The 24 Hottest Restaurants in LA Right Now, September 2015
More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends, and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what’s new, what’s hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the ‘it’ places of the moment.
Thus, we offer the Eater LA Heatmap, which will change continually to always highlight where the crowds are flocking to at the moment. In this month’s edition, we add Leona, Maple Block Meat Co, Esters Wine Bar, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Dudley Market, and Forman’s Tavern.
1 Catch & Release
Jason Neroni is back on the Westside after decamping from Superba last year. He’s partnered up with Bill Chait in the former Paiche space to do a wide open crab and clam shack in Marina Del Rey. Indulge in a lobster roll or house-made pasta, or just share a massive seafood tower riddled with fresh scallops, oysters, and more.
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2 Cassia
Bryant and Kim Ng have settled down in their large Santa Monica space with Rustic Canyon’s Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan at their side, and the early word has been positive all around. So far, everyone has been praising the lovely space and the spot-on orders from the kitchen at this heralded Westside restaurant. The only question is, will you be able to get a table? With so many seats and so many different kinds of experience from inside and outside the building, it shouldn’t be too difficult. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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3 The Arthur J
David LeFevre has taken the familiar steakhouse concept and nearly perfected how it’s presented. With a tidy and design-forward room filled with all the right midcentury details, this Manhattan Beach spot has an approachable yet creative menu to boot. The menu boasts a T-bone steak for two, prime ribeye, and even whole steamed lobster, plus spot prawns or foie gras as toppings. Sides include king trumpet mushroom fricasee and farro risotto, for a departure from the standard mashed potato and asparagus game.
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4 Jon & Vinny’s
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo have finally completed their ode to Italian-American cuisine, and the results are pretty fantastic from the get-go. The pizzas, pastas, meatballs, and salads are razor sharp in their execution, though it’s also a credit to high-quality ingredients. The interior sort of belies the menu, with a sleek minimalist ambiance that lets the LA sun in through its skylights. Open breakfast to dinner, it’s one of the best all-day restaurants to open in LA. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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5 Broken Spanish
Ray Garcia has done a masterful job of taking over the former Rivera space, infusing a more casual atmosphere and installing an innovative take on Mexican cuisine on the menu. Try the lamb neck tamales or the mushrooms, laden with black garlic and placed over griddled masa. The rebonada smeared with foie gras is a great starter while the moronga topped with peach and arugula might surprise you with how good it is. Michael Lay, formerly of Faith & Flower, puts a creative drink menu together, including a deconstructed Paloma.
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6 B.S. Taqueria
Ray Garcia’s brand new taqueria in Downtown might be one of the best new Mexican restaurants to open in LA this year. With heirloom corn tortillas made to order, plus innovative fillings like clams & lardo, or bologna (plus more traditional things like carne asada and carnitas), this might be a terrific place for a casual lunch with office co-workers. Dinner time boasts a daily large-format special, like a massive pork leg covered in salsa verde.
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7 Alexander’s Steakhouse
This Bay Area transplant is bringing a fresh perspective on the steakhouse genre to Pasadena, with a heavy Japanese wagyu-inflected menu and a chef’s tasting menu available for a more complete culinary experience. The minimalist design makes this a classy new place for a business meeting or celebration in the 626.
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8 Simbal
This modern Southeast-Asian restaurant tucked away in Little Tokyo has some of the most exciting cuisine this part of town has seen since Spice Table had to shut down. Chef Shawn Pham, who trained at fine dining spots and even Vietnam, brings a creative sensibility to dishes like a banh mi salad, chili jam mussels, and more. The airy, minimalist digs make the place an ideal spot for a fashionable date. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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9 Osso
Formerly One Eyed Gypsy, the large venue has now been turned into the kind of restaurant where food lovers prefer to go. With a tight cocktail and drink menu, plus a menu that spans just a few more than a dozen items, consider the fried chicken, patty melt, cavatelli laden with market-fresh ingredients, and charcuterie platter boasting rich foie gras torchon. Come for dinner, come for snacks and drinks, or bring a big party. This is the versatile Arts District restaurant that the neighborhood needed.
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10 EP/LP
This ultra-designed two-story concept in West Hollywood will likely become a celebrity magnet, but until then, enjoy Louis Tikaram’s legitimately tasty Thai and Vietnamese-inspired fare. Try the Chiang Mai salmon larb, scallop & mussel curry, and sweet plum dessert. The cocktails are no slouch, and make for great companions on the expansive open air rooftop, LP. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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11 Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
New York City transplant Blue Ribbon has finally opened a restaurant in Los Angeles, with a full line up of sushi and hot plates. The vibe is much larger and brighter than their original underground location, but the Bromberg brothers have imported much of the same approach to Japanese cooking. And that fried chicken is always worth an order.
