I visited the Lazy Ox twice. The first time, I went with a friend and had time for a leisurely lunch. The service was knowledgeable and attentive. My pork belly sandwich was extremely rich and good. I didn't even know what it was going to be, exactly, but it had a wonderful combination of softness (from the fat) chewiness (from the lean) and crunch (Were there radishes on the sandwich?). My friend had the Lazy Ox burger. He said that it was the best burger he ever had. He didn't know why, but it was wonderful.
On the second visit, I inadvertently gave the Lazy Ox a test: I arrived at 12:50 pm and had to leave by 1:30 pm. I know that it's not a fast food place, but on that day, I only had fast food lunch kind of time.
The place was almost completely full and they were very busy. I sat alone at the bar, which I liked because I could get a behind-the-scenes view of everything. It's a clean, organized and professional place. I saw a waitress wipe a flick of sauce off of a plate before going out with it. I like the attention to detail and I like the service.
The first part of my order to arrive was the beverage. I ordered a Japanese beer called Orion because I liked the name and it was only 5% (which I think is alcohol content). The bottle was huge.
"Is that all for me?" I asked.
"I have faith in you," the server said with a smile.
For the record, I didn't drink the whole thing. It's never a good idea to swig a huge bottle of beer in 25 minutes and then get back into the car. While waiting I nibbled on concha, corn kernels that had been lightly fried and seasoned. The spice is reddish, the corn itself a deep yellow. Do you remember Corn Nuts? This is what they would taste like if they were fresh, real food and were spiced up.
But in the meantime, the clock was ticking. "I can see it right now...any moment now," the server said.
My Lazy Ox burger arrived. It was indeed excellent. The meat was high quality and juicy, the cheese was delicious, the mustard was tarragon-y. The fries were thick and really good. Pumpkin-colored gallego aioli was the dipping sauce for the fries. It's completely addictive. Maybe it's because it has paprika? Whatever the reason, I couldn't stop eating it. It's also presented in a lovely way with bits of chive (I think) on the top.
Unfortunately, the clock was still ticking, and it was time for me to leave. I'd only eaten half of everything. Now I come to one of the key fantastic attributes of the Lazy Ox. The menu is very interesting (you can order grilled octopus and squid with zhoug) and they care about their food. But they are not snobby and precious about it. Yes, this burger should've been eaten in one sitting. But life happens and I had to go. The remains of my lunch were packed away without a raised eyebrow. The staff was helpful and really hustled to get me out in time.
Then I came out into the afternoon haze, the vista of the downtown skyline to my left. And I felt ready for anything.
What else do you need to know? It's good for a business lunch. Don't be put off by the seemingly small portions. You will be full when you leave. Maybe it's because the food is rich, so you don't need a super size to feel full. All I know is that the friend who went with me the first time is at least 6 feet tall and he left feeling satiated. Last, but not least, best bet for parking is the flat rate lot on San Pedro, just north of the restaurant.
I have been meaning to try this place....it is so loved by so many!
Posted by: Gavril (real name) | November 12, 2010 at 02:44 PM
And I've since discovered that the Lazy Ox also has a great Happy Hour. Monday - Friday, 5-7 pm. Certain beers and wine are half off and there's a $5 appetizer menu. Very good value and, of course, very tasty.
Posted by: Darcine Thomas | November 13, 2010 at 01:31 AM