It’s pumpkin flavor season, but fall also brings so much more to the culinary world. For all the exceptional seasonal dishes, cocktails and specials coming to Los Angeles’ best restaurants and bars, read below.
Melrose’s newest vegan dining institution has developed new plant-based dishes just in time for fall. With complementary cocktails and wines available, the new fall menu includes Purple Sweet Potato toast with cashew ricotta and spiced chutney on freshly-baked focaccia; Green Cavatelli with artichoke, hazelnut and preserved orange; Fried Green Tomato toast with remoulade and house made mustard on sourdough; Broccolini with turnip cake, spicy peanut vinaigrette and Celery Salad with apple, wild rice, Koji vinaigrette. Desserts include a Devil’s Food Cake with coffee and cinnamon crumb. Website
On Oct. 21, Manhattan Beach welcomed the opening of BOA Steakhouse and Sushi Roku at the Manhattan Village. “Manhattan Beach and the South Bay are such beautiful and dynamic communities from the beaches to their businesses, and wonderful dining,” said Lee Maen, co-founder and partner. “We know our guests like to work hard and play hard. We’re looking forward to offering two new unique venues for them to do both—over an excellent meal and a cocktail.” Website
This Sherman Oaks outpost has officially tranformed into a sparkling wine bar. That means an expanded menu of all things bubbly, such as natural and off-the-beaten path sparkling wines, sparkling rosés and champagnes. It is also rolling out a new bar bites menu. Highlights include the Tinned Fish Is So Hot Right Now, Cheese + Charcuterie Board and Fish N Chips (it includes caviar!), among other options. Website
Hollywood’s newest rooftop restaurant will launch brunch on Oct. 29, which will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.. to 3 p.m. Menu highlights include banana foster pancakes, salmon benedict and the Lemon Grove burger. Reservations
Downtown Culver City welcomed the opening of its newest space for craft cocktails, shareable plates and intimate social gatherings. Located right next to its namesake restaurant, The Lounge at Ugo features a candlelit indoor lounge and string-lit patio. The menu features Italian spritzes, craft cocktails, small plates and Neapolitan pizzas. Website
North Italia is introducing a fall-winter menu centered on seasonal comfort ingredients like butternut squash, fuji apple, figs, rainbow cauliflower and hazelnut, while still offering elevated versions of year-round staples. Standout items include braised short rib lumache, burrata di stagione, squid ink tonnarelli and a black fig Manhattan. Website
Available through November, Poppy & Seed are offering two new seasonal cocktails: Morning N Italy (amaro nonino, gifford wild berry liquor, rosemary, lemon, egg white and peach bitters) and Golden Hour (buffalo trace, Mr. Black, espresso, salted caramel and vanilla). Be sure to pair your libations with new dishes and sides, like stuffed squash blossom, grilled octopus, half smoked duck, crispy mushrooms and more. Website
The Montana Avenue eatery has debuted a fall-winter menu, a happy hour and its first-ever beverage program. New menu additions include starters like caviar, fresh uni and burrata and black truffle; crab salad; salmon tartare; shrimp tostada; tuna shwarma and beverages, including Juneshine Hard Kombucha, Santa Monica Brew Works beers, sangria, sake and wine. If you stop in between 3 and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, you can enjoy $3 oysters, $11 wines and $12 shrimp tacos, salmon crostini, octopus potato salad and crab lettuce cups.
The wine bar has added five new seasonal cocktails to its menus at the 3rd Street and Brentwood locations. Crafted by Ignacio Murillo, the specialty drinks include Smoke & Passion with mezcal, tequila, lime juice, coconut syrup, passion fruit and lime; The Sunshine with tequila blanco, lime juice, house-made golden beet liqueur and árbol chili; Bartlett Sour with bourbon, lemon juice, poached pear, orgeat syrup and crisp pear; Toki Old Fashioned with Suntory Toki whiskey, allspice dram, pecan bitters and orange twist and Red Angel with Ford’s gin, lemon juice, pomegranate juice and fennel syrup. Website
The plant-forward restaurant has opened a new location in West Hollywood. Located on Melrose Avenue, the fifth location features the all-day cafe, cocktail bar and healthy dishes like eggplant “oysters,” potato and prickly pear gnocchi with prosecco cream sauce and the Melrose Martini. Website
The Fairfax District establishment has an all-new happy hour. Tuesday through Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m., stop in for $8 Szechuan Margaritas; Old School Mai Tais; Bloody Marys (add an eggroll garnish for $1) and glasses of sparkling, white and red wine and $5 Tsing Tao beer. Pair beverages with bites from the special happy hour menu, which includes egg rolls, fried and steamed dumplings, fried butterfly ship and cold sesame noodle. Website
Neighbor to the Pantages Theater, the Hollywood restaurant welcomes Angelenos to a special pre-show dining experience. The new Pre-Theatre Dinner menu offers a tasting menu of three courses for $65 with a $25 wine pairing option. Created by head chef Blake Shailes, menu options include pappardelle with pork, striped bass, risotto and tiramisu, among others. It is available from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Website
