Restaurants and Food Services

Outback Steakhouse Review: Please Don't Call This Food Australian

Jump, Jive and Java

Fast Food Holiday Strategies: Fish McBites Other Limited-Time Offers

It's no coincidence that McDonald's, Carl's Jr., and Wendy's have each rolled out a new fish option on their menus around the time of Lent. In time for St. Patrick's Day, participating Micky D locations also offer the Shamrock Shake, a limited-time mint milkshake. Fast food chains are relying more o ... More >>

Culver City! All Your Prayers Answered! Olive Garden Opens Today

Olive Garden, that purveyor of endless breadsticks and "Italian" cuisine, opens its 10th L.A.-area restaurant today, and the lucky winner of the unlimited soup and salad sweepstakes is Culver City! Yes, today Olive Garden creeps closer to the heart of Los Angeles (until now, Glendale, Manhattan Be ... More >>

Will Lawsuits Restore a Tiny Bit of Dignity to Food Service Employees?

In recent months, many common restaurant management practices and the daily injustices restaurant workers are used to enduring have been deemed illegal or inappropriate. This week, a judge in Illinois ruled that it was not legal for Applebee's to force tipped employees to perform non-tipped duties, ... More >>

Carl's Jr. Boycotted in 1989, Fast Food Protests Nothing New

Picketers and protesters outside a Hollywood fast food restaurant, shouting slogans and attempting to dissuade customers from going inside. A scene from Chick-fil-A in the last week? No, it happened at a Carl's Jr. a short distance to the east...in 1989. The protest, on August 30 of that year, wa ... More >>

The Oinkster's Burger Week Returns: White Castle Sliders, Big Macs Sourdough Jacks

From June 4 through June 10, Andre Guerrero's retrofied pastrami and burger shack in Eagle Rock will host round two of it's popular Burger Week, which features a burger-a-day tribute to some of America's cherished cheeseburgers re-engineered by the bun 'n' patty architects in The Oinkster kitchen. ... More >>

The Unhappiness Index: McDonald's Customers are Least Happy with Their Health Other Uncomfortable Insights Into Fast Food Choices

Apparently, one can guess whether you are happy or unhappy with your health based on your decision to have chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A rather than from McDonald's. That is, according to the BIGinsight™ Monthly Consumer Survey, which ranked the happiness level of certain fast food customers o ... More >>

Restaurant Industry Treats Women Poorly: Can Tom Robbins Save Us?

Waiting tables has never been known as a glamorous job, but a new study released Monday indicates that conditions are especially shitty for women, who are not only paid less but also subjected to sexual harassment at a staggering rate, reports The Daily Beast. (Via Jezebel.) Where's Tom Robbins' "Da ... More >>

Short Attention Span Dinner Theater: Your Week in Food, 1/30-2/3

Flickr/Lauren Manning​In which we highlight the past week in food, either at home or abroad. "Is it a deadly bludgeon in the war against the atrocities of Fresh-Mex, Mission burritos or food-court wraps? Not quite." Where Does a Restaurant Critic Go When He's Not on the Clock? "Hallelujah! ... More >>

Taco Bell Implicated in 10-State Salmonella Outbreak

When there was a multistate outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis in October, the Centers for Disease Control would identify the culprit only as "Mexican-style, fast-food Restaurant Chain A." Turns out, that's longhand for Taco Bell. At the time, the CDC refused to name the restaurant chain, saying the ... More >>

What's With All the Beer Pubs?

Anne Fishbeinthe invisible restaurant critic​Dear Mr. Gold: What's with all these beer pubs? It's very 1991 Denver. --Eric Beteille, via Facebook

Report: Treating Workers Well Helps Bottom Line

As the restaurant industry's busiest and most profitable day of the year (Valentine's Day) approaches, ROC has released two reports: a study challenging the idea that restaurants can succeed only by keeping labor costs low and a Diners' Guide spotlighting restaurants that aim for sustainability -- n ... More >>

McDonald's Introduces Fatty, Salty Little Chicken Bombs

McDonald's Corp. The "snack size" McBites contain 310 calories. ​Taking on KFC's popcorn chicken, McDonald's is introducing a new fatty, salty treat: Chicken McBites, "poppable pieces of premium chicken breast seasoned to homestyle perfection," according to the Mickey D's website. The snack si ... More >>

Beer Art: Andrew Lee Bakofsky, The Artists Behind Eagle Rock Brewery, The Surly Goat The New Little Bear's Designs

Beer sommeliers, mixologists, restaurant social media managers. Ah, the "fancy" job titles for new careers in the food world. Not that artists/brothers Andrew and Thomas "Lee" Bakofsky care. They're too busy painting (literally) while they sip a beer. Now that's a good job. The brothers are known ... More >>

Handsome Coffee Roasters Officially Opening Next Month

Handsome Coffee Roasters hoped to open their Downtown coffee bar right before the holidays, but what was supposed to be an early holiday present to coffee fiends is now a Valentine's Day gift to their fellow coffee lovers instead. According to Handsome Coffee's press release, their coffee bar will ... More >>

