Andy Gavin's Blog
November 13, 2025
SGV Eats – Blue Magpie
Restaurant: Blue Magpie
Location: 41 W Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA
Date: August 9, 2025
Cuisine: Taiwanese Fine Dining
Rating: Nice Modern Taiwanese!
_Blue Magpie has been on my radar ever since it opened in Arcadia, bringing serious Taiwanese fine dining to the San Gabriel Valley. This isn’t your typical Taiwanese restaurant – it’s an ambitious, modern take on the cuisine with refined techniques and creative presentations that wouldn’t be out of place at higher-end establishments in the LA d...
November 10, 2025
Bacari Beverly Hills
Restaurant: Bacari
Location: 9601 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, CA.
Date: September 6, 2025
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Chef: Robert Kronfli
Rating: Decent, but slightly confusing
_Bacari, nestled in the heart of Beverly Hills at 9601 Brighton Way, is a culinary gem that offers an exquisite Mediterranean dining experience. The restaurant’s concept is inspired by the traditional Venetian wine bars, known as “bacari,” and it beautifully marries this inspiration with a modern, Californian twist. The men...
November 8, 2025
Wonderful Wonde
Restaurant: Wonde Harbor
Location: 1655 S Azusa Ave, Hacienda, Heights. 626-888-7666
Date: July 20 & October 19, 2025
Cuisine: Cantonese Chinese
Rating: Excellent
_For this week’s Sunday Chinese we hauled all the way out again for this new place, right next door to the interesting Happy Valley Village.
Step into Wonde Harbor Restaurant, where the inviting facade, adorned with elegant signage and a warm palette, sets the stage for a culinary journey enriched by an atmosphere that seamlessly ble...
November 5, 2025
Naughty Dog 40th Anniversary
Very cool 40th Anniversary video about the studio and its games. We recorded these new interviews just this June.
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November 4, 2025
Dear Johns
Restaurant: Dear Johns
Location: 11208 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230. 310-881-9288
Date: August 22, 2025
Cuisine: American, Steakhouse
Chef: Hans Röckenwagner and Josiah Citrin
Rating: Tasty, wish we were inside
_Tucked away on Culver Boulevard, Dear Johns in Culver City is a culinary gem that serves up classic American and Steakhouse cuisine with a dash of old Hollywood glamour. The restaurant, which was once a favorite haunt of Frank Sinatra, has been lovingly restored to its mid-century...
November 2, 2025
On the Edge
Restaurant: Edgemar
Location: 2435 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405. (424) 252-6844
Date: August 27, 2025
Cuisine: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, New American
Rating: Tasty
_Edgemar in Santa Monica is a culinary gem that offers a unique dining experience, combining the best of Seafood, Cocktail Bars, and New American cuisine. Located at 2435 Main St, this restaurant is a haven for food enthusiasts who appreciate the art of fine dining. The menu is a testament to the chef’s creativity and passion, featu...
October 30, 2025
Anarbagh Eats
Location: 22721 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. (818) 224-3929
Date: August 15, 2025
Cuisine: Indian
Rating: Meh old fashioned Indian
_Anabagh in Woodland Hills is an Old School Indian place that serves up an array of “classic” Indian cuisine. This dinner was setup by George. I went here once by myself and wasn’t impressed. I wasn’t impressed again.
The atmosphere at Anabagh is as old school as the food. The decor is a mix of 70s and 80s Indian elements, cre...
October 25, 2025
Pig Out at Pigya
Restaurant: Pigya
Location: 3400 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005. (213) 322-2588
Date: August 3, 2025
Cuisine: Korean, Barbeque
Rating: Solid
_Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles, Pigya is a culinary gem that offers an authentic Korean Barbeque experience. Located at 3400 W 8th St, this restaurant is a haven for food enthusiasts who crave the rich, smoky flavors of traditional Korean cuisine. The dining concept is interactive and engaging, with each table equipped with a built-in grill, allowin...
October 23, 2025
Spicy Hunan Home
Restaurant: xianglalou
Location: 500 West Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803. (626) 481-1290
Date: July 27, 2025
Cuisine: Chinese
Rating: Spicy, salty, and delicious
_Xianglalou, nestled in the heart of Alhambra, CA, is a culinary gem that offers an authentic Chinese dining experience. Located at 500 West Valley Blvd, this restaurant is a haven for food enthusiasts who crave the rich, diverse flavors of traditional Chinese cuisine. The menu is a delightful journey through China’s culinary landscap...
October 21, 2025
Lovely Louka
Restaurant: Louka
Location: 340 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. (310) 858-4500
Date: May 23, 2025
Cuisine: Greek
Rating: Good but expensive, great service
_I’ve had a weakness for Greek food for 35 years, ever since I spent the summers of 89 and 90 there.
Louka in Beverly Hills is a culinary gem that transports you to the sun-drenched shores of Greece with its authentic and vibrant cuisine. Nestled in the heart of the city at 340 N Canon Dr, this upscale dining destination is a celebration...
