Holy Matrimoly, it's Wedding Week! no. 10
Nanbankan
11330 Santa Monica Blvd
(between Corinth and Sawtelle)
Los Angeles , CA 90025
310.207.8726
I thought it was over with the de-briefing, but I was wrong. But now, Wedding Week, which extended long past the normal seven days, is finally over, I think. The wedding was in September. It is now October, so Wedding Week has to be over, right? God, I hope so. Especially since the Newlyweds are off to spend ten civilization-free days on the beaches of Tahiti.
What exactly the appeal of a place like Tahiti or any other warm, secluded, exotic beach destination for a honeymoon is, I am not quite sure. I suppose that after eight and a half non-stop months of identifying a venue, meeting with caterers, florists, photographers, tasting wedding cake, sending out invitations, dress squeezings, showers, parties, tying tiny chiffon bows, and the final week of out-of-town chaos right before, it’s nice to leave it all behind and decompress, totally unplugged. Well, shoot, the entire bridal party should go on a honeymoon!
But I wouldn’t pick Tahiti. It’s just so...remote. I might be abe to lay around the beach for a day, but then again, it’s no secret that I hate the beach. It’s sandy. If I have to lay around, I’d much rather lay by a pool, but even then, laying around is just so boring. I need to go somewhere that offers a beach (for everyone else), but has a lot more to see and do. And eat. I don’t know how I’d feel about eating $250 fish and fruit every day. (That’s what the travel agent told Mr. and Mrs.) I’d rather go somewhere like, hm, Greece. Or Brazil. Or Nepal. Good gracious, go on a W diet all year and blow it in 10 days on a honeymoon. Awesome.
But Mr. and Mrs. picked Tahiti, and we sent them off with a congratulatory bon voyage dinner at Nanbankan. It was just as delicious as the last time we went, but without the flashbulb fantasy. There were strangers (to me) eating with us, and I didn’t want to do anything to the Delicious Family reputation that I haven’t already done here. You know, like "Who's the weirdo hovering over the tebasaki wings with a camera?!"
Nanbankan’s menu is big, and though it felt like we had ordered two of each of everything, we probably didn’t even get through half the offerings. Jess had to have her sauteed mushrooms, Jenn had to have the seabass, and there were tsukune – perfect ping pong balls of ground chicken. We ordered those several times throughout the course of our meal. And of course, there were quail eggs, but I still didn’t eat them. Next time someone gets married, I swear I’ll try them. *crosses heart* LOL!
Maybe Wedding Week really isn’t over because right after dinner, I was SuperShuttle yet again. They handed me their return flight information at the curb in front of Tom Bradley just before slamming the doors shut, thanking me for dinner, and waving their passports good-bye. “We’ll see you in ten days!”
Yay, I can't wait.
Anonymous says
hi there,
great site, love reading your restaurant reviews. i wonder if you could include prices? or at least the cost of meal per person? it'd be helpful for someone like me who would like to see if he can afford it.
thanks!
sarah says
hey anonymous, i actually thought about including the total bill with my posts, but honestly, it seemed a little unfair to the restaurant because everything would seem way overpriced...the way that me, my friends and family order waaaay too much! LOL!
but as long as it somehow fits in with the story, i will try to do that from now on :)
thanks for the suggestion!
JC says
It's good to know people that like the japanese tapas - or japanese comfort food to me. Nanbankan is one of my favorite restaurants on the westside. I used to go there every week until I realize it's getting a bit too much. But anyway, I am a big fan of izakaya!! My favorite dishes are those seeminly exotic ones - beef tongue and chicken gizzards. LOL.... I also like the normal ones - tiny beef steak, shishito, shiso chicken, nasu, asparagus with bacon....and how could you not have some japanese beer when you dine at an izakaya. Compared to other Izakayas I went to in LA (Musha, Terried Sake House, Sake house miro, Haru Ulala, Shinseigumi), Nanbankan makes me feel home. First it's so close to where I live. Second the staff and decor are warm and welcoming. And finally, the waiter (with light gray hair and thick, black frame glasses) recognizes me (and other guests)at every visit. It's the personal touch that makes it different from other places. If I had a chance to own a restaurant, I would like the customers to feel the same way as well..
sarah says
LOL on the waiter! he must work there every night! or maybe...he's actually the owner! he's always really sweet to us, and to be quite honest, i don't even think it's necessairly because he recognizes us as regulars, because he was THAT nice to us the first time, too!
i've just recently tried shin sen gumi, too...write up will be a little ways off, though....
Anonymous says
This restaurant I've been going to for a very long time, And the man with the light gray hair is Tony, he is the owner of the restaurant. The usual prices for Nanbankan are 3.50 or 2.50 for 2 sticks (You'd know what I mean if you were there) and a good hardy meal for 2 would be around 70~160, but in the hundreds would only be with sake or maybe even beer.
Anonymous says
This restaurant I've been going to for a very long time, And the man with the light gray hair is Tony, he is the owner of the restaurant. The usual prices for Nanbankan are 3.50 or 2.50 for 2 sticks (You'd know what I mean if you were there) and a good hardy meal for 2 would be around 70~160, but in the hundreds would only be with sake or maybe even beer.