Top Hops: Best 5 New Craft Beer Bars of 2011

Over the past few years, sales of mass-produced beer (Bud, Miller, Coors and the like) are down along with housing, investments and other barometers of economic growth. Guess what is not down? Craft breweries. Craft beer bars. Craft beer sales. According to the Brewers Association, which represents ... More >>

Wendy's Dethrones Burger King as #2 Burger Chain

Among a slew of fast food headlines in 2011, the unveiling of a new Wendy's burger, Dave's Hot 'N Juicy, had lasting effects on the future of the fast food industry. Thanks largely to the new better-quality burger, Wendy's is set to surpass Burger King next year as the second-most popular (behind Mc ... More >>

Street Food Vendor Protest TODAY

Guzzle & NoshStreet food vendors in Tijuana, Mexico.​ Street food vendors are staging a protest today at 4:30 p.m. outside the Metro subway station on Alvarado and Seventh streets (that's near Langer's, for you gluttons) to protest the LAPD's crackdown on allegedly illicit street food vendors. ... More >>

Steakhouse or Gay Bar?: Finally, A Website Breaks It Down

In Westlake, there is an establishment called the Silver Platter. The name brings to mind slabs of prime rib served on shining plates with ornate handles. However, if you go, you'll find no beef, just plenty of wriggling flesh on the dance floor. Over on Wilshire in Beverly Hills, there is Cut, W ... More >>

Goodbye To The Spotlight Bar: Reminiscing About "The Last Gay Bar on Earth"

Peter PalladinoPeter Palladino's famous picture of The Spotlight​It's been a couple of weeks since Hollywood's oldest gay bar, the Spotlight, closed its doors for good. Having done the Cahuenga shuffle a couple of times since then (including on our way to Freak City), we must say that the stre ... More >>

First Lady Praises Olive Garden Changes

Anne Fishbeina forkful of spaghetti at the Olive Garden​ How many years does it take to set down a salt shaker? For the Olive Garden (read Jonathan Gold's review here) and Red Lobster restaurants and their four sister chains (LongHorn Steakhouse, the Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 5 ... More >>

Q & A with Chef Sean Ehland, Part 1: From Culinary High Schooler to Noma Stagier

Photo by Shauna Miller​It seems some chefs just can't sit still these days. As Jonathan Gold mused in A Movable Beast, it's no longer essential that chefs simply keep to their kitchen. We have chefs who pop up, chefs who make guest appearances, chefs who get in trucks and roam the streets. Now ... More >>

In-N-Out Threatens Burger Express with Lawsuit

A side-by-side comparison of In-N-Our's logo with the logo of Burger Express.​In-N-Out Burger is seeing red when it comes to Idaho's Burger Express. The Boise-based restaurant, which has been open about a month, sports a red sign with a splashy yellow arrow running through it diagonally. Look ... More >>

19 Chain Restaurants Join Initiative to Offer Healthier Kids' Meals

Flickr/fdecomite​ Nineteen restaurant chains, including Burger King and IHOP, have agreed to participate in a restaurant industry effort to promote healthier meals for children, Reuters reports. Conceived of by the National Restaurant Association, the voluntary program will focus on boosting ... More >>

O Bar Closing in West Hollywood

Anne FishbeinA dish at O Bar.​After eight years in business, popular West Hollywood restaurant O Bar will close. Located on Santa Monica Boulevard near Crescent Heights in the heart of West Hollywood, the popular Mediterranean restaurant will close after Sunday, July 3. It will be replaced ... More >>

38 Degrees Ale House & Grill: Beer Lover's Paradise... in Alhambra

Daniel DrennonClay Harding, co-owner of 38 Degrees with 38 taps​ Apparently the economic downturn has not hindered craft beer drinkers. They say, even in a recession, folks will still seek an escape from tough times at the movies. The same can now be said of beer bars. Despite dozens of ho ... More >>

Best Restaurant Site, Minimalist: Chego

What Does Hipster Taste Like?

Dive Bar Report: Hank's Bar

​ The Place: Hank's Bar, Stillwell Hotel, 840 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles; 213-623-7718. The Hours: 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Sunday - Thursday; 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. Friday - Saturday. The Digs: Hank's is a little hole on the first floor of a residence hotel with gummy black booths in the back. The bar ... More >>

Kevin Smith's Talents

Your Counter Intelligence Preview: In Which Mr. Gold Visits the Olive Garden

Anne Fishbeinglass of wine menu at The Olive Garden​ No, this was not an April Fool's joke. Well, it was, but it was a prank that didn't quite turn out the way the Weekly's estimable reviewer planned. Thus in this week's Counter Intelligence column, Jonathan Gold visits not the latest Sichua ... More >>

The Want Ads: A Chef de Partie at Bouchon

Thomas Keller Restaurant Group​ Bouchon Beverly Hills has an opening for a chef de partie (that's the French kitchen brigade name for a line cook or station chef). To quote the job listing, which was posted on the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group website on March 1st: This is a great opportunity ... More >>

