WHY Quick, authentic and California-inspired tapas, including jamón serrano, served until midnight. WHAT This New York shotgun-style bar has tapas lined up behind a counter up front, a sidewalk ‘counter’ and a half dozen bar tables in back for a delicious—though pricey—snack and glass of vino. WHO Fans of chef/owner Joe Miller who don’t want [...]
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WHY Groups can mix orders of short ribs, sliced beef, chicken, shrimp and pork and then help servers tend to the meats on the grill in the center of the table, creating a fun and interactive meal. WHAT This stylish, modern setting is more upscale than the typical Korean barbecue restaurant, with a sleek, chic [...]
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WHY The burger—made with Meyer beef, Niman Ranch bacon, wild greens, a brioche bun and either Point Reyes blue cheese or sharp Tillamook cheddar—may be even better than the one at Father’s Office On Mondays, the chef experiments and makes more creative burgers that he pairs with craft beers. WHAT We wish all neighborhood restaurants [...]
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WHY Scrumptious, cheap Lebanese specialties, including a great cabbage salad, richly flavored hummus and excellent kebabs. WHAT Overlook the funky strip mall and cramped parking lot; Skaf’s is a find if you enjoy Middle Eastern food but don’t feel like spending a lot of dough. It has a slick new branch in Glendale, but the [...]
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WHY For wine-friendly and delicious small dishes, such as paella, asparagus risotto with lemon and parmesan, and roasted salmon with couscous, plus satisfying true tapas like marinated olives and cured meats. WHAT Is it a set design or tapas bar? You be the judge. But first you’ll have to land one of the small wooden [...]
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WHY The irresistible pesce cuocopazzo—fresh whitefish with a horseradish-pistachio crust and sauce of white wine, garlic, lemon and fresh tomatoes. WHAT There’s always a crowd at this Brentwood trattoria, perhaps the best of the large Italian bunch in the neighborhood—so don’t even think of coming without a reservation. The ceilings are high (and so are [...]
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WHY Basic pastas like cacio e pepe (spaghetti with pecorino, parmesan and pepper) that are so satisfying you’ll wonder what else they’re sneaking into the bowl. WHAT Step inside Pecorino, and you’ll be greeted by a gush of warmth—brick walls, cozy bistro tables, rustic chandeliers—and exuberant host Mario Sabatini. As he hops around the dining [...]
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WHY Despite its strip-mall location, this is the kind of intimate, authentic trattoria you dream of finding in your own backyard. WHAT You arrive to seductive, garlicky odors wafting through the door and the attentions of cute, heavily accented Italian waiters—and food that lives up the anticipatory promise, from the hearty pasta arrabbiata to a [...]
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WHY There are lots of Italian eateries in Brentwood; this one stands out because it’s friendly, homey and has reasonable prices. WHAT Trieste native Paolo Pasio has the warmth required of a good trattoria owner, and his dining room is inviting and often crowded. His kitchen turns out very fine Italian comfort food: beet salad, [...]
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WHY Cal-Mex cuisine at its gut-busting best, plus an excellent cadillac margarita and low prices. WHAT If you grew up in Southern California, this is the kind of restaurant you dreamt of when you went away to college. It boasts every Mexican-restaurant cliché: hokey paintings, a logo with a sombrero-sporting hombre, rustic ranchero-style leather chairs [...]
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