Padri's Restaurant and Martini Bar

Padri's Restaurant and Martini Bar

29002 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Phone:(818) 865-3700

Tucked into the side of Agoura Road in Agoura Hills Padri's has a quaint, old-world charm that makes it stand apart from the citified decor around it. If you disregard the mini-mall behind, you would swear you were out in the country, most likely in Italy, not Los Angeles. The old-fashioned atmosphere grabs you first and then the elegant food, all adding up to a unique dining experience.

Manager Ramone Saldivar was on hand to welcome us and to fill us in on the restaurant's history. Owned by Saverio Posarelli from Florence, it's been in this location for about fifteen years, and every five or so, it's renovated. All I can say is the aura of old Italy is there at Padri's. One can practically smell it, as you walk through the front door. I should mention that in the courtyard are hanging some lovely autumn/Halloween decorations and so I assume with Christmas right around the corner, Padri's will look fetching with sparkling trees and lights. I'll just have to return in December. And that I will do in a heartbeat based on the dinner and friendly service that accompanied this first visit on October 23.

Good to state right up front that even though Padri's is Italian cuisine, they are not limited. Their expansive dinner menu includes steak, chicken, lobster and other delightful seafood. Let's start at the top. There's a superb wine list and as Padri's is known for their fine array of martinis, that's a must for the martini lover.

Lending authenticity, the menu is in Italian with appetizers including Salumi, Formaggi, Assaggini and Affettati, a combination of the first three. More to Share includes calamari fritti, crab cakes, pancetta wrapped jumbo shrimp and bruschetta. The calamari are sweet and delicious, as are the crab cakes and jumbo shrimp stuffed with gorgonzola. The Insalata course includes a variety of salads, my choice being Insalata Cesare. There is also Zuppa which includes minestrone and soup of the day. Since I am a steak lover, as many of you have read in my past reviews, I ordered the Tagliata di Manzo or grilled Angus New York steak with balsamic reduction sauce, mushrooms and on the side, potato gratin. It was served to me sizzling hot on a board and was delectable, tender and juicy. I like it cooked medium, and it was done to perfection. The potatoes were a lovely golden brown and seasoned just right. My friend ordered Linguini con Frutti di Mare with a mix of seafood in a garlic, tomato white wine sauce. He raved and raved. My entree did not include a pasta, but when I mentioned the special of the day, a homemade lasagne with roasted pumpkin and soffritto ragu, my gracious server suggested they bring me a tiny portion to sample. It turned out to be a scrumptious side that I just could not finish, so I took it home with me.

There's always room for dessert chez Grigware, so from a list of Dolce, sweets, that includes Spiked Bread Pudding, Chocolate Torte, Tiramisu, Apple Tart, Creme Brulee and Banana Cream Pie, I chose the special Pumpkin Creme Brulee and my friend the Banana Cream Pie, which is pictured below. Artfully presented, and, by the way, the creme brulee was lovely, not screaming pumpkin but with an essence of the spice.

with manager Ramone Saldivar

To say that I enjoyed my meal is an understatement. Padri's is a lovely place to dine with a lot of ambiance, delectable food, great service and...the meals are reasonably priced. Most entrees are under $25, and the steak $28, with a filet mignon slightly higher at $32. In comparison to other high-class restaurants, this is a steal. And there is also a banquet room for your private parties, as well as a beautifully sunlit patio for your enjoyment. When you eat at Padri's, expect to eat with style in an atmosphere of sheer elegance.

http://padrirestaurant.net/

Revisiting Cookin' With Lenny Smokehouse

I had my birthday party at Lenny's this year and told Lenny (above, top) that if I had to do an encore review of his place, I would not rate it less than an A+. He was so pleased!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Above, bottom) the Sappuchinos and sweet waitress Crystal

Redwood Grille at Santa Monica Place

Located on the dining deck of the third floor of Santa Monica Place smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of mall shoppers and open to the cleaner, fresher LA air of Santa Monica, the sky-high restaurant Redwood Grille is a casual, comfortable place to drop by for a drink or excellent dinner. Specializing in American cuisine with all-natural ingredients, the Redwood, which opened its doors about a month ago, is spacious with its high ceilings and large tables and chairs of reclaimed wood that offer plenty of leg room to just sit back and relax. It was designed a la Ralph Lauren, so I was told by Vice President - CEO George Bozikis, to be classified as New York chic. Redwood Grille, in fact, is the brainchild of George and Spiros Bozikis of Unique Hospitality, partners with over two decades of industry experience and a track record of success with the award-wining restaurant Baton Rouge at Eaton Centre in Toronto. The two American founders have modernized classic cuisine and placed a strong emphasis on fresh, premium ingredients. Redwood has a warm ambiance for a big open place and a genuinely friendly staff.  George, who greeted us, also served as amiable host throughout our fabulous two-hour four-course meal.

