With Sunday, March 14 marking the end of dineL.A.'s spring restaurant week, we share our weekend guide to Los Angeles' vibrant restaurant scene, broken down by category: al fresco dining, date night, cocktail hour, new restaurants, L.A. staples, and family night.
DineL.A. Restaurant Week is back with its first spring event (March 1-14), offering specialized lunch and dinner menus from hundreds of local restaurants. Aiming to highlight and support Los Angeles' restaurant industry after being devastated by COVID-19-induced closures, think of dineL.A. as your guide to all of the restaurants you've been missing this past year. And don't worry if you're not ready to venture out in public yet, this year dineL.A. partnered with GrubHub so you can support your favorite local spots at home—and still order from the same curated menus offered for dine-in parties. To see all that our culinary scene has to offer, head to the website, where you can easily see each participating restaurant's menus, reservation options, hours, pricing and more. Not sure what you're in the mood for? The website can also sort restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine, price, and takeout or delivery. With Sunday marking the end of the two-week feast, we’ve rounded up a few top spots to check out this weekend.
Al Fresco Dining
Now boasting three outdoor dining rooms (the two new additions being the Redbird Garden and Vibiana Courtyard), this DTLA hotspot is serving up a top-notch three-course menu to close out restaurant week. Opt from starters including burrata and citrus salad, Chawanmushi—a small plate featuring Maine lobster and enoki—and grass-fed beef tartare. Don't forget to order one of the alluring tipples—the 4 of a Kind, Pretty in Pink and Forbidden Cocktail being a few of our favorites—while you wait for your second course, which includes your choice of BBQ smoked tofu, California sea bass (a must-order!) or prime short rib. And while the menu does offer two dessert dishes, we'll go ahead and give you some insider guidance: order the smores bar and don't look back. You can thank us later.
Bask in the golden hour glow on Terra's rooftop bar as you savor one of four indulgent antipasti options, including burrata e barbabietole, spiedini di polo (braised and grilled octopus), fhunchi scottati (char-grilled oyster), or cuore di lattuga (crab salad). With the Piatti course boasting must-orders like the branzino, Tagliata Di Manzo (grass-fed vintage NY Strip) and pappardelle al funghi al tartufo (house-made spinach pasta with black truffle butter); and the dolci course featuring the likes of made-fresh-to-order coppa di gelato and tiramisu, Terra is giving diners a feast for the ages this weekend. Be sure to order a vini flight, complete with spumanti, vini and digestive wines, which pairs perfectly with your three food courses. Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 213.310.8008
Endure a sushi-experience like no other, with Sushi|Bar’s unique 17-course menu. From sushi staples such as Blue Fin and Yellowtail to exquisite delights such as Uni and Bone Marrow, Sushi|Bar’s carefully selected menu is prepared by a team of chefs led by chef Phillip Frankland Lee Omakase. Dine al-fresco on the patio as your meal takes you to sushi heaven and back. 16101 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 255, Encino, 818.876.0818
_with_chili_ponzu,_Italian_sturgeon_caviar,_house_made_soy_sauce,_freshly_grated_wasabi,_scallions.jpg)
Date Night
Combining fine art and cuisine in the heart of the Arts District, Manuela is the perfect spot to hit during dineL.A. for date night. With fresh seasonal ingredients sourced from local SoCal producers, dinner specials include crisp delicata squash with charred leek aioli and wood-grilled yellowtail with Castelvetrano olives. Enjoy your cuisine in their blossoming garden adorned with romantic lights under the stars. 907 E. Third St., Arts District, 323.849.0480
Enjoy a date night at home with takeout from Chinois on Main in Santa Monica. Dishing out amazing service and cuisine to the Los Angeles area for almost forty years now, start your meal off with their beloved Chinois chicken salad and Thai coconut seafood soup as you move on to charcoal-grilled short ribs or oven-roasted Scottish salmon with a kicking jalapeno-basil marinade. Timeless design with timeless eats, Chinois on Main is a must-experience. 2709 Main St., Santa Monica. 310.392.9025
Cocktail Hour
Take a seat at world-class cocktail bar The Raymond 1886 for some uber swanky sip to kick off your night. We recommend staying for dinner—with a menu consisting of housemade primavera pasta and quail with a maple Sichuan glaze, you'll be hard pressed to find a better place to indulge yourself until closing time. 1250 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, 626.441.3136
New Restaurants
Satisfy your cravings at Los Angeles’ newest burger joint at dineL.A. Order the infamous Adrift Burger—complete with tomato-ajwain jam, pickled-jalapeno, arugula and gruyere—and the housemade truffle chips to-go and then hit the streets—it's time to explore the hidden gems of Venice whilst your burger warrants many a coveted stare from passerbys. 1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 424.238.5753
Another hot new restaurant in Venice, OSPI’s curated menu comes with a complimentary glass of prosecco, Vermentino or Nero d’avola with your dinner. With a choice of spicy rigatoni or copione pizza with soppressata, this authentic Italian eatery is guaranteed to be a dineL.A. staple. 2025 Pacific Ave., Venice. 424.443.5007
One of the hottest restaurants in L.A. right now, Caravan Swim Club’s dineL.A. is located poolside at Westchester's iconic Hotel June. Its menu features a crudo with line-caught local catch, carne asada or a shrimp taco plate as the main course. For dessert? A delectable horchata panna cotta, of course. 8639 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester, 310.645.0400
L.A. Staples
Pop on into Poppy & Rose for an early breakfast or late brunch and dine on beloved dishes like the shrimp and grits—and don't forget a side order of the notorious buttermilk biscuits. Available for dine-in, takeout and delivery, this long-time favorite is inspired by country kitchens with a fresh ingredient twist. Southern California Flower Market, 765 Wall St., L.A., 213.995.7799
Serving fresh fish from Japan daily, Sushi Tsujita’s picturesque offerings range from an omakase nigiri to a carpaccio starter with three chef-selected fresh-caught fish. Want the full experience? Opt for the sake pairings to top off your night on the restaurant's gorgeous al-fresco patio. 2006 Sawtelle Blvd., L.A., 310.231.1177
Family Night
Enjoy a three-course meal with options for everyone this weekend—from roasted duck breast to bigeye tuna carpaccio and plenty of other Italian delights inspired by chef's summers in Bologna and the surrounding regions. Add to it the cozy atmosphere sitting under a gorgeously lit tent, and eating en plein air never looked—or tasted—so good. 1124 San Julian St., DTLA, 213.749.1099
Photography by: Cocktail photos by Antonio Diaz; all other photos courtesy of restaurants
