benito's. 100 times better than any other burrito I've ever had. Sometimes I would order extra cheese. And it was HUGE and, like, two bucks. They have green salsa and red. I recommend the green. Mmmmmm.

6. Father's Office. This is a bar. I never would go into a bar unless it was this one, because they serve one thing: the burger voted best burger in Los Angeles by all the newspapers and critics. But it's not even like a burger. I don't particularly care for burgers. But this thing (on special bread, not even a bun) is a combination of spicy arugula, sweetly caramelized onions, pungent bleu cheese, along with meat that is moist and cooked just right and a special sauce. The crowds are a nightmare. The space inside is nonexistent. But it's all worth it. This might be my single-most favorite food choice in the world.

7. El Torito Grill. This sounds very unfortunately similar to El Torito, a cheap Mexican chain that is the Denny's of Latin food. Praise be to the heavens, it is nothing like it. It's in Beverly Hills and is probably the only reasonably-priced restaurant in town. Hands-down best Chile Relleno in Southern California (and as this is the land of amazing Mexican food, therefore anywhere else.) As an unbelievably delectable aside, they serve fresh homemade tortillas with honey butter along with chips for your noshing pleasure before your meal even arrives. UNREAL. (Factoid: This was the location of our Rehearsal Dinner.)

8. Electric Lotus. Indian YUMMINESS. You can sit on pillows on the floor, and order off of a two-person menu with about 8 courses. Their spinach paneer. Heavenly. Their samosas- best of any I've ever had. Their raita. Their chicken tandoori and their lassi. Mind-blowing. I proclaimed this my favorite restaurant for years.

Now I am hungry and sad. FEED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!