I visited Bar Siesta on a warm spring evening on Monday for a lovely dinner - which, as it turns…read moreout, was the antidote to the Monday blues. We loved the warm ambience of Bar Siesta. There was ample al fresco seating, as well as atmospheric, candlelit dining inside. Menu items were reminiscent of my time in Spain and transported me back to my time there. What we ordered for the table, in order of preference: 1. Patatas bravas - fabulously crispy and flavorful. 2. Sardines - always a favorite, and the lemon zest contrasted nicely with the brininess of the fish. 3. Gambas - prawns were perfectly grilled and fresh. 4. Croquetas - love anything fried or crispy, so this was a classic choice. 4. Sardine toast - again, the lemon zest offset the fishiness beautifully. 5. King trumpet mushrooms - so umami, and almost tasted like steak. 6. The steak - loved the bright sauce that accompanied it. 7. Arroz - perhaps because I was expecting more of a paella dish, this one came out a little more textureless than I would've preferred. Decent flavor; just didn't entirely enjoy the mushy texture. 8. Morcilla de cebolla - I ordered this wanting to give blood sausage another try, but it's still not a favorite dish of mine and would not reorder. Overall, most dishes were enjoyable, well made and presented. We also enjoyed a carafe of basque wine, which complemented our meal very nicely. There's no dedicated parking lot, but there is street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. I was lucky enough to find parking on the street behind the restaurant.

Great service & vibe. Definitely great for date night…read more I tried their blood sausage, sardine on tomato bread, Ensalada Verde salad, and Arroz con Almejas. Blood sausage (Morcilla) was the highlight of the night! Just really delicious and would def recommend for everyone! Along with the house tab white wine, the food pairing was great! Portions are bit small, so not a place to come to pig out, but to enjoy the vibe, service, food, and company you bring. Def reocmmend!

Fantastic neighborhood restaurant with delicious food, and impeccable service. The team is so…read morethoughtful, and we liked so much of what we ate-we ordered a second round on some of the dishes.

Perfect summer dinner spot after a hike from the observatory!…read more My favorite is all their seafood (and basically that's all we've ordered) the sea bass is just amazing! I love the moisture and tenderness this fillet has! With the skin, but has no fishy taste at all. The sauce has the right amount of citrusy to bring out the freshness of the fish. Cocas I think is what they are pushing for! Like a mini pizza. Definitely worth trying, but compare that to the banger seafood they are dishing out, won't be a big issue to skip for a second time visit. They don't have a tasting menu but in the end, I do feel like all the dishes pair well with each other organically as a whole summer experience. Sitting at the corner, you also get to enjoy the gentle sunset coming through the lush tall trees just outside of the restaurant. Everything just clicked at that moment! (Also our waiter kinda looks like Tom Blyth, and he's so welcoming and friendly!)

Dim lighting, cool vibes, Portuguese small plates and a 13th anniversary (aww my relationship is a…read moreteenager now!). The steak tartare was bright, acidic, perfectly balanced and it's paired with sweet potato chips.. I had to take a moment! SO. GEWD. The bacalhau fritters was another favorite of mine. Crisp outside, soft inside, salty in the best way. Ask for extra lemons to brighten it further and thank me later. The head on prawns were so well seasoned and beautifully cooked and the sauce? Divine. I would bathe in it. The french fries were perfect but the lemon parsley aioli they came with is the real main character and I will not hear otherwise. Aioli of my dreams. Literally. Caipirinha with port float and Rosa margarita were both giving. Bolo do caco and boquerones also ate. Service was a little cold to start but warmed up as the night went on, and they ended the meal by surprising us with bubbles for our anniversary which was the sweetest thing. Pricey but worth every single penny. Date night, anniversary, or some other special occasion, this is your spot.

Food is definitely delicious. I had been here once before and sat at the bar. The host was not warm…read morebut the bartender was. I returned this weekend because my brother is in town and this restaurant is in walking distance to me. Again, food is really good. Service, even, is fine -- not much of a wait getting our dishes, nothing was egregiously wrong. However, I find that true hospitality is a dying art, especially here. We sat right by the kitchen, so maybe it was the location of our table, but our server breezed past us a million times without checking in. There were several times we had to crane our necks to stare her down, and she still didn't come over to ask if we needed anything. The energy between our table and the server was really just weird. We started to think we had done something wrong with us. When you are spending quite a bit of money for a nice experience or a special occasion, that just sucks. My brother got a beer and another server splashed and spilled it onto our table. Think about it this way: if you were hosting a party at your house, offering your guest a drink, and you spilled something on your table, wouldn't you wipe it up? I worked in restaurants for a long time so I am coming at this from a place of understanding of the job and high expectations. Little gestures go a long way, and this place is doing nothing extra to make anyone feel particularly welcome. I also think it's crazy dogs are allowed in the dining room when there is outdoor seating. I love animals but having a long haired fluffy dog scratching and shaking their dander off, and even barking, is just disconcerting and distracting! Come for the food but be prepared to leave feeling like a chopped loser :)

