Survey Reveals That Angelenos Eat Out More Than Diners in New York and San Francisco
Winners: Ink (Top Newcomer), Urasawa (Food), Sir Winston’s (Decor), Providence (Service), 101 Coffee Shop (Popularity), Cheesecake Factory (Most Popular Chain), In-N-Out Burger (Best Buy)
Los Angeles, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Zagat announced the results of its 2013 Los Angeles Restaurants Survey, covering 2,082 restaurants in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and Orange County as voted on by a record 18,450 diners. The redesigned iconic burgundy guidebook is now available in stores, while the new ratings and reviews are available for free across Google Maps, Search, Google+ and mobile to help people discover the best local places.
Key Stats: LA surveyors report eating out 3.5 times per week on average. That’s the same as last year, but more than their counterparts in other serious foodie cities like New York (3.0) and San Francisco (2.9) as well as the national average of 3.1. As for tipping, Angelenos give 18.7%, compared to 19.3% nationally. This is in line with other West Coast cities, such as San Francisco and Seattle, but less than most East Coast cities. When asked to rate LA’s culinary diversity and creativity overall, diners awarded them a 26 and 23, respectively, on Zagat’s signature 30-point scale. Hospitality only received a 17 – not surprising since service is cited by 61% of diners as their main complaint. Quite simply, service is the industry’s “weak link,” not just in LA, but nationwide.
Newcomers: Ink, by Top Chef champ Michael Voltaggio, is this year’s Top Newcomer, earning a 26 for Food on Zagat’s 30-point scale. Diners say Ink serves up “obscenely tasty” New American-Eclectic creations and “killer cocktails.” Following behind are Thomas Keller’s “fabulous” Beverly Hills outpost of Bouchon Bakery, “dang-original” Downtown sandwich specialist Baco Mercat, “instant hot spot” Milo & Olive from the Huckleberry team in Santa Monica and Westwood’s “brilliant” Umami Burger spin-off, 800 Degrees Pizzeria.
Winners: This year’s Top Food award goes to Hiro Urasawa’s Beverly Hills Japanese, Urasawa, where “every dish is a work of art and a labor of love.” It’s worth noting that five of this year’s top 10 restaurants are Japanese.Sir Winston’s, anchored on the Queen Mary, wins for Decor, and Providence wins Top Service with its “superb,” “knowledgeable” staff. 101 Coffee Shop, the late-night Hollywood hang, is this year’s Most Popular restaurant. Cheesecake Factory is the Most Popular Chain, and In-N-Out Burger is the No. 1 Best Buy.
Digital Dining: Thirty-five percent of respondents say that they have downloaded a restaurant-related app to their smartphone, and 12% are posting on social media when they arrive at a restaurant. While 85% of surveyors say it is “ok” to take photos of food or companions, 58% consider it “rude and inappropriate” to talk, text, tweet or e-mail when at the table.
Food Trucks: While 43% occasionally patronize one of the city’s many food trucks, only 19% make it a point to follow favorites via social media. This year’s top food trucks are 1. Grill ‘Em All Truck, 2. Kogi Korean BBQ, 3. Buttermilk Truck, 4. Ludo Truck and 5. Border Grill Truck.
Cuisines Favorites: When it comes to their favorite cuisines, a plurality of surveyors picks Italian (26%), followed by American (15%), Japanese (15%), French (11%), Mexican (8%), Thai (7%) and Chinese (7%). Here are this year’s top winners in major cuisine categories:
American (New) – Melisse, Santa Monica
American (Trad.) – Farmshop, Santa Monica
Asian/Fusion – Chinois on Main, Santa Monica
Barbecue – Bludso’s BBQ, Compton
Burgers – Golden State, Fairfax
Californian – Lucques, West Hollywood
Caribbean – Porto’s Bakery, Mult. loc.
Chinese – Newport Seafood, Mult. loc.
Continental – Brandywine, Woodland Hills
Delis – Brent’s Deli, Mult. loc.
Dim Sum – Sea Harbour, Rosemead
Diners – Original Pancake House, Redondo Bch.
Eclectic – Saam/The Bazaar, Beverly Hills
French – Melisse, Santa Monica
Greek – Petros, Manhattan Beach
Indian – Addi’s Tandoor, Redondo Beach
Italian – Michael’s on Naples, Long Beach
Japanese – Urasawa, Beverly Hills
Korean – Park’s Barbeque, Koreatown
Mediterranean – Lucques, West Hollywood
Mexican – Babita Mexicuisine, San Gabriel
Middle Eastern – Raffi’s Place, Glendale
Pizza – Michael’s Pizzeria, Long Beach
Seafood – Providence, Hollywood
Small Plates – M.B. Post, Manhattan Beach
Soul Food/Southern – Johnny Rebs’, Mult. loc.
South American – Mario’s Peruvian, Hollywood
Steakhouses – Cut, Beverly Hills
Thai – Jitlada, East Hollywood
Vegetarian – Native Foods, Mult. loc.
Vietnamese – Pho So 1, Gardena, Mult. loc.
Hot ‘Hoods: According to surveyors, LA’s best dining neighborhoods are West Hollywood (A1 Cucina, The Churchill, PaliKitchen), followed by Beverly Hills (BierBeisl, Bouchon Bakery, Caulfield’s, Larder at Maple Drive, Livello) and Santa Monica (The Charleston, Mercado, Milo & Olive, Tar & Roses, Ushuaia).
Trends: Exotic sandwiches (Baco Mercat, Bouchon Bakery, Fundamental LA, Mendocino Farms); gastropubs (Larry’s, Little Bear, The Pikey); booze-focused boites (Freddy Smalls, Hot’s Kitchen, Next Door by Josie, Post & Beam); pizza (Crust Pizza Bar, 800 Degrees, Milo & Olive, Settebello).
The Zagat 2013 Los Angeles Restaurants Survey was edited by Michelle Golden with consulting editor Merrill Shindler and local editors John Bergano, Melissa Brandzel, Gillian Ferguson, Cynthia Furey, Grace Jidoun, Gretchen Kurz and Helen Sillett. Zagat’s scores and reviews of all restaurants are integrated across Google Maps, Search, Google+ and mobile. Zagat’s redesigned guidebook ($15.95) sports a new luxury matte cover with user-friendly flaps, a fold-out city map and brighter paper stock for easy reading. These elegant new guides make the perfect gift, and are available wherever books are sold.
About Zagat
Zagat is known as the “burgundy bible” and a trusted source for consumer-generated survey information. With a worldwide network of surveyors, Zagat rates and reviews restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment categories and is lauded as the “most up-to-date,” “comprehensive” and “reliable” guide, published on all platforms. Zagat content is integrated throughout Google, including Maps, Search, Google+ and mobile. Zagat guidebooks are also available at all major retailers. In September 2011, Zagat was acquired by Google Inc.
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