dineLA Restaurant Week returns January 21 through February 1, offering an exciting opportunity to sample prix-fixe meals at the city’s best new restaurants and tried-and-true favorites. The complete list of participating spots comprises restaurants for every dining enthusiast, but we've compiled our top five upscale finds throughout the city. Reservations are in high demand, so book yours as soon as possible on discoverlosangeles.com.
Adventurous eaters: Livello
Lunch $20, Dinner $35
Savor the chance to sample creative cuisine by Benjamin Dayag, the recently appointed chef de cuisine at Livello. Highlights from the lunch menu include a miso-marinated cod, a pounded chicken breast with ginger-garlic soy sauce, and a seared salmon over frisee topped with béarnaise sauce. Meanwhile, dinner spotlights an array of appetizers such as tuna tartare or a Brussels sprouts dish with goat cheese, and entrees like a poached white sea bass or oxtail tortelloni. For dessert, indulge in a chef’s selection of ice cream or sorbet, or a molten chocolate cake with marshmallow, salted caramel, and pistachio ice cream. 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-860-8660
Carnivores: Jar
Dinner only, $45
Head to Suzanne Tracht’s contemporary chophouse for a modern take on beloved meat and fish dishes. First-course plates comprise a butter lettuce salad with breakfast radishes or the soup of the day, a light preview of the hearty entrees to follow. For mains, pick a classic bistro steak with jar fries and pea tendrils, or a cedar-smoked wild Alaskan salmon served over celery root puree with a caper berry relish. Dessert offerings include chocolate or butterscotch pudding, but we suggest the latter. 8225 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 323-655-6566
Sushi enthusiasts: Koi Restaurant and Lounge
Dinner only, $45
The renowned WeHo sushi spot is offering a selection of their most popular dishes, including a choice between crispy rice with spicy tuna, creamy rock shrimp tempura, and spicy seared albacore with crispy onions for a starter. For entrees, guests may select a grilled skirt steak, oven roasted chicken breast, or steamed Chilean sea bass. A strawberry napoleon and mochi are available for dessert, but our pick is the flourless molten chocolate lava cake. 730 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-659-9449
Seafood lovers: The Hungry Cat
Dinner only, $45
For fresh seafood with a view, head to the Santa Monica Canyon outpost of The Hungry Cat, brought to you by David Lentz. Start with a choice between a kabocha squash soup, seafood fritters with celery root and apple slaw, or a spin on Caesar salad made with gem lettuce and anchovy dressing. Second-course selections include a swordfish paillard, bacon-wrapped trout served with Brussels sprouts and creamy grits, and a Channel Island stew featuring dungeness crab, local squid, steamed mussels, and more. Finish the meal with chocolate bread and butter pudding or key lime curd parfait. 100 W. Channel Rd., Santa Monica, 310-459-3337
Italian aficionados: Drago Centro
Lunch $25, Dinner $45
Discerning downtown diners continue to flock to Drago Centro, where chef Celestino Drago is serving up fine Italian cuisine in a chic atmosphere. Highlights on both the dinner and lunch menus include a lobster cappuccino with olive oil foam, rabbit fettuccine with shaved carrots and smoked ricotta salata, and a torta della nonna with pears and apple jam. Meanwhile, other standouts on the lunch menu are a lasagna bolognese and an albacore tuna with garlic risotto cake, while dinner options comprise a prosciutto agnolotti, a branzino served with an eggplant crepe, and braised pork cheeks served over crispy polenta. 525 S. Flower St., Ste. 120, Downtown, 213-228-8998
Photography by Lisa Thompson Photography (Carnivore)