I chose a Prime New York Strip steak, always a favorite, with Yukon gold garlic mashed potatoes. The steak - I like it served medium - was cooked to perfection, succulent and juicy. For the appetizer, I had the smoked Alaskan King salmon filet with dill sauce and pita bread slices. And I chose the classic Caesar salad with smoked bacon, and including at my request, cherry tomatoes. Everything was delicious. My friend chose the avocado Ahi tuna tartar as appetizer, the chicken Tai salad and grilled Colorado lamb chops with garlic mashed and fresh asparagus for his entree. To top it all off, for dessert I chose the Chocolate Fudge Sin Cake a la mode and he, Key Lime Pie Cheescake. Not able to resist I did try a taste of the cheesecake. Fabulous! The entire meal was scrumptious and the service, impeccable.

Other Redwood Classic dishes are:  Danish baby back ribs, lemon Oregano roasted chicken, spinach and avocado fettuccini, seafood linguini, and for vegetarians, a grilled vegetable plate. The reasonably priced menu also includes burgers and other sandwiches such as a fresh fish sandwich, lobster grinder, the ever popular club sandwich, and a special Santa Monica chicken sandwich. Among the other appetizers, I thought it interesting to note: lobster tacos, lemon California quail, grilled octopus, and Poutine, which consists of french fries with cheese curds and gravy, items you do not often see included at most Southern California restaurants.

Also of special note at the bottom of the menu is the fact that Mary’s free range organic chicken is served as well as other organic California products when available. Customers are requested to advise the staff of any allergies. Redwood really cares about the fine quality of the food they serve and about the health of their customers.

There is also a fine list of wines, which include all reds, whites, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Syrah sparkling wine, Merlot, Pino Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfindel, and dessert wines.

I was exceedingly pleased with my visit to the Redwood Grille, for its lovely ambiance, fine food, drink and expert service throughout my two-hour stay. I will most definitely return for lunch, dinner or a relaxing conversation over drinks.
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For more information please visit www.redwoodgrille.com like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar

6373 Topanga Canyon, Woodland Hills

by Don Grigware

This is my second review of Fleming's since January. This visit was even more memorable due to the maitre d's presentation at each table and at the bar of the new WiNEPAD, bound to delight and brighten each and every customer's dining experience at Fleming's. In January I highly recommended Fleming's for its delicious aged prime beef and fine service and still do - and now with the wonderful addition of the WiNEPAD, Fleming's is introducing us to a totally unique and  novel treat!

The WiNEPAD, like an iPad, is easy to use and with the flick of a finger, you can bring up Fleming's entire magnificent array of wines to accompany your meal. We're not just talking entree here but... you can perfectly match a wine to every single course. Our lovely waitress Lindsey chose a wine flight selection at my request of Merryvale Stanly Ranch Rose, Mer Soleil Silver Chardenay and BR Cohn Cabernet. These are just three of the hundreds to choose from at Fleming's. The Chardenay I drank with my appetizer of crabcakes and calamari, the Cabernet with my scrumptious New York strip and the rose with my dessert of ice cream and whipped cream combo. Each wine was ideally suited to the food I chose for each course, setting them off even more deliciously. I am not a wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but, boy oh boy, you learn pretty fast about wine choices by playing with the WiNEPAD. After you read the detailed explanation at bottom of all that the WiNEPAD has to offer, you will understand why it's a gadget that becomes an indispensable guide as well as a delightfully fun tool to use at Fleming's. 

Located in the heart of Topanga Canyon, Fleming's means elegant dining. Its ultra modern design, spacious dining room with tables and booths, a full bar in front and kitchen partially visible to the side, all add up to providing the comfortable surroundings one expects in a top-notch restaurant. Thanks to Lindsey and maitre d Matt Tietig, this Saturday evening was a relaxed and uber lovely dining experience. As I mentioned earlier, I chose the New York strip...and as luscious sides garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and onion rings. My friend and I shared the gigantic plate of onion rings and the creamed spinach, which, by the way is about the creamiest I have ever tasted. My friend chose the Ribeye steak which he truly relished with blue cheese mashed potatoes. Every item was delectable. And it goes without saying that each steak at Fleming's is cooked perfectly to your specifications and is unbeatably tender and juicy.

For dessert, there’s a lovely Crème Brulee, as well as Fleming's renowned Chocolate Lava Cake. It's a sinful concoction with luscious, warm chocolate filling, that literally spills out when you cut into the cake. It is served with ice cream, real whipped cream and cookies over chopped pistachios. Since this was my choice the first time, I let my friend try it this time, and he just raved about it. It is difficult to stay on your diet when you eat at Fleming's. The rich food is simply divine, so plan a fast before and after you eat there, but, please, do not miss the foods I have mentioned, or their wonderful prime rib, a specialty on Sundays.

