Sunday Dish

The 411 on Valley Fro-Yo

If you've lived in Southern California anytime in the 80's, chances are, you tried a dish of  Penguin's Frozen Yogurt.  This chain was the king of yogurt during that decade.  There seemed to, literally, be one on every corner. 

What you may not have known, (I didn't) was that Dannon actually created the first frozen yogurt back in the 70's.  It was frozen yogurt on a stick, called "Danny".  To bad for Dannon, the idea of frozen yogurt as a dessert, didn't take off until years later.  After the rise of the ubiquitous frozen yogurt shop, there was a period in the late nineties and into the new millennium, where the desserts' popularity took a real nose dive.  Then, in 2005, along  came a little thing called Pinkberry...(is this where the Heavens part and the angels sing?  For some, I suppose this is true.)  It was a simple concept that really took off.   Fast forward to 3 years later and there seems to be, once again, a yogurt shop on every corner. 

But what sets these yogurt shops apart?  Does Pinkberry still reign supreme?  Of course, as with all food,  is there really such a thing as an objective opinion?  That's a debate for another day.  In the mean time I set out to check out some of the Valley yogurt shops and get the "scoop" on "fro-yo."

You really can't do a frozen yogurt review without including Pinkberry, the chain that got this craze going again. 

Their shops definitely get top marks for first impressions.  From the large yellow banquet, to the colorful chairs and outside tables with adjustable heights, this chain hits the mark on design.  As for the yogurt, they offer three flavors, the original plain, coffee and green tea. 

The original flavor, I have to admit, is really delicious, but between you and me, PureNaked in Encino, tops it in my opinion (more on them in a moment.) The coffee flavor is also quite tart, and yummy as well.  Then there's the green tee.  Let's just say, for me, it's an acquired taste.  They have a nice selection of toppings and their fresh fruit choices were top shelf.

Find the Pinkberry nearest you...

Then there is PureNaked Yogurt,  which opened up about a year ago. 

The original name of the shop was to be BareNaked, and you know, maybe they should have stuck with that name since it seems to really fit the bill.  The space itself has a very bare feel, as though no thought was put into the decor.  And then there are the yogurt choices, no wait, the yogurt choice, there is only one, plain, a la Pinkberry.  The good news?  The yogurt was delicious. 

It was tart, refreshing with bright tangy flavors. 

17499 Ventura Blvd.  Encino, 91316.  818-461-0346.

Yum Yum Yogurt has a very different feel then some of the newer yogurt shops.

I was reminded of a mom and pop burger shack, complete with wood paneled walls.  Along with eight different yogurt offerings, including the ubiquitous plain, they also had about 20 different kinds of toppings.

If yogurt doesn't strike your fancy, they also have a full menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers and dogs.  I found the yogurt to be quite good.

16545 Ventura Blvd.  Encino, 91316.  818-783-5931

When you enter Hollyberry (Formerly Snowberry) it's like walking into a little jewel box.

Peach and green walls, blown glass light fixtures and chrome chairs give it a "ladies who lunch" kind of sensibility.  Their menu consists of four regular flavors: plain, peach, vanilla and pomegranate, along with a small selection of gelatoes.  The plain yogurt was very good, but oddly, the peach tasted almost exactly like the plain.  Oh yeah, and toppings, here you get about 20 to choose from.

14425 Ventura Blvd.  Sherman Oaks, 91423.  818-817-2350

I felt like I stepped into a full fledged ice cream shop upon entering Humphrey's. 

My first impression was how friendly the service was.  It's the kind of place you'd take your kids on a hot summer day.  Along with ice cream, frozen dipped bananas, a full sandwich and salad menu, they carry three frozen yogurt flavors:  tart vanilla, sweet vanilla and chocolate.  I tried a combo of the vanillas and couldn't really tell the difference between the two.  While the yogurt was okay, it was certainly not stellar.  They get huge points for their toppings which include real chocolate chip cookie dough bits.
4574 Van Nuys Blvd.  Sherman Oaks, 91403.  818-906-2490.

Limelite felt a bit different the the other shops. 

