by lareine | Aug 17, 2026 | Stories, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco
Before I came to Los Angeles, I made a huge list after hours of research on where to eat. I wrote down all the restaurants by area (mainly Santa Monica and Venice), marked the ones I should refer back to with a star, and noted their distance. To be honest, I haven’t...
by lareine | Aug 10, 2026 | Musings
by lareine | Aug 3, 2026 | Stories, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco
I wanted to like this spot, but it all came down to the food; it just wasn’t good enough to make me come back. Sure—if you wanted a drink only, then by all means waltz right in. The vibes and atmosphere are what make Chez Jay what it is. The chef felt stuck in the...
by lareine | Jul 27, 2026 | Stories, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Subscriber Only Stories
I was on my way to get doughnuts when I walked past this place the other day. I had a nosy at what people were eating as they sat outside. That made me Google Yagul Cafe and, as I read the various write-ups, I decided to go back and try it. I am a broken record,...
by lareine | Jul 20, 2026 | Stories, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Subscriber Only Stories
I went a bit back and forth with this one, wondering if it was catering to tourists, right outside Santa Monica Pier. Was it going to be a trap? It could look that way if you were none the wiser. I did a stupid thing: I messaged the restaurant asking if everything was...
