A restaurant with a downtown vibe without all the pretense. If you live in the LA area you have definitely found yourself sitting in traffic on either the 10 the 101 the 110 the or the 405 patiently or not so patiently waiting to begin your night out. If you’re anything like your Lunch break girls, that night out is going to start with dinner. No matter the final destination, be it a movie at the local cinema for two, bowling with a group of friends, or dancing the night away with your best gal-pals. The night must always start with dinner. And that’s where Downey’s not so hidden gem,…

Another sunny Saturday in July, walking west down Santa Monica Boulevard, as I get closer to the beach and closer to TŪMBI I pick up the scent of fresh naan on the ocean breeze.  I walked in and was greeted warmly, the atmosphere was bright, trendy and full of life, the large windows were open creating an al fresco vibe while still protected from the hot SoCal sun. TŪMBI is not your typical Indian restaurant. Award winning Chef Imran Ali Mookhi was inspired by India’s street food, the flavors, the culture, the people. The restaurant is even adorned with photographs from his travels and it doesn’t get more authentic than that. In…