LAPD Warns Restaurant Owners of Health Inspector Scam

Flickr/jrmystJesus doesn't worry about a C​Yesterday the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) sent out a news release warning restaurateurs of a potential scam targeting local restaurants. Both organizations say they've received numerous calls from restaurant ow ... More >>

Behind the Kitchen Door: ROC-LA Reports Reveals Restaurant Industry Inequality

Samrod Shenassa​ To many of the 276,000 people working the gritty, grueling jobs in Los Angeles' vast restaurant industry, the conclusions of a report released today by the Restaurant Opportunities Center of LA come as no surprise. Long hours, low pay, no health care benefits, no vacation or ... More >>

Q & A With Jason Travi: The New Job at Firefly, Cooking For Lucinda Williams Child Labor Laws in a Restaurant Family

A. ScattergoodJason Travi at Firefly with his burrata fritters​ Jason Travi has cooked in some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles (Spago, Opaline, La Terza), including Fraîche in Culver City, which he co-owned. Travi and his wife, pastry chef Miho Travi, both left Fraîche over a year ago ... More >>

The South Central Fast-Food "Ban": Free Enterprise vs. Free Radicals

So Cal Metro/FlickrChurch's Chicken in Crenshaw​ Last Wednesday, in the wake of an expiring two-year moratorium, City Council signed off on an amendment prohibiting new fast-food joints in certain parts of the city. The zoning ban focuses on neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, where approxima ... More >>

Happy Meals Are About to Get A lot Less Happy

Mario Anzuoni, ReutersTo our children's dismay, Happy Meals may become healthy meals​ California kids will now have fewer incentives to ditch mom's homemade organically grown, tofu steak dinners for Happy Meals, thanks to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. On Tuesday, the Board took ste ... More >>

California Restaurant Association Backs Food Safety Law

Flickr/LWY​ The California Restaurant Association is giving two freshly scrubbed thumbs up to the enactment of SB 602, landmark food safety legislation written by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The new law requires that all employees who handle food in ... More >>

Nightranger Takes Over Indie 103.1 Online Tonight

​They may not have Jonesy anymore, but Indie 103.1's internet version, does retain some of its most beloved shows: Joe Escalante's Barley Legal (Fridays), Passport Approved (Saturdays), Chaos with Full Metal Jackie (Sundays), Native Wayne's reggae show (Sundays) and Suicide Girls Radio (late S ... More >>

America's 15 Favorite Chain Restaurants: We ♥ The Cheesecake Factory

Cheesecake FactoryLos Angeles Cheesecake Factory locations​ Want to know how America really eats? I guess track where NBA players go after a game. Nation's Restaurant News recently published a list of our 15 favorite casual and family restaurant chains, and The Cheesecake Factory, reportedly a ... More >>

Baldwin Park Bans New Drive-Throughs

Flickr/livingonimpulseIn-N-Out​ In an act of legal symmetry, sort of, the city of Baldwin Park has declared a moratorium on any new drive-through fast food restaurants. Why symmetry? Because Baldwin Park is where it all started, when In-N-Out opened in 1948 as the nation's very first drive-th ... More >>

Airplane Food Is Grosser Than You Thought

Flickr/Mr. MysteryDoes this meal have an unsavory history?​ While airlines debate whether or not to serve peanuts to potentially allergic passengers, they apparently haven't been paying attention to what's being served up from their caterers. USA Today reports that many meals served by major a ... More >>

Subway Says Sorry About the Salmonella

Flickr/Simon ShekThe tomatoes, onions and bell peppers are sickening suspects. ​ The Subway sandwich chain has apologized for a Salmonella outbreak in central Illinois that has sickened nearly 100 people ages 2 to 79, Reuters reports. The company said it is working with public health officials ... More >>

Taco Franchise Says R.I.P. To Mr. Bell

​The founder of Taco Bell passed away over the weekend, and stomachs across the land were upset over the news. Glen W. Bell, Jr., 86, died Sunday night at his home in the exclusive San Diego County enclave of Rancho Santa Fe, the Irvine company announced. He joins the chain's chihuahua mascot ... More >>

Dog Town: Where to Find Great Hot Dogs w/o Standing in Line on La Brea All Afternoon

Photo Credit: Todd PorterFrom the Dodger devoted who joyously pound their foot-long Farmer Johns to the hip and touristy who wrap the block corners lined up for Pinks, Los Angelenos love their hot dogs. Despite such hot dog passion, there is one often-overlooked area in Los Angeles: the downtown Ga ... More >>

Golden State's Beer Warriors, All Hopped Up

The ale-intensive gastropub serves some of L.A.'s best burgers and a mind-blowing beer float with brown-bread ice cream from Tai Kim's cult gelateria Scoops

IN-AND-OUT WE TRUST

Party Resources

Pro and Condoms

West Hollywood voters to decide on bar plan