The New Diner blog reviewed restaurants in the LA area from 2005-2012. Due to space limitations, I have now continued restaurant reviews on The New Diner 2.
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Pepe's NY Pizza 11946 Ventura Blvd Studio City 818-358-2233
This maybe the first pizza place The New Diner has reviewed in the Valley. I read up about Pepe's NY Pizza and people had good things to say about it.
Whenever I go to NY-style pizza places, I want to order fresh baked pizzas. I don't want a pizza that has been sitting around forever. The only time I order slices, is when I see a freshly made pizza being put into the display case or know that a place has good turnover and the pizza was recently, say last 15 minutes, made.
Sicilian pizza with pepperoni, $23.99. Cut into squares, this was OK. Most Sicilian pizza I've had, the crust was very soft and chewy. The crust was a bit heavier and dense and crisp. The sauce was very good, mild flavor that didn't overwhelm the pizza. The pepperoni was kind of bland, there was nothing special about. I did think they could have put more pieces of pepperoni on the pizza.
This was a pricey pizza, $21 for just plain cheese and $2 per topping. I don't think it was worth the price.
Vegetarian pizza, $20.99, for a 20 in. pizza. The price for a 20 in. cheese pizza is, $16.99 and $2 for extra toppings, so this was a good deal. This pizza had tomatoes, onions, black olives, bell peppers, and mushrooms. The crust was thin, but thicker than most New York style pizza places. But, this crust was soggy, maybe from all the veggies on the pizza? But, I've had veggie pizzas where the crust was firm and held up to the veggies.
Service was very good. The guy was nice and helpful.
Overall I wasn't too impressed the Pepe's NY Pizza. I wouldn't make a special trip back, and if I'm the area, I would prefer to try another pizza place, than go back to Pepe's.
Art's Delicatessen & Restaurant 12224 Ventura Blvd Studio City 818-762-1221
I was in the mood for a deli sandwich. Recently, I heard about Art's Deli for the first time, even though the sign in Art's window says they are 52 years old!!! Meaning that they opened up one year before that drunk Mick, stole the Brooklyn Dodgers from their rightful place. Yes, in all the time I have been doing The New Diner, I have not heard about Art's at all! Sure I heard and reviewed Brent's Deli and I did enjoy the sandwiches. But once somebody told me about Art's I decided to go on Veterans Day.
It should be clear, to readers of The New Diner, that I have the utmost respect for the men and women in our military. Personally I could care less what anybody's opinion about the War on Terror maybe, you have that right to disagree with the war. But what you gutless cowards forget is that you have that right, that freedom because of all the brave men and women in the military. So because of what they do, nobody should ever say anything bad about the brave men and women who are in our military. There is a very special person, who I went to high school with, who has been in the Army since a year after we graduated from high school. So this is personal, when somebody says anything bad about the people in the military, they are saying something bad about her and I will not put up with it.
But it does seem to me that for everything the men and women in the military do and have done for us, having one day to honor them, just doesn't seem to be enough!!
I got half a pastrami and corned beef sandwich, $12.50. I asked the server what is the difference between a half and whole sandwich, she said there is 5oz of meat on the half sandwich and 8oz of meat on the whole sandwich!! I wasn't too hungry and thought $15.50, was a bit pricey for a whole sandwich.
When the sandwich arrived, I was very impressed!!! It was very much like a lot of New York deli's I have been to, Katz's Deli where they stack the meat high on the plate. The quality of meat was very good, even better than Brent's Deli. The corned beef was moist, tender, and full of flavor. The pastrami was awesome, better than the pastrami at Langers. The pastrami was moist, tender, very little fat, well cured, and just so good. The difference is that Langers cuts their pastrami much thicker than other delis. But Art's pastrami is much better. The rye bread was good. Soft and chewy and tough, crunchy crust. The crust wasn't hard as a rock like Langers.
Service was below average. The server was OK but I noticed I didn't get something that other tables got. Other tables got a plate of pickles, I didn't get any pickles. Another server asked me if I wanted a refill on my water, my server. The place wasn't crowded at all. About 10 tables and three servers. So what the hell the server was doing, I have no idea. I will say she was nice.
What was bad was the host. I walked into Art's and there were three young, teenagers at the registers. None of them even said HI, they were too busy talking to each other. I wait there hoping somebody says something to me until I finally said should I seat myself or what? The young girl said "No, I'll seat you." Then get to work stupid. This is just terrible. All three have to be blind or just stupid not to see me. I shouldn't have to ask if I should seat myself. When I got up to pay my bill, the young guy didn't say anything. Even at Denny's they ask "How was everything?" Not here at Art's!!! Terrible.
Overall, I thought the food at Art's was pretty good. But the sandwiches, while they were piled high with good quality meats, were pricey!!! So when you combine high prices with the terrible service, I see no reason to come back.
Uncle Andre's 11715 Moorpark St Studio City 818-763-8414
Uncle Andre's is one of the worst fake BBQ places I have ever been to. BBQ is all about cooking the meat with the smoke of hardwoods. It is not cooking meats in a stupid oven, finishing them up on a grill, and drowning it in BBQ sauce, what I call Chilizing of BBQ.
I got the half rack of baby back ribs, $12.25. After I ordered them, I could see the cooks putting a half rack of ribs on the GRILL!!!!! The ribs were not better than any Tony Roma's or Chili's.. I knew the ribs would be hot to the touch since they were reheated on the griill. They were meaty, not much fat, since they are baby backs, and had a cumin and paprika rub on the outside. What a waste of money.
Service at Uncle Andre's SUCKS. The workers speak broken English, are rude, and not helpful at all. After I ordered the ribs, he told me the ribs would take 25 mins to be ready. WTF??? I told them I would eat there but the ribs were packaged in a to go container that had no napkins or forks or knives. I still ate there, got some napkins, forks and a knife. I finished eating but I looked around and there was no trash cans. I saw one of the workers and asked if there was a trash can. He said something but I couldn't understand what he was saying so I just left my tray there and walked out.
I will never go to Uncle Andre's again. Terrible ribs, terrible service and anybody who thinks Uncle Andre's is good BBQ, they are morons.
Carneys 12601 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, CA 818-761-8300
Carney's is my third and final stop to celebrate the Chicago White Sox winning the 2005 ALCS. My other two stops were Cupid's and QT Chicago Dogs.
As you can see Carneys is a very unique location, a renovated train. A nice way to stand out. Today though some idiot got into an accident right in front of the parking lot entrance to Carneys. Oh well, plenty of street parking so that isn't too much of a problem.
Still continuing the Chicago theme, I went to Carney's to try their Chicagoan Hot Dog and Spicy Polish. The Chicagoan Hot Dog was $2.44. The hot dog comes with on a steamed bun which made the bun a little soggy. The hot dog was pretty good but as you can see it isn't a true Chicago Dog, no pickles, tomatoes, or celery salt. But relish and onions were fresh. Overall a good hot dog but I think Cupid's is a better hot dog and a better deal.
Then I tried the Chicagoan Polish Dog grilled for $3.36. When you asked for it grilled, they will split it in half and put it on the grill. Not bad but the polish dog certainly wasn't spicy. I think a little overpriced and not worth it. Mustard's in better.
There were many people who ordered burgers during the time I was there. I may go back and try a burger. I would pass on the hot dogs or polish dogs.
Pepe's NY Pizza
