Comments on: [Santa Monica] [Italian] Valentino Italian Restaurant http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/ ~Finding Good Eats (and Deals) in Los Angeles and Around The Globe~ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:23:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Exile Kiss http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9583 Exile Kiss Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:36:06 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9583 Hi Eileen, Sorry to hear about your bad time at Valentino. :( That's why I really don't like DineLA week - some restaurants just can't handle the increased volume and/or are too busy putting out the "assembly line" volume of the same dishes for every table... the staff or kitchen may get testy / bored / disinterested, etc. But at the same time, from the customer's point-of-view, the restaurant *should* be accommodating and try their best for the customer; it shouldn't be an excuse, but it sometimes is for many DineLA restaurants. When I went to Valentino (if you ever go again, be sure to arrange for Paul Sherman to be your server / guide. His Wine Pairings with the full Chef's Tasting Menu is *amazing*; my favorite in L.A. so far. I don't blame you for not wanting to go back; it sounds like they didn't handle DineLA Week very well at all, but their Chef's Tasting Menu and certain Staff Members are outstanding. Hope you're feeling better! :) <blockquote>So they are not usually like that, right? I was really wondering how did they get the one star after the visit. Maybe we should go back and try the regular tasting menu in a later time. But DineLA at Valentino's was really a big disappointment.</blockquote> Hi Eileen,

Sorry to hear about your bad time at Valentino. :( That’s why I really don’t like DineLA week – some restaurants just can’t handle the increased volume and/or are too busy putting out the “assembly line” volume of the same dishes for every table… the staff or kitchen may get testy / bored / disinterested, etc.

But at the same time, from the customer’s point-of-view, the restaurant *should* be accommodating and try their best for the customer; it shouldn’t be an excuse, but it sometimes is for many DineLA restaurants.

When I went to Valentino (if you ever go again, be sure to arrange for Paul Sherman to be your server / guide. His Wine Pairings with the full Chef’s Tasting Menu is *amazing*; my favorite in L.A. so far. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go back; it sounds like they didn’t handle DineLA Week very well at all, but their Chef’s Tasting Menu and certain Staff Members are outstanding.

Hope you’re feeling better! :)

So they are not usually like that, right? I was really wondering how did they get the one star after the visit.
Maybe we should go back and try the regular tasting menu in a later time. But DineLA at Valentino’s was really a big disappointment.

]]> By: Pepsi Monster http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9540 Pepsi Monster Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:54:34 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9540 I'm sorry to hear about the lousy service here. I have heard so many great things about this place and yeah it would be a total bummer to happen on your special occaison. Wish you better luck on your next special occaison. As in for Danny's blog...get going! <blockquote>It's a bummer, but at least we learned not to go back to Valentino's again. Danny should starts his blog like NOW!</blockquote> I’m sorry to hear about the lousy service here. I have heard so many great things about this place and yeah it would be a total bummer to happen on your special occaison. Wish you better luck on your next special occaison. As in for Danny’s blog…get going!

It’s a bummer, but at least we learned not to go back to Valentino’s again.
Danny should starts his blog like NOW!

]]> By: Danny http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9530 Danny Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:46:35 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9530 Oops, I meant I'm went to Bazaar already and going to Maison Akira tonight. I'm starting my food blog soon, since I've read your's for like 2 years, it's time to do mine :). I went to Bazaar with Tony C's group, his pictures are better than mine: www.sinosoul.com. There were some hits and misses, but I enjoyed the King Crab w/rasberries and that lobster dish with sea foam. Both were delicious. Plus, the dessert there was fantastic. Much better than my 8 dessert course at Providence I had a few months ago. I'd suggest you try Bazaar soon. Avoid the valet parking, I'm sure you can find some parking on San Vincente/La Cienega area. It's not worth the $10. :) <blockquote>I think you REALLY should start your blog! haha.... I'll be your first devoted reader! So start NOW! ^^ I read SinoSoul's post on Bazaar. Food looks great. So I just found out this morning that our family dinner for Friday is canceled. That means.... BAZAAR ON FRIDAY! Ohhhhh Yeahhhhh~~~~</blockquote> Oops, I meant I’m went to Bazaar already and going to Maison Akira tonight. I’m starting my food blog soon, since I’ve read your’s for like 2 years, it’s time to do mine :) . I went to Bazaar with Tony C’s group, his pictures are better than mine: http://www.sinosoul.com. There were some hits and misses, but I enjoyed the King Crab w/rasberries and that lobster dish with sea foam. Both were delicious. Plus, the dessert there was fantastic. Much better than my 8 dessert course at Providence I had a few months ago. I’d suggest you try Bazaar soon. Avoid the valet parking, I’m sure you can find some parking on San Vincente/La Cienega area. It’s not worth the $10. :)

I think you REALLY should start your blog! haha….
I’ll be your first devoted reader! So start NOW! ^^
I read SinoSoul’s post on Bazaar. Food looks great.
So I just found out this morning that our family dinner for Friday is canceled.
That means…. BAZAAR ON FRIDAY! Ohhhhh Yeahhhhh~~~~

]]> By: Syb http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9528 Syb Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:44:13 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9528 Happy anniversary to you and Mr. Park! And also late year of the ox wishes for you, happy new year! <blockquote>Thank you! Happy Ox Year to you too!</blockquote> Happy anniversary to you and Mr. Park!
And also late year of the ox wishes for you, happy new year!

Thank you! Happy Ox Year to you too!

]]> By: joe http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9526 joe Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:15:21 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9526 I went last night. No wait, seated at a bad table, service was not the best but it was friendly, food was good but didnt blow me away. Not sure how they got a Michelin star. Don't really plan on going back. <blockquote>Sounds like your experience was better than ours. After our visit, we really wonder how they got the Michelin star.</blockquote> I went last night. No wait, seated at a bad table, service was not the best but it was friendly, food was good but didnt blow me away. Not sure how they got a Michelin star. Don’t really plan on going back.

Sounds like your experience was better than ours.
After our visit, we really wonder how they got the Michelin star.

]]> By: Danny http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9523 Danny Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:04:58 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9523 Thanks for the write up and pics Eileen. I was going to try Valentino for dineLA and after hearing some bad reviews from other food bloggers before your write up, I opted for Bazaar and Maison Akira tonight. The dessert does look good though, but too bad it didn't cover for your anniversary meal. Cheers~ <blockquote>You're going to 2 restaurants in one night? You can eat! haha.... I REALLY want to go check out Bazaar. Have reservation for Friday night (which I made over a month ago). But just found out my uncle is having his big 60th birthday dinner on the same night. Well, have to go to the family thing.... I guess I'll have to try Bazaar next time. But please let me know how is your visit, yeah?</blockquote> Thanks for the write up and pics Eileen. I was going to try Valentino for dineLA and after hearing some bad reviews from other food bloggers before your write up, I opted for Bazaar and Maison Akira tonight. The dessert does look good though, but too bad it didn’t cover for your anniversary meal.

Cheers~

You’re going to 2 restaurants in one night? You can eat! haha….
I REALLY want to go check out Bazaar. Have reservation for Friday night (which I made over a month ago).
But just found out my uncle is having his big 60th birthday dinner on the same night.
Well, have to go to the family thing…. I guess I’ll have to try Bazaar next time.
But please let me know how is your visit, yeah?

]]> By: 咪後 http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9519 咪後 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:21:02 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9519 我今年去了幾間都覺得很普通, 不怎麼滿意, 害我都有錯覺是不是在懲罰我花錢亂吃東西。 其中有一間Ciao Trattoria, 提供的菜單我每一樣都吃到了, 過鹹過熟過硬都有, 都很難吃, 周末去還整間餐廳生意很差, 吃完立刻決定跟它說Ciao, 以後不會再去了! 給你參考一下~ <blockquote>好險我沒有訂到那一家哈哈 今天中午要去吃另一家 好期待，希望不要受傷害</blockquote> 我今年去了幾間都覺得很普通, 不怎麼滿意, 害我都有錯覺是不是在懲罰我花錢亂吃東西。
其中有一間Ciao Trattoria, 提供的菜單我每一樣都吃到了, 過鹹過熟過硬都有, 都很難吃, 周末去還整間餐廳生意很差,
吃完立刻決定跟它說Ciao, 以後不會再去了! 給你參考一下~

好險我沒有訂到那一家哈哈
今天中午要去吃另一家
好期待，希望不要受傷害

]]> By: derf http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9518 derf Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:56:48 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9518 Really didn't like this place.... especially after all the hype over the years. But, the lovely young lady I had dinner with made the experience worthwhile ;) <blockquote>Awwww.... I was gonna say exactly the same thing to you! Except changing the "young lady" part to "old man". haha.... Love you, baby!</blockquote> Really didn’t like this place…. especially after all the hype over the years. But, the lovely young lady I had dinner with made the experience worthwhile ;)

Awwww…. I was gonna say exactly the same thing to you!
Except changing the “young lady” part to “old man”. haha…. Love you, baby!

]]> By: Liz http://eileent.com/eat/santa-monica-italian-valentino-italian-restaurant/comment-page-1/#comment-9517 Liz Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:01:56 +0000 http://eileent.com/eat/?p=1981#comment-9517 I was going to try this place, but the menu didn't interest me. <blockquote>Their main dishes didn't look that appealing, no?</blockquote> I was going to try this place, but the menu didn’t interest me.

Their main dishes didn’t look that appealing, no?

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