Covell was such a great experience! I wasn't sure what wine I wanted because I enjoy both red and…read morewhite wines, but the bartenders were incredibly knowledgeable and helped guide me to the perfect selections. Their recommendations were spot on. The atmosphere is intimate, cozy, and honestly perfect for a date night. It has such a warm and inviting vibe that makes you want to stay for hours. Unfortunately, we arrived just after the kitchen had closed, but that only gives me another reason to come back. The service was truly top-tier, and the wine was absolutely divine. I even enjoyed both a white and a red during my visit. Normally mixing wines can leave me with a headache the next day, but the bartenders paired everything so thoughtfully that the wines complemented each other beautifully, and I felt great afterward. I can't wait to return and experience both the food and wine together next time. Highly recommend!

Where do I even begin with this fantastic establishment. My favorite wine bar ever. Wow. The care…read moreand dedication the staff have is amazing and you can tell they are genuinely passionate about what they do. It is really nice being able to come to a nice bar and receive such fantastic service. They will let you taste a few wines depending on what you like and it is awesome. The atmosphere is very vibey too, dim lights nice decorations and over all a great place. Need to come back and try the food menu now! Ciao

I like this place a lot! I would recommend looking out for special events and specific nights since…read morethere is pretty regularly a cover charge. I've been there for sort of queer latine events and it's fun and vibrant and the space is really nice and big and reminiscent of Latin America

A must for LA residents and tourists, El Cid has endured. The stars of this venue is the show; if…read morethis rating were only for the dancers then it'd be a 5 . Their commitment to showcasing flamenco and their drive was spectacular to watch! On the other hand, the food, although plentiful, was underwhelming. No to the cauliflower soup (and I like cauliflower, but not burnt); and the salmon, a bit dry at the edges. The sangria... weak, with large fruit chunks and too much mineral water. Also, our table for six was petite and service was unenthusiastic. With so many " Meh s" all I could look forward to was the show. Did it and may come back but please give care to your space and dining.

Amalia's is unlike no other ! Flavours can't even be found in our hometown Guatemala ! Such a…read morebeautiful place has a beautiful setting you will be welcomed as if family, such quick and compassionate, consistent service honestly by far 10 out of 10 place I've been coming hear since a child was introduced to this pearl by my grandparents that's how you know it's good lol

This place is located in a seedyish part but don't be deterred there are so many great restaurants…read morearound here! Amalias is one of those gems. Came here on a Thursday night and it was karaoke night! So fun but really loud! Not the place to come if you want to have meaningful conversations! Haha! But you don't really come here for conversations, you come here for the best Guatemalan food in L.A.! Here's what we ordered: Enchiladas- which are nothing like Mexican enchiladas. There's no tortilla. It's actually a really fresh healthy dish and more like a salad. Fresh beets either queso fresco. So good! Cheeseburger and fries - ha! Yes the kid ordered that! He said it was delicious! The grilled fish - this comes with rice, beans and a salad. So filling. The fish was perfectly cooked and so light. The grilled shrimp - one this was my favorite. The shrimp was tasty. I keep craving it and need to go back for more. The thing that I could literally bathe in is there salsas. The green one isn't like regular salsa verde. It's more herbaceous and has just the right amount of spice. The red one is more like a tomato based sauce but I think it has red chilis too although it isn't really spicy at all. It is one of the tastiest sauces. It has a richness and the taste is indescribable. It's just delicious!! I'll be back for tubs of that thank you very much. :)