There was house music playing, a big graphic print on the main wall, colorful resin chairs and a large green leather couch to kick back on.  The yogurt, on the other hand, was pretty standard.  Three choices:  plain, mango and chocolate along with a selection of about 30 toppings.
15030 Ventura Blvd.  Sherman Oaks 91403.  818-728-8358

If you feel like you've stepped back into the 80's, you might be at Studio Yogurt. 

Of all the shops I visited, this one felt the most like an old Penguins.  Not so much in the decor but in the yogurt flavors and topping choices.  On the day I visited there wasn't a plain/tart yogurt in sight.  Instead there was a selection of 10 flavors including Irish Cream, Cake Batter and Cheesecake.  There are fat free/sugar free option, and for those less calorie conscious, there's ice cream too. 
12050 Ventura Blvd.  Studio City, 91604.  818-508-7811

Menchies sets itself apart by being 100% self service, which is just fun, I don't care if you are seven or 70. 

There are four machines, each with two flavor choices.  And you get the option to swirl the two flavors together, fancy!  There are more than 40 toppings and for $1 they'll hook you up with a waffle cone bowl.  Since it's self service, they charge you by the ounce, 39 cents to be exact, including toppings.

I thought the topping quality was a bit better than the yogurt, but at the end of the day the yogurt and the experience were both pretty darn good.

4849 Laurel Cyn. Blvd.  Valley Village, 91607.  818-985-9150

If you are a "fro-yo" aficionado, and you know who you are, then you'll find that perfect spot and stand by it 'till the end.  But for the rest of us who just want a cool spot to sit and enjoy a frozen yogurt on a hot summer day, we've got it made.  With a shop on every corner you are sure to find one serving up something that will satisfy your yogurt craving.

Jingo - Japanese BBQ in Encino

My review of Jingo was originally printed in the Sun Community Newspapers. 
It is reprinted here with their permission.

It was Saturday night, a few weeks back, around 9:30, when I first visited Jingo to try their Japanese BBQ.  I'll be blunt, my initial impression was mixed, at best.

Jingo is the new incarnation of Gochi, and my first thought was that the latest proprietors have taken the decor from "Mom and Pop" to casual and cool.   The black and red color scheme and sleek bar up front, combined with the house music playing and wall of windows that look out onto a Zen inspired patio, all say that this place has definitely been given a hip makeover.

My next thought was, "where's the host?"  There was no one to greet us as we entered, not a host, a waiter, or bartender was in sight.  It was awkward to venture toward the back of the restaurant in hopes of finding someone to seat us.  At the very back, sat the hostess stand, helmed by a nice, if rather blase guy, who then, finally, did find us a table.  There is also a back entrance, perhaps they assume most will enter from there.  Either way, it's something I feel, should be addressed.

My third and final initial impression was to notice that, although there were only about four tables full , there were about six tables sitting with dirty dishes on them.

Let's just say we got off to a rocky start.  If my curiosity about the food hadn't gotten the better of me, I may have walked out.  Luckily, things improved from there.

Our waiter greeted us with menus and took our drink order immediately. I asked him if we'd just missed a dinner rush, in hopes of explaining the dirty tables, but he just shrugged and said "I guess so."  So much for that.    To their credit, the tables were all bussed within the next  5 to 10 minutes.

The set up at Jingo is like most Japanese or Korean BBQ places.  A large circular grill is built into the center of the table with wooden charcoals underneath.  You order bite size pieces of uncooked meat, fish and vegetables and then grill them yourself table-side.

After our drinks arrived, a Sake and Aloe Martini for me, which was surprisingly fresh and sweet, we ordered our appetizers.   We tried the Seaweed Salad and the Asparagus with Sesame Sauce. 

The salad was pretty and vibrant.  The seaweed was served on a bed of mixed greens and dressed with a light ponzu sauce.  The flavors were tasty blend of citrus and garlic and my only complaint was that the portion could have been bigger, I wanted more!  I guess that's a good thing. 

The asparagus was cooked perfectly, but I'm not sure where the sesame in the sauce came in.  It was loaded with mayonnaise.  The flavor was bland and the consistency heavy in comparison to the crisp vegetables.  We ate all of the asparagus, but left the sauce alone.

