Infatuation Acquires Zagat in a Move That Could Beef Up LA Food Media

Google unloads Zagat to Infatuation

This morning, online review website and social media kingpin Infatuation announced that it was acquiring user-generated brand Zagat from Google. Zagat was originally formed in 1979 before Google purchased it for $151 million back in 2008. In addition to user-generated reviews, Zagat also frequently published roundups, features, and news articles covering the Los Angeles restaurant scene, with editor Lesley Balla most recently at the helm (Balla also was the founding editor of Eater LA).

The two brands will exist independently, though Infatuation says it will expand Zagat’s user-generated surveys and “create a more meaningful alternative to other crowdsourced restaurant reviews.” Infatuation has been actively reviewing LA restaurants for a few years now, and with this merger with Zagat, it could provide a much needed boost to LA’s food media coverage.

The two best fish tacos in LA

LA Magazine has a handy feature on Ricky’s and L Fish, two of the best fish taco places in LA. The piece explains what makes them so good by breaking down each approach and ingredient. L Fish, the upstart taco stand in Boyle Heights, even draws its main seasoning recipe from iconic Tijuana stand El Fenix.

Luxxe makes sense in Pacific Palisades

Caffe Luxxe, the Italian-style espresso bar occupying choice spots across the Westside, is expanding to Pacific Palisades, according to Toddrickallen. The move makes sense considering the Palisades’ total transformation as a neighborhood hub in the coming years.

Expensive, but mind the 3% health surcharge

LA Weekly looks into what makes NoMad LA such an “East Coast” restaurant and hotel. The article calls the look, “a colorful, French-inspired cross between the Polo Lounge and the Palm Court at the Plaza in New York,” and continues to discuss its interior details with an architect’s eye. The end of the piece curiously mentions the 3% surcharge for NoMad’s employees (certainly not a rarity in LA), and says diners can tell servers they could opt not have it applied to the bill. Seems like a strange thing to mention in spite of the restaurant’s “New York prices.”

Korean-style latkes from an Eater LA chef of the year

Nyesha Arrington shares her Korean take on latkes with KCRW. Arrington shares memories of growing up in the kitchen and learning how to peel garlic from her Korean grandmother.

Palms gets a new Southeast Asian restaurant soon

Mee & Greet, the sleek new Southeast Asian restaurant going into the corner of Palms and Overland Avenues in Palms, will open by mid-April if final inspections go without any hiccups. They’re currently hiring up staff, too.