Rock Sugar -- the price of Rock, the sweetness of Sugar

Rock Sugar
Century City Mall
10250 Santa Monica Blvd # 654
Los Angeles, CA 90067-6609
(310) 552-9988

Hours of Happy: 4:00-6:30 M-F

Food - 8
Prices - 3
Service - 8
Bonus +2 for three hours of free parking
Total - 21

Oh, Rock Sugar, how I want your score to be higher, but you don't get it, do you? Happy Hour is a time to get people into your restaurant to sample your wares by discounting the food and drinks. Charging $4.00 for one (small) egg roll is NOT a discount. I get it -- the full-sized order of the Shrimp Imperial Rolls is $10 and only includes two rolls, but maybe that pricing is the reason you're so empty all the time. Yes, they are super-yummy-delicious, but come on! For Happy Hour, charge $5 for the 2-roll order and let people enjoy. Newsflash -- your food cost on that particular item is not so high that you would lose money throwing in the extra roll and making people want to come back and drink more and try other things and maybe even come for lunch or dinner. Just think about it.

So here's the rub on Rock Sugar - the HH prices are good, but the portions are TINY, and the food is hit or miss.

The flatbread ($3) was tasty, but not for everyone in our group, the potstickers ($3) were not all that good, the shrimp imperial rolls ($4 for ONE roll) were insane -- we'll probably go back just to have more (especially if the price drops, which it should), the chicken tikka ($4) was average - strange seasoning and a bit dry, the chicken satay ($3.5) was probably the best we've ever tasted -- perfectly cooked and with very good peanut sauce, and the breaded rock shrimp ($5.50) was inedible and sent back -- all breading, and not very good breading at that.

The service was great - super busboys who kept plates cleared and water full and a good waiter took care of us. The bar was decently crowded at 6:00 and there was a big, communal table in the center, so it would be possible to meet someone new and exciting here. The tables in the bar are small, so inside isn't great for a large group, but the super-cool loungers outside are part of the bar, and they seemed fun and very comfy. For some reason, LA had a rare cold-snap the night we went (which yours truly -- the thinnest-blooded ex-midwesterner in LA -- wasn't dressed for), so couldn't be out there, but when we return, we'll be sure to lounge about, eat well and drink heavily.

And hopefully by then, this happy hour will have the kind of tariff that makes revelers like us truly happy.