The waiter brought things out quickly and efficiently, but never overloaded the table.  The service definitely warmed up as the evening went along.

Next, he brought out some items for us to grill, the Assorted Vegetables and the Harami - or skirt steak. 

The vegetables consisted of carrots, corn, mushrooms, onion and squash.  They were fresh, but again, I felt the portion was a bit on the skimpy side.  Also, they offer only one dipping sauce, as compared to three when the place still called itself Gochi.  I think they'd score some huge points by offering more choices.

The meat was tender and well seasoned.  We ordered it "Tare" or BBQ style, but you can also opt for it marinated in Miso.  I thought it was delicious, while Todd thought it was overly sweet.

From there we tried the shrimp.  It came dressed with lots of minced garlic, pepper and olive oil.  The shrimp and the dressing were all very fresh.  But I'm going to say it once more...more dipping sauces would be a plus.

We also tried out the Kalbi - or short ribs.  This time we went for it Miso style.  It was underwhelming.  The meat was flavorful and very tender but I am still not sure what, if anything, the Miso marinade added to it.

Let's break it down...there are some really nice elements to Jingo.  The vibe and decor are great and the service is laid back but still efficient.  The food tastes good, but you are going to spend a pretty penny or two to leave feeling full.  If folks in the Valley are looking for a hip looking place to grab a drink and a small bite (and I know they are) then Jingo is definitely worth giving a try.

I plan on going back on a warm summer night just for a chance to sit out on their gorgeous patio.

Jingo:
17970 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316
818.774.9621

Salsa Y Beer - Do you wanna make the drive to Lake Balboa? You Should.

My review of Salsa Y Beer was originally printed in the Sun Community Newspapers on 5/3/2008, and is reprinted here with permission.

Before I tell you about Salsa Y Beer, a small Mexican eatery near Encino, you have to ask yourself one question.  What are you looking for when it comes to a Mexican restaurant?
Are you looking for a decent if uninspiring 3 item combo that you can get at one of any hundreds of places in the Valley?
Are you looking for a cool, hip vibe, a place with a long sleek bar that you can sidle up to and order form a list of tequila's a mile long?
Or maybe you're looking for a happening scene, a place where pretty people gather 3 deep at the bar, drinking watered down margaritas?  If you are, let me know, because I can think of places that will fit the bill just fine.

But if you are looking for authentic, unpretentious, delicious Mexican food, that will often surprise you, then look no further then Salsa Y Beer.

The space is small, and decorated with large, brightly colored murals of suns, moons an rustic scenery.  We were greeted warmly but then had to wait for a table.  If you go on the weekends, expect a wait because this place is almost always packed.

After sitting down we were served fresh, warm tortilla chips along with a spicy bean dip.

If salsa is a bit more to your liking, check out their  small salsa bar.  Their offerings range from your standard salsa fresca, to an unusual spicy orange salsa with coffee and chocolate notes, much like a mole.  Or they have a spicy green, creamy avocado salsa that has terrific pepita and cilantro flavors.

Our drink order was taken pretty quickly and I should tell you that they serve only beer and wine, so if you are looking for tequila, you won't find it here, although they do offer wine based margaritas and sangria.  Our drinks came quickly but then our server dashed off to take care of another table.  We noticed that the service was a little slow, but what the waitresses lacked in speed, they made up for with great attitudes.

While we noshed on chips and sipped our beers we check ed out the menu which serves food from the Jerez, Zacatecez region in Central Mexico.  There are your traditional menu items and others that sounded a bit more unusual, like the Carnes con Salsa de Molcajetes.   Vegetables, rice, beans and potatoes are served with your choice of meat and topped with Molcajetes sauce.  A molcajetes is a stone mortar and pestle used to crush the fiery red peppers that are the base of the sauce.
This dish is not for the faint of heart.  The flavors were delicious, the adovada, or cubed pork meat was beyond tender, but the heat of the dish was intense.
Another word of warning:  don't overindulge on chips and salsa at this place because the servings are huge.

The carnitas, grilled pork, was also pretty damn good.

It was steaming hot and practically falling off the plate.  The meat was incredibly moist, rich and flavorful, with that perfect caramelized crisp on the outside.

