tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post3216792384180992751..comments2024-03-18T06:46:36.387-07:00Comments on kevinEats: Red O (Los Angeles, CA)kevinEatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-69341366110471582032012-05-31T00:28:34.315-07:002012-05-31T00:28:34.315-07:00I wonder how this place is holding up Jan. Lot of ...I wonder how this place is holding up Jan. Lot of hype up front, but it seems to have disappeared off the map.kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-9534508379478470302012-03-26T11:39:48.614-07:002012-03-26T11:39:48.614-07:00Great review. All of the food looks beautiful. I...Great review. All of the food looks beautiful. I wish I could have made opening night.Jannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-24509124456638839822010-07-16T16:24:04.181-07:002010-07-16T16:24:04.181-07:00You're quite welcome Sonja. Looking forward to...You're quite welcome Sonja. Looking forward to reading your review!kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-91386362540506888512010-07-16T11:01:00.534-07:002010-07-16T11:01:00.534-07:00I was just looking to make reservations at Red O a...I was just looking to make reservations at Red O and I knew I could count on you for a fantastic review and overview of the menu! What what I do without your fabulous reviews,thank you Kevin!Active Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11145754224561281926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-64133975290527500162010-06-26T19:19:15.095-07:002010-06-26T19:19:15.095-07:00nope, they no longer own it, .. i found out throug...nope, they no longer own it, .. i found out throught a freind when they were finding out that there employess were ripping off the customers. they decided to revamp the whole chain and then got investors involved, they are the ones that were running it and ran it to the ground (the investors)and made things worse.. put this way teasta and dobson are very great guys, and have always help others, there not out to rip people off, it upsets me when someone judges when they dont know what treuly happen, unfornatly it gave these men a bad rap.. but to know these men you will understand!! ..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-327824950397385072010-06-25T16:22:07.887-07:002010-06-25T16:22:07.887-07:00Michael: Thanks, I'll keep ISE in mind next ti...<b>Michael</b>: Thanks, I'll keep ISE in mind next time I have issues with my vehicle. They do have great reviews on Yelp.<br /><br /><b>Kim</b>: No need to yell. I read that Dobson and Teasta sold a portion of the company to Goldman Sachs and GSO, but they still are owners, as well as EZ Lube's two key executives, right?kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-52319455287394093512010-06-24T12:21:29.808-07:002010-06-24T12:21:29.808-07:00OK FIRST OF ALL TO ALL YOU HATERS THAT THINK THAT ...OK FIRST OF ALL TO ALL YOU HATERS THAT THINK THAT THE OWNERS OF EZ LUBE ARE GOING TO RIP YOU OFF!! SUCH BULL.. I USE TO GO THERE ALONG TIME AGO, THEY DON'T OWN EZ LUBE FOR SOME TIME, AND ALL YOUR PROBLEMS ARE FROM THE NEW STAFF AND OWNERS NOT THEM!! SO DON'T JUDGE, WHAT THEY DID IS OPEN A FABULOUS RETURANT THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO THE PUBLIC, GIVE THEM A CHANCE.. THATS THE PROBLEM WITH THE WPRLD!! YOU JUDGE CAUSE YOUR MISERABLE WITH YOUR LIFE AND GOING NO WHERE , DON'T HATE. AND WHO WOULD WANT YOU THERE ANYWAYS!! THAT PLACE HAS A GREAT VIBE.. AND GREAT ENERGY WHY RUIN IT WITH NEGATIVE ENEREGY AND MISERABLE PEOPLE. I LAUGH AT THE POST OF EZ LUBE.. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, AND IF YOUR SMART INVESTIGATE ON WHO OWNS IT?? WHEN I HAD A PROBLEM IN THE PAST THEY FIXED IT!! SO WHO EVER IS TALKING CRAP!! ENJPY YPUR MISERABLE LIFE!! IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT YOU SHOULD!! AS FOR rICK BAYLESS HE HAS BEEN THERE, AND THE FOOD IS AMAZING!! IF YOUR A HATER THEN DO US ALL A FAVOR DON'T RUIN FOR ALL THE REST OF US THAT ENJPY LIFE!! TRY IT GUYS!! GIVE IT A CHANCE AND DON'T JUDGE!!kIM FOXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-34025276073656543252010-06-24T12:18:46.425-07:002010-06-24T12:18:46.425-07:00Kevin, ISE does general auto repair work. They do...Kevin, ISE does general auto repair work. They don't do tires, body work, or mufflers, but they've given me excellent referrals for those jobs.<br /><br />I recommend them 100000000%. Craig treats my car like it's his own. He goes way above and beyond the call of duty to take care of it, and he doesn't charge like it. I've never had less than a great experience with ISE, and I've been going there for at least a couple years now.<br /><br />Check them out. If you swing by, ask to speak to Craig and tell him I sent ya.