Shannon "Downtown Shan" V.'s Profile

I love Trimana because they always have a vegan soup and my glorious man has a developed a habit of bringing me home soup for lunch! Yes, I even eat hot soup in the middle of summer! I love soup!  The picture is of the Tomato Rice, which is thick and flavorful.  Packed with herbs, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes and the perfect amount of rice, it is really satisfying.  Also great vegan options; Black Bean and Lentil.  This location is in the AT&T, formerly SBC & Transamerica building at Hill and Pico.  A great South Park stop for lunch. Closed on weekends.

I also like their breakfasts since they have not problem doing egg whites.  good potatoes and nice portions.  We've been going to the TRIMANA at the Mart for years, but this one is new, in my H's building and close to the loft.  Check them out.... Got Soup!

I'm saving a star for when we go back!  But what a great NEW park!! Check out my pictures!  We went to the opening ceremony yesterday.  We saw Gloria Molina, other local officials, news crews and lots of families!  The mayor was supposed to be there, but we only stayed for about an hour (I think he was double booked with the Day of
Service).  We heard Mariachis, witnessed the Tongva Tribal Council's sage blessing and saw the Belmont High ROTC and bagpiper.  Quite the event.  Bridget did well with all the attention and hollars after her! "Does he bite?" Number one question from the little kids.  So funny, "No, it's a girl and she just looks funny!"  She was the first dog in the park!  there was another annoying little Chihuahua and we say another dog on his way in as we were leaving but those were the only 3.  We can't wait to take Bridget back when there are less distractions.  The park is huge, so it shouldn't be hard to find a nice quiet piece of grass.

The landscaping is lush and once it grows and fills in more lushly it will be even more pretty.  The park was built with a GREEN/Conservation theme: saving/recycling water, green roofs, permeable paving, rain detention and localized drip irrigation.  There is a waterfall and gorgeous grotto area!

The park will offer FREE programs all year round for children, high schoolers and families.  It is a joint project between the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, The LA unified school district and the city. "The Conservancy has helped to preserve over 65.000 acres of parkland in both wilderness an urban settings throughout Southern California."

We had a great day, felt privileged to be able to attend and can't wait to go back.  It's 2 miles from the loft, so we'll drive, but it will be nice. Stay tuned for updates and check out my website! Thanks Yelpers!!  I can't believe I was first!! big grin!

The good thing: it says what it is! It's all about SALAD! I love salads.  These are like a salad you would make at home if you had a bunch of stuff in the fridge.  They are loaded!  It's open on the weekend - yeah!  It's new and clean and easy to order.  I should have watched them closer though, because the bad thing:  they forgot the eggs on my "Health Protein" salad.  It was really good otherwise, awesome avocado, but  I missed the eggs!  G got the Greek and it was really tasty - yummy feta - with the Balsamic.  We've just been the one time and it was Saturday, it was quiet and pretty dead.  I'm sure weekday lunches get crowded. I'd say, give them a try if you're in the area, good parking lot.

My G has been taking his shirts here for years now.  Now that we live downtown I've taken over dropping off and picking them up.  Very convenient as I can walk!  It's right across the street from Ralphs on Flower. We tried Ralphs cleaners, but found it more expensive, took longer and not all that professional of service behind the counter.

Juliana is very professional, friendly, always remembers your name and gets the job done!  I've taken a few of  my things to her too, ladies pants, sweaters and was very happy.  Give her a try!

I added pictures!! Our buddy took us here today for lunch... what a treat! They don't do the bbq's at the table for lunch, but the food was AMAZING!  Really fresh and clean.  I got the teriyaki salmon, G got the teriyaki chicken & buddy got the beef (spicy!!) The fish was topped with shredded seaweed and chives and in a nice,  not sweet, teriyaki sauce with yummy cabbage, peppers and onions.  All the specials were the same and the salmon was the most expensive at $9.95. It was soooo much food, I couldn't believe I ate it all, but I DID!  Even munched on the kimchi, which I've eaten in the past and was nice to taste again.... Try it!  The "rice noodle" Jay mentions is actually bean sprouts which are a little like pickled or salty, tasty and room temp.  The spinach was just steamed (no oil), I mixed it with the salmon and the salad.  The little salad had a refreshing dressing.

The ladies are totally friendly, all smiles and "on it!" We were all happy happy and I'd love to go back....maybe one of these days I'll get out for dinner and get to try the BBQ at the table! Thanks Ladies.

First time for Father's Day BRUNCH today.  The patio is the call. The people are really friendly & I like the dark bar during the day!  The bathroom is lit with red lights, so it's a trip.  Good service.  Interesting food.  A nice change from "regular" Mexican.  Prices were fair.  Plus they serve "spa" water instead of just plain water!

I guess they just started serving brunch.  The menu on the website doesn't let you know that they have a separate menu for brunch.  We started with crispy & chewy chips, the table was divided about which were better.  I prefered the crispy, the chewy were a little too greasy for me.  The GUACAMOLE was amazing! Really fresh, cold & not too spicy or over flovored, the good california avocados speak for themselves!  We had the SALSA FLIGHT & everyone liked the RED salsa, we got more of that one.  I liked the green & the pico.  The habanero was "sweet" according to G.  Me & mom thought it had a nice kick, the crema helped cool it down, it had good flavor.  It was way too hot for dad.  My La Paloma cocktail was one of the best drinks I've ever had.  Grapefruit Soda, Tequilla & Egg Whites! Shaken & Served over ice! Check out my pictures.  It made me a FAN!  I'd go back just for that drink.