We also ordered the Steak Torta.  The portion was easily enough for two.  The crusty white bread was toasted to a golden brown and the cream sauce dripping off the sides was so good that finger licking was definitely in order.

Spicy Green Enchiladas also did not disappoint, in heat or in taste.  The all white meat chicken wasn't dried out as is so often the case.  The green sauce was creamy, sour cream based, not tomatillo as I had expected. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was.

The Fajitas Tostada came with shredded carne asada, some of the best I have ever had, along with freshly grilled onions, peppers and zucchini.

We also tried the Tortilla soup.  For the price, $3.99, the portion was more than generous.  The chicken was, again, all white meat, the veggies just tender enough without being mushy and the broth had a nice kick to it without being too spicy.

Like I said, Salsa Y Beer might not be the right call for a first date, a romantic evening or a night on the town, but it's certainly a good choice for a family dinner or a casual evening out.  It's for sure a great choice anytime if you are looking for delicious, quality food, friendly service and a reasonable price. 

But before you tell your friends about Salsa Y Beer, make sure you ask them that one question:  "What are you looking for in a Mexican Restaurant?"

Salsa Y Beer

6740 White Oak Ave.
Lake Balboa, CA 91406
         818.609.8877      
Hours:  Sun-Thurs:  11 am - 9 pm
Fri - Sat:  11 am - 10 pm      

The Stand - Encino

When it comes to hot dogs, the debate over who makes the best one in Los Angeles can get people pretty hot under the collar. 
You've got Pinks, Cupids, QT Chicago Dogs and Carney's.  There are even those that will vouch for the tried and true Wienerschnitzel or Tommy's. 

But there is one place that has something going for it that these other dog joints don't - ambiance.

That right.  The Stand in Encino not only serves up a mean dog, among other menu items, but it's also bright and clean and cheerful.  They even have a lovely outdoor seating area surrounded by a small stand of pepper trees.

I've lived in the Valley for almost 30 years but only found The Stand about 3 years ago.   It's a great little neighborhood place - perfect for a family dinner or even a casual date.  Hey - on Thursdays and Sundays they even have live Jazz music outside.

We went there this weekend to enjoy a leisurely nosh and a beer.

The menu has a big selection of hot dog and burger choices along with salads and sandwiches.  If you're thirsty for something other then a soda they also offer beer and wine - burgers and dogs are comin' up in style baby!

On this particular day I went for the loaded Stand Dog with kraut, grilled onions and cheese.

The grilled onions were great, nice and buttery tasting, but the kraut was almost non existent I'm sad to say.  Also, I do wish they would pony up for some heartier buns.  These are your classic whiteys and if  you ask, they will grill it for you. A much better choice if sogginess is an issue.   
You can also see that the dogs come with chips rather then fries.  They're tasty chips - but for my money - fries and a dog are kind of like Forest and Jenny (you know peas and carrots, they just go together!)

Like I said they also have a small selection of salads - and we decided to try out the Mediterranean.

Good leafy greens, not skimpy on the feta and the garbanzos are a nice touch.  Pretty straightforward for a Greek salad.  Be warned though - definitely go for the vinaigrette on the side - it is SUPER SALTY.  Whoa! I mean the feta and the olives are salty enough as it is, in my opinion some simple oil and vinegar would be a better option.

Other times we've visited we've had the Bleu Cheese Burger which was fantastic and the Beef Brisket which had a nice little spicy kick to it.

On Mondays they have $1 Dog Night - so during football season you can watch Monday night football and have some cheap eats.

Does The Stand serve up the best dog in Los Angeles?  I'm not even gonna get involved in that debate!  But they do serve a very tasty one and their other menu choices have been solid as well.   But like I said before I'd give up finding "the best"  and settle for enjoying a good meal and a cold beer on a warm summer evening outside in their picturesque dining area.

Oh, and for those of you "over the hill"  they now have locations in Westwood and Century City.

Wanna find out where The Stand is? Click here. 

Le Petit Restaurant - Oooh La La!

Le Petit Restaurant Serves up a Little Taste of Paris
By Erinn Eichinger
Reprinted with Permission from Sun Community Newspapers

Photo:  www.lepetitrestaurant.net

There's nothing better then walking through the doors of a restaurant and being transported, the mood and the aromas hit you and for a moment you are embraced by the ambiance of another place.