Sunset, spectacular views, and some seriously good food!…read more We had dinner at Chef Jose Andres' San Laurel at the Conrad Los Angeles, and the setting alone makes this place worth a visit. It's on the 10th floor, with a beautiful outdoor terrace overlooking the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad. If the weather is good, sit outside! We arrived around sunset, and dining with that golden-hour view was pretty magical. We started with cocktails. The Japanese Milk Punch sounded amazing, but it was a little too subtle for me. The Pisco Sour, though? Absolutely nailed it. Refreshing, citrusy, just the right amount of sweetness, and perfectly frothy. Then came the food. My favorite of the night was the fennel soup with Dungeness crab--absolutely gorgeous and packed with delicate flavor. The Hokkaido scallops were another standout: beautifully caramelized on top and perfectly plump and juicy inside. I had the European sea bass, which was crisp, clean, and beautifully prepared. My friend ordered the duck breast, and wow--that was fantastic. Definitely going on my list for next time. We also shared the wild mushrooms with a fried egg, and even though we were already getting full, I'm very glad we ordered them. So simple, but ridiculously delicious. No room for dessert, but honestly, who cared? We sat outside, soaked up the views, and lingered over conversation as the evening settled over downtown LA. Great food and service, gorgeous setting, and that sunset view? A pretty memorable night.

We found our way to San Laurel somewhat in a pinch before an event at Disney Hall, and I was really…read morehappy we did. The restaurant itself has a very cool, upscale feel, modern, open and sophisticated without feeling overly formal. It sits on the 10th floor of the Conrad, and the outdoor terrace is probably the star of the setting, with a terrific view directly across at Walt Disney Concert Hall. We chose to eat inside because it was HOT outside, and while our particular table was nothing special, the overall layout and ambiance still made it feel like a special-occasion kind of place. The highlight, though, was definitely the food. I started with my go-to: a filthy Ketel One martini with two blue-cheese olives. They nailed it, cold, dirty and exactly the way I like it. The standout dish was the Vermicelli "Mac N' Cheese." This is definitely not your typical mac and cheese. It's made with fideuá pasta, Idiazábal cheese, seasonal mushrooms, egg-yolk sauce and crispy shallots. Rich, creamy, savory and very unique. Easily an A+ dish and something I'd order again without hesitation. My wife had the stracciatella salad with strawberries, macerated figs, Marcona almonds and greens. The presentation was beautiful, and the creamy cheese with the sweetness of the figs and strawberries made for a really nice combination. San Laurel isn't inexpensive, so I wouldn't necessarily call it an everyday dinner spot, but the quality of the food, atmosphere and location make it feel like more of an experience than simply going out for dinner. Being directly across from Disney Hall also makes it a great pre-show choice. Four stars from me. I'd definitely go back, although next time, on a cooler evening, I'd want that outdoor table overlooking Disney Hall.

I never write reviews, but I genuinely feel like I have to because I enjoyed this meal so much…read more Listen, this place took me to flavor town!! Everything was seasoned beautifully and cooked to perfection. The fish and oysters were fresh and the drinks were damn good. We also got the charred skirt steak with papas, and it was super tender and delicious. Unfortunately, I forgot to snap a pic because we devoured it so fast. My only tiny critique is that the Kona Kanpachi could've used a little more flavor, but the fish was so fresh and vibrant that I didn't mind. Our server, Denise was super attentive and full of great recommendations! This was one of the best dinners I've had in a long time. I'll absolutely be back. Chef's kiss!!

My family and I decided to stop by Encanto Restaurant while in the area. We took a rideshare there…read more The restaurant is nice. It's has a large bar area with natural light that comes in through the windows. They also have a lot of seating. When we walked in we were greeted right away by the host. He asked if we had reservations. We replied with a no. He took a few minutes and the said that he could seat us. He took us to a booth in the corner and then told us that our waiter would be taking care of us soon. He asked us if we wanted anything to drink. We told him water and he brought us some water fairly quickly. Then another person showed up and he told us that they would take care of us the rest of the evening. Our waiter was very friendly and did an excellent job all evening. After looking at the menu we decided what we wanted. We started with the guacamole chips and salsa. The chips were okay. They were lightly seasoned with salt. The guacamole was fresh and the salsas were tasty. I preferred the green salsa as the red salsa was spicier. For my main meal I ordered the Quesadilla filled with skirt steak, pico, avocado, salsa, and crema. The quesadilla was delicious. I've never had a quesadilla like this. It was rolled up and looked like an egg roll. The steak was very tasty with a lot of flavor and the other ingredients were fresh. It was so good. For my side I ordered the rice and beans. The beans were good and had flavor. The rice was perfectly cooked. Combined the rice and beans had flavor and were very filling. Overall Encanto was a very nice restaurant. The bar area is large, the seating was comfortable, the service was very good and the food was delicious.

A wonderful now seasoned part of our monthly dinners ng rotation…read more Great food & wine. Knowledgeable service in the hip heart of Silverlake enclave.

