Los Angeles Master Thread

[Tzfas]

Trip Report  - L.A./San Diego

Hotels

• Andaz WeHo - Nice modern hotel. Staff were very friendly and helpful, greeting me by name most of the time. My “host” encouraged us to use as much as we could from the (non-alcoholic) mini-bar, as it gets refilled every day at no charge. Check-in process is cool, a “host” comes over to you with an ipad and checks you in that way. You must use the valet-parking at a cost of $32/day, but when that is all you are paying for the hotel (thank you Hyatt card), it doesn’t hurt that bad. We had a corner king suite, which is very spacious with a very modern decor and some nice views of L.A. Overall a great experience.
• U.S. Grant, San Diego - Beautiful hotel with a magnificent lobby, but the rooms leave much to be desired. The hallways and room had an interesting (read: not very pleasant) smell. We got a VIP suite which was pretty cramped compared to our Andaz suite, but it was only for one night, so we managed. The staff were very courteous, though.

Restaurants

• La Gondola - Not overly elegant. Tried the avocado eggrolls, asian spring rolls (delicious), bbq ribs and and chicken marsala. The ribs were good and generous, but the bbq sauce tasted like a generic store bought type. Overall good food.
• Milky Way - Cosy little place with a lot of Spielberg memorabilia. Food was good milchig fare. The crunchy salmon puffs (app) are very good, and so was the eggplant parmesan (not your typical commercial one). Cheesecake was good too. Mrs Adler (the center attraction) is very friendly, and kept on coming to our table to shmooze.
• Tierra Sur - Overrated IMO. We had the chorizo (VERY spicy), cornish hen and rib eye steak which was done perfectly. Maybe it is because I’m not a big wine person, but I thought the place was ok. Bottom line - if your time in L.A is limited, it’s not worth the trip out there.
• La Seine - My best experience overall. Waiters are helpful and really know their stuff (shout-out to Adnen).The ambiance is really cool too. We had the passatelli with braised lamb, which was very tasty. My wife had the ribeye, and I had the braised short ribs which were both excellent. Their chocolate souffle was perfect as well. On the downside, the service was quite slow.
• Sushi Ko - Very good sushi. I would definitely recommend for any sushi lover.
• Fish Grill - We stopped by the Malibu location, and had the fish and chips. Very good and tasty, with a very enthusiastic server.
• Elite Cafe - Had breakfast there. Pancakes were tasteless. The rest of the food was ok. There were flies all over the place, and tables were dirty. Their crumb-donuts and buttermilk-donuts were delicious.
• La Brea Bagel - Good sandwiches, not-so-good muffins. Service was a little rude.
• Pizza Maven - Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Very good pizza, and fries made from fresh potatoes.

We did the usual trips (Universal, WB Studio Tour, Sea World, Boating etc.) so I won’t elaborate on those. We went to see the Cirque du Soleil IRIS at the Kodak theater. It is the only Cirque show I’ve been to, and I enjoyed it. Some parts of the show require five pairs of eyes in order to see everything that’s happening at once. It is also cool to sit through a show at  that iconic venue.

If anyone wants to know anything else, please ask.

Can you elaborate more on the trips you did?  As well as which company to use for boating, and what else is a must do for a first time visit to the LA area (except eating)?
 Also if I go for a week from Thu-Wed, how do you recommend splitting up the time between LA and  SD. Thanks

[ChAiM'l]

There is overnight street parking, but you'll have to walk a little bit.

Possibly, but I wasn't up to cruising for a spot...

Can you elaborate more on the trips you did?  As well as which company to use for boating, and what else is a must do for a first time visit to the LA area (except eating)?
 Also if I go for a week from Thu-Wed, how do you recommend splitting up the time between LA and  SD. Thanks

Universal - Fun place. The studio tour is interesting but very commercialized. You get to drive down Wisteria Lane and see some other sets. A couple of interesting shows and rides.

WB VIP Studio Tour - More personal. We had a tour with another 4 people. You get driven around by your guide on a large golf cart (I think the max per cart is 12). Very interesting. We got to take pictures on the couch on the Friends set in Central Perk. We visited The Mentalist set and 2 Broke Girls. The Two and a Half Men set was closed due to post-season works. You also visit the props warehouse and a museum which has clothes that were worn on some famous movies/shows. We also visited the Eastwood Scoring Stage. All in all, well worth a visit.

I had bought Groupons for boating in Newport Bay, but there was bad weather that day, and they were going to be closing, so we ended up renting from this place in Marina Del Ray. Very enjoyable.

We also found a nice place to take pictures of the Hollywood sign (if that interests you). It is a bit of a drive but has nice views.

In Oxnard, we rented a "Deuce Coupe" from this place, and rode around the harbor and surrounding area.

We spent one day in SD, so I'm not really sure how much there is to do there, but Sea World was nice, and La Cafe had good food.

[ChikkyMonkey]

I'm planning on taking 3 and 5 year old to Legoland... Is one day enough or are we better splitting to two days? (they love lego... we'll also have a baby so we can't run around too fast...)

If two days anyone know best ticket prices? for one day I found buy adult get child free, but for two days haven't seen anything... thanks

[jj1000]

Milk and Honey has more options, but I don't know if its necessarily better - to each his own, obviously.

+1. Dan likes eggplant parm which is medokere at milkyway so he prefers milk and honey. But in general I don't like milk and honey besides eggplant parm. Milky way has famous cheese blintzes they are truly one of a kind. (IIRC they are more of a cheese cake similarity then cheese blintzes they are so rich and heavenly) The chimichangas are also superb if you like Mexican food (worth a try if you are unfamiliar) And like LAXtraveler mentioned their fish is all top quality. (I still would take fish grill at half the price any day.)

[Ergel]

I'm planning on taking 3 and 5 year old to Legoland... Is one day enough or are we better splitting to two days? (they love lego... we'll also have a baby so we can't run around too fast...)

If two days anyone know best ticket prices? for one day I found buy adult get child free, but for two days haven't seen anything... thanks

You just going to Lego land or San Diego also?

[ChikkyMonkey]

I'm landing in SD but driving straight to Carlsbad and spending two nights there.. debating if one day is enough or if I need two for the kids...

[Tzfas]

Can anyone recommend the best Hyatt or Marriot hotel in the LA area that I can book for Shabbos, it should be within walking distance to a shul.
And if possible a best Hyatt or Marriot in the San Diego area, for the rest of the week, except the Park Hyatt Aviara as it’s not available.
Thanks again.

[Dan]

Can anyone recommend the best Hyatt or Marriot hotel in the LA area that I can book for Shabbos, it should be within walking distance to a shul.
And if possible a best Hyatt or Marriot in the San Diego area, for the rest of the week, except the Park Hyatt Aviara as it’s not available.
Thanks again.

Trade Hyatt points for SPG with someone and stay at the awesome SLS.

[Tzfas]

Trade Hyatt points for SPG with someone and stay at the awesome SLS.

Thanks  for the idea will work on that.

[Ergel]

Andaz weho not within walking distance?

In San Diego, I will be staying in residence inn la jolla. Have heard good things about Hyatt regency la jolla. Us grant supposed to be real nice but that is spg

[Tzfas]

Andaz weho not within walking distance?

  I thought of that first, however there is no shul around for at least a mile.

[SGF]

@ ergel: im not the police around here but your tapatalk is having lots of issues latly and it gets confusing...

[Ergel]

@ ergel: im not the police around here but your tapatalk is having lots of issues latly and it gets confusing...

What did I do wrong this time?

[SGF]

What did I do wrong this time?

not so bad just the subject line, i was trying to figure out why would someone post about a rental on the trip thread until i realized it was just the subject

[montey]

In San Diego, I will be staying in residence inn la jolla. Have heard good things about Hyatt regency la jolla. Us grant supposed to be real nice but that is spg

Residence in LJ is close to Kosher Ralphs and the shul. Hyatt Regency is very nice, but US Grant is still a very old hotel despite the renovation. It is relatively close to a Coffee Bean if that matters to you.

[montey]

Does anyone have any coupons or promotions for Tierra Sur in Oxnard?

[ChAiM'l]

US Grant is still a very old hotel despite the renovation.

+1

[moish]

but US Grant is still a very old hotel despite the renovation. It is relatively close to a Coffee Bean if that matters to you.

what does that mean? i prefer renovated old hotels a la the westin palace madrid

[montey]

what does that mean? i prefer renovated old hotels a la the westin palace madrid

Small rooms, rickity elevator, etc.

[PlatinumGuy]

Landing in LAX soon for a 5 hour connection to Burbank.

Figured cheapest is hertz for $55 one way.

Never been to LA - is there something I must see?

Have loads of work to catch up to in Lounge