Rate-A-Restaurant #409: The Bucket (Eagle Rock)

 

Restaurant: The Bucket

Location: 4541 Eagle Rock Blvd. (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Hamburgers

We stipulated:

Another place we have driven past for years, The Bucket had gone dark a few years ago, and it looked like we had lost our chance to try it out. It was revived, yet we didn't visit... until New Food Sunday.

They stipulated: "With new owners and a new outlook it has gotten a second lease on life. The idea of providing locals a place to enjoy good food and good drinks at a reasonable price is re-energized and ready to become a place for the community to call a home away from home."

What we ordered: Bucket Burger (Cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, thousand island; $6.65); York Burger (Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms and Thousand Island; $6.90); Chicken Street Taco (Corn tortilla, cilantro, onions and choice of spicy or mild salsa; $2.25 each); Make your own fritas ($7.25)

 

High point: I was pleasantly surprised by the tacos. For a burger joint, the street tacos are solid.

Low point: There was no line, but we had to wait a surprisingly long time just to pick up our pre-ordered, pre-paid food.

 

Overall impression: Good, solid burger for the price.

Will we return:  I think for Taco Tuesday, when the tacos are just $1!

Rate-A-Restaurant #401: Holi Organic Indian Cuisine

Restaurant: Holi Organic Indian Cuisine

Location: 2131 Colorado Blvd. (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Indian

We stipulated: Maria and I continue "New Food Sundays," inspired by the Los Angeles Times' latest 101 Restaurants special issue. Holi is located in the same spot as Penny Oven, and we knew we wanted something fast and nearby -- and we hadn't had Indian food in a while.

 

They stipulated: Holi is only open for takeout between 4 and 9 p.m. "We make all of our food from scratch using only organic ingredients. Order delivery from any delivery platform or order through our site direct then come pick up your food whenever you like."

 

What we ordered: Chicken with Pickling Spices (A traditional North Indian curry made with a ginger garlic paste and Indian pickling spice) $13.95; Chicken Tikka Masala (Traditional spiced tomato and creamy curry) $13.95; Aloo Tiki (Wood oven-roasted potato patties served with green chutney) $5.95; naan $2.50.

High point: The naan was amazing, almost like a Wetzel's Pretzel style flavor.

Low point: The cinnamon cola I was hoping to also get was not available.

Overall impression: These take-out only restaurants have become more commonplace during the pandemic, but I don't quite know what stands out here beyond being organic. It's OK, but not too memorable.

Will we return:  I wouldn't rule it out, but we have other go-to Indian restaurants.

Jacks at the Park

I don't think we've ever seen Jacks as excited or playful as when we recently brought him to the Eagle Rock park. The dog park was too crowded, but on a late Sunday, there were plenty of other places for dogs to play. Unleashed, Jacks perhaps had too much fun: In his excitement, he sprained his foot! The fun was cut short by his yelp, and we took him home. A few days later, a vet visit confirmed his sprain. He's taking it easy and taking some meds, but hopefully he'll be ready to have some fun again soon.

Rate-A-Restaurant #394: Penny Oven (Eagle Rock)

Restaurant: Penny Oven

Location: 2131 Colorado Blvd. (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Breakfast/Brunch

We stipulated: We were looking to mix things up and try something different for lunch.

They stipulated: "After tremendous success with Four Cafe, Chef Michelle Wilton decided to venture on to her next project, Penny Oven, located just across the street from Four Café. Having always dreamed about a neighborhood wood-fired breakfast and bakery concept she decided that it was time to turn that dream into a reality when the perfect space for her concept presented itself. At Penny Oven, Wilton aims to create a culinary oasis in Eagle Rock that serves great coffee, breakfast, pastries, fresh baked bread, smoothies and fresh juices. Wilton continues to bring her cooking philosophy to life at Penny Oven, utilizing almond wood and the freshest peak season ingredients to create a true, unique balance of textures and flavors."

What we ordered: Shakshuka (Chickpeas, tomato, coconut served with house toast; $9); Eggplant toast (Baba ganoush, local citrus, herb salad; $9); kids grilled cheese ($6); side of bacon ($4); side of hummus and pita ($3); kids pink dragon smoothie (Pitaya, spinach, blueberries, banana apple juice; $6)

High point:  I liked the shakshuka a lot as a nice dip -- a nice mild spice, perfect for the side of toast.

Low point:  The menu wasn't quite as varied as we would have liked; ultimately, Blogger Teen couldn't find anything he wanted.

Overall impression: Good, but the overall concept confuses me a little bit. What does the Penny Oven want to be known for?

Will we return:  Possibly, but don't have an immediately need to go back.

Rate-A-Restaurant #389: Colorado Donuts (Eagle Rock)

Restaurant: Colorado Donuts

Location: 1578 Colorado Blvd #14, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Donuts

We stipulated: Maria and I wanted to do a bike ride through Eagle Rock, and we figured we'd treat ourselves at the end.