<br /><br />Jeeesh, talk about OT!Michael Allmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974012909747662741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-25793038064493929542010-06-22T23:20:44.021-07:002010-06-22T23:20:44.021-07:00Regarding the "diversity, ingenuity, and poli...Regarding the "diversity, ingenuity, and polish" comment, I guess the issue is that I'm representing a US-centric perspective (not having your experiences in top notch Mexican cuisine), hence the disconnect. Certainly, the best of what's available in Mexico is clearly in another league--that much is evident from looking into the places that you mentioned. Thanks for the recommendations.kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-56429072246771727032010-06-20T22:26:52.997-07:002010-06-20T22:26:52.997-07:00"excel in diversity, ingenuity, and polish&qu..."excel in diversity, ingenuity, and polish" Sopes, enchiladas, and cazuelas? Really. Again, you would likey reconsider that if you'd some fine dining experience in Mexico. <br /><br />I would recommend Enrique Olvera's Pujol, Patricia Quintanilla's Izote, Contramar, or even El Bajio. Additionally, there are so many more and places like Biko, not Mexican, but very much a part of the dining scene that make DF so amazing. There is also more ingenuity in the simple fondas, cantinas, and comida corridas in Mexico City, and street food that is more refined than an El Toritoesque cazuela.<br /><br />The menu for Red O is only separated from El Torito by Fajitas. <br /><br />Where's the ingenuity? Shrimp enchiladas? <br /><br />In respect to Kenny G, this isn't Rick's restaurant. He was a consultant, to whatever extent that was, only he knows. This is the same guy who lent his name to a Burger King ad, Rick, that is.<br /><br />In respect to your implication about Mexican cuisine, one would have to assume. Read simply, it seems that you are telling people that we've evolved from Taco Bell to Red O. It's not clear in your post, but NOW I know what you meant. <br /><br />I do hope you are able to get out to the places we have in town, and eventually to Mexico City. Pujol will present an all together different perspective. Provecho!streetgourmetlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625967020667522977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-13183726329474962312010-06-20T19:27:53.403-07:002010-06-20T19:27:53.403-07:00Yeah, I've also been quite puzzled about River...Yeah, I've also been quite puzzled about Rivera's 3.5 star Yelp rating; it's worthy of at least a 4 in my opinion. As for Pujol, it looks <i>quite</i> good.<br /><br />Indeed, I would never take my car to EZ Lube. They're a bit shady, I know. I think Rick may have been given an offer he couldn't refuse.<br /><br />BTW, what kind of work does ISE do? And what makes do they service? I think I need to find an alternative to the dealer.kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-91419181020652456412010-06-19T20:30:45.782-07:002010-06-19T20:30:45.782-07:00Kevin,
It's been so long since I've been ...Kevin,<br /><br />It's been so long since I've been to Chicago—about 3+ years—that I can't do a fair comparison of the food at Red O and Frontera. I do think that Rivera is very good, FWIW, and their relatively low Yelp rating puzzles me. As for Mexico City, I've always wanted to try Pujol: http://www.pujol.com.mx/.<br /><br />My main beef with Red O is the execution and the management. On that note, I've got a relevant little story to share.<br /><br />By now everyone on this thread should know that the EZ Lube and Red O owners are the same. I recently had to replace my car's belt. The old belt showed little wear but it was a POS that started making noise a couple weeks ago. Turns out I had it installed by an EZ Lube a couple years ago before I found my gold-standard mechanic—Craig at ISE Automotive. (Shameless plug for ISE—they can do no wrong. Read their Yelp reviews. Pretty much impeccable.)<br /><br />To drive my point home, not only did EZL put in a substandard belt, they charged me twice what ISE did to put in an awesome belt. The moral of the story: don't go to EZ Lube. Oh yeah, and Red O is run by a couple of crooks.<br /><br />It's a shame. Didn't Rick do his homework before he got into bed with these guys?Michael Allmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974012909747662741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-35681026420652069292010-06-17T00:20:53.249-07:002010-06-17T00:20:53.249-07:00Bill, that was a lengthy comment (I would expect n...Bill, that was a lengthy comment (I would expect nothing less from you!), so I'll address each paragraph separately:<br /><br /><b>Kevin-Hello, first and foremost. "no longer simply about burritos, cheese on everything, nachos, iceberg lettuce, and Taco Bell" Mexican cuisine has never been about any of these things, anymore than Chinese cuisine evolvong from Panda Express and orange chicken. This is called Mexican-American, which is an American cuisine.