Jonathan Gold, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the LA Times, is one of the most respected food critics in the world. Every year, Mr. Gold releases a comprehensive list of the 101 Best restaurants in Los Angeles. This list, like any other, is bound to stir some controversy. Though we have immense respect for Mr. Gold, here are the five best restaurants we believe should have been included in the 101 best.
Felix
Perhaps the most shocking omission from this year’s list was Felix. Apparently the critic didn’t love the al dente pasta, but we believe that the pappardelle with ragu bolognese and tonnarelli cacio e pepe might be some of the best pastas we’ve had outside of Italy.
Kato
More often than not tasting menus are expensive affairs that nearly max out our credit cards. That’s far from the case at Kato, where Jon Yao puts together seven course menu that just might be the best deal in town.
Destroyer
Jonathan Gold named Vespertine the number one restaurant in LA, but somehow managed to leave its sister restaurant off the list. With New-Nordic takes on porridges and salads, Destroyer is one of the more unique places in the city and a hands down favorite.
Jon and Vinny’s
Jon and Vinny’s isn’t a tiny restaurant but getting a table at the restaurant is still impossible. That’s because dishes like the Spicy Fusilli and LA Woman pizza are fantastic, making the omission of this Fairfax hotspot even more puzzling.
Szechuan Impression
The San Gabriel Valley is home to some of the best Chinese restaurants in the country yet somehow very few of these are featured on Jonathan Gold’s 101 list. At Szechuan Impression, you’ll find ridiculously well prepared dishes and the toothpick lamb alone should qualify it for a spot on the list.
This review was written by In The Loup contributor Ash Narayan