In the case of Le Petit Restaurant in Sherman Oaks, that place is Paris.  From the white banquettes lining the walls and the colorful art, to the waiters dressed in long black aprons, this place screams Left Bank bistro.

Each time I've gone we were greeted by the same maitre d'.  He is a busy guy, but alway warm.  You will immediately get the sense that he is the one at the helm of this bustling cafe.

The menu is straightforward French Bistro fare mixed in with an interesting smattering of Mediterranean influences.  The wine list is small, featuring French and Domestic wines by the glass and bottle.

On each visit our waiters, who were French - oh la la - approached the table almost immediately. Our wine and appetizer orders were promptly taken and we were then left to look over the menu and sample the bread and the three accompanying dips.

The first appetizer we tried was the Baked Brie en Croute.

This generous portion is not for the wimpy of appetite.  The shell was flaky and the tangy champagne sauce was a nice contrast to the rich, mellow flavor of the Brie.

The Black Mussels Poulette was another success.  The mussels were firm yet tender and not at all chewy.  But the sauce - mmm mmm  mmm.  It was rich and creamy with white wine and shallots.  It was so good we wouldn't let our waiter clear the plate until every last drop had been sopped up with bread.

The Goat Cheese and Crostini salad was nothing to sneeze at either.  The vinaigrette was light and the dried pears added a nice chewy texture.  The breaded and fried goat cheese was crisp on the outside and velvety and molten hot on the inside.  There was a lot of depth of flavor for such a simple salad.

On more then one visit we ordered the Baked Lamb Shank.  I'm a big fan of lamb - it's the Greek in me I guess.   The first time it was so good we ate every bite - quite a feat considering the size of our appetizers.  The meat was falling off the bone and the sauce was complex and velvety.  It was served with couscous and carrots - a bit of that Mediterranean influence I mentioned earlier.   Sadly, the second time we ordered it, we sent it back.  The lamb was bland and dry and the sauce tasted like it had been slapped together with canned beef broth.

We also ordered one of the specials - the French classic - Coq Au Vin.
The waiter warned us that me might not recognize their version, which he said was very traditional.  Whatever the version was it was delicious.  There was a stew like feel to it with the chicken falling off the bones into the fluffy mashed potatoes.  The mushrooms and pearl onions had the perfect firmness.  To go with our Coq Au Vin we had the standard bistro choice of Pomme Frites, which were cooked to a sinfully salty perfection.

At this point on both visits our meal should have been over - we were so pleasantly stuffed.   But you only live once, right?  So with that we ordered the Raspberry Creme Brule and Espresso. 

The espresso was well made but the Creme Brule didn't impress me very much.  As I broke through that crunchy brown sugary topping I had high hopes.  It's too bad the center was cold and that there weren't as many berries as I'd hoped.

At the end of the night, Le Petite Restaurant is warm and inviting.  The service is quite Parisian in it's brusque efficiency and the food is solid with a miss here and there.   If you are looking for a little bit of "Je ne sai quoi"  here in the Valley, give it a try.

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Le Petit Restaurant 13360 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA  Phone:          818.501.7999      

A Little Slice of Sushi Heaven

4 on 6 - A Fresh Sushi Find

By Erinn Eichinger

Reprinted with permission from Sun Community Newspapers - 2008

The San Fernando Valley is a hot spot for top notch sushi restaurants - you don’t have to drive more than a mile down Ventura Blvd.to find one. 

But isn't it my mission to find places that are amazing YET undiscovered.  Oh yes it is.

Enter 4 on 6. 

One of the first things you'll notice is that it doesn’t look like your average sushi joint.  The space has a modern meets Zen vibe with a beautiful, rough hewn, wooden sushi bar.  There is also jazz streaming out of the speakers.  Music in a sushi bar?  Jazz in a sushi bar?

If you do go you'll get a really warm welcome.  If you go more then twice they'll greet you by name - how often does that happen in L.A? .

