Lobster bucatini primavera at LA Market
At Kerry Simon's latest restaurant, LA Market—situated off the spacious lobby at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live—it’s all about how Angelenos like to eat. Dramatic four-story-high ceilings, glass walls and wood paneling set the scene for Simon’s modern, quintessentially Californian fare. Start with wok-charred edamame followed by tuna dynamite with tuna sushi, rice, lump crab and red-chili aioli. There are plenty of tasty salads and clever pizzas (think beef carpaccio, arugula and truffle oil), but it’s hard to pass up favorites such as meatloaf with mashed potatoes or lamb tagine served with couscous and cucumber yogurt. Dessert fans will rejoice in twice-baked banana bread with a malted brown-sugar crunch and bourbon ice cream, but our pick is Simon’s famed junk-food platter (his favorite desserts growing up—from oatmeal cookies to cotton candy), which makes you feel like a kid again. “I think our version of comfort food and the variety of global tastes we have on the menu appeal to the diverse audience in LA,” says Simon, who splits his time between here and Vegas. For a light bite, grab a seat at the restaurant’s Burrata Bar, where you can order the Italian cheese with toppings ranging from organic tomatoes to arugula pesto, along with a selection of other cheeses, charcuterie and grilled bread from La Brea Bakery. 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles; kerrysimon.com
