We love LA and were sad to be leaving, so we decided to enjoy it to the fullest before the cold Northeast roped us back in. Therefore, we made a new Bucket List of all of the places we most loved and wanted to revisit and all the places we’d been meaning to try, and we hit up as many as possible before moving. I give it to you now in three parts – 1) Food 2) Drinks and 2) Everything Else.
Here we go with my ultimate LA Eating List --
Top Splurges:
These are my favorite spots for when it’s time for a little something special. I have magical memories of celebratory meals at each one of these places, which admittedly, may have contributed to their selection.
#1 The Bazaar
This is Jose Andre’s LA restaurant. Sr. Andre is the protégé of Ferran Adria of El Bulli Fame. This restaurant is a complete trip. Located in the SLS Hotel, and designed by Philipe Starck, the restaurant is divided in sections to provide different dining experiences and you are encouraged to hop around. This place is trendy to a level that might normally put me off, however, the food is fantastic and ultimately all the elements come together to create a culinary experience that is way out of the ordinary and extremely fun.
The menu in the main restaurant, Rojo y Blanco, is split between Traditional and Modern Tapas, the later which falls into the realm of molecular gastronomy. Olives Two Ways gives you a little of both – traditional cured olives and a modern preparation that really distills the essence of the olive. Off the traditional menu, the chicken croquettes are perhaps the best I’ve ever had. The Modern menu is fun all around, but my favorite is The Philly Cheese Steak – air bread topped with wagyu beef and filled with a delicious cheddar sauce. If your wallet can spare an extra splurge, I would HIGHLY recommend the Nitro Caipirinah, which is much like drinking a mad science experiment. This one does not show up on the Rojo y Blanco menu, it’s a feature at Bar Centro, but go ahead and order it with dinner as they will serve it in the restaurant. Make sure to cap things off at the whimsical Patisserie, which looks like it was plucked right out of wonderland, and whatever else you get for dessert, make sure to accompany it with the Chocolate Pop Rocks – they always make me laugh!
If your wallet or time don’t allow for a full meal, the Bar Centro is also a wonderful place to stop in for drinks and appetizers.
I’m a Batali fan. There are a lot of celebrity Chefs out there these days with restaurants that leave something to be desired. I have not yet been disappointed by this Iron Chef, however, so both of his LA outposts (in collaboration with Nancy Silverton and Joe Bastianich) make my list. The Osteria is wonderful, albeit pricey. The Pizzeria is also really good, however, be warned that it is extremely noisey to the point that it might be difficult to hear the person right in front of you. It is also easier on the wallet. Actually, the food is pretty reasonable but we always end up driving up the bill with wine.
My quick and easy guidelines for dining Batali, based on my pretty limited experience, is that his appetizers, veggie sides, pizzas, and pastas all tend to be great, but the protein mains don’t blow me away. At the Pizzeria, the pizza list is extensive, so I always tried to get something different, but the appetizer we had to get on almost every visit was the Chicken Liver Bruschette.
I finally got to the Osteria last year as a birthday present from my mother-in-law. The Burrata from Puglia with leeks & fett'unta blew us away with its simple decadence. Greg and I were split on favorites between the pasta dishes we ordered. I was blown away by the Ricotta & Egg Raviolo with browned butter, while Greg swooned for the Orecchiette with sausage & Swiss chard – you really can’t go wrong with either.
Both restaurants get predictably full, so it’s good to go on off hours. The Pizzeria also has a pizza bar area for walk-ins. I never made it, but it’s worth noting that the Osteria offers a special menu Sunday through Thursday at their Amaro Bar. For $35 you get an item from the Mozzarella Bar, a pasta dish, a dessert, and a glass of wine. My friend the Domestic Diva has often raved about this deal, and given the experiences that have lead to my Batali Dinning guidelines, I’d have to say this would be the way to go.
#4 Animal Restaurant
The food at Animal has been described as haute stoner cuisine. I’d say this is a good description as the dishes borrow inspiration from all over the place – flavors from all over the world, and from high to low cuisine-- and mixes it altogether to get concoctions that could only be dreamed up while high. However, you want to describe it, it is sooo good and extremely rich. Oh, and vegetarians should stay far, far away. There is nothing for you here. As implied by the name, pretty much every dish on this menu involves some kind of meat, down to the veggie sides. They even have a bacon chocolate crunch bar for dessert. The menu changes all the time, but one of the dishes their best known for is the foie gras loco moco with a quail egg, spam, and a hamburger, all stacked up on bed of rice and drizzled with a mix of sauces. This one is definitely for sharing. The BBQ pork belly sandwiches are delicious and for the more adventurous, the crispy pig ear with chili, lime, and a fried egg was surprisingly tasty. We once got a pork belly dish that was really simply prepared –it was pretty much a pork belly steak—and it sent Greg into fits of ecstasy. Sadly we never it saw again on the menu. I guess some experiences are just too profound to live more than once.
