Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe - West Los Angeles, California

Address: 2055 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles, CA 90025

Items Ordered:

• Pho Tai Bo Vien - fresh rice noodles with rare steak & beef ball
• Bun Bo Hue - spicy lemongrass beef soup w/ vermicelli noodles, pork patty, & beef
• Cha Gio - crispy egg rolls w/ ground pork, shrimp, carrots & glass noodles
• Nem Nuong Cuon - rice paper rolls w/ grilled pork patty (not pictured)

Ever since reading on Eater LA that Nong Lá was open on the Westside, I was just itching to try the food. Luckily, I have friends that indulge my foodie needs, and we headed to the restaurant for lunch last week. The space was a little cramped but the wait at lunchtime was only about 5 minutes for 2 people. With my first taste of the pho broth & beef meatballs, I knew I would come back here for my Vietnamese food fix. The broth was lighter than most authentic Vietnamese restaurants probably due to the lack of MSG, but it still managed to be flavorful and hearty. It's also a huge bowl of pho, and I couldn't finish all of it (a first!). The bun bo hue was also tasty, but the spiciness level would have ranked in milder on the Scoville Scale than at other Vietnamese restaurants. Try the deep fried egg rolls too, they are crunchy and delicious, and I felt semi-better wrapping it in a huge piece of lettuce before gobbling it up. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the nem nuong cuon...stick with Brodard's for that item. Service was very attentive, but they tend to forget some parts of your orders. I'm sure with time and experience the staff will figure out their kinks. I hope Nong Lá sticks around for awhile as I plan to come back soon!

--y

Fig & Olive - West Hollywood, California

Address: 8490 Melrose Pl, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Items Ordered:

• Sea scallops & truffle artichoke tapenade (not pictured) - White Truffle Oil
• Paella del Mar - saffron rice w/ tiger shrimp, scallop, mussels, etc - Hojiblanca Olive Oil
• Mediterranean branzino w/ fig & balsamic - Koroneiki Olive Oil

Who doesn't love their birthday? Not only do you get to see people that you love all in one place BUT the best part is that they want to buy you food and drinks :D. On this particular birthday celebration, I got to see Connie and try some of her paella which had succulent scallops & shrimp atop creamy carbohydrates. As for my own dish, I enjoyed the crispy branzino skin, but the sweetness & mushiness of the figs were a little off-putting for my taste. The bread dipped in different olive oils was a great start to the meal, and I liked the richness that the different oils added to the flavor of the dishes. The overall decor of the restaurant was elegant and the service was impeccable. I could see why President Obama (or his staff) would have chosen to hold a fundraiser here. As for a return visit, I wasn't completely wowed by the food or concept, but if you're looking for a treat or somewhere to impress your date, then I would recommend paying a visit.

--y