Burger Continental - Greek flair, tasty fare

Burger Continental in Pasadena

Behind the cafe store front of this restaurant in Pasadena lies a dining experience you don't want to miss!  Though at first glace it looks like any other mom-and-pop restaurant, a look at the menu will give you the first hint of the treasures within.  Aside from its wide variety of tasty burgers, as proclaimed in its name, Burger Continental  has an amazing variety of Mediterranean dishes.  It is well known locally for its amazing  buffets, served 7 days a week before 3pm, which includes table after table of delicacies from around the world, and champagne on Sundays!  If the menu alone isn't enough draw you in, the atmosphere and entertainment make this a must see location.  Beyond the typical restaurant/cafe front lies an open air dinning hall with gas lamps, canopies and live entertainment!  Wednesday nights feature live Jazz Bands, but its the Mediterranean bands and belly dancers Thursday through Sunday after 7pm that make this spot truly unique.  The family atmosphere and boisterous energy on a weekend night give this location a true old world Greek feeling that any adventurous diner will appreciate.

Porto's Bakery & Cafe:Cuban Culinary Excellance

Some of Porto's delicious desserts!

Porto's Bakery & Cafe is no secret to the citizens of Burbank and Glendale, and with a new location in Downey it is sure to be making new fans all across the Southland.  Crowds of people fight for limited parking in the lots and stand in lines that weave back on themselves three times, and every one of them feels it was worth the wait.  Porto's has a huge selection of cookies, croissants, cheesecakes, mousse cups, cakes and other pastries, as well as breads by the loaf.  There is a full assortment of specialty coffee drinks and sandwiches in the cafe, but what makes this cafe different from all the rest is the traditions of its Cuban roots, still reflected in the menu today.  Sandwiches are served with plantain chips.  Empanadas, meat pies, and  potato balls (one of my personal favorites) are available a la cart or by the dozen.  If you're just stopping in for lunch, try the cafe express line for sandwiches and the most popular bakery items, to avoid the longer lines of the full bakery selection.  Call in your large catering or cake orders for faster pickup as well.  Whether you're looking for catering and bakery items for your next event, lunch with friends, or just a quick snack, Porto's is worth the drive (and the wait!).

Good Eats in LA: An Urban Piknic!

Chardonnay and Pumpkin Ravioli, a delicious dinner at Piknic!

If you're looking for a delicious meal, try Piknic, a chain of restaurants found only in Los Angeles.  The menu includes classics, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as California favorites for all hours, but also has some exclusive surprises, like the Pumpkin Ravioli (which I highly recommend!).  The omelets and burgers can be customized any way you like, and there is a full bar with happy hour specials.  The atmosphere is laid back, the design is urban and the Playa Vista location in particular was a popular locals' hangout from 4pm-7pm.  This is a great place for a night out with the gang or an intimate meal with that special someone!

The Ice Cream & Soda Pop Stop



Classic Banana Split at the Fair Oaks Pharmacy.



The Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain has been a local destination in South Pasadena since 1915.  With its delicious ice cream treats and old fashioned sodas its a little slice of the past, filled with tons of collectible items and gag gifts.  Sandwiches and salads are also served, as well as a variety of coffee drinks, if you're not jumping straight to dessert.  There is free parking around the corner, and lots of shops to browse to walk off the calories.  Great for a date, family outing or just to treat yourself, but if you're planning to order a sundae, bring a friend!  Portions are more than one person can handle!

Fill Your Cravings at Crave Cafe!

Crave Cafe in Studio City.

This is the perfect spot for you and your friends to stop by when you're wandering around the valley wondering what to do in the wee hours of the morning.  With a combination of salty and sweet treats, as well as sandwiches, salads and pizza, the Crave Cafe is a delicious place to satisfy the tastes of your whole group.  Prices are reasonable, but parking can be a trick durring peak hours.  With two locations in the valley, Sherman Oaks and Studio City, and open 24 hours most days (closed Sunday), I highly recommend stopping by for a crepe, burger, cupcake, pizza, mocha and baklavah!

Drinking at Disney - Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

Krakatoa at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar.

If you're like me, you want to enjoy the Disney experience every now and then, without the Disney prices. Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is your chance!  With a large selection of alcohol, Trader Sam's offers the Disney atmosphere, fun and entertainment without ever entering the park.  Located at the Disneyland Hotel, with easy access from Downtown Disney, Sam's offers a variety of island themed drinks, snacks, and entertaining surprises with certain orders.  Free 3 hour parking is available at the Downtown Disney lot, making this Disney adventure cost only the gas it takes to drive there and your bar tab. 

Ice Cream Cookies on the Westside

Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Chip. 



One of the hot spots every student at UCLA knows about is Diddy Riese Cookies in Westwood.  Lines can stretch out the door, and around the corner, for a taste of cookie and ice cream heaven.  What makes Diddy Riese so popular?   Prices and selection.  Diddy Riese offers 10 different kinds of cookies and 12 types of ice cream to make your custom ice cream sandwich dreams come true.  There are coffee and cookie, cookie and milk or ice cream sandwich combos, each for $2 or less, making it the #1 destination for a quick study break, and a must visit for tourists.  Parking can be tricky, and its cash only, so take the family or buy in bulk to make your trip worth while.  There are dozens of restaurants and architectural wonders in the area as well, so you can justify your cookie quest to the non-believers.  Just one taste will help them see the light!

Trade Rush Hour for Happy Hour!




Credit: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson.



Cheesecake Factory Specials.

One of the biggest complaints about Los Angeles is the traffic.  From 4-7pm each weekday, LA freeways are packed with commuters trying to get home.  It can take 2 hours (or longer) to go 13 miles, and commuters find themselves tired, frustrated, angry, and wasting precious gas and time sitting on the roads.  But I have a different suggestion for the weary traveler!  Happy Hour!  Is it coincidence, or fortune, that makes Happy Hour and Rush Hour both occur from 4-7pm?  I'm not saying you should pull over and get blitzed before you drive home.  On the contrary, I regularly enjoy Happy Hour, instead of traffic, with no alcohol at all!  Many local restaurants off great food specials in addition to drinks for the hours between 4pm and 7pm, and since many commuters are trying to race home to eat, it seems to be a perfect fit!  With the rising costs of gas, it may actually be more cost effective to pull over and spend $8 for an appetizer and drink than to sit in traffic burning fuel for 2-3 hours.  And after 7pm, the roads clear and you can get home at a reasonable pace, relaxed and refreshed.  If at least half of the commuters in Los Angeles would take this advice, we may find ourselves with less traffic in the first place!  In the panic of Carmageddon, so many people stayed off of the freeways to avoid the expected chaos, that drive times were the lowest that they had ever been!  I understand that many people are racing home to spend time with family, or get to a meeting or event, and there are times when you can't spare an extra few minutes to stay clear of the madness, but there are plenty of people, like myself, who are just trying to get home to eat dinner, or relax.  So I say, why wait?  Don't worry, beat traffic, try Happy Hour instead!