Dine LA

Looking for upscale dining experience at a less than upscale price? This is the place: http://dinela.com/restaurantweek and it's been extended till the end of February.

Yes, even the restless home cook pines for a world class dining experience. This is a shot of Gordon Ramsay's, in West Hollywood, which is tucked away in what must be the most expensively renovated hotel in that block. (Hmmm, such a scale).


Heck, even the drive is an adventure, down Sunset past the building-tall billboards, the evocative edifices, the A-list restaurants, the dreams of deals being settled or soured in some quiet back room with bottled still water and icy stares. Sunset Boulevard.

When my husband and I hit Gordon Ramsay's we were met by a friendly and efficient server. She was replaced by a goofy guy whose pants needed help (he crushed the hem of his pants with each step), while his jacket sleeves reached halfway down his palms. His attire didn't spoil the three course experience. I started with a beet and ricotta cheese appetizer, which was more beautiful than delicious. Followed by pan seared sea trout, which had a terrifically crisply, salty skin, and a scoop of butter drenched cabbage. We ended with meyer lemon pudding and buttermilk ice cream, and Valhrona burnt chocolate pudding with vanilla ice cream. It was fun, it was glam, and on the drive back we gawked at Amoeba records and all the guitar shops. We promised each other not to wait another fifteen years to return to the upscale seedy world of West Hollywood.

How about you? Anything look enticing on the list?