I never managed to get good pictures at Animal because of the low lighting.
This guy got awesome pictures of the Loco Moco.
#5 A.O.C
A.O.C. is classy little place that specializes in small plates and has an excellent wine list. The menu is seasonal and does change often, and I grant that some dishes are more successful than others. That said, overall our experiences here have been excellent. The brioche topped with prosciutto, gruyère and an egg alone earns it a place on the top five, and their veggie dishes tend to be delicious. The charcuterie and the cheese selection is also excellent. We’ve had some wonderful celebratory meals here.
Top spots for a little bit of romance:
Yamashiro was our go-to spot for romantic occasions for years. I’ve written about it in the past, but it’s worth restating that it has one of the most beautiful views of LA and a lovely Japanese garden inside. If there isn’t time for a full dinner, the bar area has an equally fantastic view and they make some lovely cocktails. It is also a great place to bring out of town guests to show them LA at its best.
Image borrowed from their website.
To get lost in a secret garden, step through the Little Door. A small door in a fence is all you see from outside and gives no indication of the loveliness that awaits inside. The restaurant is divided into sections – a patio, a winter garden, and two inside room -- and they all ooze cozy romance. The food is quite good, but the ambiance is absolutely enchanting.
Favorite Gourmet Burgers:
Greg is a bit of a burger connoisseur, so we’ve tried a few; therefore, I’m including a top 5.
Father’s Office – It is still my favorite gourmet burger in the city. Some people claim that they’re over-hyped and I can see how it might be annoying that you can’t make any substitutions – it’s caramelized onions, gruyere, and bacon or bust. However, every time I take a bite, the harmony of the flavors only reconfirm my loyalty.
25 Degrees – This is the first runner up, and it is also the antidote to the restrictions of the Father’s Office Burger. Here the burgers are big and juicy and you get to choose from dozens of toppings to make your own perfect burger, or you can select from three predesigned options.
Rustic Canyon - The way the cheeses oozes on their Niman Ranch Burger is pure heaven. Also, if the cinnamon sugar doughnuts with hot chocolate happen to be on the menu, do not pass them up. They’re the perfect decadent chaser.
The Street – Greg has not had the pleasure of trying this one. I stole a couple of bites from a friend on my last visit, but those bites left a big impression. The Yuzu kosho mayonnaise adds an exotic, spicy kick that made it stand out among burgers.
The rest of the menu is lots of delicious fun as well. They also have fantastic fried chicken and wonderful cocktails. Here are a few more pics:
Honorable mentions go to Ford’s Filling Station, Stout Burger, and Golden State; all are great places to go for a burger and a beer. However, I think Golden State’s Muffaletta sandwich might win out for me over their burger. They also get bonus points since they serve delicious Scoops Ice cream.
Favorite Fast Food Burger - In N Out
THE west coast burger. For the uninitiated, In N Out has “secret” menu. To be honest, the regular In N Out Burger is pretty good, to understand what all the hype is about you have to order it Animal Style – the beef patties are grilled in mustard sauce, grilled onions, special sauce, and extra everything. The patties are thin, but the way they fuse together with the layers of cheese is amazing. You can also order you fries Animal Style, get your burger Protein Style with no bun, or get a grilled cheese.
Favorite Taco Stand– Yuca’s
It ain’t fancy, but it sure is tasty. Yuca’s is basically a little shack in a parking lot across from a liquor store, which is perfect since you probably want a beer to go with that taco. The cochinita pibil is the bomb. I like the simplicity of the tacos, Greg prefers the sustenance of the burritos.
My friend SB and I once had a carne asada taco showdown, where we collected carne asada tacos from four stands in the Los Feliz, Silverlake, and Echo Park area, and Yuca’s came in second in this particular battle. The top spot went to Burrito King on Sunset. However, Yuca’s still wins out overall in my book.
Favorite Pizza (Neopolitan Style) - Antica
I have to give credit where it is due, SB turned me onto this place. She’s particular about pizza and claims this is only one in Los Angeles she’ll eat. I have to hand it to her, she’s right -- it is really good. The crust is thin, crispy and lightly charred and the toppings are fresh and delicious. They have a good selection of toppings, but I prefer to keep things simple and get the margherita with thing slices of prosciutto added on top.
