WHY The kitchen knows when to take a fish off the grill and how to bring out the best in each dish—without overcomplicating it. The setting and the food combine to make this the perfect California restaurant. WHAT This lively (i.e. noisy) Abbot Kinney hot spot has a ’70s open-air Big Sur vibe but a [...]
February 1, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY You wish you were in Paris but you’re settling for Venice. WHAT This indoor/outdoor café and market on south Abbot Kinney has catered to homesick ex-pats since 1993. You may be the only English speaker in line waiting to order French comfort food: omelets with a green salad;le cheval (fried egg atop ham and [...]
November 11, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY The same excellent, expensive rustic-elegant food as at neighboring Gjelina, ready to take out in ten minutes. WHAT It can take six weeks to score a dinner reservation at Venice’s hottest restaurant, Gjelina, but now with GTA (Gjelina Take Away) next door, you can take the food back to work or home or even [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY An elegant Lucques-meets-Portland gem with an ever-changing selection of inspired, intensely flavored but not at all fussy creations, ranging from delicate market greens tossed with walnut anchoade to roast branzino with chanterelles. The $50 set menu has got to be one of the best fine-dining deals in town. WHAT A crew of former ClarkLewis [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Shiraz frittata, a scramble with grilled onions, roma tomatoes and turmeric; luscious breakfast sandwiches; the chopped baby spinach salad; and a turkey burger that is juicier and more flavorful than most, topped with baby spinach, sliced tomato, red onion, applewood-smoked bacon and cheddar. WHAT A teeny café with teeny tables, this spot is the [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY A lovely covered sidewalk patio, worthy wines to drink here or take home, and mighty fine panini. WHAT Part wine shop and part outdoor café, this place was cleverly designed to keep the indoors temperature-controlled for the wine while having that indoor-outdoor flow so essential to Venice living. The wine-by-the-glass list is relatively short [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Seductive charm, a setting right out of Venice, Italy, and superb Italian food make it ideal for a memorable date or celebration. Just be prepared to pay for the experience. WHAT This beachside trattoria is so warm and intimate that you’ll feel like you’ve been invited to a friend’s house for dinner—a friend who [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY So you can be greeted by your own personal barista. WHAT When this offshoot of the Chicago-by-way-of-Silver-Lake coffeehouse opened on Abbot Kinney, you’d have thought the Obamas themselves were pulling espressos from the Synesso machines. Coffee geeks walk into this light-filled industrial space and begin hyperventilating at the sight of the Mazzer grinders and [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY You can change the mood of your tablescape by mixing and matching shapes and colors the same way you put together outfits from your closet. WHAT This venerable Venice pottery studio produces and sells its own handmade, collectible, durable dinnerware, bowls and serving pieces, which come in wonderful satin matte colors. Look for finds [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Excellent gelati and sorbets, made fresh daily by a Danish couple. WHAT The Nielsens use organic milk and fresh fruit in their melty, sticky ice creams, which are creative without being twee and richly flavorful without being too sugary. Try the sour cherry or mint chocolate chip gelato or the fruit punch. Good lattes [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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