electric karma

Beer and I are the first to admit we're food snobs, and when it comes to Indian, we're especially spoiled - and particular. That said, Electric Karma is one of our few local faves to make the speed dial list.

There's nothing on the menu we haven't liked, but some top picks include the samosas, sev puri, aloo tiki and mixed chutneys for starters. For mains the lamb korma, mixed tandoori grill, and fish vindaloo are always good. On the side, the aloo gobi, mattar paneer and bhindi masala never disappoint. If you're in the mood for something different or drop by for lunch, try one of the frankies - for lack of a better description, it's like an Indian burrito. Good stuff.

More often than not we opt to order in and enjoy at home, but this is a great location to enjoy a romantic meal out with your lover or some friends. The interior is colorful and dimly lit with seating indoors that flows out to an enclosed courtyard with tables and cushion seating where you can dine on the floor with a group. Another reason to dine in are the cocktails. Inside, Bollywood movies play on a wall hanging plasma. You'll notice a little bar when you enter and for good reason. The libations here are creative and tasty. And don't worry about the nasty parking on 3rd - they have you covered with valet. Or, you could just order in :)

8222 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 653-2121

seaver

Sometimes we forget just how good we have it in LA with the plethora of neighborhood boutique shops right under our noses.

Seaver - which is right in the middle of the West Third shopping stretch, just a couple of doors down from Joan's - is a great reminder of that fact. It's one of those quaint shops which makes you sigh a breath of relief knowing options still exist to spy a gift or great find, without making another trip to a cookie cutter mall with the rest of the sheep.

Specializing in clothing (designed by the owner, Nathalie), gifts and little treasures, there's something here for just about everyone. We stumbled in after brunch and were amazed by the variety of unique offerings the shop is nearly overflowing with - designer rubber duckies (we left with "decorator duck"), vintage stripper cuff links, stenciled leatherette checkbook and ipod covers in yummy pastel colors for spring, magnets, soaps, custom aprons (that give Anthropologie a run for their money), some beautiful things for baby, and of course, clothes and accessories. Not all of Seaver's clothes fit my taste, but aside from the super fab aprons that actually make you want to cook, her brocade jackets are beautifully sewn and well worth the price of admission.

If you're trying to find a special gift for someone hard to buy for, this boutique is not to be missed - not that you could miss the beautifully painted black and white floral exterior. Nathalie is a super helpful sweetheart, there's something for just about every budget, and she'll even gift wrap it for you before you go. LA doesn't get much better than that.

alfredo's grill

Failing to find a parking spot at Quality and refusing to wait in line at Toast, we settled on Joan's for a late brunch, until we realized we were standing right in front of Alfredo's - our breakfast burrito delivery joint!

Being hungry and noting the patio dining and a couple of cozy booths open, we decided to give it a try. We walked in and were quickly seated. Once we (finally) got a menu, it was tough to decide what to have everything looked so good. They do brek all day and have an extensive list of options for both food and beverage. Beer settled on a fruit shake (strawberry-banana since they were out of blueberries) and I asked for the A.G (their version of a mocha ice blended). His shake was good and my coffee would have been as well - had it arrived before our food was cleared.

He ordered the chocolate banana pancakes and I got one of the scrambles. All of the food coming out looked great. When ours finally made it out, it was no exception. The only challenge was ... we still didn't have set-ups, Beer never got the water he asked for, his pancakes came dry without any syrup to be found, my coffee was MIA with the syrup, and every table in the house but ours had bread. Our server was nice enough and I wanted to think maybe he had too many tables on his hands, but the truth of the matter is that there were two of them (one of whom I suspect was the owner) waiting a small number of tables and the only one who seemed to have his shit together enough to be helpful was the busboy.

Once we got utensils, etc. the food was good. The portion of both fruit and scramble on my plate seemed a bit skimpy, especially in light of the mass of pancakes falling off the plate across from me, but it was pretty good. I wish I could have said the same for the service. Kept wondering why it was so relatively empty for a sunny Saturday, but given the staff, I think I know.

We'll probably give this one another shot the next time we can't get in to one of our usuals, but until then, I'm sticking with delivery.

8310 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-4922

beverly flower gardens

Stumbled onto this neighborhood florist in a strip mall next to my shoe repair one day when Moe's on Melrose was out of what I was looking for. Now, anytime I head to a dinner or birthday party, this is my first stop.

At first, I wasn't sure what to think of the little space, but ended up ecstatic with the beautiful, fresh flowers I left with and even happier with the amazing price. I've been there dozens of times since and they've never let me down. Even if you have only $20 to spend (I recommend $30-$50 for something impressive - on average, I spend $45), they'll make it work.

