Last Meals Pt 2

Our last meals before I headed up to the Bay Area with the cats were at Starry Kitchen on Tuesday and on Wednesday we visited the Nickel Diner.. my go-to spot for really good bacon-avo burgers,amazing onion rings,tasty "Smac N Cheese", tummy-stuffing breakfasts (OMG blueberry pancakes!) and oh so naughty desserts of all kinds..

We pretty much had lunch and then hit the road.. but we left DTLA very happy (and full):


Sean and our double dose of Bacon Avo Burgers!


Bacon Avo Burger w/ those yummy onion rings..


Same but different.. with fries

What to order when you know you won't be able to eat at the Nickel Diner for the unforeseen future??

Salt Peanut Cake of course!!

Thank you so much to Monica and Kristen for all the yummy meals and for bringing such a delicious and comfy place to our neighborhood. The Nickel was one of the many bright spots our good times in the Historic Core.. and yes, like an action hero with a heavy accent, we'll be back! =)

Dinner at the Nickel

The Nickel all ready for Halloween

The last couple times we've eaten at the Nickel it was for lunch. Hearing about a new dinner menu from Kristen, we made a point to go there Wednesday night.


New items include a variation on the chicken & dumpling, appetizers like the double stuffed artichoke and the white bean soup.


Double Stuffed artichoke is stuffed with its own artichoke hearts and mashed potatoes.


We also split an order of fried chicken drumettes with maple bacon jam served with polenta and braised kale.

I preferred the drumettes over the stuffed artichoke. The maple bacon jelly was had just a little (yummy!) spiciness to it, and we couldn't really tell there was bacon involved, but the drumettes were still very good.

We also split an order of the "Frim Fram Sauce with Ausen Fey with Sha Fa Fa on the Side"

This is that variation of chicken and dumplings which comes with a side of lemon cream sauce and herbs. It's served in a little soup tureen.


This is a very hearty soup..

Here's a close-up of those yummy dumplings and pieces of chicken.. I put a little bit of the herbs on my spoon. It gave a nice bit of seasoning:


SeanYoda said the lemon cream sauce "added a nice tangy flavor" to the soup. I imagine had we not shared this it would have been way too much for one person.


NIckel Diner
524 S Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Beer at the Nickel

As most folks who know me, know one of my favorite places to eat is the Nickel Diner. I have several posts about the place and have joked in the past often this should be my Nickel Diner blog.. "so what you eat this week??" Actually, it's been a while.. in part because I've been out of town a lot the last couple months. Then there's the diet. Going on Weight Watchers new program had me anxious to see if I could even go out to eat, let alone enjoy my favorite places.

Having a mad craving for meat, we headed to the Nickel so I would be sated. The surprise waiting for us was Kristen Trattner, noticing the Sean's NOFD tshirt mentioned she had a bottle of Dixie for him to try. "What?!"


Sean taking a sip of his Dixie..

Turns out their beer & wine license went through the beginning of the year. Kristen says they should have it on the menu officially next week and will carry about five or six different beers at a time. Like the soda they offer, she says they plan to mix it up and 'keep it fun'.. So at least for now, they plan to have different brands available.

This was Sean's first Dixie (I got him hooked on Abita) and agreed with Kristen it's definitely an 'everyman's beer' and similar to a PBR. So there you go. =)

Big Thanks to Kristen for sharing the news with us. It's a long time coming for that beer and wine license.

As for me, I did alright!



I ordered the lowrider burger (Ano chilis, pepperjack cheese, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes) w/ a salad instead of fries. I asked for the dressing on the side. I did good earlier in the day so I actually had just enough to be able to eat the burger (leaving the bun). It was just the thing!

Next time I'll get that steak salad.. sometimes a cheeseburger is all you really want.

Nickel Diner on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives!!

REMINDER! Nickel Diner on D3 Monday the 19th!!


Back in June some folks may recall (or not) that Guy Fieri (season 2 winner of Next Food Network Star) & his crew came to film at Monica & Kristin's "Nickel Diner" near 5th and Main. The time has come for the show to finally be aired!!

Set your DVR/VCR or be sure and catch the episode.. or if you're in the neighborhood, be sure to meet up at Cole's just off 6th & Main just before 10pm Monday night the 19th and watch it with some of your neighbors.

We got the DVR set, but we'll be ambling down there as well.

Nickel Diner
524 S Main St.
Los Angeles, CA.

Veggie Chili

Small Vegetarian Chili on a cool Art Walk evening was just the thing to fill me up..

I would definitely order this again.. no meat Friday or Art Walk Thursday, it was a good option! Oh and it was spicy!




