Los Angeles -- Gift Certificate

We owe two friends of ours a belated wedding gift and are thinking about a restaurant gift certificate. They live in LA (Santa Monica). They are lefty intellectuals -- he, union organizer; she, professor. We are looking for something more toward the fine dining end of things. No celebrity chefs. No cheeseball Hollywood power lunch/dinner places. They are relatively adventurous eaters but she doesn't like pork (her main flaw).

Any thoughts?

Josie is a place in SM I've been meaning to try. Sounds about right for your purposes.

edk wrote:We owe two friends of ours a belated wedding gift and are thinking about a restaurant gift certificate. They live in LA (Santa Monica). They are lefty intellectuals -- he, union organizer; she, professor. We are looking for something more toward the fine dining end of things. No celebrity chefs. No cheeseball Hollywood power lunch/dinner places. They are relatively adventurous eaters but she doesn't like pork (her main flaw).

Any thoughts?

Years ago for a wedding present I gave the couple an American Express gift check. In my card I requested they treat themselves to a dinner on me while in Montreal on their honeymoon. I had told the bride a few years before how wonderful Montreal was and that if I ever got married that's where I would go on my honeymoon. The bride told me that they really appreciated the "dinner".

You might consider a "gift card" of this type which will allow them to have the flexibility to choose the meal.

Have you given your gift certificate?

I was out of link with my LTH account, and could not respond.

Obviously, tons of great places in LA. I think, based both on my experience, and from extensive research and conversations, that perhaps you should not be quite so dismissive of celebrity places.

The "Pinot" chain is very well regarded, and I think you could probably get a certificate good for a variety of their places, giving your friend some choices.

I have never been to the Chinois in Santa Monica, but I have had severeal great meals at their location in Vegas. I think it is a safe and good choice.

Border Grill is another place that is obviously "celebrity", but still very good.

Guelaguetza is a very interesting Oaxacan place, much different than anything you can find in Chicago. It is a few steps up from a taqueria, but not upscale in the Frontera vein.

Musso and Franks - I think this is one of those places you love or hate, but I love. It is very, very old fashioned, but also pretty expensive, so a gift certificate may be, like give them the chance to try when they otherwise would not.

Roscoe's - OK, maybe in someways this is the opposite of Musso's, but it is just as traditional and just as satisfying a meal--bonus points for multiple locations.

Rob

Suzanne Goin's establishments, Lucques andA.O.C., are two of my favourite dining destinations in Los Angeles. They are both welcoming, warm, and friendly environments with great service and great food. In the middle-high range, Los Angeles is rife with mediocrity and pretense. IMO, Goin's spots float nearly to the top, while maintaining a genuinely relaxed and confident demeanor.

NB: I found JeffB's suggestion, Josie, to be quite good, based on my one visit.

Good Luck,
Erik M.