Kato number 1
Vespertine drops like an exploding death star 100 spots
What feels like a weird, purposeful tension emanating from the service staff leaves me knotted by meal’s end. I have unsettled dreams after meals at Vespertine; the three-chord tones that continuously play in the dining room disrupt my circadian rhythms. That might well be the point.
i honestly don’t know if i’m more happy about #1 or #101… i’d have difficulty ranking Kato that high, personally–but it is one of my favorite LA spots, and it felt criminally overlooked for years (perhaps, even until Michelin came back?)
Wow. This new 101 List of the “Best” Restaurants in LA… it’s beyond baffling and downright egregious. Examples:
Burritos La Palma at #15?! I love Burritos La Palma, but let’s be real here. They placed this place above Shunji, Angler, Somni (and many other much better places)?! WTH?
Where’s Mori Sushi? Ah yes, continuing on one of the big oversights from Gold’s days, no love for Maru-san’s fantastic Sushi, which is arguably some of the best in L.A. The fact they list Pasadena’s mediocre Osawa on this list and not Mori Sushi is ridiculous.
Tsubaki - Does not belong on any “Best” lists for its food. It’s horrendous (but it’s located nearby some of the L.A. times staff writers, so it’s convenient for them).
189 by Dominique Ansel? Mediocre Pastries, awful Brunch, but it’s got the name brand of a celebrated chef.
I get it’s all subjective. They have their opinions but this feels like such an oversight for many places left off the list or ranked low, and the inclusion of total mediocrity. Oh well.
ranking restaurants in and of itself is always mind boggling. but this is their attempt at being anti-mcchelin and inclusive of all aspects of la culinary landscape. that’s why there are many suspect places on the list.
it’s also funny that bill addison included vespertine on the list despite saying that he hated it 2 out of the 3 times he went
i think Bill Addison understands that it’s still an important restaurant even though he hated it. Maybe the rest of the LA Times food staff liked it enough?
Sonoratown. I like it, but give me a break. The fifth best restaurant in LA?
Burritos La Palma. Nothing special. I guess I can agree that Sonoratown is better, and at least Sonoratown is closer.
Cassia. I don’t see it. I like Singaporean food. This isn’t it.
Lukshon. At least it’s not in the top five anymore, but still. Above Somni? Haha.
Meals by Genet. This is average Ethiopian food at best. Lalibela is much better.
Mariscos Jalisco. Better than Taco Bell, perhaps.
Langer’s. Trash.
Badmaash. Not even average Indian.
I’m not sure what the LA Times has against restaurants like Urasawa and Sushi Ginza Onodera. Restaurants like Somni and Vespertine are plenty expensive.
Gosh, has Spago really fallen so far that it doesn’t belong on a list of top 101 restaurants in LA?
Totally agree this list is bogus… for us as FTCers.
But this list isn’t made for us, it is made for the LA Times readers–the masses.
People that search out the best foods will always have a penchant for places that “fly below the radar”.
Let the masses have their lists. We have our boards.
I’m indifferent to rankings as it’s fairly personal, but to have any of the listed sushi restaurants above Sushi Ginza Onodera or having Onodera completely not on the list of 101 restaurant is… shocking to say the least. Q is there and Onodera does everything better than Q in a similar style.