California Restaurants Archives | Brad A. Johnson

Hotel Review: Cara, Los Angeles

The investor/developer who owns Laurel Hardware, a super-sexy indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar in West Hollywood, has launched the first of what’s expected to be a string of mid-luxury boutique hotels focused on Southern California. For the brand's debut, they purchased the tawdry old Coral Sands Motel on Western Avenue and flipped it — rather beautifully — into the Cara Hotel Los Feliz...

OC’s Best Places to Eat 2020

The Orange County Register has begun rolling out the sixth edition of my guide to the Best Places to Eat. The previous five iterations have served as an annual scavenger hunt in the form of a bucket-list ranking of the 75 best restaurants in OC. But it looks a bit different this year because 2020 changed the way we eat. So this year we offer a guide to dining in the pandemic.

Quick Look: Niner Wine Estates, Paso Robles

The Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles is nestled into the dramatic lower slope of Heart Hill, a picturesque vineyard of cabernet sauvignon, malbec and petit verdot.

Dish of the Week: Kohada from Sushi Ii, Newport Beach

It is often said that sushi chefs judge each other by their kohada, or gizzard shad. And the kohada at Sushi Ii in Newport Beach is surely the envy of sushi chefs everywhere.

Quick Look: Presqu’ile Winery, Santa Maria

Presqu'ile Winery is a must-stop on any serious tour of northern Santa Barbara wine country.

Photo Diary: Eating and Drinking During the 2020 Quarantine

If there's a silver lining to the coronavirus lockdown of 2020, it's that I got the chance to rediscover my kitchen. Or at least the kitchen table. I ate more takeout than anything else. Here's a look back at some of my favorite memories of eating and drinking at home during the quarantine.

Memories of a Mentor, and the Perfect Caesar Salad

I have often credited chef Frederic Castan as a key figure in my life who put me on the path that inspired me to open a restaurant and eventually to become a critic. He taught me how to make the perfect Caesar salad, among other things.

Dish of the Week: Cacio e Pepe at Oliver’s Osteria, Laguna Beach

The cacio e pepe at Oliver's Osteria in Laguna Beach is available for takeout during the pandemic. Stay safe out there!

Dish of the Week: Pancakes at Sibling Rival, Los Angeles

Dish of the Week: Bistec Encebollado at Isla, La Palma

Southern California has never had a shortage of Cuban restaurants, but we've never had a truly great Cuban restaurant, either. And, yes, I know the ones you're thinking of right now — and they're not as good as you think they are. Want proof? Go to the new Isla in La Palma.

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