Who said going out in LA is just for date nights? As much as you might love your bae, let’s be real; having time with your friends to catch up on each others’ lives is super important. And of course, you want to find a place that’s cute, fun, serves good food, and has plenty of booze. Here are some of our recent faves for a meal with the girls:
Read MoreSomething old, something new. Something barbecued, something to chew. While there are a million new openings in LA, sometimes it's fun to check out a new dish or service at a place you've enjoyed before. It's always nice when I have the opportunity to dine at some of my fave spots in the city, even if they've been around forever. Here are 5 places to check out this week!
Read MoreThough downtown already has a bevy of lunch options for the 9-to-5 crowd to choose from, we always welcome the addition a new all-day eatery, like the expansion of West LA's Fundamental into a new space on Grand. Offering breakfast and lunch (with dinner and cocktails coming soon!), Fundamental DTLA deviates a bit from the intimate dinner concept of its sister restaurant. The space is bright and airy, with a marble bar, coffee counter, and both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a lovely place to escape the office for a satisfying lunch.
Read MoreYou can find almost every possible cuisine in existence somewhere in LA. From Persian to Ethiopian to Mexican and everything in between, the diverse food culture is one of the many characteristics that make this city great. But some cuisines will always reign supreme, ensuring a certain level of success for restaurants that other cuisines don't. And one of those cuisines is Italian-- the ubiquitous and often vague "Italian" moniker is often applied to restaurants around the globe to signify approachable Western cuisine (something we noticed when traveling in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Seoul). However, successful Italian spots here have evolved past the generic spaghetti and red sauce offerings to create a formula for popularity across the city. That formula usually includes a modern and contemporary space, fresh takes on classic dishes, small plates, and modern pizza offerings. None of this is a bad thing; in fact, some of LA's best new restaurants fit into this category, and are excellent go-to neighborhood joints for a laid-back yet delicious meal.
One of these new contemporary-Italian spots, Cosa Buona, has become a must-visit corner pizza joint in Echo Park since opening in May. But interestingly enough, they're bringing their casual Italian fare and celebrated pizza menu to lunch, which seems surprisingly novel, especially when mixed in with dishes like tuna sandwiches and chicken wings. We popped in on for a low-key Monday afternoon meal, and really enjoyed the whole experience.
Read MoreFood trends may come and go, but when it comes to LA standby's, sushi has managed to transcend the hype, remaining one of the city's most beloved dining-out experiences. Of course, not every of-the-moment sushi restaurant is successful in the long run, and clearly, Angeleno foodies have been showing preference for the minimal offerings of Sugarfish and KazuNori of late. And yet Katsuya, with its locations in Hollywood, Brentwood, Glendale, and L.A. Live (in addition to their national locations), has been able to stick around, continually serving quality sushi and Japanese plates in an upscale scene. I was thankfully reminded of Katsuya's consistency and quality upon a recent visit when I came to check out their new renovations. They've switched up the interior of the Hollywood location a bit, opening up the space and reinvigorating the furniture, subtly de-emphasizing that previously night-clubby feel for a space that feels brighter and more modern. The interior may be new, but my meal was a reminder that spicy tuna on crispy rice, salmon sashimi with caviar, and baked crab hand rolls are still as satisfyingly delicious now as they were when Katsuya first opened.
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