**still owe a review of THE MUST** which I've yet to sit down and do.. soon!

Onion Rings for Joe..

Bacon burger w/ onion rings from the Nickel Diner..

Back to the Nickel!

LUNCH TIME!

According to my "BriteKite" account, I haven't checked in at The Nickel in some 22 days.. That statement is meant to ward off the eventual comment that will come.. "The Nickel? AGAIN??!!!" Yes, again.. and I'm guessing you haven't been if you're asking why.


pastries & donuts (maple bacon was out by lunch)


today's featured desserts.. (no wonder I'm just gaining & gaining!)

Unfortunately, shortly after they started serving dinner there, (maybe a couple days after my last review) there was a personnel issue (the dinner cook quit for some unknown reason) and they are left short-staffed. So no dinner. However, lunch is still available. Yay! I made it over there for lunch today.

We got there near 1pm I want to say, still busy from lunch but the wait wasn't long. We got seated next to a very chatty couple who (unfortunately for us) talked loud enough to make eating lunch uncomfortable. The tables are so close together you can't help but make out bits of conversation. Unfortunately for SeanYoda he heard all of it (lucky for me they were sitting on my 'bad side' and I missed most of it except for when they got into some heated exchange about fast food and multi-vitamins. Too Much information people!)

Ok.. so now that you got the set up..


SeanYoda's Bacon Cheeseburger with French fries.

this closeup is especially for Eureka City Poz :

Yes, they were crispy!!


The Smac N Cheese:


Smac N Cheese closeup.. under a a thin layer of toasty bread crumbs is piping hot cheesy macaroni goodness!

I finished mine all by myself and while my plate was getting cleared, Sean worked on that mountain of fries.. We discussed if we should get dessert to go. While we were eating a 2nd wave of lunch goers had come. Several groups came in to be seated as well. We knew we wanted dessert (but Sean had already had enough of the people sitting next to us and would have been ready to go if I had asked). We pondered and then finally the moment came..

Yes, we went ahead and ordered dessert! So which one which one??

The "S'mores" cake which I didn't order.. Kristin was saying they bring it to your table and light it up with a blowtorch right there.

We didn't order it though.


We got the Salt Peanut!!!



Total with tax was about $31.00 (not including tip).

Yes, next time I'll need to go farther afield and try one of their salads.. ;) Next time!

Nickel Diner Now Serving DINNER!

As one may have already read from NewDowntown (yahoo group), BlogDowntown or other blogs, the Nickel opened for it's first official Dinner hours tonight, the 23rd. Before the Nickel experimented with dinner hours on the monthly art walk nights.



Nickel Diner opens for dinner from Tues through Saturday from 6-11pm.


Checking in at The Nickel shortly after 6pm, there were already a couple tables seated for dinner. Apon sitting, ordering a couple glasses of water and perusing the menu.. we saw that there are many items one will see on the regular lunch menu. However, a list of dinner entrees are now offered including: a double stuffed chicken, a salmon dish, catfish dish, flatiron steak with arugula & tomato salad, and a couple veggie leaning options.

Lunch regulars will see they have the pulled pork sandwich, the Nickel Burger, and Lowrider among many other favorites. (Smac and Cheese anyone??). Knowing I could get one of my favorite lunch items.. during lunch, I made sure to try one of the new dinner options.


"Eat Your Vegetables" hashed bacon Brussel sprouts with green beans, sauteed spinach, and roasted parsnips and carrots over a bed of buttermilk mashed potatoes. OMG! This was sooo incredibly delicious.

The hashed bacon brought a gently salted savoriness to the Brussel sprouts. The parsnips & carrots worked well together.. the parsnips providing a meaty texture and the carrots a sweetness. I was happy with the green beans and the spinach. Perfect!



SeanYoda ate with me of course (he's been wishing The Nickel opened for dinner only slightly more than myself, and probably was more vocal about it though). He chose the beef stew. I tried his and having been slices of beef with vegetables on buttermilk mashed potatoes, it reminded me ever so slightly of Shepherd's Pie (which Sean says 'no it's beef stew!!') so yeah, it's got a hearty thickness that I imagine would be very filling and hearty.

Ok.. getting over the "It's stew!" "It's Shepherd's Pie" argument.. let's move on to everyone's favorite.. dessert! Yes, we had dessert.

Tonight's options included the Red Velvet cake, tres leche cake, tapioca pudding, cheesecake, lemon pie (with the entire lemon!), and the salt peanut cake.


