Everything Glendale

Filed Under: Divina Cucina, Food, Italian Cuisine, Montrose, Restaurant Reviews

A friend accustomed to fine dining was visiting from London and wanted to take me to a "nice" dinner in my neck of the woods—Montrose. I'd heard good things about Divina Cucina on Verdugo Road, so we decided to give it a try.

We sat on the covered patio by an attractive fountain, as the main restaurant was packed and a little noisy for quiet conversation.

The menu is extensive, and we were struggling to decide from the many tasty sounding offerings when the waiter threw a spanner in the works by coming up with some irresistible-sounding specials.

After much deliberation, I opted for polenta e gamberetti—sauteed shrimp and mixed peppers over grilled polenta with red pepper sauce. And my partner opted for funghi portobello alla griglia—grilled portobello mushroom and red onion, smoked mozzarella, and sweet pepper sauce. Both were beautifully presented and mouth-wateringly good.

For our main course, we both chose handmade pasta—I went for the spinach tortellini and my friend for one of the day's specials, linguine in a light lemon sauce. Even though he's normally a steak man, he was raving about it.

The cuisine could best be described as Italian with an elegant twist, thanks to the charming and equally elegant husband-and-wife owners, Alicia and Horatio Lavanchy, who hail from Argentina by way of Italian parentage.

For a small restaurant, there's a surprisingly extensive wine list with a very nice selection of Italian wines in particular. I counted seven varieties of pinot grigio and 11 chiantis. We opted for a pinot noir, with nine to pick from. There's also a good choice of port, sherry, and dessert wine.

We came out at around $90 for a superb two-course meal, including delicious homemade breads, with wine and coffee.

Divina Cucina is more upscale than your average Italian, but relaxed and friendly as a family run restaurant should be. My friend was so impressed he insisted on picking up the tab—needless to say, he can come back anytime!

It's super busy on Fridays and Saturdays so if you want a quiet romantic dinner, pick a week night. Divina Cucina is also open for lunch. Reservations are recommended for parties, especially on weekends. There is parking at the restaurant but very few spaces on a tricky corner, so best to park in a public lot or on the street and walk.

Divina Cucina
3730 N. Verdugo Road
Montrose, CA 91020
818.248.3077
www.divinacucinarestaurant.com

Entrée Price Range:
$12.95-$20.95
(Plus a selection of daily market price fish)

Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 5:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.


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Filed Under: Downtown Glendale, Food, Japanese Cuisine, Restaurant Reviews, Sushi

On the largest wall, behind a line of bamboo stalks, is a fresco depicting a picnic scene: three Japanese men and two women dressed in traditional kimonos are seated on a red blanket under a cherry blossom tree. From the high ceiling hang paper lanterns that hover over hungry patrons. The room is dimly lit, with the sushi bar the restaurant's brightest area.

Glendale is home to quite a few Japanese restaurants, and sitting in a prime location at the Glendale Marketplace, in a spot formerly occupied by a shoe store, is Ichiban. "Ichiban," in Japanese, quite simply translates to "number one" or "best," and with a wide selection of combination dinners and an even wider array of sushi selections, the restaurant's name is not far off.

I am no sushi connoisseur. I was well into my early twenties before I could down a bite of food that wasn't either fried, grilled, baked, or broiled. Growing up, sushi always translated into "raw fish." Thanks to the Food Network, however (and Wikipedia, of course), I learned that the term "sushi" refers to the vinegared rice used in this type of Japanese cuisine, not to the fish sitting on top or wrapped in it.

You are in for an affordable (50% off rolls!), well-prepared meal here, not to mention friendly and efficient service. Whether you are craving a hot meal (in the form of a combination lunch or dinner plate with chicken, beef, or salmon teriyaki, salad, miso soup, and a bowl of rice) or are in the mood for a roll or two (the lobster and B.S.C.R. rolls are tasty, the sashimi is refreshing), Ichiban is there for you!