They stipulated: The store is open, but only a limited number of people are allowed in at a time. Donuts vary from the basic standards to the more expensive, high-end originals. 

What we ordered: Four ube cake donuts, one horchata donut (a special limited time flavor), one Simpsons-style pink sprinkle donut and two apple fritters..

High point:   Those apple fritters may be my favorite of any I've had, thanks to the extra dose of cinnamon.

Low point:   The menu is confusingly written, so that you don't know how much you're paying for the different donuts. Is the ube cake donut a specialty donut? We ended up paying $21 for our eight donuts, which seems steep.

Overall impression: I've been looking for years to find the perfect ube donut -- right flavor, proper frosting, no greasy aftertaste. This is the closest to what I've been looking for.

Will we return:  For those apple fritters, absolutely. And sure, those ube donuts as well. But I'm going to pay closer attention to what everything costs next time.

Vidiots Moves to Eagle Rock, As Another Local Dark Theater Is Revived

Just months after the Bob Baker Marionette Theater moved to Highland Park and took over the former York Theatre (which had more recently served as a church), another area dark theater-turned-church is also getting a revival.

Eagle Rock's Eagle Theatre, most recently home to a series of churches, will soon return to its original function as a theater — thanks to a revival of famed video store Vidiots.

Now a film nonprofit, Vidiots will relaunch in Fall of 2020 "as an expanded entertainment, social, and community space" at its new home in Eagle Rock. Vidiots closed its Santa Monica location in 2017 after decades there, and various attempts to keep it going. Now it's back, and per Vidiots' press release, the new entity will restore "the 90-year-old, 200-seat Eagle Theatre to its original purpose as an independent theater with state-of-the-art sound and projection (35mm and DCP). Vidiots will offer a full program of repertory titles, new independents, hard-to-find gems, beloved classics and community-driven programs. An expansive adjacent storefront will house Vidiots’ 50,000+ DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection for rental. The location will also have a multi-purpose, state-of-the-art second screening room for film programs, educational workshops, and special events. Vidiots will collaborate with the best local food and beverage partners to provide an exciting and ever-changing culinary menu."

More about the new entity:

Vidiots -- reinventing video store culture for the 21st Century. A one-of-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema, Vidiots is dedicated to inspiring human interaction around film through preserving, growing, and providing access to its diverse DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection, showcasing the work of emerging and master artists, and producing unique film events and vital education programs.

A Los Angeles brick-and-mortar film space founded and helmed by women, Vidiots was opened as an alternative video store in 1985 by L.A. natives Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber. For 32 years Vidiots served its devoted community via the iconic Santa Monica storefront, which shuttered in 2017 in the wake of rising costs. With the generous and unwavering support of Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures (which became a major donor in 2015, along with Vidiots customer Dr. Leonard Lipman), Vidiots was able to store its collection and devise an extensive plan for sustainable relaunch in a new home.

Vidiots’ new home, originally conceived as a vaudeville stage, first opened in May 1929 as The Yosemite Theatre. After a few short days, the Yosemite re-opened as an independent silent movie theater, and a year later it transitioned to sound. In 1940, The Yosemite became The Eagle Theatre. From 1976 to 1979, the theater ran as a Pussycat, part of the infamous adult cinema chain. In 1983, The Eagle once again became a traditional independent cinema, and operated into the 1990s before becoming a series of churches.

With almost-10,000 square feet of entertainment and educational space, Vidiots will operate seven days a week and offer daily screenings and special programs, the full video store with DVD and BluRay rentals, concessions, and a light menu with beer and wine. The main theater (200+ seats, an ample stage, 35mm, DCP, and state-of-the-art sound) will provide flexibility for various screenings and tastemaker events. A second, smaller screening and event space (approximately 50 seats with DCP projection) will be ideal for screenings, workshops, and receptions.

Rate-A-Restaurant #382: Posto Giusto (Eagle Rock)

Restaurant: Posto Giusto

Location: 1948 Colorado Blvd. (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Italian

We stipulated: For a family dinner, we wanted to try something new, and we had heard good things about this new casual Italian joint in Eagle Rock.

They stipulated: "Posto Giusto is a counter service Italian restaurant in the heart of Eagle Rock. We expanded with a fast casual setting from our long time neighborhood restaurant, Blair's, in Silverlake. We opened in the summer of 2017 and so excited to bring great food to the neighborhood.

We make our pastas daily. We take pride in our food down to our stoneware dishes, which we make at our pottery studio in Atwater Village. It is so important for us to support small and local businesses because this brings direct progress to our community. Order at the counter and find a seat. Small plates are the game here, so order several dishes and share."

What we ordered: Meatballs and polenta ($9), fried calamari ($12), bruschetta w/tomato ($6), charred cauliflower ($9), Tonnarelli Puttanesca ($12), Gnocchetti w/ pork sausage ($13)

High point:  Loved the peppers with the calamari, which gave it a nice spice. Tasty cauliflower.