This is a family run business and the Korean lady there, while not always the warmest in town, is very helpful and kind. I've noticed they do a lot of weddings and funerals (as evidenced from the arrangements filling the little shop at times), but even on their busiest days, they have seasonal stock on hand for bouquets to go.

One of my favorite things here is that aside from the fresh and reasonable flowers, the presentation is always nice. If you're not doing an arrangement in a vase, urn, etc. (they have a good selection), they'll wrap your flowers in either brown paper (which is always chic) or this pretty fabric they have in lots of colors.

There's parking in the little strip mall lot - which even when it's swamped is usually workable. Just beware of the limited weekend hours. They close early at 3p on Saturdays and aren't always open Sundays. However, I recently learned they deliver locally for a nominal $5 charge.

8250 W 3rd St Ste 104
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 657-3533

shah abbas

If you live in the area and like Persian food, you can't really go wrong at Shah Abbas. Everything from the salads and grilled meats to the stews and rice, is perfect. Huge portions, reasonable prices, pleasant service and, best yet, fast free delivery.

We've been eating here for years and the quality of the food and service has never let us down. Some faves include the sultani combo (perfectly seasoned and grilled filet mignon kebab with a couple of other meat specialties), the fesenjoon (traditional pomegranate and walnut stew with chicken), and the albaloo polo (lamb shank with sour cherry saffron rice). The tadeeg (sheets of crispy, buttery rice from the bottom of the pan, a Persian specialty) is served with stews of your choice for dipping. At a very reasonable $5.95, this is a must-have starter you can make a meal out of, just be sure to order your stews on the side so the rice doesn't get soggy en route.

The restaurant is perched atop a second story corner, in an unremarkable mini-mall on San Vicente and La Cienega. If you're dining in, be forewarned that the large, ornate (read, toeing the line of bad taste) decorated space - complete with clover shaped tile fountain centerpiece, dance floor and disco lighting - may be deceptively calm weeknights, but come the weekend, it leads a double life as a Persian nightclub. Dinner often comes with a bellydancer in your lap and deafeningly loud music, so if you're in the mood to quietly enjoy your meal, be sure to order in!

400 S San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 659-3242

lupicia tea

This shop is such a gem for tea lovers, it almost redeems the Century City mall for me. We fell in over the holidays on the hunt for gifts and ended up taking care of a good part of our list in this store alone.

They have an amazing selection of teas and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. They carry everything from a line of more than 200 loose teas - many of which are hard to find or original blends - to beautiful tea pots and accoutrement, and great gift boxes and holiday sets. The prices aren't cheap, but are reasonable for the quality. And even if you're not in the market to buy, they're very generous with the samples.

Their specialty is Japanese tea (given that they have more than 80 locations in Japan, this shouldn't come as a surprise), so if you're a fan, this place needs to go on your favorites list. The Gyukoro Green is great, as is the selection of Genmai Cha. Other favorites include the Sweet Dreams blend (cut ginger, chamomile, dried apple, fennel, bluemallow), which is a must if you find yourself sick, and one of their top-sellers, the Champagne Rose (black tea). If you like spicy, the chai selection is fantastic.

To learn more, you can check out their website which has recently been translated to Engrish.

Westfield Century City Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90067

imai sushi & kushi

I've been keeping this neighborhood joint on the dl for a long time now, but I see the word is already out.

The sushi here is reliably fresh and tasty - and the sushi chefs are even better. Add to it the wide variety of kushi (little grilled skewers of this and that they flame grill behind the sushi bar), extensive menu, pleasant service, nice atmosphere, a little bar with some interesting cocktails, (including a new Zipang sparkling sake that gets me in trouble more often than not), generally easy lot parking, reasonable prices and great specials (lunch and happy hour), and you can't go wrong.

For us, it's walking distance, which makes it even better - especially after a few sake cocktails ;)

If you're in the area, this is a relatively unknown place worth checking out.

8300 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(323) 655-2253

Photo courtesy of Robert H.

chic-a-boom

Specializing in 20's - 80's collectibles and memorabilia, if you like your pop history with a splash of kitsch, you'll love all the vintage treasures at Chic-a-Boom.

This hidden Melrose haunt, just east of La Brea and best known by the big sign shooting off the roof, carries everything from vintage postcards and posters to magazines, pins and toys. The architecturally pre-war space is like a giant grown up toy store overflowing with great finds stacked and piled in every nook and cranny.

The shop's been around nearly 30 years. The owner - who used to have a second store devoted purely to rock-n-roll goodies - is a trip, and after a few minutes of easy conversation with her, it's obvious she's passionate about everything she brings in - and equally passionate about who she allows to take home a few of the more rare finds.

