Puerto Barrios-Closed

Puerto Barrios
2830 N. Fletcher Dr.
Los Angeles
323-664-7700

Puerto Barrios is a Guatemalan restaurant in the Atwater Village area of LA. I have no experience with Guatemalan food but I was willing to give it a try.

I got the Pechuga A La Plancha, $12.50, which is grilled chicken that came with rice and salad. The chicken was topped with lots of onions and peppers and tasted just like any chicken from any Latino restaurant. Same spices and flavors. The chicken was tender and the portion was big. The rice was white rice with some peas and carrots. The salad was your everyday bagged salad.

Service is good but the server doesn't speak much English, but she was friendly.

I'm not sure what I ordered was Guatemalan or Mexican but I did enjoy the food. I will come back to try something that is more Guatemalan.

Bigmista BBQ at Atwater Village Farmer's Market

Bigmista BBQ at Atwater Village Farmer's Market
3250 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
562-423-4BIG

Bigmista BBQ is a catering company that sets up at local Farmer's Markets in the LA area. He is in Torrance on Tuesday, Lawndale on Wednesday, El Segundo on Thursday, and Watts on Saturdays.

I got the half rack of ribs, $10. The ribs are well smoked, tender, and has a very spicy rub, which I think is a good thing. But I thought the ribs were a big fatty and I wasn't that impressed with them. They aren't the best ribs I've had, all readers of The New Diner know, I've had the best ribs at Phillips BBQ. They were average. I do know that Bigmista is known for his brisket. His brisket wins many BBQ competitions. Of course I am not a brisket fan. They also serve tri tip and pulled pork at Atwater Village. At other locations they serve chicken.

Nice friendly service and you won't miss Bigmista.

I may go to Bigmista again for their brisket, I wouldn't go for their ribs.

Tam O'Shanter

Tam O'Shanter
2980 Los Feliz Blvd
LA
323-664-0228

Tam O' Shanter has been a part of LA since 1922. They are a part of the Lawry's restaurant family. It's a quaint, old cottage with the servers dressed in 1800 era clothing.

I ordered the chopped beefsteak for $19. It's 10oz for angus beef, which I ordered medium rare. It came to me, charred on the outside and rare on the inside. I'm not that picky about how my meat is cooked unless it's overcooked. I can handle meat that is rare, I even order meats cooked rare at times. But I can't believe they would make a mistake like that here at Tam O Shanter. The beefsteak was good but it's nothing special.

Service is good. Our server was prompt, friendly and helpful. Though a couple times it took awhile to get my water glass filled. I wasn't happy with the way they handled my reservation. I had reservations for 7:15pm. We arrived at 7:10pm and didn't get seated until 7:25pm. Maybe that's not a big deal but why even make reservations?

I think Tam O'Shanter has gone down in the quality of food since I last went there back in the late 90's. I wouldn't go back but I think Tam O'Shanter is a place everybody should experience at least once.