After placing our drink orders – Japanese beer and a surprisingly yummy unfiltered sake in a very girly pink bottle – we checked out the specials.   We then asked our sushi chef Saito what he would recommend.  Without a word he pointed to the specials board he said anything on that list would be terrific.  Who are we do disagree?

FYI there are no prices on the specials menu so if budget is an issue, make sure to ask. But then again, if budget is an issue - you might not be eating sushi very often.

We started off with Spanish Mackerel sushi.  Amazing.  A touch of garlic was the only garnish and it was so good with a velvety texture.

Next?  Sea Bass sushi. 

This came with a spot of chili and lemon along with a sprinkling of sea salt.  As he set the plate down Saito said, rather gruffly , “no soy sauce!”  Okay.  Again, who am I to argue? I love a man who takes charge.  Besides, he was totally right, the flavor was light, the texture delicate and soy sauce would have just taken away from the blend of flavors. At that point we went for Hamachi – or Yellow tail - sashimi. 

The portion was generous and this time, since Saito didn't say anything, we tried a little soy sauce.  The Hamachi’s buttery flavor was to die for.

The vibe is really laid back and we never felt rushed.  We sipped our beer, the creamy sake, and just people watched. 

Surprise, surprise with in minutes we were hungry for more so we got a Spicy Scallop Hand Roll, not on the specials menu.  Unfortunately,  this was the low point in an otherwise stellar experience.

The spicy roll was not spicy and there was way too much rice and seaweed paper that overpowered the fish.  In his defense I will say that Saito himself does not make the rolls – he leaves that task to one of the other chefs working the sushi bar.

Hoping to get back on a roll (ha, ha, no pun intended) we went back to the specials menu …this time taking a chance on the Toro – or Fatty Tuna.  It was seared with a kitchen torch and served with a ponzu sauce.  Score one for Saito!  This was so mouth-watering we ordered another round.   

We finished up with some fresh water eel flown in from Japan.  It had a melt in your mouth quality that again need no assistance from soy sauce or wasabi.  In fact, I touched my soy sauce only once the entire meal, that pretty much says it all.

The bill came to about 125.00 for two, with drinks.   A bit pricey?  It depends on your point of view.  For us it's a no brainer.  Incredibly fresh fish, good variety, and Saito.  He's not exactly a Sushi Nazi but it's clear he is really passionate about what he does.  Good enough for me.

It's All Greek To Me!

The Great Greek Revisited

By Erinn Eichinger

Reprinted with permission from Sun Community Newspapers

If you have lived in the Valley for any length of time, you are sure to have heard of The Great Greek.  Opened in 1984 it's a special occasion staple.  So why review a restaurant that's been open for more then 20 years?    Sometimes a place becomes so much a part of the scenery it can fade into the background and with a spot with as much joie de vivre as this eatery, that would be a shame.

Restaurants with staying power often changes chefs and management over the years.  This means the quality of the food can ebb and flow.  So when I went to check out The Great Greek not too long ago, I wondered what would land on my plate. 

We were greeted and led to our table by the very "crusty" but very efficient gentleman working the door.  After checking out the wine list - with it's extensive selection of Greek wines, we ordered a bottle of Moschofilero.  At $23, the dry white wine was a great deal compared to some of the less exciting domestic wines on the list.

Next we ordered appetizers, starting off with the Saganaki.

 
This is a fun dish.  Kasseri cheese (a sharp Greek cheese made from Sheep or Goats milk) is dusted with flour, fried in butter and olive oil and then sprinkled with lemon juice.  The best part is when the waiter flambes it with cognac table side.  As the flames shoot up there were oohs and ahs from everyone - kids and adults alike. 

The cheese had a nice brown crisp on the outside and was molten and gooey on the inside.  The rich tangy flavor was decadent.

We also tried the Dolmathes - grape leaves stuffed with a meat and rice mixture. 

A lot of people may have had these before served cold.  These are served warm, with a tangy Avgolemeno (egg and lemon) sauce.   There were a few in our group who were a bit put off by the appearance at first, but one bite put their minds at ease.  The sauce was smooth and creamy with just the right bit of tang from the lemons.

I found the Spanikopita - spinach, cheese and filo pie, to be a bit soggy for my taste.  The spinach mixture was a bit watered down in my opinion as well.  But I should tell you that my dinner mates cleaned the plate.