Despite wanting to buy half the store - and refraining from walking out the door with a life-size David Cassidy (watch out Hoff!) - the Beer talked himself into an original, untouched, 60's NY subway Connery Bond poster that's become one of our prized possessions.

Whether you're in the market for a big vintage splurge or a few fun things to spruce up your decor, this is a fun spot everyone Angeleno should check out at least once.

6817 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038

(323) 931-7441

bread bar

In a sea of Atkins inspired protein peddlers, Breadbar is a refreshing return to what eating is supposed to be.. good, simple, comforting, food.

The space - both indoors and out on the patio - is inviting, and when you walk through the door, the sweet smell of baked goodness is hard to resist. The beautiful display of floor to ceiling bread loaves that flank the entry wall is impressive and enough to make any foodie weak at the knees. If you're in the mood for brek, the omelettes - for example, eggplant and gorgonzola (all paired with a complementary artisan bread) with fig brioche - are yummy, and if you're in the mood for a splurge, the french toast is hard to beat. For lunch, the sandwiches on a wide variety of fresh baked breads are super tasty.

Despite not coming out of the oven, the oatmeal was a great alternative if you're there on a cold morning. Same goes for the coffee, lattes and capps, which were all much better than average. The first server we had was a checked out ass, but his replacement was sweet as pie and on the ball to right what he'd wronged, so overall, no complaints on that front.

Don't forget to grab a loaf (or two) and some pastries for the road. You'll be sorry if you don't! You might think of this place as a splurge to blow the glycemic bank on, but they manage to balance things out with reasonable portions unlike what you'd expect to find.

Though this isn't a spot I'd necessarily go out of my way to frequent, as an option at the mall after harried shopping or catching a matinee flick, it doesn't get much better.

10250 Santa Monica Boulevard
Century City Mall
Century City, CA 90067

(310) 277-3770

chulada grill

Good Mexican isn't always easy to find, especially when you don't want to leave the house, but Chulada always manages to deliver - literally and figuratively.

I wouldn't go so far as to say everything here is perfect, (complaints about too dry burritos and nachos have been warranted on occasion), but the chilaquiles with verde sauce, chicken and steak (add $1 for both), hits the spot every time. Add their spiced rice pudding or flan and a beer for the perfect combo after a rough day at work. The horchata here is pretty good too.

The specialties of the house are Oaxacan and they do a mean oxtail stew that's worth a visit.

5607 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019

(323) 954-7570

bohac

If Indian imports are your thing, look no further. Bohac on Melrose (which has recently trimmed down from two locations to one), is an Indian trader who carries everything from home furnishings to jewelry.

Come here for amazing textiles, pillows and cushions, a great selection of Indian jewelry (bangles, earrings, cuffs, toe rings, belts, decorative bindis, etc.), large scale furniture, carvings, doors/archways, candles, vases, art and other accessories, and one of the best selections of saris you'll find on this side of town.

If you're in the market for a beautiful sari skirt or wrap, they nearly always have a two for one special going on which makes the prices even better, especially if you're shopping with a friend. Plan to spend some time looking ... the myriad handcrafted textures, colors and designs will keep you occupied trying to decide what to take home.

If you're looking for something in particular - ask. Often they have specials - like tons of copper Indian serveware--that's in storage and needs to be sold.

7556 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 966-0096

pink's

This places gets props just for the historic kitsch factor. Being that I hadn't been here since I used to ditch junior high, I decided to stop by with the Beer's parents visiting from the UK.

Thankfully, the line moved quickly an we had our to-go order, packed and out the door, in under twenty. The chili was just as I remembered it - oily and meh. I can think of at least a dozen places with better chili BUT this is still a fine dog. No doubt in my mind there isn't a kosher dog in the house, but for cheap eats, can't really complain.

The Pastrami Reuben dog was tempting (with mustard, kraut, swiss cheese and pastrami), but I finally settled on the Martha Stewart dog (a 10" stretch dog, mustard, kraut, relish, chopped tomatoes, three slices of bacon and sour cream) and it was damn good. The folks had the polish sausages with grilled onions and mushrooms and seemed content. Next time, I'm getting the Mulholland dog. It's a bit of a mystery to me what's (not) on it, but I saw a few made, and man did they look good.

I wouldn't advocate going when the line is around the corner, but if you can catch it when it's not and you're mood for a creative, messy, piled high dog, this is the place to be.

Tip - Some people have made cracks about the line being an e-ticket to the toilet. If that's what you're in the market for, head over to OkiDog on Fairfax - they'll give you the shits (and maybe a little salmonella) every time.