Ichiban
120 S. Brand Boulevard #120
Glendale, CA 91203
818.242.9966
www.sporq.com/glendale/ichiban/120sbrandblvd

Entree Price Range:
$7-$11

Sushi Price Range:
$3-$13

Hours:
Monday–Thursday:. 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m
Friday–Saturday: 11:30 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

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Filed Under: American Cuisine, Coldstone Creamery, Food, Middle-Eastern Cuisine, Restaurant Reviews, Rotisserie Chicken, Sidewalk Cafe, Zankou Chicken

When I saw that a new Trader Joe's was opening a mere four minutes away from my home, I didn't scream quite as loudly as I did when I saw the new large red sign at the corner of Glenoaks and Highland. "Zankou Chicken is going in at Sidewalk Café!," I interrupted my best friend's story to yelp. She wasn't nearly as annoyed as I would have been had she interrupted me (what are best friends for?). Instead, she joined my excitement: "I know! Isn't that great? Too bad we're probably going to have to wait a while for it to open."

I know I could drive up to their fancy new location in Burbank or even to their second original location right here in Glendale, but this new Zankou Chicken is opening ("sometime next week," according to an employee) inside one of my favorite spots.

Sidewalk Café is a great place to meet friends for lunch, bring the family for a full dinner, or just grab coffee and read for hours. It has undergone various transformations over the years, but most have been for the better.

Coldstone Creamery (and its silly signage) disappeared. The gelato bar came and then sadly went, but the crepes stayed. New management has improved the service, built a new corner with comfy leather couches for lounging, and updated the menu my new favorite item: creamy vegetable lasagna. They also tried a kebab bar in the Coldstone location, but I never got the chance to try it. It seemed that all I had to do was blink, and it was gone.

Now enter Zankou Chicken. If you've never tasted their amazing rotisserie chickens, then you cannot call yourself an Angeleno (or Glendaleno?). But don't feel bad if you haven't discovered them yet; it took me six years before I did. I'm so happy that I'll be able to return to my favorite spot and order my favorite chicken. Or wait, the vegetable lasagna? Now, I don't know what to do.

Sidewalk Café/Zankou Chicken
901 Glenoaks Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91202
818.246.1000
www.sidewalkcafe.biz

Average Entree:
$8-$11

Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Zankou Chicken
1415 E. Colorado Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91205
818.244.2237
www.zankouchicken.com

Average Entree:
$5-$9

Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

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Filed Under: American Cuisine, Food, Patrick's Cafe, Restaurant Reviews

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away? 


Sometimes you want to go 



Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same 

You wanna be where everybody knows 

Your name

—Cheers theme song

A few years back, my husband announced that he wanted to find a restaurant where he could become a "regular." He wanted to find a place where, when he walked in the door, they would say, "Hello, Matthew. Nice to see you."

I was all for the idea. I grew up in my parents' restaurant in downtown Chicago. I was almost quite literally born in a booth. My mother told me that when I was born, before heading home from the hospital, they took me to the restaurant first.

Going out to eat is one of my great joys of life. But as we surveyed our mental roster of local eating establishments, we couldn't think of any that we wanted to call "home."

Our favorite place to go was Patrick's, a quiet café in a strip mall, just off San Fernando and Sonora. It was a great place to grab a quick sandwich or to sit and study for a few hours. The owner, Rogel Aragon, always gave a warm reception, and he even remembered our names.

But, alas, our ideal restaurant would be full-service, and, best of all, it would serve our favorite meal of the day, a full breakfast, complete with French toast, hot pancakes, massive omelets, steaming bacon, the works.

Imagine our excitement when Rogel announced that he would be opening a full-service restaurant just down the road. We became stalkers, peering into windows, driving through the alley, knocking on the door. A few weeks before the grand opening, Rogel was kind enough to give us an exclusive tour, highlighting the beautiful design: the striking artwork, the swanky dark wood, the alfresco dining areas. Rogel had an eye for detail, and I loved that he made a concerted effort to pay homage to the original Googie design, keeping the 1950s boomerang detail of the front counter and overhangs.