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12 Birch
Brendan Collins has resurfaced in Hollywood, right in Cahuenga Corridor, with this sweet little restaurant touting market fresh cooking and a cheerful minimalist vibe. With a massive garage door that spills out to the street, it’s easy to feel Hollywood’s energy, but Collins is pulling some serious weight in the kitchen, with dishes like whole fried snapper and rabbit baklava. For drinks, consider sipping the tequila old-fashioned on a warm spring or summer evening.
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13 Belcampo Meat Co.
This swanky dining room boasts all pasture-raised meats from Belcampo’s own farm. With a straightforward menu that’s scattered with some more creative angles, try dishes like the goat tartare with ancho chile, or a roast beef banquet for those who crave a taste of beefsteak dinners. The epic shell steak for two also comes with some of the best potato gratin in the city. Cocktails, done by Josh Goldman, are about as good as you can get in Santa Monica.
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14 Maré
Eric Greenspan is back, tucked away behind Melrose Umbrella Co., with this outdoor only patio that will be the perfect place to soak in the stars this summertime. The menu is exceedingly simple, with a whole branzino and customizable shellfish stew as the main highlights. You can also opt for a skirt steak and inexpensive glass of house wine, making this one of the more affordable new restaurants to open in LA.
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15 STK Los Angeles
With the paint still drying and the tables just set, STK has made a quick transition over to Westwood and it’s instantly the most fun place to get dinner in the area. With a much larger space to work with, the music still pumps on this side of loud, but the approachable steakhouse fare and solid service will bring you back time and again. Just be on the lookout for any celebrities, who are more likely to be sitting at one of the circular banquettes.
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16 Rice Bar
Fine dining chef Charles Olalia, who helmed the kitchen at Patina before moving on to mar’sel, is going back to his roots with this tiny lunch counter in Downtown, with just seven or so seats. Cooking up a slew of Filiipino comfort dishes, Rice Bar might be the approachable concept people need to latch on to this cuisine. Try the bistek tagalog for something substantial, or the lighter shrimp pancit or anchovies with avocados and cherry tomatoes atop heirloom rice for something that won’t weigh you down in the office after lunch.
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17 BierBeisl Imbiss
Bernhard Mairinger is another chef who had an elegant fine dining restaurant and flipped to a more casual, everyday concept. Though it’s tucked away inside the Spring Street Arcade Building right now, the place will soon be bustling with places to eat. Until then, have sausages, salads, and other classic Austrian dishes in a cafeteria-style environment. The great thing is that they serve from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily., which is fantastic for locals. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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18 Hatchet Hall
Brian Dunsmoor has finally opened his own concept, this time at the old Waterloo & City in Culver City. With expansive digs and a polished Americana look, the kitchen is churning dishes that might remind one of the old Hart & the Hunter days. Also, check out the Old Man bar tucked away in the back from some top notch drinks.
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19 Forman’s Tavern
This newest rustic entry from Acme Hospitality takes over the former Lucy’s 51 in Toluca Lake. The fare is solid pub food while drinks are going to center mostly around high quality brown liquor. It’s a comfortable place to don your flannel during the fall and winter months ahead.
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20 Esters Wine Shop & Bar
This cheerful wine bar has one of the best selections of wine by the glass and bottle in the city. The food, designed by Rustic Canyon chef Jeremy Fox, is going to gear toward snacky and wine-friendly. Sit out on the patio while the weather’s still warm.
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21 Dudley Market
Jesse Barber found the perfect little Westside restaurant to show his commitment to quality produce and ingredients. The menu has plenty of familiar items, but Barber, a master of seafood and market-driven fare, has some finesse-laden dishes that’ll impress anyone. Open breakfast through dinner, including weekend brunch, a huge boon for Venice denizens.
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22 Leona
Nyesha Arrington has the perfect sized restaurant just steps from Venice Beach in the former Canali Cafe location. The environs are gorgeous, to say the least, with an elegant touch to a modernist space that’s both airy and comfortable. Arrington’s fare shows her mastery of simple presentations, evincing an unexpected depth of flavor. This one’s already packed to the gills, so show up early or nab a reservation.
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23 Maple Block Meat Company
Culver City has a great new barbecue spot under the direction of Adam Cole, who’s worked everywhere from The Bazaar to the Langham. Order up at the counter, where’s your likely to find pitmaster Cole slicing the meat himself. The brisket and ribs are top notch while the sides have a chef’s touch.
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24 Hopdoddy Burger Bar
This casual Texas transplant brings creative burgers and more to El Segundo’s The Point. Throw in an excellent selection of craft beer and you have the everyday burger joint this area always wanted.
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