WesStevens

A fine place to have lunch. Full of Hollywood history and current hipsters. The food is lovely, had the Chicken Paillard today, nice, but really like the Salmon club. Wine list is short but sweet and the service superb. The patio is breezy, an oasis in the chaos of an LA day…cons, the looky loos and eavesdroppers…focus people, focus.

Great local haunt, two doors down from the Abbey, fresh food, comforting, amazing seiten skewers, sloppy joes, meatloaf. Healthy, fresh, menu changes all the time. Weekdays get there before 9, it closes pretty promptly…dog friendly on the porch.

Are we in Miami? Feels like it inside. Great ambiance and energy, super food. The enchildas are so good you’ll want to rub them in your hair. And the cobbler, what’s in that…crack…you’ll just keep thinking about it. The watiers and waitresses are cute too boot and what restaurant has bedazzled tshirts for uniforms.

You step off the street into this dark den of mexican authenticity…amazing…strolling guitar player who will seranade your table with besame mucho or amore…and then there’s the verbal only menu, seriously. A gentleman, reviewed elsewhere as the Mexican Charles Naughtan, asks what type of meat you would like, chicken, beef, shrimp or fish…and then he launches into his vocal seduction of food from sote voce to fortissimo..it is a truly one of a kind performance. Everything is served Mexico City style, translate…four courses for CHEAP. You will not be able to go out, you will be too full and you will fall asleep on your couch with your pants unzipped like grandpa…but oh so happy.

This one is in my top five. I have never had a bad meal here. I prefer to sit downstairs, it feels very NY, not LA, but it’s rather trendy so you’ll never forget you are in LA. Small plates, all pretty mind blowing, and drawn from whatever is in season, fresh and interesting. Great selection of cheese and chacuterie and over 50 bottles of wine by the glass, good bottles. Not for the thread bare wallet by any means. Romantic to festive. Call well ahead of your date, it is not always easy to get a reservation. Be prepared to be there for a couple hours, best to meander.

Zorba, take a seat, this is real greek eats. Fun atmosphere, pretty people, classic frat and sorority all grown up ala M. Beach. Food is great, the appetizers could be a whole meal. Try the octopus, amazing, the dips, etc.. Not a bad thing on the menu. The waitress Nicole is a hoot. Have a grapa or an ouzo, kick back on the patio and thank the Gods.

Good basic comfort eats. Great rotisserie chicken with dips, the best tower of onion rings I’ve found in LA. Birds is great for sitting on the patio and watching the pretty folks from Beechwood walk by or sitting inside and having a beer and some chicken pot pie on a rare rainy LA winter day. Never a let down, always friendly and welcoming.

Great patio, trendy, hip crowd. Pricey. Good service. Food was serviceable, nothing incredible. It’s more about the vibe. The peach and raspberry crepes were delectible.