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Sammy's Woodfired
Pizza & Grill Comes to Los Angeles
Story and photos by Mary McGrath
I wasn't familiar with Sammy's Woodfired Pizza & Grill, already with 17 locations throughout California and Nevada, but I'm a big fan now.
Owner Sami Ladeki is known in the industry as an "idea man" conceptualizing something and then bringing it to fruition. His company, La Jolla based Ladeki Restaurant Group, was founded in 1989, and includes winners like a pizza chain, a noodle bar and a variety of upscale eateries as well. In meeting him, I was struck by his style, panache and sense of purpose. Ladeki is an elegant man, and his worldly finesse permeates the wide range of items on the menu. Inside, you'll find a variety of woodfired pizzas, salads, entrees, tapas, desserts, and everything in between. A big hooray for those items that are organic and gluten-free. This is a fun place, full of activity and conviviality. It's family friendly, yet the food is interesting enough to appease discriminating diners as well. There's a nice global fusion to the food with enough twists and turns to keep my two dining companions and me endlessly enthused.
Our starters included their Polynesian Crab Stack ($13) easily enough for three people to share, with its cylindrical rainbow of mango, pea shoots, crab, organic cucumber, tomato, red onion, avocado, and peanuts, all laced with a spicy ginger lime dressing. Voila! We also enjoyed their Chicken Lettuce Cups ($10) mixed with a medley of scallions, water chestnuts, and a black bean hoisin sauce. I liked these lettuce cups even better than the ones served at PF Changs, a nearby popular Chinese restaurant chain. Both tapas were delightful, and certainly curbed our appetites until the main courses arrived. Salmon lover that I am, I was very impressed with their Oak Roasted Salmon Filet ($15), coupled with a frisee salad, cucumber, edamame and ponzu sauce. I was feeling oh-so-healthy with each bite, and the presentation was a visual treat as well.
My pal ordered their one of their Neapolitan pizzas. The Tuscan ($12), which came with prosciutto, artichoke, kalamata olives, fresh mozzarella, homemade tomato sauce and topped with organic arugula and extra virgin olive oil. Again, this was a very healthy menu item, and went over well at our table.
Another winner was the Ahi Tartare & Avocado, ($15) with organic frisee, organic spinach, red onion, edamame, roasted red bell pepper and ginger dressing. I didn't sample it, but I did put it on my list to try the next time I visit. For dessert, we received a huge hive of pink cotton candy ($4.50), dusted with chocolate. It took me way back to my grammar school days. Kids will love it! Other items that looked promising: Crispy Hawaiian Ono Tacos Creamy tomato-cilantro dressing, lime, guacamole, salsa, flour or corn tortillas ($10) Thai Steak Watercress, romaine, tomato, organic cucumber, mint, Thai basil, crispy shallots, peanuts, Chili-Lime dressing ($11) Tabouli & Quinoa Organic cucumber, parsley, mint, red onion, tomato, carrot, lemon juice, evoo, romaine ($10) Mongolian Shredded Duck Quesadilla Spicy Asian guacamole ($11) Grilled Lamb Chops Marinated in fresh organic herbs, with roasted fingerling potatoes, green beans sautéed with mushroom & roasted garlic ($18) Wok'd Shrimp Lo Mein Roasted garlic, organic spinach, wild mushrooms ($15) 8 oz. Grilled London Broil Marinated in fresh organic herbs, with roasted fingerling potatoes, sautéed green beans, mushroom, roasted garlic ($15) Apple Empanadas Hot, crisp apple filled turnovers sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar, served with caramel sauce ($7.5) - With vanilla ice cream (+$2) With such a varied menu, it's no wonder the accolades surrounding this chain are commendable. Take a look: World's Top Restaurants-Zagat Survey Top 5 Most Popular San Diego Restaurants-Zagat Survey Gold Medallion Award, Best in Class (Pizza)-California Restaurant Association Best Pizza-San Diego Magazine I like this place. Almost everything on the menu is under $15, and this economy, that's a winning combination. Couple this with the free parking and adjacency to Borders and Whole Foods, and you can see that this place is destined for success.
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Dear Rush and Chuck, I wish I had read your article before our camping trip the Friday prior to President's Day. My wife and I were in a car accident on our way to a camp ground. We were "rear-ended" and the impact caused our car to crash into the car in front of us. The contents of the truck that we were riding scattered onto several lanes. It's a miracle our two dogs decided to stay inside the car. My wife and I were shaken up badly but despite the mess, I was still able to walk out of the car. I got the license plate of the driver in front of me but, to my surprise, after reviewing the little damage on his car, he then sped off. I didn't know you could do that! The driver who hit me from behind gave me his information and then he too left the scene without saying good 'bye. When the police arrived all I had to go by was the little information I had jotted down which I hope was truthful. What if it was bogus? What if I had written the plate number incorrectly? How would that affect my insurance? What if we were unconscious, who would have written down all that information? I do have one suggestion if you are injured in an accident. The police asked if my wife wanted an ambulance to bring her to the hospital but we declined the offer. I remembered when I rode an ambulance years ago that it was not a comfortable ride. I was strapped to the stretcher and there were all sorts of medical equipment dangling noisily above me. As long as you are able, it is a more relaxful ride inside a car. Besides, isn't there a fee for ambulance service? --- Dave S. of Pasadena, CA
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