Overall impression: Upscale casual Italian spot is a nice addition to the Eagle Rock eating scene. The small dishes allow you to try and enjoy several things on the menu.

Will we return:  Probably — we haven't yet, but I wouldn't mind giving it another try.

Found Coffee Gets Hit By Thieves, But Finds Solace in Community

Eagle Rock's Found Coffee reports that on Sunday, at around 4 a.m. burglars broke in and stole the coffee shop's registers, plus broke a glass door at Craft Beer Cellar.

But Found Coffee's management is undeterred. Their response to the act is inspiring:

I am so thankful for our regulars Rory, Jordan, and Elliot Scovel who called 911 and called me on my cell phone. Thank you to the countless people who posted on NextDoor & the Eagle Rock Facebook Neighborhood Group Page. Thank you to my team who helped clean up the mess and got us back up and running in no time. Thank you to Jay, especially, for sticking it out the entire day with me. A TREMENDOUS SHOUTOUT goes out to my neighbor at CBC, Corissa, who helped us board up our broken door right away. And of course, thank you to everyone who showed up in support yesterday.

If anything, this break-in demonstrated to me the loving, supporting, and truly caring community we've built in and around this little coffee shop in the short two years we've been here. These mean burglars won't steal our spirits!

You lose, burglars. We win.

From Found Coffee, pics of what happened:

Rate-A-Restaurant #365: Little Beast (Eagle Rock)

Restaurant: Little Beast

Location: 1496 Colorado Boulevard (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: American (new)



We stipulated: My parents were in town and taking the boys out for dinner, which meant an opportunity for Maria and me to have a mini date night. We chose the close-by Little Beast to finally check out.

They stipulated: "The Little Beast Restaurant is the realization of years of culinary training, family dreams and determination by husband and wife team Deborah Schwartz-Lowenthal and Chef Sean Lowenthal. Little Beast came to be because of our desire to have a restaurant on the East Side that rivals the great “foodie” spots in an intimate and inviting space that so easily populates Silverlake and the West Side. Offering a menu of progressive American comfort food, Chef Lowenthal's menus speak to the seasons, the availability of pristine, local produce and to the talents of his team. We strive to be the best dining experience to hit the East Side of LA."



What we ordered: California Sea Bass Crudo (blood orange, frisée, cucumber, radish, yuzu vinaigrette, crispy wonton) $14; Farro & Baby Kale Salad (pomegranate, roasted eggplant, fresno, serrano, cucumber, macadamia nuts, spicy scallion vinaigrette) $11; Blistered Shishito Peppers & Roasted Sunchoke (sweet chili ginger glaze, tamari, almond aioli, crispy spinach) $10; Crispy Octopus (red cabbage & kimchi, spicy aioli, corn tortilla) $10; Meyer Lemon Semifreddo (kumquat, rosemary thyme tuile) $9





High point:  We loved the idea of ordering several small plates rather than just two entrees. It gave us a chance to try a variety of items -- and still be meat-free, since it was a Friday during Lent.
Low point:  There was a surprising lack of kale in the Kale and Ferro salad.



Overall impression: Because it was a crowded Friday evening, we were asked to sit at a communal table. I'm not often a fan of such tables, as it cuts into your privacy... but the couples on both sides of us stuck to their own conversations, while we also had a nice chat with the couple sitting to one side.



Will we return: Absolutely. A nice mix of food, good vibe, decent wine too.

Rate-A-Restaurant #363: Max City BBQ (Silver Lake)

Restaurant: Max City BBQ

Location: 4729 Eagle Rock Blvd. (Eagle Rock)



Type of restaurant: BBQ

We stipulated: A new BBQ place, nearby? Sold. Let's check it out.



They stipulated: "MAX CITY BBQ serves slow-cooked, southern-style barbecue. We combine locally harvested ingredients with traditional, crowd-pleasing recipes to produce fantastic barbecue. Our specialities are wood-smoked ribs and mouth-watering pulled pork. We provide amazing yet affordable food that consistently leaves our diners counting down the days until the next barbecue.

Superior barbecue, delicious accompanying dishes and impeccable service are what we’re for. We believe in fresh, locally grown products that respect a forward-looking attitude toward our health and to our environment. MAX CITY BBQ is based upon a simple menu with a simple philosophy: Barbecue doesn’t have to be bad for you. It just has to be delicious."



What we ordered: Uncle Kenny’s Smoked Platter: 1/4 Rack of St. Louis Ribs • 1/4 Chicken, plus coleslaw, cucumber salad and cornbread ($17). Izzie’s Kids Plate: Kids portions of one meat & one side (includes corn bread) ($7.50).


High point:  Good size platter for 2 people.
Low point:  Lunch specials only available on weekdays.



Overall impression: That $17 price seems steep for a plate, but it's enough food for two (especially if you're sneaking bites from your kid's plate as well). The brisket was too fatty for my liking, but that's Maria's speed. Also, the cucumber salad was a bit too salty. But overall, an enjoyable visit.



Will we return: It's nearby, so yes.