The new location opened in September 2006, and my husband and I are proud to be "regulars." The food is indeed as splendid as the design. When we're feeling indulgent, we get the breakfast sandwich or the steak and eggs. A healthier but still satisfying option is the oatmeal, served with hot milk, sliced apples, cinnamon, raisins, and granola. For lunch, my standard favorite is the tuna sandwich, while Matthew loves the burgers, which are always served hot and fresh. I also love the Carnivore, a roast beef and boursin cheese sandwich, but you might also want to try your hand at creating your own with their nifty little order sheets.

When leaving the hospital after our daughter was born, we went to Patrick's first and then home. We went partly because I had to get my hands on a tuna sandwich after nine months of living without, but it was mostly because we wanted to introduce everyone to our daughter. And tell them her name.

Patrick’s Café
6720 San Fernando Road
Glendale, CA 91201
818.291.0025

Average Entree:
$8 - $12

Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

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Filed Under: Baja Fresh, Downtown Glendale, Food, Mexican Cuisine, Restaurant Reviews

I'm going to risk what little street cred I have by writing about a chain restaurant. What's more, it's a fast food chain restaurant. The horror, the horror! But I'm willing to face alienation and ridicule because I have to tell you about the best salsa I have ever had. Ever. And I have to tell you that it's at Baja Fresh. Seriously.

Look, I don't know anything about Baja Fresh's corporate history or if its company uniforms are made in sweatshops in Borneo or what, but last summer they introduced, for a limited time, Molcajete Salsa, which is hands down the most delicious, flavorful salsa that has ever touched my tongue. Ever.

According to a press release I found online, it's "made of smoky char-grilled tomatoes, fresh and spicy charred jalapenos, and cilantro all crushed together into a bold and spicy chunky textured bite." That's exactly what it is, and, hot damn, does it deliver.

I'm sure it's good on different foods there, but I'm a simple guy. I love it with tortilla chips, and that's it.

When the summer was over last year, they pulled the Molcajete Salsa and replaced it with the inferior Mango Salsa. I was devastated. I asked a manager about bringing the Molcajete back, and I e-mailed corporate headquarters, both to no avail.

Well, my favorite salsa returned this past summer, much to my surprise and delight. We're well into December now, and guess what? The Molcajete Salsa is still there! I honestly hope it's become a permanent member of the salsa bar.

If you ever see me at Baja Fresh looking dejected, you'll know that the company has decided to inexplicably punish my loyalty. But for now I weep—tears of joy and tears of spiciness.

Baja Fresh
Glendale Marketplace
114 S. Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91205
818.549.9835
www.bajafresh.com

Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Average Entree:
$5-$10

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Filed Under: Clancy's Crab Broiler, Downtown Glendale, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Seafood

My friends accuse me of having undiscerning taste buds, so you're not going to see me doing many restaurant reviews here. (In other words, I'll eat anything.)

But I must say a few words about Clancy's Crab Broiler because I've been there for Thanksgiving dinner two years in a row now. And no matter how unsophisticated I may be when it comes to food, may I entice you with the appropriately named "Bucket o' Crab," a bunch of Alaskan snow crab legs served to you in a big gray pail?

But that's not really what I wanted to tell you about. If you eat at Clancy's on Christmas Eve (they're closed Christmas Day), they'll give you a gift certificate in the amount of whatever you spend on your meal that day and you can use the gift certificate up to six months later. Can you believe that?! They'll match your bill dollar for dollar!

Reservations for Christmas Eve fill up fast (I missed out last year), so call now if you're interested. I booked my table already, and, for someone with crappy taste buds, my mouth is already watering.

Clancy's Crab Broiler
219 N. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
818.242.2722
www.clancyscrabbroiler.com

Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Friday: 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Average Entree:
$15-$25

Oh my god, their website is an eyesore, but I guess it's okay because they're known for their seafood, not their tech skills.


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