Wood Ranch - Los Angeles, CA

Located across the street from Wood Ranch is a Southern California barbecue-style chain.  The menu is pretty typical barbecue fare, including steaks, chicken, ribs, wings, burgers, baked potatoes, and any other items that belong in a man’s diet.  

Living across the street, I love the fact that there is a wing place (one of my favorite foods) in walking distance. Wood Ranch features a round bar with a number of TV’s making it a great place to catch happy hour or go to watch part of a game and grab a bite.  The prices are pretty standard for this type of food, but happy hour goes from 3-7 and features a good amount of appetizers and sliders.

Currently, I have tried four of the items on the menu, but hope to discover more as the restaurant lies within a quick walk.  The wings were pretty good, nice and meaty with a buffalo style sauce.  However, I personally found myself wishing that they were a little more wet and coated with sauce.  The BBQ Tri Tip Sliders featured their own brand of barbecue sauce and a fantastic roll.  However, I found myself wishing that there was a little more meat as the sliders were a little overpowered by the bread.  The Prime Top Sirloin was my favorite dish, a 10 ounce “baseball” cut, which I ordered with a baked potato and mac & cheese.  I ordered the steak medium and layered it with steak sauce, one of my favorite additions.  The perfectly cooked steak hit the spot and I would definitely order it again.

The Grove features many good dining options, and Wood Ranch is no different.  With the variety of restaurants offered in The Grove, the only decision making needed is what type of food you are in the mood for.

Food: 7.5

Atmosphere: 7

Price: 6

Overall: 7

Canter's Deli - Los Angeles, CA

Canter's Delicatessen has been a Los Angeles landmark for over half a century.  Originally located in the Boyle Heights section, it eventually relocated to the Fairfax District, where it remains to this day.  A Jewish deli, Canter's is renowned for its pastrami sandwiches and is open 24 hours a day.  Due to its proximity to Hollywood, West Hollywood, and the Sunset Strip, the deli has served as a noteworthy location in Hollywood lore.  Many musicians and celebrities have dined at the restaurant, and it is also known as one of the starting points for artists such as Fiona Apple and the Wallflowers, as well as Guns N' Roses.

Although I had been to Canter's before, I made my most recent trip after purchasing a half priced Groupon.  I pounced for the Pastrami Sandwich as my main course.  Despite not enjoying rye bread all that much, I opted to keep it rather than substitute it for my preferred white bread.  Though not piled as high as a New York sandwich, it is still a pretty good size, with a good portion of meat slabbed in between the rye.  The pastrami is sliced thin, and although I prefer thick pastrami, it is still pretty tasty.  Add a bit of mustard and the sandwich is a simple, yet classic sandwich that has enough flavor without complexity.  A pastrami sandwich will set you back $11.95, and while it does not come with fries, they do throw in a pickle on which to munch.

In addition to the pastrami sandwich, I decided to get a matzoh ball soup.  Sure, I did not really need the soup, but I had never tried this famed style of soup before and figured I could always bring it to work for lunch (plus I had a Groupon that needed spending!).  Not having anything to compare it to, I thought the soup was a simple, but satisfying soup.  A large matzoh ball accompanied the chicken broth and noodles that composed the soup.

Despite my long absence, I hope to begin writing some new reviews in the upcoming months (though these may be shorter).

PICTURES TO COME...