Bowling with ‘Big Bang Theory’s’ Wolowitz

Talk about the revenge of the nerds -- CBS’ “Big Bang Theory” is arguably the hottest show on TV, and actor Simon Helberg, who plays rocket-scientist Romeo Howard Wolowitz, says it’s been one wild ride.

“It’s quite amazing, the popularity of the thing,” said Helberg, who lives in the Koreatown area with wife Jocelyn. “Everyone involved with it is just kind of walking around in awe. But we’re just trying to make the best show we can and hope that people keep laughing.”

The series, fresh off winning a People’s Choice award Wednesday for best comedy, returns from a holiday hiatus with a new episode on Monday.

Live at Largo

My Friday nights are about as nerdy as I get, because I’m obsessed with seeing Jon Brion’s shows at Largo. I’ve probably seen him a couple hundred times, and he always has these amazing people in the show, like a Jack Black or Zach Galifianakis opening with comedy. And Jon is amazing, essentially a one-man band who can play any style. Seeing him is like taking a master’s class in performing.

Satisfying a sweet tooth

Milk is a fantastic dessert place on Beverly. Actually, they have regular food too, and that’s supposed to be great, but I’ve only had the desserts. They’ve got ice cream, gelato, cookies, chocolate madeleines and a blue velvet cake that’s insane. Really good ice cream sandwiches too.

Another dessert place I like is Scoops on Heliotrope, but it’s a little more progressive in its ice cream flavors. They have these weird combinations that you wouldn’t think would be good but they are, like they’ll have bacon and vinegar or something, and it turns out to be great. They have straight-up flavors too, but it’s the combinations that are fun. They even have a board where you can write suggestions. I think I once put up “Rogaine and Ella Fitzgerald.” I’m still waiting for them to use that one.

Drinking and dining

The Prince is a fun place, across from what used to be the Ambassador Hotel. They serve amazing Korean food and have these old-fashioned red leather couches and kind of medieval Korean decor, and they play crazy Korean techno-pop music. The waiters don’t speak much English, so ordering drinks becomes an exciting adventure. Try explaining you want a dirty martini.

We also like a small place on Larchmont called La Bottega Marino. I went in there for breakfast once and saw this eggs and polenta thing and it turned out to be amazing. We went back for lunch and had some great meatballs. They also sell homemade sauces. Very casual place, and you have to bring your own wine.

Right up his alley

Shatto 39 Lanes is a great place for bowling. It’s in this enormous building, and you can’t even tell what it is from the outside. It’s very old, but very well-kept. We went there the other day and they had just waxed the floor, so it was kind of like ice bowling. You couldn’t get a running start or you’d end up just flying down the lane.

Fresh fare

The farmers market at Larchmont is great for a Sunday. I don’t cook or anything, but I love strolling through there and making comments about the warty, weird-looking squash and making rude jokes. My wife actually buys things.

I do like the tamales there, and then we go get all emotional looking at the dogs and cats and agonizing over if we could bring one home. We already have three cats, and that’s a weird area, because there’s really no difference between having four and 24. But we don’t want to turn into the “Grey Gardens” couple.

mark.sachs@latimes.com