Favorite Pizza (Delivery Style) – Palermo Ristorante
Don’t bother with the rest of the menu and go straight for the pizza. It is my favorite version of a delivery-chain style pizza out there – although they aren’t a delivery chain. I’m not certain why, but I think there might be crack in the cheese.
Favorite Hot Dog - Let’s Be Frank
This is still my favorite hot dog in LA. I love the spicy Devil Sauce, I love the sausages, and I love that I don’t feel gross after eating one. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about where the meat came from – they use only grass-fed beef free from hormones, steroids, nitrates, or nitrites.
Favorite Brunch Spot – Alcove Cafe
I really enjoy the food at Alcove, however, the beautiful patio is really what makes this my favorite place to get brunch. It is the perfect place to enjoy a gorgeous Los Angeles day. However, it can get really hard to snag a table once peak brunch hours hit. Go before 11 a.m. on a weekend morning to avoid the crowds. (That’s generally a good rule of thumb for brunch in L.A.)
Favorite Cupcake – Joan’s on Third
You can keep your Sprinkles and Yummy Cupcakes, my favorite confection in town is the Snickers cupcake at Joan’s on Third. It’s a delicious chocolate cake topped with crumbled snickers frosting that is surprisingly not cloying in the least. They have good selection of flavors to suit other tastes as well.
This lovely high-end deli is also my favorite spot to grab prepared picnic foods for the Hollywood Bowl.
Favorite Lunch Spot – Doughboy’s
Doughboy’s was our favorite soup, salad, and sandwich spot for years because of the great value and tasty food. They went away for a while, but now they’re back under new ownership and they're all spruced up. Some dishes aren’t exactly at the same level as before, but on the whole, the value is still there. They’re famous for their Red Velvet Cake, and it’s as good as ever, but the Hummingbird Cake is my favorite of their desserts.
Favorite Dim Sum
Our friend Jesse has made the search for the best dim sum his mission, so we would always follow his lead on this one. To get the really good stuff you have to get out of Downtown and head inland, and the journey to Din Tai Fung is well worth it as they have the most AMAZING soup dumplings.
Culver City
Fraiche – A beautiful, romantic spot with excellent food. The menu is seasonal and constantly changing, but the monkfish is a perpetual favorite. The beet salad with ricotta and the pastas are also delicious.
Downtown
Bottega Louie – A big, bustling brasserie with an appetizing market area attached. I enjoyed a lovely brunch with a couple of girlfriends here, and the food was simple, fresh, and well executed.
Church and State - I had one completely indulgent meal here with Greg and his mom. The escargot are even more decadent than usual as they’re served en croute. The roasted beef marrow is amazing. Greg appropriately called it meat butter. Their French bread is also amazing, a perfect balance of crunchy exterior and soft, chewy center.
The Lazy Ox Canteen– We met so late into our time in LA. We only got one visit here and our choices were limited because it was during restaurant week. However, even the dishes that didn’t sound like much were awesome. There were so many more amazing sounding dishes on the menu. *Sigh* The damage we could have done here.
Glendale
Palate – I’ve written about Palate before. It’s hidden away in Glendale between car dealerships. The stars of the menu are the smaller plates – the appetizers, the pickled items, and the mason jars. They also have an amazing cheese selection, charcuterie, and a wonderful wine list.
Hollywood/West Hollywood/Mid-city
Campanile – I’ve had wonderful experiences here, and mediocre ones. However, when they’re on, they’re on. We went for my last birthday dinner and everything was fantastic. Service is also usually wonderful and they make you feel well taken care of.
Cobras and Matadors – This little tapas joint was one of our first foodie favorites in Los Angeles. We haven’t been in a while, but it used to be another regular on our special occasion rotation. Not every dish is 100% successful, but on the whole it is excellent. My biggest tip is to save room for dessert and get both the French Toast and Churros. The Churros come with a delicious chocolate dipping sauce and there is always a good bit leftover. That extra chocolate sauce elevates the caramely French Toast to new levels. One more note, it’s BYOB, but they waive the corkage fee if you buy from the wine shop next door.
Jar – The feel of Jar reminded me of an Eames chair. It has an easy, mid-century American elegance, and the food follows suit. The focus here is on retro American dishes and the strength is in the braised meats and roasts.
Loteria Grill - I love tacos and I love sampler platters, so their Probaditas taco sampler platter is right up my alley. Everything else I’ve had here has also been very good, with the exception of the Jicama Enchilada salad, which was too hot to handle. (And I have a decently high tolerance for spicy foods) I love the cocktails and micheladas as well.
Santa Monica
La Cachette – A classic French bistro plopped down next to the beach in Santa Monica. It’s the perfect place for classic dishes like bouillabaisse, mussels, and coq au vin.
Happy Eating!
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