Spicy Fried Chicken at Cube
It’s that time again when cheapskate foodies rejoice: Huzzah! Dine LA’s Restaurant Week when you get a chance to try out your favorite restaurant or one that you’ve always been curious about a la prix fixe. That way you can get a taste of all courses from apps to dessert at a reasonable price.
Always a resounding success, this winter 2010′s lineup boasts 234 SoCal-area restaurants to choose from. First-time participants include Il Grano, Eva, Cecconi’s, Joe’s Restaurant, Jar and Ortolan.
Each lunch and dinner is categorized in different price tiers: deluxe dining lunch $16 and dinner $26; premier dining lunch $22 and dinner $34; and fine dining lunch $28 and dinner $44.
I took a look at the extensive restaurant list and was a bit overwhelmed at first, but then was able to narrow it down to a manageable few. I ain’t Ms. Money Bags! I’ll be lucky if I can fit in one or two. Anyway, also included are my picks for courses that sound yum along with their regular prices if available.
- Ortolan (dinner $44): Seared scallop with pumpkin gnocchi; Poached Salmon with White Butter, Baby Potato and Bacon; Vanilla Honey Panna Cotta with Tangerine Caviar ($12)
- Cube (dinner $44): Maple braised bacon ($10); Meyer lemon & herb-roasted half chicken ($24); Valrhona Chocolate & Butterscotch Pot de Creme Duo ($8)
- Drago Centro (dinner $44): garganelli, bacon, cardoon, chile flake; black cod, gnocchi, salsify, lemon beurre blanc; chocolate custard, citrus fruits, vanilla cream ($9)
- Eva (dinner $34): hamachi, winter fruit; fried chicken, creamed spinach, crushed potato (about $20); chocolate decadence ($8)
Restaurant week is from January 24 to 29 and January 31 to February 5 so start calling up and making reservations now. Or book online via the Dine LA site on your chosen restaurant’s page.
BTW, if you have an American Express card and dine out three or more times during restaurant week, you’ll get a $20 credit on your statement.
EVENT: JANUARY 24 to 29 and JANUARY 31 to FEBRUARY 5
Uh, so at Cube is it cheaper to order Dine LA menu items without designating that you are doing so under Dine LA auspices ($42 vs. $44)? It looks like you don’t have enough info to do a similar comparison for the other restaurants that you mentioned, but do you think you would have similar results? What am I missing?
Scrooge,
Yeah, that’s my problem with some of the dineLA stuff. I had gone to dinner at Taste on Melrose with my brother and his husband and they pointed out that it was better to just order what they wanted instead of stick to what was on the dineLA menu. That way you can pick what you want and eat as much or as little as you want. It’s hit or miss but I take it as a way to see what dishes the restaurants want to show off.
That’s a good way of looking at it. I went to Gladstones last year during Dine LA and am sure that I got a “bargain”. I also had a Dine LA dinner at Comme Ca that was probably not a good deal but I’m glad that I tried the dishes that they suggested
Any interest in tracking the best Dine LA deals? My ideal scenario would be when the Dine LA price makes the dessert essentially free ’cause dessert is the first thing that I skip when I’m trying to save on the check. I’d love to hear about those situations when you spot them.
Scrooge,
I like the way you think! Free dessert! BTW, I asked a dineLA person what’s the deal with the not-deal on Cube’s menu and she said: “dineLA encourages the restaurants to design their prefix to be a ‘deal.’ But it is up to the restaurants discretion.”
So it is up to the restaurant to come up with their own menus aka deals. So that’s def a question to ask Cube.
With Tam O’ Shater, you are basically getting the dessert free.
But this time they are only offering the souffle at lunch! Usually you can get it at dinner too…
Caroline (On Crack),
Cube is in the $$ category for Dine LA so it only costs $33.00 for dinner! Turns out we’re getting a great deal there.
Also, I tried Bar Food last night on your recent rec. Great call! Staff was fun but efficient and the Guinness Beef stew was excellent – tender, not too salty, light broth. Thanks!