</b><br />Completely agree. I was trying to convey what much of the populace in the US has historically perceived as "Mexican" cuisine.<br /><br /><b>Rick is a fantastic culinary ambassador, and a student of Mexican cuisines. He is a great chef and puts his stamp on traditional dishes, but does not elevate the cuisine. That is going on in Mexico where Rick travels, eats, and studies each year.</b><br />Certainly, there are things going on in Mexico that transcend Bayless, no doubt. I was merely representing a US-centric perspective, and in that regard, I do believe that Bayless does elevate the cuisine <i>in the eyes of many Americans</i>.<br /><br /><b>And, no the Zona Rosa isn't a destination for fine dining in DF, but there are plenty of bottle service clubs(table dance),hotels and tourist restaurants. There are some good places to dine in La Zona if you look around, not to mention some good street food, but it is one of the less interesting parts of the city for food.The question is...have you dined at fine restaurants in Mexico City? Did this place have a name? </b><br />It's been nearly a decade since I visited the DF, so the names have been lost to time. I was just starting to get interested in food, and was a college student at the time, so I mostly stuck to street food during my summer in the City. I was there working at a NGO called the Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos.<br /><br /><b>There's definitely more to DF than fine dining, but if so inclined, I would recommend Polanco and Condessa for a starting point.</b><br />Any particular restaurants in these two areas?<br /><br /><b>It's a bit peculiar to state that La Casita is capable of producing a superior mole which requires much more skill than duck taquitos, or mushroom ceviche, but their other dishes are less complex at La Casita? This seems more speculative than informed.</b><br />I don't believe I mentioned "complexity." But Red O does excel in diversity, ingenuity, and polish.<br /><br /><b>Rick Bayless has studied for years, this guy spent a month, not in Mexico. I had a great meal at Frontera Grill and would go again, but nothing compared to places experienced in Mexico.</b><br />Agree.<br /><br /><b>I would also recommend trying La Huasteca,La Casita,Babita,Chichen Itza,etc.Some of the traditional Mexican items on Rivera's menu like his tamales, cochinita pibil, and mole,you can experience DF level sophistication.</b><br />Appreciate the recs. I had some of those places in mind already, so it's great that our lists coincide.<br /><br /><b>That said, I do appreciate you giving me a good peek at this place before I take the plunge.And, I do think this restaurant and Rick Bayless' input raises the level of attention on Mexican cuisine, but is it as relevant as Kenny G is to jazz? Saludos.</b><br />Kenny G is regarded with derision in the music community right? I would hope that Bayless garners a bit more respect!kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-27337994072180723192010-06-16T21:17:01.840-07:002010-06-16T21:17:01.840-07:00Kevin-Hello, first and foremost. "no longer s...Kevin-Hello, first and foremost. "no longer simply about burritos, cheese on everything, nachos, iceberg lettuce, and Taco Bell" Mexican cuisine has never been about any of these things, anymore than Chinese cuisine evolvong from Panda Express and orange chicken. This is called Mexican-American, which is an American cuisine. <br /><br />Rick is a fantastic culinary ambassador, and a student of Mexican cuisines. He is a great chef and puts his stamp on traditional dishes, but does not elevate the cuisine. That is going on in Mexico where Rick travels, eats, and studies each year.