The 1Hotel West Hollywood rooftop has debuted new brunch and dinner menus created just for the Los Angeles location. Available on the weekends from noon to 3 p.m., expect brunch favorites like brioche French toast and avocado tartine. Meanwhile for dinner, you can look forward to seasoned tater tots, tuna tartare, lobster roll, grilled fish tacos, dark chocolate mousse and more. Website
Social Hour Jean-Georges Beverly Hills has made a triumphant return. Offered at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills bars from Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the menu features small bites, wine, beer and seasonal cocktails. Highlights include the red snapper ceviche, corn and thai basil potstickers, calamari, cucumber martini and the ginger margarita. Website
The West Hollywood hotel has transformed its back patio into an urban oasis with new menus to match. Driven by chef Michael Rotondo’s bright and bold recipes, the restaurant promises elevated, health-conscious breakfasts and lunches. See more
Santa Monica has welcomed a new coffee bar and café by Jared Meisler (Bar Lubitsch, The Brig, The Friend, The Little Friend, Nueva, The Roger Room) and Marius Markevicius. Here, you can load up on coffee, tea and café classics like lattes, coffee slushies, special reserve pour overs, lemonades, overnight oats, chia seed pudding, avocado toast with salmon and more. Website
The New Orleans restaurant has brought its celebrated fried chicken to West Los Angeles. Now open as a delivery and pickup location at the Colony, you can also eat on-site at indoor and patio seating. Menu highlights include bone-in fried chicken, tenders, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, corn bread and more. Website
260 Portofino Way 90277/ (310) 406-2517/ Website
The Portofino Hotel & Marina’s onsite restaurant has not only elevated their nosh, but this fall, it is also featuring live music every Friday and Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m. While listening to pop and blues music, enjoy hot crab dip, house-made tagliatelle bolognese, spicy calamari ajillo and a CBD cocktail.
8422 W. 3rd St./ (310) 362-4450/ Website
From chef Michael Santoro, indulge in a fine feast of whipped ricotta; oysters; squash blossoms; cauliflower; pork shoulder; Maine lobster; octopus and more fantastic new menu items.
1100 S Broadway 90015/ (213) 806-1023/ Website
Caldo Verde is as fresh as ever. Set your sights on the leeks and burrata with dijon, jamon and bottarga crumbs and the red pepper campechana with avocado, shrimp, crab and bay scallops.
13301 Ventura Blvd 91423/ (818) 788-4868/ Website
The Sherman Oaks establishment is honoring HIspanic Heritage Month with some special items. Until Oct. 15, order the El Titán Michelada (named after former Dodger Adriaìn ‘el Titan’ Gonzaìlez). It’s a dark style michelada sans tomato juice and instead comes with Tapatío hot sauce, salsa Negra, Worcestershire, Maggi seasoning sauce, lime juice and Calidad cerveza. You can also order chicharrones con guacamole and chicken mole tacos. Proceeds from all three go toward benefiting No Us Without You, a non-profit charity that seeks to provide food security to undocumented back-of-house staff and their families.
1250 E Harvard Rd 91501/ (818) 962-4446/ Website
Cinephiles and imibers rejoice: The Green Room’s new cocktails are all about the movies. The experimental lineup features the Crazy Rich Cocktail (Crazy Rich Asians; mezal); Pay Me a Compliment (As Good As It Gets; bourbon) and Down the Rabbit-Hole (Alice in Wonderland). Pair with the new elevated bar bites, which includes a filet mignon sammie, hot seafood tower and mini pizza pockets.
421 N Rodeo Dr 90210/ (310) 974-8020/ Website
After a stunning summertime debut, The Hideaway is now open starting at 11 a.m. every day. Lunch specials include lobster avocado salad and taco plates with options of lobster tempura, carnitas, brisket, swordfish and more.
927 S Broadway 90015/ (213) 235-9660/ Website
The seasonally-focused menu is all in on fall. Next time you’re at LOAM, don’t miss out on the heirloom tomato salad; scallop crudo with local mango, passion fruit, chili and mint; mixed peppers with charred onion, fennel and cilantro and the almond cake (strawberry, chamomile and white chocolate).
4500 Los Feliz Blvd 90027/ (323) 660-6377/Website
Happy hour is back at Messhall! From 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, stop in for Blackened Shrimp Sliders ($3), Backyard Burgers ($7), Pork Belly Tacos ($3), Fried Okra ($5) and $2 oysters.
822 Washington Blvd 90292/ (310) 747-6050/ Website
The culinary experience at Nueva is as bright as ever. From breakfast to drinks to dinner, delight in items like the churro french toast, espresso martini, super paloma, vegan ceviche, steak, shrimp crudo and more.
184-88 N Canon Dr 90210/ (310) 921-5935/ Website
For the first time ever, Nusr-et Steakhouse has launched a happy hour menu. Head to the bar any day of the week from noon to 5 p.m. for $8 wines and cocktails, $6 beers and $14.95 orders of SaltBae Wagyu Beef and Fajitas, salmon crostinis and guacamole tortilla chips.
