Locali, a growing SoCal chain known for made-to-order sandwiches, salads, quinoa bowls and other healthy options, is opening its fourth location next month. Locali West Hollywood will open to the public on October 19. Locali aims to ‘empower customers to eat smart all day and make healthy dietary decisions.’ Their menu features natural, certified-organic and locally-sourced ingredients; antibiotic and hormone free deli meats from animals that have been fed a vegetarian grain diet; and an array of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Menu items include fan-favorites such as the completely vegan “Badass Breakfast Sandwich,” which was named one of “LA’s 10 Best New Sandwiches” by Zagat, as well as the “Vegan Brekkie Burrito,” voted by CBS as one of “The Best Breakfast Burritos in Los Angeles.” Meat options include the “Wayward Pilgrim” and other sandwiches. Locali also serves up salads, quinoa bowls, smoothies, coffee and tea. Locali West Hollywood will be located at 8730 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood CA 90069. Additional locations in Hollywood and Venice, with sister restaurant Localita & the Badass Brasserie in Downtown LA. For more information, visit Locali online.
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CREAM, or Cookies Rule Everything Around Me, has graced LA’s sweets scene with its playful renditions on ice cream cookie sandwiches, brownie sandwiches, waffle sandwiches, and basically any other sweet item that comes out of an oven or iron. Rich, quality ice cream, hot baked goodies and colorful toppings come in huge portions at a very reasonable price point, making CREAM a magnet for anyone with a sweet tooth. CREAM follows the same customization mantra that allows patrons to make their own decadent dessert from dozens of options, including soy-based, gluten free and vegan selections. They also bake their product in-house daily, adding freshness to the stores’ home feel. Around two dozen ice cream flavors are ever-changing to keep things interesting, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t try their salted caramel and churro flavors. The waffles, cooked on the spot and sweet as can be, highlight the baked selections, followed by rich brownies and doughy cookies. The do’sant [short for donut-croissant] sounds great on paper but doesn’t necessarily bode well with ice cream. If you’re really looking for a treat, go for the ice cream taco, essentially a taco shell-shaped cone that houses three massive scoops of ice cream and two toppings. Fruity pebbles and Nutella, anyone? The shakes are excellent as well. Just be prepared for the line. The late-night rush at CREAM’s North Hollywood location will have people waiting out the door for 20-30 minutes. Wait times and peak periods vary by location, and if you time it right there should be no wait at all. CREAM has locations across the US, with LA stores in North Hollywood, Northridge, Ontario and the USC area. Hours vary. Average out-the-door price for ice cream sandwich + toppings is ~$6.25/person. For more information, CreamNation.com. Umami Burger has taken the burger world by storm, and has become a household name in major cities across the country. This full-service chain has built its reputation on not just creating fun, intricate burgers, but engineering them to showcase umami to its fullest extent. Umami, by the way, is a Japanese term that describes the savory ‘fifth taste’ on top of the traditional sweet, salty, sour and bitter flavor spectrum. So the real question remains: has Umami Burger produced true umami? Rich patties and decadent sauces make for some darn good burgers. The manly, for instance, unleashes tremendously hearty flavor with housemade beer cheddar sauce, bacon lardons and smoked salt onion strings. The sunny side takes a less rich, but equally hearty approach with perfectly-cooked fried egg, arugula, truffle aioli and Parmesan frico [a crunchy disc of baked grated parmesan] that adds excellent texture. Additionally, Umami Burger is part of a growing trend where each location has its own signature burger. Those venturing to Hollywood must try the blue Lucy, which literally bursts with cheesy goodness. Fries are a must, of course, and take their own approach to umami. The manly fries are every bit as potent as the burger, and make you yearn for even more bacon. Maple bacon sweet potato fries and truffle cheese fries each boast their own excellent qualities as well. If you insist on steering away from the core menu, Umami’s ‘don’t have a cow’ menu features some excellent nontraditional non-burgers from the crispy [and very hot!] diablo chicken sandwich to seared ahi tuna and falafel ‘burgers’. While everything on the menu undoubtedly holds its promised savory flavor, the biggest criticism comes with leaving hungry. The standard Umami Burger patty is six ounces, which is just big enough to push into the entrée category but still too small to truly satisfy someone seeking a substantial meal. This factors in fries, which are extra, and quite a bit extra at that. While we’re on pricing, Umami Burger is far from cheap. $15 burgers are a breath of fresh air compared to the overpriced small plates that litter LA, but making it a meal with a cocktail will more than double the cost…hard to justify even with one of the best old fashions in town [read: bacon]. Does Umami Burger live up to its accolades? Yes, as long as your food isn’t left on the kitchen counter for too long and served cold [yup, this happened]. Just don’t come starving and looking for a bargain. Umami Burger has locations across California, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. Average out-the-door cost for burger, fries, split dessert and 1 – 2 drinks is ~$50/person. For more information visit Umami Burger online. |
AuthorBenjamin Brown is a seasoned restaurant writer and hospitality consultant, serving up SoCal's hottest food news and reviews. Categories
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