"Salt Peanut Cake" chocolate cake layered with a peanut butter cream cheese frosting & potato chips. YES! Potato Chips.. omg crunchy sweet, salty, chocolatey.. **Please note the above photo is 1/2 a slice (we split the serving down the middle).

With a Diet Coke & Cherry Soda, the entire dinner came to about $34 (not including tip).

The Nickel has been doing fantastic since day one, and if our dinner was any sampling of what will come from the future dinner service schedule, all is well at 5th & Main. There's no question I'll be coming back for dinner again.. and again.. and.. well, you get the idea!


The Nickel Diner
524 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Open:
Breakfast/ Lunch: Tues through Sunday 730-330pm
Dinner (currently): Tues through Saturday 6pm-11pm

The Nickel Diner

mild disclaimer: Just in time to start thinking about Thanksgiving, I'm well over-due for a review of The Nickel. I've been collecting images now & again of various items I've ordered at the Nickel, so forgive me for the disarray of images, that may have nothing to do with what I actually ate today (which was the smac & cheese). This is more of a not ready for prime time review.. I even forgot to take a shot of the entrance!*



Neighborhood restaurateurs Monica May & Kristen Trattner's cozy as a broken-in shoe soft-opened to huge crowds of hungry neighbor friends & area co-workers a couple months back. I've lost count how many times I've eaten at the Nickel Diner since then. I know it hasn't been often enough to try every item on the menu just yet. Luckily, there's 5 of 7 days in a week they are open, and starting later this year they are looking to extend hours of operation. Currently their hours are 730am-330pm.


Buttermilk pancakes (w/ bananas & berries)

Breakfast will have you satisfied with pancakes (served til 11am), omelets, traditional egg breakfasts and some of the favorite "hangover helper" (which I have yet to try). I did, however, get there in time for some pancakes. They have buttermilk, w/ or without fruit. The blueberry pancakes are excellent, as are the buttermilk served with optional bananas & berries. I recommend the pancakes regardless of how you order them.

Waiting those two days they are closed is almost painful. Many a soul (including mine) will have a craving for one of their special menu items, and might get as far as out the front door before remembering they are open Wednesday thru Sunday, and darn it if it's Monday or Tuesday! You'll have to wait.

The waiting was over and grateful it was Wednesday, we headed over to the Nickel where I could sate my mad craving for the "smac & cheese" and perhaps something off the dessert menu. Oh yes, even if you are way too full after dining, you'll want dessert, if nothing more than to take a slice home.


Nickel Diner bacon burger (optioned with onion rings.. which can't be beat).

It's not just the smac & cheese that you'll want to tuck into. The pulled pork with coleslaw is tangy and satisfying. The Bacon Burger is juicy and quite filling or the Classic Caesar salad with piping hot grilled chicken. You might have to take some home with you if you can't eat it all.


Pulled Pork sandwich (and option of french fries, cole slaw, or side salad.. onion rings $1.00 more). This reviewer loves coleslaw so that's why there's more than just what came on the pulled pork.

Now for dessert.. They always have something you'll want to try. Their desserts range from tapioca, or tres leche, red velvet cake, various cupcakes, and pie. Everything is baked fresh on premises, so be sure and ask to see the dessert selections. Today they ran out of the red velvet cake, but they did have something new and surprising (for me).



The pumpkin cheesecake, seasonal selection just in time for Thanksgiving.

The pumpkin cheesecake was amazingly light & fluffy, melt in your mouth delicious with what looked like lightly toasted marshmallow topping. Oh yes. I'll be asking for this again before Turkey Day is out.

Just in case you forget, you can order a fresh pie or cheesecake to take home for Thanksgiving (the Nickel will be closed Thanksgiving Day). Prices on pies to order range from $20-$24.00 and your request needs to be in no later than Sunday the 23rd of November. You'll want to make arrangements for pick-up; asking Kristen, she was saying it may very well be the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week.

The Nickel Diner
524 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA

Open Wednesday-Sunday
730-330pm

The Nickel dinner post art-walk review

Last Thursday The Nickel had a limited dinner menu set up special for art walk night. Eventually they'll be open for dinner regular, but until then you have to seize opportunities like last Thursday night when you can. Their hamburgers, selected sandwiches & salads and dessert were available from about 6-10pm that night. The bacon cheeseburger was excellent (as is the pulled pork sandwich) juicy and filling, and with the onion rings ($1 extra) made for a good side dish.

As for desserts:

There was a yummy, but limited selection of The Nickel's desserts available at the Nickel on Art Walk night. Too many to choose from, but I'm looking forward to eventually trying them all. ;)

I took very few pix at all, but the rest of my set is here:
Art Walk 09/08