See also: The 10 Best Halloween Events In Los Angeles
15600 Odyssey Dr 91344/ (818) 366-6444/ Website
Brunch lovers can now pair Odyssey’s brunch spread with $30 mix-and-match bottomless mimosas. Meanwhile, seafood lovers can now choose between the miso-marinated ahi tuna and filet mignon benedict—though we say choose both.
3850 Main St 90232/ (424) 298-8540/ Website
With a commitment to a hyper-seasonal menu, you know owners and chefs Macks Collins and Bryan Kidwell have something new in store for fall. Next time you visit the Asian-fusion restaurant, consider the sea bass ceviche, Transparentsea prawns, French beef cheek and moo jang.
1401 Ocean Ave 90401/ (310) 458-4771/ Website
After closing amid the pandemic, this Santa Monica restaurant is back with an all-new food and cocktail menu. From Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m., enjoy an excellent selection of traditional and California-inspired Asian cuisine while overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the outdoor patio. The menu includes ceviche, oysters, bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp, bulgogi, Tokyo-fried chicken and more.
370 La Cienega Blvd 90048/ (310) 854-1300/ Website
The award-winning cocktail bar wants you to ease into the new season with ease. Inspired by fall, the Roger Room has developed five fun, extravagant new cocktails: Truffle Martini (Luksusowa Vodka infused with Black Winter Truffle, sea salt and shaved black truffle); Irish Goodbye (Slane Irish Whiskey,fresh espresso, Mr. Black and handmade whipped cream); The Alcan Road (Rittenhouse Rye, yellow chartreuse, cynar and lemon twist); Smokey & The Bandit (Ilegal Mezcal, lime, allspice, orange, vanilla and cinnamon) and Chai Whiskey Sour (Buffalo Trace, chai tea, lemon, egg white, cinnamon and Star Anise).
2490 Fletcher Dr 90039/ Website
Paying homage to iconic locations around Los Angeles, bar director Leah Fitzgerald’s new menu features spirits-optional libations and classic cocktails. Highlights include the Silverlake Staircase (mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, hibiscus, aloe); 3rd Street Tunnel (mezcal, ancho reyes, watermelon, lime, sugar, spice) and Olvera Street Paloma (tequila, aperol, grapefruit, lime, sugar, bubbles).
1303 Montana Ave 90403/ (310) 310-3772/ Website
Santa Monica’s best new eatery is now serving up lunch-time only dishes. Make it in during the afternoon for smoked trout, tomato and nectarine or shrimp salad and a lobster roll slider or tuna taco for just $25.
1 Pico Blvd 90405/ (310) 458-0030/ Website
The new menu at 1 Pico showcases simply grilled dishes made of ingredients from the most fervent farmers, enlightened anglers, and responsible ranchers. Helmed by executive chef Sean Runyon, highlights include Amberjack, Elysian Farms lamb, Loch Duart salmon, Candy Stripe beet gazpacho and John Givens beef steak tomatoes.
8540 W 3rd St/ (323) 852-9400/ Website
To kick off October, Toca Madera has launched Mezcal Mondays, which features a menu of seasonal specialty mezcal cocktails and chef-curated tapas like Albóndigas al Mezcal (wagyu meatballs, ranchera salsa, burrata, cotija crostini), Diablo Chicken Salad (fried chicken tenders, diablo glaze, roasted corn, sharp cheddar, tortilla strips, smoked guajillo ranch), Avellana Martini (Montelobos, Sunora Cream De Bacanora, canela, Frangelico) and Arandano Margarita (Montelobos, spiced cranberry syrup, canela, lemon). Other new menu items available daily include a truffle quesadilla, wagyu tacos and a truffle burger.
9739 S Santa Monica Blvd 90210/ (310) 402-2296/ Website
Embracing everyone’s seasonal flavor, Velverie is offering a delectable assortment of desserts, including pumpkin tea cake, a pumpkin cheesecake tart and homemade chocolate truffles. Other new menu items include crispy fried mushrooms, truffle cheese fondue, farmer’s market tartine, mushroom tartine, casarecce pasta, baby beet salad, tuna melt, short rib sandwich and truffle fondue burger.
Various/Website
It’s California Spiny Lobster season. Don’t miss out by heading to Water Grill where it comes charcoal grilled and served with homemade coleslaw. If you find yourself in Calabasas, you can also enjoy the wild California spiny lobster at King’s Fish House.
127 S La Brea Ave 90036/ (323) 413-2255/ Website
Just one month after opening, chef Michael Bechman is ready to level up. In addition to the standard five-course tasting menu and five-course vegan tasting menu, guests now have the option of ordering à la carte (or opt for the tasting menu) right from the chef’s counter. Be sure to book your reservation quickly though; the counter only has eight seats.
Los Angeles is privileged to be in the epicenter of the country's bountiful agriculture landscape. To find out yourself, all you have to do is try the numerous seasonal menus across the city. And as you continue your fun throughout the month, be sure to check out our guide to all of the best events in October.
Photography by: Photo by Wonho Frank Lee for Workshop Kitchen
