alcove cafe

i'm a big fan of fancy sandwiches. i'm not too sure what it is about them, i'm usually not a fan of delicate food that seems like it's made for a princess, but if you put it between bread... done! i really like alcove for their somewhat odd takes on sandwiches. i got a ham and cheese sandwich and it had a surprise, apples! the apples didn't make me mad, i liked that they added some crunch and that they added some type of texture and a surprising hint of sweetness, that made the sandwich good. the philly cheesesteak panini was pretty damn good also, the beef was good and it comes with some dipping sauce that makes it that much more flavorful and messy. you know something is good if it ends up making a bit of a mess. get your mind out of the gutter, i know where you were going with it, sicko. the only thing about alcove is that it's kind of pricey. it seems that you can't find fancy sandwiches for a good price. both the ham and cheese and the philly cheesesteak are in the twelve dollar range. that's kind of a lot, but you do have your choice a fries, onion rings, house salad, caesar salad, or some apple-pear coleslaw. i got the fries, i'm not about to get some crazy side, things remain a classic for a reason. they have a really nice outside seating area, their inside seating area leave something to be desired, it's cramped, the outside is like eating in a really nice backyard. alcove also has breakfast and desserts which look really good but i haven't tried them, yet, but i can't wait to.

four out of five

1921 hillhurst ave
los angeles, 90027

lucille's

i have never really thought about what my version of heaven would smell like but when i walked through the door of lucille’s restaurant in torrance i knew that was what it would smell like. the smell of barbeque sauce smacks you in the face and that’s when you realize that you are in for an amazing taste sensation all up in your grill. the menu is pretty bit considering that they are best known for their barbequed entrees, they have a lot of sandwich options and surprisingly, some vegetarian options. they cook their meat for a really long time, so that way it’s all soft and nice instead of just ok. i got the brisket and really liked it. you have the option of two sides with your meal, if you get one of the barbeque meals, that is. you have to chose between a lot, it’s a little daunting, the exact amount of sides that they have is fourteen; yow-za! i had the shoestring fries, they were yummy-tastic, and coleslaw which i liked but i prefer my coleslaw with a bit more mayo, theirs was a little dry. i almost forgot, the best part of going to lucille’s, other than the smell, is the fact that they have three different kinds of barbeque sauce on the table, it’s like ihop with their syrups. the sauces are pretty much mild, medium and hot, i really liked the hot sauce, it’s the kind of hot that lulls you into a false sense of security because it kind of creeps up on you and smacks you in the face a little later. since the barbeque is cooked all day, you get your food in about a second after you order, who wouldn’t like that? the only thing that i didn’t like was that it’s really loud in that restaurant, it’s the music, i don’t like yelling my order at someone unless it’s at a drive-thru window.

three and a half out five tummy pats

thirteen locations throughout southern california, nevada, and arizona