Our good friend Reecie from Honorable Media hooked us up with a  guest post  where she shares some great info on another spot for some Good Eats.

The Griddle Cafe is a trendy and always packed hole-in-the-wall spot on Sunset in Hollywood. It’s a blink and you’ll miss it but you won’t miss the loads of people waiting outside to get a taste of one of THE best breakfast spots in town. If you have two hours to kill for a leisurely breakfast or lunch before you get your day in full swing, then this is the place to check out.

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I left the office to run some errands the other day and decided I wanted to do something special for the Mrs. There is this chic little bakery on Wilshire called, Vanilla Bake Shop. I stopped there a few months ago, before they opened because the design geek in me was drawn to the posh sign-age that adorns the storefront. I had a feeling then that I was going to love this place, and I was right! Vanilla is a concept shop with a straight forward product line. They do high-end cakes for weddings and special occasions, but I was there there for their wide range of gourmet cupcakes. Gourmet? Santa Monica? This is gonna hurt my pockets right? Nope! I asked the nice fellow behind the counter to run down the numbers on their gift assortments. The large cupcakes work out to be about $10 for three (which is plenty considering how rich they are). They also have “Cupcake Babies” which are a smaller version of the original that will allow you and your sweetheart to sample everything without feeling too guilty. I opted for a box of three grown-up cupcakes. The spicy carrot and fudgy brownie varieties stood out and went over well with my queen. They bake a different assortment of flavors each day of the week. I think I’ll check back next Sunday and try the mint-chocolate joints.

Over all this spot is definitely elevated. For less then fifteen-bucks you can get a nicely wrapped gift for someone you dig, and a cupcake or two for you to devour on the way home. The next time you are on the west side, drop in for a box and tell Amy (the owner and baker) that Propaganda Champ says hi.

Vanilla Bake Shop

512 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310.458.6644

Where to go after the club? Well you can hit one of the typical spots: Denny’s, IHOP or Norms…or you can venture over to Berri’s Pizza Café. If you get there in a timely matter (before 1:30am), you will be able to walk in with ease, get a table, and get to ordering. But if you like to parking lot pimp, by the time you get to Berri’s you will think you were still at the club; this spot will seem as if you need to be on the guest list to get in. Offering a great assortments of pastas, pizzas and teas, Berri’s is a great place to eat, regardless of the time of day. Go for lunch or for a midnight snack, and try the lobster pizza while you are there.

Berri’s Pizza Café
8412 Third St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Raw fish? I must admit, I haven’t always been a fan. But Café Sushi on Beverly Boulevard has done its part in making me change my tune. Its casual, friendly atmosphere is a great departure from other stuffy Los Angeles restaurants; and after one bite of their warm Spicy Tuna Rice Cakes (a must), I was completely converted.

Located right down the street from the Beverly Center, this cozy restaurant is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Their service is quick, the fish is fresh, and I’ve never ordered something I didn’t like. I recommend the Crunchy Roll, Baked Cod or their tasty Chicken Teriyaki (for the remaining sushi skeptics out there).

Park in the adjacent lot ($3.50 to valet), as you need a permit to park on the street. I promise, your mouth will thank you.

Café Sushi
8459 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048-3415
Phone: (323) 651-4020

Everyone has that favorite restaurant, bar, or lounge. Well, my current favorite is Katana Robata Grill, located on Sunset Blvd. Since reservations are a must, its not a simple hop out the car favorite. This is a deliberate destination where a little planning wouldn’t hurt.

Nestled between the walls of a large office building you will find Katana, an all-in-one destination for great food, drinks and décor. A variety of seating and menu options can make each trip to Katana a unique experience. For your first visit, select a cocktail of your choice and try the Sukesada Robata Combination; this will give you a great introduction to the Katana menu. More experienced diners should opt for one of their great sushi rolls. Check out the site and make your reservation for Katana.

Katana
8439 W. Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood

LaLa’s Argentine Grill

As I stepped onto a patio dimly lit by candles, it was clear that a relaxing and peaceful meal was in store. A cool summer breeze blowing aromas from the kitchen made LaLa’s seem a little to good to be true. Perfect for a casual dinner date, its cozy yet relaxed atmosphere is sure to ignite romance.

As with most dinners, LaLa’s serves bread; but instead of the conventional butter, Lala’s dishes up Chimichurri, a delicious Argentinian sauce made of olive oil and various spices and herbs. If you aren’t full from the delicious bread and sauce, couple one of their salads with a pasta dish or their specially cooked meats, and you have a great meal. I recommend the Ravioli De Vegetales (Vegetable Ravioli) or the Costilla (Rib Eye Steak)

Combine the ambiance and menu you will not be disappointed with Lala’s Argentine Grill.

Lala’s Argentine Grill
7229 Melrose Ave
Los Angele, Ca. 90046
323.934.6838

BREAKFAST is my absolute favorite meal of the day. A line from Jay-Z states, “Never eat at Denny’s,” and for the sake of this post, I’m gonna assume it was for the same reasons as me.

Aside from the fact that I consider Denny’s food indigestible (grand SLAM!: the sound Denny’s pancakes make when they hit the bottom of your stomach - take a load off, they ain’t goin’ nowhere anytime soon), I just think we should care more about how we start our day.

My pick are the Blueberry Flax Seed Griddlecakes (or pancakes: they’re round, ya put syrup on ‘em, whatever) at Doughboys Bakery. Yeah, they’re a little darker and denser than the ones you grow up with. And the word “flax” sounds like something you would’ve gotten your mouth washed out for saying when you were a wee lad or lass.

But listen, they are delicious and GOOD FOR YOU. (No, that was not an oxymoronic statement, these things exists). Try ‘em. Enjoy ‘em. You’re body will thank you (and you can thank me later).

Get Nuttier: Use sugar-free syrup to top off these gratifying gandies.

Doughboys Bakery
1156 N Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-9117