With the appetizers cleared away we ordered a large Village Salad.

This is your typical Greek salad with greens, feta, kalamata olives and other veggies.  It was presented beautifully and all the ingredients were very fresh.  The simple light flavors were a good balance to the heavier dishes we had just finished.

While we waited for our main course to arrive, we sat back and enjoyed the live Greek music.  I have to admit, it was hard not to clap along and laugh as the waiters took a break from serving to dance for the diners and then pull them to their feet for a Greek version of a line dance around the restaurant.  A majority of the tables seemed to be celebrating a special occasion and the vibe is definitely that of a party atmosphere.

In my opinion the best way to enjoy eating here is to do it family style.  We ordered a few main courses and then shared amongst the table.

The highlight was the Lamb Shank braised with tomato and red wine sauce.  Anyone who has ever eaten lamb knows it has a very distinct flavor and when it's not cooked properly it can be really gamey.  Not this version.  The meat was so tender it fell off the bone and then sauce had enough oomph to stand up to the strong flavor of the lamb.

Pastitsio, which is kind of like Greek lasagna, was also really flavorful.  Noodles are layered with meat sauce, bechemel sauce, cheese and then baked.  The nutmeg in the meat sauce gave it rich heady flavor.  Also, this dish is easily dried out but this version was nice and moist.

Our final entree was Chicken Athenian.  I liked the way this dish was described on the menu unfortunately the execution didn't live up to the hype.   Chicken breasts were stuffed with spinach and feta cheese.  The spinach mixture was too salty and the chicken breast a bit dried out.  But, honestly at this point we were so stuffed with things that did taste delicious, it hardly mattered.

We finished up with a little Ouzo for the table. 

Ouzo is an anise flavored liquor mush like French pastis or Italian Sambuca.   Some think it's an acquired taste but everyone in our party seemed to like it just fine.

Along with that we ordered a round of Greek coffee. 

This little shot of caffeine is thick and delicious - just be careful when you get to the bottom.  The dregs of the coffee settle and you definitely don't want to slurp those down - yuck.

At this point in the evening we'd had our fill of good food, friendly service and live music.  It felt a little bit like we'd been invited to a friends house for a big family get together.

If what you are looking for is a romantic evening where you can whisper to your date in a quiet corner then The Great Greek might not be for you.  But if you are looking for hearty, tasty food and a celebratory atmosphere, then check it out whether it's your first time or your tenth.

Roys, Woodland Hills - Hungry & On The Prowel @ 10pm

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Woodland Hills 6363 Topanga Canyon Blvd Woodland Hills, CA 91367 8/3/2007 Friday night 10pm.

Now I’m not normally a “chain restaurant” kind of gal and neither is my man (meaning he's not into chains nor is he a gal.) But sadly at 10:30 on a Friday night – your options can be a little limited here in the ol’ Valley. I hope that will one day change! It seems that some of the best options at this time of the evening are your PF Changs, your Roy’s, your Flemmings, your Cheesecake Factories – in other words your CHAINS.

I will say this – the ambience at Roy’s isn’t bad. Large space – nicely lit. They have an area where you can sit at a bar and watch the chefs in the open kitchen – kinda fun- but we were feeling a little more “romantical” so we got a booth. For a chain (and I swear I’m not being snobby) it had a good vibe. The service was really professional, very attentive. Our normal tactic is to order several things – 1 entrée, 1 salad, a couple of appetizers etc. to get the chance to taste the most things.

With that in mind I ordered the Island Ahi Poke.

Poke is a Hawaiian word that means cut up into small pieces. Raw tuna diced with avocado and bean sprouts and served “stacked” along with 2 crispy wontons on the side. Pretty tasty, lots of garlic (like - I still taste it this morning – not pretty). It was a little on the salty side as well – take note – I’m foreshadowing here!

I also ordered the Maui Wowie Shrimp Salad. It came with Capers, Sweet Onions, Crumbled Feta Cheese & Caper Lime Vinaigrette. Now with the capers and the feta I expected it to be salty but OH. MY. GOD. Overkill on the salt. I actually sent it back.