I couldn't resist trying the Eggplant & Potato Crunchy Tacos.  Look at my PICTURES.   They were rolled up & interesting, but nothing out of this world.  A little greasy, like they could have been blotted a bit.  I'm going to try my own version.  I also had the Garden Salad & a side  of Black Beans. I loved both! The dressing on the salad was perfect & not too much.  The beans were clean & flavorful, cooked perfectly.  I tried the Malo Potatoes which were like a overstuffed baked potato with peppers & onions - a little too "loaded" according to everyone..  Good, but again, nothing outstanding.  The refried beans were good, but a little "pasty".  G likedhis CHICKEN TACOS, but of course they had onions! So he had to pick them all out!  NO ONIONS, NO ONIONS, NO ONIONS!  A few orders of Huevos Rancheros were ordered 1 fan, 1 not.  The SCRAMBLED EGG TOSTADAS got good reviews & looked really good.  I saw the breakfast burrito go by to another table & thought I should have ordered that!  It looked really good, big & came loaded!  The Chicken Tostada Salad was enjoyed as were the GROUND BEEF & PICKLE TACOS.  The food is ok, the service & people are great.  The patio Rocks & the cocktails kick butt!  Thanks Malo!  Dad, who drove down from Ventura, loved it!  A great Father's Day treat!

Grew up in Ventura, just saw this pop up and had to add my 2cents worth.... This is the first place I ever had a Chili Releno Burrito and OMG!!! So good! I loved Evita's growing up and it's cool to see it still there when we get off the freeway to visit home.  I'm still looking for a little place like that downtown L.A...... If I were in VTA, I'd be going often! Enjoy Venturans!  I miss Ventura!

Yeah, the service needs improvement.  The view is great though and th people are really friendly.  Tons of families with kids here for lunch, Sat. afternoon.   Felt I should have chosen a different logo t to wear!  But oh well, that's the cool thing about Ventura... it's Ventura!  The service was slow and my dad is a regular who knows the staff personally.... The drinks were good once they got there... A  couple of nice margaritas and a cold pitcher.  The food was ok (I thought it was pretty pricey for what it was, good thing Dad was paying!) & came out quickly.   My Villa Entre salad had black beans and corn and was a good size, the corn could have been grilled for more flavor.  It was definetely a Shannon Sytle Salad. G got the Caesar which was as expected except they "ran out of tortilla strips" so they left them off... How about crumbling up some chips?!?  Seems like the could have topped it with something.... He enjoyed it and said he didn't need the chips anyway, a true trooper!

L & my dad shared the 3 item combo; Chile Releno, Crispy Beef Taco, which dad ate, and Enchilada (don't know if it was cheese or chicken).  It came with salad, beans and rice.  I tried the b&r which were really tasty and "clean".  I also sampled the Chile Releno which was totally hard.... a chile releno should be able to be cut with a fork, nice & soft, but this was the FIRMEST Releno I've ever had.  It was crunchy...

There seemed to be a lot of local families enjoying lunch.  If you're cruising the harbor and want a nice view, a good cocktail and some Mexi, check them out.  I grew up in Ventura so this place is "new" to me.... I'd sit outside next time.

The food & drinks are tasty and prices are surprisingly fair.  The fact that you can have a nice meal and cocktail in the theater building is an idea that is LONG overdue!  We had a great meal before Sex and the City.   I love the high ceilings, old photos, booths, they have a patio & a menu that you can work with.  I wish they had a few more veggie or even ONE salad that didn't have cheese or meat on it, but I did good with the Blue Cheese, Candied Walnut Cranberry salad.  It was very generous, not over dressed & FRESH!  Other items ordered at the table and enjoyed were; French Dip, Chicken Quesadilla and the Club which was stuffed with excellent looking meat and served on ciabatta or focaccia bread.  The LEMON MERANGUE Drink was AMAZING!! So smooth and "vanilla-y" without being too sweet.   I'd go back just for this drink!

The service is another story..... just a not very attentive and I like ATTENTION!  The guy was very nervous.... shaky hands (we thought he was going to spill the drinks!), he didn't come to check on us after we got our food & ignored my request for a bloody mary.......  I'm giving it 4 stars because I loved the food, the setting and the idea that I could stumble up to the theater after a filling lunch and rest while being entertained.  PERFECTLY ME!

4 stars for IHOP?  weird, but yes! We walk here from our loft and have had 4 or 5 good breakfasts. They are like a machine here, everyone works well together, they have the drill dialed.  Kat said she wasn't charged for "healthier" options, but we always get charged .99 for egg whites only. I don't like the policy, but whatever. We're not big pancake eaters but we each find something on the menu we like, I always get the Garden Scramble and eat about half of one pancake and all the eggies.  G gets whites, bacon, hash browns & toast.  Once I ordered a side of hash browns but when I saw they charged me $2.29!! The portion was tiny too. I guess you just stick to the menu, no sides, get water and  coffee and you are set for the day.  I didn't grow up going to IHOP, so this is a fun treat for me, it's like a high energy diner. This IHOP has dim lighting too! It is always slammin' on the weekends and we've even seen some of our neighbors there.   I liked the reviewer who pointed out the ethnicity of the diners! I'm usually the ONLY Caucasian! I love our neighborhood IHOP!  I love L.A.!