709 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038

(323) 931-4223

shambhala

Who knew the path to enlightenment was in Eagle Rock? This is another one of the city's little known gems. The Center offers all sorts of instruction and courses on everything from art to sex and relationships.

Obviously, the big focus here is meditation. They offer meditation instruction a couple of weeknight evenings and Sunday mornings for FREE. That's right boys and girls, no excuses. You can go here for a great group experience that's open (and suitable) for everyone from the novice to the advanced. What better way to unwind from work and life?

If you're not so sure about jumping into the meditation thing but want to check out the Center and learn a thing or two, they also offer a Thursday night public program (also FREE though donations are gratefully accepted) which focuses on different topics with various instructors (check their website for a complete schedule).

The space is great and the people at the Center are pretty wonderful too. It's a great way to get a taste of Eastern philosophy without feeling like someone may try to enlist you in a cult. If you haven't been, this should be on your "must do" list.

Check out http://la.shambhala.org for more info.

963 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 255-5472

kiku sushi

Aside from the casual sidewalk seating, Kiku offers a pleasantly surprising comfy and upscale neighborhood environment for moderately priced, fresh, creative sushi.

Time and care has been spent decorating the space to transform it from being another generic box with a sushi bar, and the dim lighting, painted walls, cushy window seats and choice of jazz standards playing (at just the right volume) really enhanced the vibe.

Edamame and miso were brought to the table when we we were seated which is always a nice touch - especially on a cool night after a long day.The amaebi was far from the best I've had, but the menu was full of options with a wide variety of rolls and appetizers - the baked New Zealand mussels were great. All of the rolls we had were a departure from the standards we all expect and delish. One stand out is the fiery Heart Attack - a concoction of spicy tuna, crab meat and cream cheese stuffed into a halved jalapeno and baked open face. If you're in the mood for something light and fresh tasting, ask for the Kiku roll which isn't on the menu anymore - salmon and mango - yum.

From the wall of polaroids depicting regulars (including a handful of recognizable faces), we clearly weren't the only fans. Instead of being tacky, it actually lent itself to the warm, homey feel here. Last time we were here, we sat next to the Mayor. Our server was a sweetheart who confided she was a regular before becoming an employee. You may expect parking to a bear, but aside from being able to find a few open meters, even on a Saturday night, the public lot across the street is a good bet.

If you're in the mood for a relaxed evening and leisurely din in the city, don't overlook this find in quaint Larchmont. The whole street is packed with little known restaurants and shops worth checking out (including a wine shop that imports tons of British choc - woo hoo!) and a nice area to enjoy a walk after dinner.

246 N Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 464-1200

Photo courtesy of Joan S.

cake & art

I got turned onto this inconspicuous bakery on Sta. Monica Blvd. in boys town years ago when I was in need of a wedding cake.

When I first got there, I looked around and thought to myself, 'this place specializes in cock cakes, are you for real?' Well, after a short time with the owner, Tom, I learned that they can bring just about anything you can imagine to life in edible art.

I was able to design my own wedding cake complete with my own hand drawn designs which were done in icing. It was nothing short of perfect. Now here's the kicker - Tom will be the first to tell you pricing cakes by the slice (even quality, artistic cakes) is hogwash. My cake which was given a $1200+ estimate everywhere else I went (anyone who's had a wedding can relate), was $300. (The estimate was actually $250 and Tom apologetically explained it was a little more work than they'd anticipated. I was hardly about to complain.) Since then, the shop has taken on a softer feel with additional cases for the many cupcakes they now do as well.

Custom is the name of the game here. They do a variety of standard cake flavors and fillings, but another little known secret is that Tom makes a mean carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. (I'm talkin' mean enough to rival my other fave baker, Sweet Lady Jane). It's THAT good and can be made with or w/out nuts - just like the cock cakes! If you have something in mind that isn't in their repertoire, bring in the recipe and they'll make it so. No kidding - they've done an amazing red velvet cake for me from a friend's recipe.

Since then I've been here for just about every occasion, including a b-day party he did a mad hatter cake for and a friend's baby shower for Beatrix Potter baby block cakes - the delicate, detailed images were screen printed in sugar - they were AMAZING and AFFORDABLE.

Tip: If you want to recreate an original design, make sure you have pictures or drawings and be very explicit in exactly what you have in mind. The one time I just described what I wanted, was the one time I wasn't completely in love with the cake. Every time I came armed with a visual, it was perfection.

Oh, and if you're in the market for a naughty cock, I mean, cake (you can choose race, size, cut, uncut, and with or w/out money shot - though this is one time I'd suggest you pass on bringing a photo) or t&a cake for a bachelor(ette) party, look no further. They do 'em like no one else!

8709 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 657-8694