<br /><br />And, no the Zona Rosa isn't a destination for fine dining in DF, but there are plenty of bottle service clubs(table dance),hotels and tourist restaurants. There are some good places to dine in La Zona if you look around, not to mention some good street food, but it is one of the less interesting parts of the city for food.The question is...have you dined at fine restaurants in Mexico City? Did this place have a name? <br /><br />There's definitely more to DF than fine dining, but if so inclined, I would recommend Polanco and Condessa for a starting point. <br /><br />It's a bit peculiar to state that La Casita is capable of producing a superior mole which requires much more skill than duck taquitos, or mushroom ceviche, but their other dishes are less complex at La Casita? This seems more speculative than informed. <br /><br />Rick Bayless has studied for years, this guy spent a month, not in Mexico. I had a great meal at Frontera Grill and would go again, but nothing compared to places experienced in Mexico. <br /><br />I would also recommend trying La Huasteca,La Casita,Babita,Chichen Itza,etc.Some of the traditional Mexican items on Rivera's menu like his tamales, cochinita pibil, and mole,you can experience DF level sophistication. <br /><br />That said, I do appreciate you giving me a good peek at this place before I take the plunge.And, I do think this restaurant and Rick Bayless' input raises the level of attention on Mexican cuisine, but is it as relevant as Kenny G is to jazz? Saludos.Streetgourmetlahttp://www.streetgourmetla.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-30596031840183883982010-06-15T20:25:26.039-07:002010-06-15T20:25:26.039-07:00Those are all valid points Michael. Indeed, the re...Those are all valid points Michael. Indeed, the restaurant isn't really Rick's, and the bouncers were <i>quite</i> off putting. However, I noticed that you didn't mention anything about the food! It sounds like the issue has more to do with the concept. Actually, I agree in that the place would probably do better if it were more like Frontera and less "LA," so to speak.kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-47499084811630284562010-06-14T13:32:16.675-07:002010-06-14T13:32:16.675-07:00IMHO, Red O is markedly inferior to Frontera and T...IMHO, Red O is markedly inferior to Frontera and Topolo. Red O is not Rick's restaurant, yet his name is attached to it. I'm not sure why. Anyway, his reputation is suffering because of it.<br /><br />To make a comparison, the atmosphere at Frontera feels more like a labor of love, like Rick decorated it himself with art and bric-a-brac he collected from his years of travel in Mexico. There is no love, no passion from the (anonymous) chef in the decor of Red O. Yes, it's pretty. It's pretty like every other "pretty" restaurant in LA. *yawn*<br /><br />The service is more personal at Frontera, and our waiter at Red O really was quite good. But I doubt he gives a crap about Mexican food, and I doubt he considers his job his career. You can tell the difference.<br /><br />And of course, WTF is up with the bouncers? When I approached the door on the night of my dinner, I felt like I was about to be interrogated by the mafia. Rick can't be happy about this. I read that the owners met as bouncers at Red Onion. Hmmm.... you know "the apple does not fall far from the tree."<br /><br />Apparently you need a reservation to even step inside the door. At Frontera, it's pretty much first come first served. You go in and grab a seat at the bar or a table. I think you can make reservations the day of. It was never a problem for me.<br /><br />Maybe Red O will get better, but my impression is the owners like it the way it is. They own EZ Lube. How passionate can they be about running a restaurant?<br /><br />I've wanted Rick to open a restaurant in LA ever since I moved here, but this isn't it. Oh well. His cookbooks are awesome. My solution to finding a "Frontera" in Los Angeles was to make my own at home.Michael Allmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974012909747662741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-2079189962680396612010-06-02T01:16:01.448-07:002010-06-02T01:16:01.448-07:00David: You mean the Distrito Federal? Went to a de...<b>David</b>: You mean the Distrito Federal? Went to a decent place in the Zona Rosa (where the best restaurants are?) several years back.<br /><br /><b>Christie</b>: Hmm...interesting that Red O seems to slot between the Frontera and Topolo--I've heard others mention that as well. In any case, happy birthday!kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-28112776681064631642010-06-01T21:03:14.668-07:002010-06-01T21:03:14.668-07:00During my two years living in Chicago, Frontera Gr...During my two years living in Chicago, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo were two of my favorite go-to restaurants. Red-O's menu reminds me of a delightful fusion between the two. Reading your review is making me rethink my birthday dinner plans for on Friday night!Christie Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11231411663217241269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-28566261459961137672010-06-01T15:03:48.295-07:002010-06-01T15:03:48.295-07:00if you havent already done so, you need to try som...if you havent already done so, you need to try some fine dining in DF. its a life changing experience.