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The Counter is opening a new destination spot in Pasadena. (BonnieBonBon via Flickr)
September is Hunger Action Month, so for one day only, on this Wednesday, September 30, LA diners can make a real difference by bringing in two cans of soup to any Cheesecake Factory location (that's right, all 146 of them across the U.S. are participating). Diners who do so will get 10% of their check donated to a local food bank. It's a good way to go out and not feel guilty during these tough economic times.
"Lucky 7" Menu at Katsuya Hollywood
This favorite tinseltown sushi joint is running a 7-week-long "Lucky 7" menu while the Pantages Theater across the street "goes dark" until November 1. Guests can choose from 7 dishes for just $7 each, including the Kobe beef sliders, for which you can pay just $7 more to add foie gras or truffles. Then again, stick to the Japanese theme and get a lobster dynamite roll or honey yuzu wild shrimp. The menu will be available from 5:00-7:00pm daily.
6300 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, (323) 871-8777
$15 Prix Fixe Lunch Menu at La Cachette Bistro
We try not to give any one restaurant too much play since there are simply too many good deals out there to report on, but even though we've told you about the opening, the new brunch menu, and reviewed it, we couldn't resist bringing you this final piece of news about their new $15 weekday prix fixe lunch deal. You get a choice of soup or salad to start, a main course of either baked brioche with cheese and ham or a zucchini-herb omelette or the daily special for a main course, and then a dessert of macaroons with chocolate sauce. Sounds too good to pass up.
1733 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, Ca 90401, (310) 434-9509
The Counter Opens in Pasadena
Finally, an outpost of this Westside make-your-own burger mecca will open on the Eastside in Pasadena. The restaurant officially opened on Monday, September 28, and started taking lunch orders at 11:00am. It will be open Sundays-Thursdays 11am-10pm, and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm. Some fun facts we learned about The Counter? There are over 300,000 possible burger combinations on the menu, they will be offering tasty shakes of the month like the pumpkin pie one, and even the queen of talk herself, Oprah, loves the place, including it on her "20 burgers you must eat before you die" list. If that's not reason enough to try it out, we don't know what is.
140 Shoppers Lane, Pasadena, CA 91101, (626) 440-1008
blue on blue become oliverio
Topping the list of breaking restaurant news last week was the announcement that blue on blue at the Avalon Beverly Hills was being transformed into a new restaurant called oliverio (that's right, still no caps). Executive Chef Scott Garrett has departed, and the kitchen has been taken over by Mirko Paderno, who was previously at Cecconi's in West Hollywood. The new menu will be Italian-inspired, and the outdoor pool area is getting a whole new '60's Italian look. We haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but we'll be heading there soon for a review, so look out for one in the coming weeks.
9400 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, (310) 407-7791
Weekly Four at Checkers Downtown
After a slipping for a few years, this downtown institution is getting ready to reemerge with a new executive chef (Todd Allison), a new menu, new cocktails, and new specials like their weekly FOUR event. Every Thursday from 4-8pm, the restaurant will offer special cocktails from a featured spirits maker for $4, and special tapas for $4-6 each. The special will continue from now until November, with sponsors like Partida Tequila, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Remy Martin, Freemark Abbey Vineyards, Ultimat Vodka and Oxley Gin.
535 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, (213) 624-0000
