Sasaya "happy happy home"

Lured in by a promotion (99 cent Sapporo), I entered Sasaya with high hopes. After all, I frequent every sushi bar on the block at least once per month and this place has been open for at least two.

The menu was difficult to read, Japanese overwhelmed the brief English descriptions. Luckily, the bartendar was happy enough to help me through the menu.

I started with yellowtail sashimi (normal enough) and tried to order the wasabi-marinated octopus. The bartendar sort of started and was like"are you sure?" -- so cute -- he said it was normal for him but not someone like me. nice. I got a free sample for my daring. It was good but too chewy to enjoy a large amount. The sashimi was beautiful, like everything presented at this place.

Before I go on, I must say that the bartender was extremely helpful and willing to answer any question I asked. The service was excellent, gracious, ....

Back to food: moved on to a calamari crepe. Gorgeous, but with a few to many of the chewy pieces. So unnecessary. But the crepe was excellent and the two sauces dazzled over it mixed swimmingly. Then salmon sushi in a special style (don't remember). I was warned that it was pressed, but not that it was smoked. Smoked sushi, some sort of egg over it (tried one, didn't like it) -- and WAY more rice than salmon. Probably the equivalent of one piece of sushi smushed over 4 rice pieces. To no avail, I was full, and couldn't even pretend to enjoy it.

Overall, I was much more happy than this review would leave you to believe. I learned a lot. I tried new things. I enjoyed some of them. After all, you can't expect to love everything you randomly pick off a menu you don't understand.

Velocity Cafe

Located on Lincoln, just south of Pico, this is a great little cafe with atmosphere. Eclectic furniture and artwork are littered everywhere. I must admit that I was a little spooked out by the giant lion and horse statues sitting in between the tables (especially since from my chair it appeared that the lion was getting ready to chomp at the horse's you know what).

Great selection of sandwiches and breakfasts with the option to create your own. I decided on the California Cabrese sandwich -- mozzarella, tomatoes, red onion, spinach, and (of course), avocado on a panini. Comes with a balsamic dipping sauce. All very, very good.

Cabo Cantina starts a liquid Friday

Let's get this straight. I would never go to this place if it was not so close to work. After being open for a measly few months, it already has the smell of a 20-year-old fraternity house. But, given the fact that there are only three bars within easy walking distance and one of them is the pretentious Bandera that attracts an older, but much more desperate crowd, I end up at Cabo a few times per month. Often I brave the young, scantily dressed crowd, end up holding two beers at a time, and laugh as my male co-workers' eyes wander. Yesterday I even ate there. I was in a mood for a risk.

The lowdown: It's just cheap Mexican without the quality that you can get so many other places in L.A. Nothing was bad, but nothing was tremendously good. I split the steak fajitas. The salads are huge and look good as well. If it's not 2-4-1 happy hour, the beers are a little expensive: $5 for a Corona Light. The best part is that you get to sit outside under a decor that at least let's you pretend you're in the tropics instead of a 2-minute walk from your next meeting. This, of course, is with the caveat that you see your co-workers walk by as they go much more innocent places for lunch.

Cabo is on Wilshire, just west of Barrington. At night you'll see the nuttiness from blocks away. And, yes, you can valet park your limo (and people do).