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Evolving flavored iced tea (left), Cava mimosa (right)

Yes, Jose Andres’ Bazaar at the SLS Hotel has been open for a year now, but I didn’t go right away. Why? Because I don’t like being caught up in a scene, and the SLS and everything in it is definitely a scene. So I waited a year to try it, and I went for brunch, not for dinner when I’ve passed by and seen it totally poppin’ off, as it were.

When we (Sam of LAist and Lucy of Edible LA) showed up, it was kind of dead — relatively speaking, of course. By the time we left, there were more people, though most chose to eat inside, which I thought was kind of strange given the beautiful sunny day. We ate on the patio.

I’m not going to dwell on the Bazaar’s food since by now the restaurant has been thoroughly discussed across the food blogosophere and in the mainstream media, so I’ll just give you my greatest hits of this meal.

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I’ve been to Rush Street a few times before, but I had never been for brunch. So when I was invited to try out the Chicago-themed restaurant’s weekend menu, I figured, Why not? There’s a bloody mary bar, after all, and even though I’m not a big bloody mary fan, I like the idea. So I went to see what else Rush Street had to offer.

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Yes, that's a tree in the middle of the dining room. It's kind of awkward but pretty.

I’ve had a hard time lately with eating out. Not because I don’t like to eat — obviously I do — but because it’s been a while since I’ve really been wowed by a meal. Sure, I’ve had great parts of meals, but an entire meal that’s knock-your-socks-off good is hard to come by.

So when a bunch of us foodies (Esther of e*starLA, Caroline of Caroline on Crack, Diana of Diana Takes a Bite, and Lindsay and Sam of LAist) got together for a leisurely Sunday brunch — on our own dime, thank you very much — at Tavern in Brentwood, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had high expectations because I had heard good things about this latest Goin-Styne collaboration, but I was also afraid it was going to be all hype.

Hype it’s not. Tavern, at least its brunch menu, is amazing. I truly enjoyed this meal.

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I’ve heard a lot of hype about Bottega Louie, mostly that it’s fabulous. So when I finally made it over to the restaurant/market/deli/patisserie in downtown L.A. over the weekend, I was expecting a lot. Having those high expectations may have been the wrong way to start the visit, but that’s what happens when there’s a lot of hype!

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Haven’t figured out what to get Mom for Mother’s Day? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still scrambling for plans (mostly because my mom is ridiculously hard to please – and she’ll attest to that). Try taking her to some of these  eateries:

• Robata-Ya: Mom eats for free from the Sawtelle yakitori’s combo menu, AND she gets a free drink. Recommended for poor and cheapskate kids.

• Ortolan: Brunch will be extended from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Sunday. Treat Mom to the Michelin-rated resto’s scrambled eggs and caviar or lobster spaghetti. Recommended for those with more dough to spend.

• The Resort at Pelican Hill: The newish Newport Beach hotel will offer four dining experiences: one a traditional brunch in the ballroom, and three prix-fixe menus in other areas of the resort, including the Coliseum pool. Recommended for people with hard-to-please moms who live in the O.C. (me!).