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17094391289112383703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-67644939700758731902010-06-01T03:04:45.415-07:002010-06-01T03:04:45.415-07:00Evelina: Ha! I paid the price for my expediency th...<b>Evelina</b>: Ha! I paid the price for my expediency the next day at work lol. BTW, when are you going to start blogging again???<br /><br /><b>Lauren</b>: I'm looking forward to seeing your recreations. Which ones are you going to do first?<br /><br /><b>Andrea</b>: Just read your post on Red O--great to hear you had an amazing time!<br /><br /><b>Charlie</b>: How did it turn out? Which wines did you bring?<br /><br /><b>Misty</b>: The fact of the matter is, Bayless' name is a <i>huge</i> draw. I don't think I'd have turned this around so quickly were his name <i>not</i> attached. ;)<br /><br /><b>sygyzy</b>: Appreciate it--you need to go.<br /><br /><b>David</b>: The prices are per plate thankfully--$9 for a single sope would truly be ridiculous! Interestingly, Oaxacan food is Bayless' favorite due to the complexity.<br /><br /><b>Helen</b>: Yeah, I was a bit wary of "gentrified" Mexican food, but really things turned out beautifully.<br /><br /><b>David</b>: Haven't eaten at La Huasteca yet. I've been to La Casita, and though I didn't really have comparable dishes, the flavors here seemed more refined, and definitely more varied. Casita might have a better mole.<br /><br /><b>Jim</b>: Thanks! No tasting menu as far as I know, but from my <a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/710508?tag=boards;topic-710508" rel="nofollow">Chowhound</a> thread, I found out that you can have Bayless choose your courses for you!<br /><br /><b>Ila</b>: Any plans to visit?<br /><br /><b>Steve</b>: It's too early to tell, but I might prefer this to <a href="http://www.kevineats.com/2009/11/rivera-los-angeles-ca-3.htm" rel="nofollow">Rivera</a>. Let us know how it turns out for you.<br /><br /><b>Waleed</b>: Lol. Come on, give 'em at most a year! ;)<br /><br /><b>Dan</b>: This place has really gotten me excited about Frontera and Topolobampo--next time I'm in Chicago I gotta visit one of them. You do have Frontera Fresco up in SF don't you? ;)<br /><br /><b>PP</b>: Thanks man. Actually, I'd really like to see them do some savory empanadas--I'd even pay $10 for 'em!<br /><br /><b>Danny</b>: Um yes, but I'm sure you'll come here eventually. It'll be interesting to see what you think of Red O compared to his Chicago restos.<br /><br /><b>Raquel</b>: Good to hear. I could definitely see myself coming back to try out more of the menu.kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-21514139751495204552010-05-30T11:26:40.088-07:002010-05-30T11:26:40.088-07:00Was there on Friday night and absolutely loved it!...Was there on Friday night and absolutely loved it! I will go there time and time again. Great food, great ambience!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13721732883160303071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-35981257169658098682010-05-28T14:26:42.248-07:002010-05-28T14:26:42.248-07:00Maybe I should have came after all! :PMaybe I should have came after all! :PKung Food Pandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947611326101640959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-33941483143114954092010-05-28T12:46:25.470-07:002010-05-28T12:46:25.470-07:00$8 for empanadas! Now you're just showing off....$8 for empanadas! Now you're just showing off. Only kidding, Kevin. Great review, I can always count on you to take great photos of new restaurants. - JJustinMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976061296214532098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-71417599860949668932010-05-27T22:35:51.771-07:002010-05-27T22:35:51.771-07:00Red O appears to be very consistent with Frontera ...Red O appears to be very consistent with Frontera and Topolobampo. Great review as always and wonderful photos. I have wished for a place like Frontera Grill or Topolobampo in San Francisco and it just hasn't happened. Whenever I'm in Chicago I might visit Frontera twice in a 3 day trip. It's that good and Bayless always is there.Dan Wodarcyknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-6465929370353113302010-05-27T21:14:08.329-07:002010-05-27T21:14:08.329-07:00Great choice. Three things I appreciate about your...Great choice. Three things I appreciate about your reviews are that you review relevant restaurants, they're timely and tons of photos. Looking forward to eating here and reading the LA Times review that should come out within the next 18 months.12345https://www.blogger.com/profile/05850436920286017588noreply@blogger.com