Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Downtown Los Angeles
Cole's
SANDWICHES
11am-10pm Sun-Wed, to 11pm Thu, to 1am Fri & Sat)
A funky old basement tavern known for originating the French Dip sandwich way back in
1908, when those things cost a nickel. You know the drill - french bread piled with sliced
lamb, beef, turkey, pork or pastrami, dipped once or twice in
au jus
.
Sushi Gen
JAPANESE
11:15am-2pm & 5:30-9:45pm)
Seven chefs stand behind the blond-wood bar, carving thick slabs of melt-in-your-mouth
salmon, buttery toro, and a wonderful Japanese snapper, among other staples. The sashimi
special at lunch ($18) is a steal. Sushi Gen doesn't do jazzy rolls, and you best come early
to grab a seat.
Woodspoon
BRAZILIAN
11am-2:45pm & 5-10pm Tue-Fri, noon-3pm & 6-11pm Sat, closed Sun)
We love it all, the hand-picked china, the vintage Pyrex pots of black beans and rice, and
the Brazilian owner-operator who still chefs it up in the back. Her pork ribs fall off the
bone, in a bath of grits and gravy. Her take on steak frites substitutes wedges of fried yucca
for fries, and her pot pie put this place on the map.
Maccheroni Republic
ITALIAN
11:30am-3pm & 5:30-10pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-10pm Sat, 4:30-9pm Sun)
Tucked away on a still ungentrified corner is this gem with a lovely heated patio and tre-
mendous Italian slow food. Don't miss the
polpettine di gamberi
, flattened ground shrimp
cakes fried in olive oil. It serves a range of delicious housemade pastas, but doesn't have
beer or wine. Bring your own.
