Q's Billiard Club & Restaurant
Have never eaten here and probably never will, so look elsewhere for your food reviews. To me this is solely a bar and largely a meat market, but it serves its purpose, no doubt. Supposedly the Pasadena location is even more of a meat market, but this one is your typical West LA spot that is often packed to the walls. If you can, try the shuffleboard, which is cool.
New York Food Company
Although I have only had the pleasure of trying their catering service one time at an event, I came away from it marveling that sandwiches definitely don't usually taste this good. The experience left me looking many places and trying many options of avocado in my sandwich, although it's hard to duplicate that first burst of flavor. Excellent stuff here.
Hennessey's Tavern
A great spot at the end of the pier to chill out. The hustle and bustle of the other bar spots can be too much and too loud, but Hennessey's is always cool. The outdoor seating is prime, and the food isn't bad at all. There are frequently beer specials -- Foster's was the most recent one I had -- and the people-watching is definitely quality entertainment.
Thai Top Restaurant
If you don't get one of the few parking spots in front of this place -- there is one 20-minute spot that is good for pickup orders -- then you'll struggle a bit. That's the major drawback of this place, which has good Thai food across the board. There was one incident where the pad-see-ew was overloaded with vinegar, but that was an isolated issue.
Thai Dishes
Nothing here is so great that you will find yourself craving it, but there's nothing too bad to report either. So if you do want Thai food, this is a viable option ... but then so is pretty much every other Thai place in the South Bay. On the bright side, this location has a good parking lot that makes pickup much easier than at, say, Thai Top, in Hermosa Beach.
Saigon Dish
I'm not a big Vietnamese food guy, but I'm glad to have found a really tasty option at this place. I don't even remember the precise name, but it contains chunks of filet mignon beef over white rice, and the sauce is killer. Add it all up, and you've got a great dish, whether it's from Saigon or anywhere else. The Thai iced tea goes with it quite well. I've had the pho also, and it's good.
Steak 'N Shake
It takes me back to my Midwestern roots every time I can Takhomasak -- a term that confused my sister and I for quite a bit of our childhood before we put it together -- and this is the location where it all started. Whenever my travels take me to certain Midwest or Southeast areas, I scour the land for the most flavorful burgers available, even going off the menu to get a triple. The skinny fries are truly unique, though remember to ask for salt.
Fatburger
For all the to-do about In-n-Out Burgers, I humbly offer that Fatburger is superior as far as the simple burger goes. The patty clearly has a little extra kick of flavor to it, and it's not drowning in the overdone Thousand Island dressing sauce that In-n-Out leans heavily on. The buns are also not as imposing as at In-n-Out. Not that this is Steak 'n' Shake, mind you, but it's pretty good.
AMC Century City 14
Unlike AMC's mall sister location at The Galleria of South Bay, this is a well-run, pretty clean location that can be chosen without concern. The parking might be slightly difficult at certain times, but you've got to expect that with the neighborhood and with the mall setting. There can be long lines for marquee movies and times, so plan accordingly.
Amc Galleria S Bay
Overall, not the cleanest place, and it's frequently overrun with kids who don't care about much but what's going on in their lives. It is, however, a very convenient location with a lot of screens. But that's not enough to outweigh the mediocre seating arrangement and the sometimes difficult mall parking situation, especially on a weekend. If you have time, go to another theater in the area, maybe Rolling Hills if you're devoted to AMC for some reason.
