We are coming to visit LA for a week and will probably only have one night to drop our 2 year old with grandma and have a real grown up dinner. What one place would you want to go? I grew up in LA but have not lived there for 20 years and rarely make it back for more than a few days a year. So we have not been many places since LA became a cool[er] food city and would love recommendations!
We’re staying in Santa Monica but ok with venturing further afield. Not particularly price sensitive (we hardly ever get to go out so we’re happy to go big) but also not looking for a long tasting menu. Since we hardly every get out, we’d prefer to avoid communal table style eating and have a real date night. Last time we were in LA we went to Republique, loved the food, but would enjoy going somewhere less loud/sceney.
Agree with @Nemroz that you cannot miss with Chi Spacca.
But it can be a major schlep from SaMo (I can’t believe I am even saying this because one of my pet peeves is people in LA complaining about traffic and using it as an excuse to avoid everything). But if time in the car becomes an impediment for you, you can certainly have a killer meal in SaMo or Venice:
Felix, Cassia, Tar and Roses, Shunji’s as well.
Thanks I will check these out! I’ve got a high tolerance for the traffic so I don’t mind the schlep, but close to home base is always a good option.
We chose staying in Santa Monica so we could easily get to Gjusta for breakfast at least a couple of times on our trip! As someone who spent their wayward youth going to the drum circle in Venice Beach it is truly amazing how transformed the neighborhood is now…
Felix has great food (especially the pasta dishes), but it’s going to be noisy, packed and cramped. If you want to dine here, you’ll need to book a table early as the time slots between 6 and 8:30pm are taken up quickly. You’ll most likely will find plenty of 5pm and after 9pm reservations though.
My recommendations would be Tesse on the Sunset Strip, Kali Restaurant on Melrose (Hollywood), Craft (Century City), Sasabune (for sushi/sashimi, West LA), Trois Mec (if you don’t mind a 5-course tasting menu, Hollywood), Birdie G’s (Santa Monica), Little Prince (Venice), and I was going to recommend KASS Wine Bar, but Chef Christophe Eme departed earlier this month due to disagreement with other business partners on the direction the restaurant should take.
Closer to SaMo: Shunji, Cassia, Felix…
Not sure what the Chinese scene is like in DC these days, so just in case: Sichaun Impression (West LA)
Further afoot, I’d echo what the other FTCers said: Chi Spacca, Osteria Mozza, Tesse, Kali… Add: Employees Only
If travel time is not an issue, I would add: Bavel, Majordomo, Lasa
My friend went to Birdie G’s this past weekend and said he had a great meal. I think Birdie G’s would be different/unique from what you’d get in DC. Total California vibe and very farmers market/veggie driven.
Feel like chi spacca isn’t the best for 2 people… really need at least a group of 4 in my experience. For more of a date night I’d go Osteria Mozza hands down.
I get it. But we don’t like the large format cuts anyway so we do fine with 4 dishes and 2 bottles there. It’s easy to order right for your table size there.
@Nemroz you’re right… I personally would rather eat at Chi Spacca hahahha… but I guess it depends on what type of vibe you want… Osteria is definitely more of a fancy date night type spot while Spacca more casual (but better eating for sure). Can’t go wrong with either.
As someone who spent their wayward youth going to the drum circle in Venice Beach it is truly amazing how transformed the neighborhood is now…