Todd had their Summer Prix Fixe Menu. It was only 35 bucks – not bad. He started with the Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Ranch Dressing. It actually had more of a green goddess type dressing (that sounds so dated!) Presentation was nice – small rectangular plate with the greens on one side and the beats on the other sitting on top of the green dressing. The odd thing was the huge amount of dill they put in the greens. A hint of it might have been interesting but it was overkill – it’s kind of all you could taste.

For the entrée he ordered "Pulehu" Style Hawaiian Barbecued Sirlion Sake deglazed with a Green Peppercorn Sauce. It came with an au gratin style potato which was pretty unremarkable - a bit undercooked. The sirloin was tender and cooked to a perfect medium rare – but again with the stinking salt. At this point I am sensing a trend and bracing myself to be totally bloated the next day. The best thing about the dish – the huge and sinful onion rings that came with. These too were salty – but in a good way.

We are not normally dessert people but it was included in the meal so we shared the Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé, which is a flourless chocolate cake with a hot center served à la mode on top of a rasberry sauce.

This was actually way good.

To sum it up - by the light of the next day - I would not consider myself a big Roy's fan.  I might go back to sit at the open kitchen bar or with a large party.  Todd was less turned off then I was - but neither are going to be heading back any time soon.  For Gods sake my hands are still swollen!

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Woodland Hills 6363 Topanga Canyon Blvd Woodland Hills, CA 91367 8/3/2007 Friday night 10pm.

Now I’m not normally a “chain restaurant” kind of gal and neither is my man (meaning he's not into chains nor is he a gal.) But sadly at 10:30 on a Friday night – your options can be a little limited here in the ol’ Valley. I hope that will one day change! It seems that some of the best options at this time of the evening are your PF Changs, your Roy’s, your Flemmings, your Cheesecake Factories – in other words your CHAINS.

I will say this – the ambience at Roy’s isn’t bad. Large space – nicely lit. They have an area where you can sit at a bar and watch the chefs in the open kitchen – kinda fun- but we were feeling a little more “romantical” so we got a booth. For a chain (and I swear I’m not being snobby) it had a good vibe. The service was really professional, very attentive. Our normal tactic is to order several things – 1 entrée, 1 salad, a couple of appetizers etc. to get the chance to taste the most things.

With that in mind I ordered the Island Ahi Poke.

Poke is a Hawaiian word that means cut up into small pieces. Raw tuna diced with avocado and bean sprouts and served “stacked” along with 2 crispy wontons on the side. Pretty tasty, lots of garlic (like - I still taste it this morning – not pretty). It was a little on the salty side as well – take note – I’m foreshadowing here!

I also ordered the Maui Wowie Shrimp Salad. It came with Capers, Sweet Onions, Crumbled Feta Cheese & Caper Lime Vinaigrette. Now with the capers and the feta I expected it to be salty but OH. MY. GOD. Overkill on the salt. I actually sent it back.

Todd had their Summer Prix Fixe Menu. It was only 35 bucks – not bad. He started with the Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Ranch Dressing. It actually had more of a green goddess type dressing (that sounds so dated!) Presentation was nice – small rectangular plate with the greens on one side and the beats on the other sitting on top of the green dressing. The odd thing was the huge amount of dill they put in the greens. A hint of it might have been interesting but it was overkill – it’s kind of all you could taste.

For the entrée he ordered "Pulehu" Style Hawaiian Barbecued Sirlion Sake deglazed with a Green Peppercorn Sauce. It came with an au gratin style potato which was pretty unremarkable - a bit undercooked. The sirloin was tender and cooked to a perfect medium rare – but again with the stinking salt. At this point I am sensing a trend and bracing myself to be totally bloated the next day. The best thing about the dish – the huge and sinful onion rings that came with. These too were salty – but in a good way.

We are not normally dessert people but it was included in the meal so we shared the Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé, which is a flourless chocolate cake with a hot center served à la mode on top of a rasberry sauce.

This was actually way good.

To sum it up - by the light of the next day - I would not consider myself a big Roy's fan.  I might go back to sit at the open kitchen bar or with a large party.  Todd was less turned off then I was - but neither are going to be heading back any time soon.  For Gods sake my hands are still swollen!