The pleasant atmosphere lends itself favorably to a romantic table for two, but at the same time can also serve the event/party needs of a larger group. Surprising to me was the fact that there were many families with small children for Saturday dinner. This speaks volumes about Fleming’s menu choices and popularity when whole families choose to dine there. There are 3 locations: Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills and El Segundo. Visit their website for more info like exact addresses, complete menus and pricing:

www.flemingssteakhouse.com/

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(more detail about the WiNEPAD)

Available tableside or at the bar, the Fleming’s WiNEPAD™ has other standard features including: • Wine List Tab – Sorts wines in progressive order from lightest to fullest by region, varietal, Fleming’s 100® selections, wines rated at 90+ by Robert Parker Wine, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast and local selections chosen by the location’s Wine Manager; • Maeve’s Raves – Presents wines selections recommended by the National Director of Wine Maeve Pesquera; • Perfect Pairings – Showcases wine and food pairings based on the Guests’ menu selection by providing three perfectly paired wine options that deliciously accentuates complementary flavors. This takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect glass of wine for each course; • Spin the Bottle – Provides a fun and adventurous take on ordering wine for the indecisive. The bottle icon spins and lands on a different selection each time; • Share This Wine – Gives Fleming’s Guests the ability to email themselves any wine on the wine list. The email comes to the guest’s inbox complete with their new favorite wine, tasting notes and an image of the label; • Register for ‘Friend of Fleming’s’ – Encourages Guests to sign up directly from the Fleming’s WiNEPAD™ to receive exclusive offers from Fleming’s and the opportunity to be the first to know about seasonal menus, exclusive wine tasting events and other extended offers; • Tonight’s Features – Gives the inside scoop on everything happening at your Fleming’s tonight. 
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PizzaRev - in Studio City

slice and serve

craft your own pizza

On Wednesday April 17 PizzaRev invited the press to its newest location in Studio City, which had its grand opening 7 months ago, to partake of their delicious hand-crafted pizzas... and to celebrate the inclusion of a full array of wine and beer to the beverage menu. We were allowed to craft our very own pizzas and to sample the various beers/wines on tap. What a taste treat for Valley residents of Studio City, North Hollywood and Sherman Oaks! Practically right next door to The Counter, where you can create your own burger, you can now craft your own delectable pizza and enjoy a glass of wine or beer...and, if you are still hungry... order a dessert pizza.

Moderately priced at only $7.95 a pizza, or hand-crafted salad for only $7.95 - dessert pizza a mere $3.95 - PizzaRev's offerings cannot be beat, considering pizza joint pizzas like Domino's or Pizza Hut cost at least $10-$20. They're higher-priced and by no means as good as PizzaRev. At PizzaRev they offer only the best ingredients that are fresh and healthy...only the finest meats, veggies, cheeses, sauces and PizzaRev's very own homemade crust made fresh daily. There's also Gluten-Free crust for $2 extra and Vegan Cheese for only $1 more.

And the service? Unbeatable! Manager Edward Martinez and his team aim to please and give service with a friendly smile. Martinez was on hand to greet us and talk about the amazing pizza ovens which cook your pizza in less than five minutes...that's right, you can watch your pizza being prepared right before your very eyes and then you only have to wait about 4 minutes before it is brought to your table piping hot...mmmmm, delicioso....The thin cracker-like crust is light, easy to chew and very tasty. (check out photos above!)

Stop in at PizzaRev on Ventura Blvd, Studio City, near Laurel Canyon for lunch or dinner...Check the website below for hours of operation and multiple reviews from very satisfied customers...PizzaRev caters your party...and you can order online for faster service:

out of the oven in only 4 minutes

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pizzarev-studio-city

with affable manager Edward Martinez

Porto's...or Bust...

I love Porto's with its Cuban treats...their sandwiches, particularly Medianoche or Medianoche Preparada with ham croquettes, their potato balls with ground meat inside...and ahhhh, their scrumptious desserts...flakey empanada pastries, those polvorone sugar/shortbread cookies that just melt in your mouth... the small pina colada pastries with whipped coconut mousse and pineapple cake at the bottom...and the cakes... tres leches...to die for!!! The frosting is real whipped cream and the fresh fruit inside and out - blueberries and strawberries - give the cakes a special taste that is incomparable. I cannot believe that there are only 3 stores in Southern California: in Glendale, Burbank and Downey. But thank goodness, those 3 exist! The hustle, the bustle, even though I have to stand in line every time I go there, it doesn't matter, because the ambiance is friendly with servers offering pastry samples and ample room to sit and enjoy your food while you're there.
For your next wedding, birthday or anniversary, order a cake from Porto's. It's the best! Claro...alli se halla lo mejor!

http://www.portosbakery.com/?field_location_value_1=2

I am hardly a chef, but I do appreciate good food and love to eat. So, folks, what you will find on this blog is a lot of lovin' for really fine restaurants/cafes and the great meals/specialties they offer. Stay tuned for a tribute to Porto's Bakery/Cafe coming soon...and...  and...
yummm; my mouth is watering...