Rate-A-Restaurant #291: Bon Vivant

Restaurant: Bon Vivant



Location: 3155 Glendale Blvd. (Atwater Village)

Type of restaurant: American, Cafe



We stipulated: Maria and I wanted to grab lunch nearby, but not hit one of our usual spots. It was time to try out Bon Vivant, which just opened last summer.



They stipulated: Bon Vivant serves both made-to-order entrees and various items in the deli case, which can be sold by individual servings for dining in.



What we ordered: Maria -- Grilled portabella mushroom burger with manchego cheese, duck egg and french fries ($13); Mike -- Jamaican spiced BBQ beef with sliced mangoes, papaya, orange wedges, fresh cilantro and a Spicy Greek Yogurt Aioli (half $8); kale salad $6



High point: Sauces for the fries include a Sriracha aioli sauce. Also like the deli case selection, and the homemade desserts look delicious.

Low point: The dishes themselves fell short. My Jamaican BBQ beef was way too fatty, and I wound up having to eat everything but it. Maria's mushroom burger strangely lacked flavor.



Overall impression: Bon Vivant has faced some growing pains, including a delay in getting its liquor license (some alcohol is now served). But it's a lively, big space and has great ambitions, so we'll be rooting for them to continue to iron out the kinks. We've since visited for breakfast, and had a much better experience.



Chance we'll go back: We may eventually try it again. But I'm afraid Bon Vivant hasn't yet made it to our regular Atwater Village rotation.

Rate-A-Restaurant #247: Little Flower Candy Co.

Restaurant: Little Flower Candy Co.

Location: 1422 W. Colorado (Pasadena)

Type of restaurant: Candy/Sandwiches



We stipulated: We were looking to take Blogger Kid and Blogger Toddler 2.0 to a park near the Pasadena/Eagle Rock border when the idea of the Little Flower Candy Co. came up.

They stipulated: Writes candy maker Christine Moore: "My goal has always been to make FRESH CANDY with quality ingredients. The support of the Los Angeles food community has always been outstanding and has helped this little candy kitchen grow so that more people can eat good, fresh candy. No hydrogenated oils, no shelf life extenders or artificial ingredients, hand made with love and a passion for quality and freshness."



What we ordered: Dal bowl (Brown rice, curried cauliflower, garlic spinach, chutney, tofu, raita and yellow lentil dal -- $8.50)

Curried chicken sandwich (Curried chicken, grapes, almonds, apricot chutney, romaine lettuce, Ciabatta bread -- $8.50)

High point: Great flavors on the sandwiches, while the candy we selected -- homemade marshmallows -- were fantastic.

Low point: The items in the bowl weren't together and were a bit hard to mix up without making a mess.



Overall impression: Great neighborhood place to grab a sandwich, or high-end salted caramels, before heading to the nearby park.

Chance we'll go back: Yes, very good chance.

For our complete list of 250 restaurant reviews, go to our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant #241: Lemonade

Restaurant: Lemonade

Location: 9001 Beverly Blvd. (West Hollywood)

Type of restaurant: Cafeteria-style lunch



We stipulated: My friend/colleague Joe had been raving about Lemonade for some time. He was in town, so I tagged along to finally check it out.



They stipulated:
"The modern twist on a nostalgic concept is part lemonade stand, part grade-school cafeteria - come lunchtime, you'll grab a tray and slide it down the counter to examine your options. Unlike those early years, though, you'll actually want to build a meal from what you see under the glass - you might find a Grilled Cheese with Ham and Quince on Pumpernickel, which could work with a Snap Pea and Edamame Salad and a Lemon Meringue Pie. With numerous vegetable options, salads, braises and stews, there is no shortage of options to choose from."



What we ordered: I split my order, allowing for smaller portions of a wide variety of salads: Watermelon/radish/ahi tuna/snap peas/sesame; Chicken/butternut squash/grapes/oregano; Chicken/jicama/tarragon/green goddess; Lobster/soba noodle/Lebanese couscous/sesame; Forbidden rice/hearts of palm/mushroom/green chili; Couscous/mushrooms/parmesan lemon truffle.

High point: The sheer variety of unique, tasty salads. And the flavored lemonades aren't bad either.

Low point: If you're not careful, Lemonade can get pricy. Make sure you split your salads and don't go overboard.



Overall impression: Pretty unique concept, and I love the simplicity of the cafeteria format. And with offerings constantly changing, there's always something new and interesting with Lemonade's salads and entrees. But again, it can get pricy if you're not careful, so it's not a spot you can frequent.



Chance we'll go back: I'm probably overdue another trip.

Variety Gets a First Bite of Chick-Fil-A

It's still six or so months before Chick-Fil-A opens its much-buzzed Hollywood location, but the fast food chain is already making the media rounds.

Today, it was Variety's turn. The chicken eatery sent Variety a slew of chicken sandwiches and wraps to feed the staff. The spicy chicken? Spicy. I like. (A bit too salty, however. I'm avoiding the nutrition facts. Don't tell me.)

Some pics from the Chick-Fil-A visit: