Luna Park

Thinking that Luna Park on La Brea and Wilshire was too expensive, Griffin and I had avoided dining here in the past. However, after a recent trip, we have discovered that we were wrong and the menu prices are actually pretty decent. On our last visit we started with the goat cheese fondue which comes with Granny Smith apple slices and warm, crispy grilled French bread slices. We love goat cheese, and this dish is phenomenal. It's definitely something you'll crave when you are still thinking about it a few weeks later. For our main dish, we ordered the El Camarone pizza to share, topped with Rock shrimp, chili flakes, aioli, Parmesan and baby arugula. Though we were somewhat wary of ordering shrimp on pizza, it was delicious! Apparently seafood pizzas are pretty popular overseas I found out later from a totally unrelated conversation. We weren't sure if the one pizza would be enough to fill both of us, but we ate until we were full and we still had leftovers to take home. For a $12 gourmet pizza, that's really a better deal than most chain pizza joints. We were so full we didn't even have room for desert, but we had been here before just to get the ever popular tableside smores. Yum! For this camping favorite, they bring out a small pot of melted marshmallow and also provide you with all the other necessary ingredients to make a great smore. Perfect little graham crackers and chocolates on a plate at your table eager to be anointed by the creamy marshmallow melt. If you prefer your mallows burned, this might be a little too gooey for you, but it will certainly fill anyone with a sense of nostalgia from their days as a cub scout. Other honorable mentions on the dessert menu that I am yet to try include deep fried apple pies smothered in caramel, coconut creme brulee, and Valentino pie (blackberry chocolate pie with a graham cracker crust). In the ways of additional entrees, Luna Park is largely known for being a hot lunch spot serving up great gourmet burgers. Pizzas, pastas, and Continental fare comprise the dinner menu and even the most expensive item is just under $20, with the glazed short ribs coming in at $19.50. For other entrees expect to spend around $15 per person. There are lots of metered spots on the street around Luna Park, but they offer a reasonably priced valet. Best of all if you don't feel like going out, Luna Park delivers!

http://www.lunaparkla.com/index.asp