I have not been to Barbrix in years -- back when it had the orange signage -- and while it was fine…read morethen, it never really stood out to me. That's definitely changed. I went last night with a few friends and we had a really lovely time. It feels like the restaurant has had a noticeable upgrade, both in vibe and overall experience. The menu is family-style with smaller plates that are great for sharing. Prices feel fair -- most small plates are in the $10-$20 range, with larger dishes around $30. We ordered seven dishes plus dessert and left feeling full, but not overly stuffed. Here's what we tried: Bub & Grandma's Baguette -- $6 Roasted Baby Golden Beet Salad -- $12 Blue Lake Green Bean Tempura -- $11 Ahi Tuna Crudo -- $15 Grilled Oyster Mushrooms -- $13 Pork Schnitzel -- $30 Spring Pea Cannelloni (special) -- $17 Basque Cheesecake -- $9 Overall, everything was delightful. The standouts for me were the Pork Schnitzel -- a great portion, well cooked, served with roasted potatoes -- the Blue Lake Green Bean Tempura, which were light, fun, and super snackable, and the Ahi Tuna Crudo, which was familiar but really refreshing. The Spring Pea Cannelloni was very pretty, but the flavors didn't feel totally harmonious to me. There is a small parking lot in front, which is always appreciated, and a nice outdoor patio that was especially enjoyable with the current warm weather. It really feels like a great little neighborhood spot now. If you are nearby, I would definitely recommend stopping by -- it is an easy, enjoyable place to share a drink and a meal with friends or relax at the bar.

Doto is set in the Virgil Village-Silverlake grey zone in a whimsically decorated boxy building…read morewith extensive patio for balmy nights and warm winter days. The interior is made more inviting and warm by good use of natural wood where there is bar and table seating. Doto has a feel that seems to hark back to the late 1960's...laid back, hang loose, unpretentious, back to nature. The true pillar of Doto is Tom, the owner, who is the host with the most. Peripatetic, he has his hands everywhere in a good way, making sure his ship of state runs like a finely tuned watch. He is helpful, thoughtful, kind, gracious, aware. I appreciate his going above and beyond in a gesture that is truly trois étoiles Guide Michelin level. I believe he sets the pace for his staff who also try to emulate his elevated style. TJ, our waiter, was jovial, outgoing, patient with our crew of 6. In Latin, doto means "I endow" or "I provide with a dowry." In Japanese: Dotō = raging waves; Dōtō = equality; Dōto = Buddhist temple. But unfortunately there is no meaning for just Doto except Do can mean earth or soil. Anyway, I was endowed much kindness by Tom. 1) Smoked Lamb Pita Ras el Hanout; Feta; Sumac Onions; Kombu Pickles; Greens all in a rustic, lightly charred thick Pita flat bread. The condiments inside adds texture, acidity, gastrique, dried sour fruitiness from the Sumac, sea Umami. The soft, creamy, Feta goat cheese adds a bit of dairy funk and from the onion. Italian style dressing seems drizzled with vinegar, oily, herbal notes. The mildly smoked, moist, meaty lamb is reminiscent of Pastrami since the Ras el Hanout spice blend is probably cured with the lamb meat to create mild yet complex flavours. Ras el Hanout: Can contain cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves or other spices. It is from the Northern African Mediterranean cuisine tradition. Generous portion and volume, this is a meal in itself. You can also add their exemplary seemingly twice fried Belgian style, crispy pommes frites. 2) Intrigued by the Chāshū Handroll. Not the traditional Chinese premarinated, roasted hanging in the oven style pork. It seemed more like a pot roast braised in sweet Shōyu/soy sauce. Sushi rice sprinkled with Japanese rice vinegar. Refreshing, Japanese cucumber; creamy, vegetal fatty avocado; earthy Yama Gobō/pickled, fibrous, salty, mountain burdock root; scallions. All wrapped in Nori seaweed "paper". This Sushi roll is definitely for those only into land meat. 1-2a) Akabu Ginga Junmai Ginjo class Premium Sakè (sah keh): Smooth, silky, delicately sweet with soupçon of bitterness for balance. Acidic, with ripe autumn pear, cinnamon spice, aromatic lacquer reminding me of Auslese style Riesling. 3) Affogato: Vanilla ice cream drowning in rich, dark, bitter Espresso with addition of Kōji Caramel. Kōji is a beneficial mold that helps make Sakè (sah keh), Shōyu, Miso paste. Nice way to end the meal. After dinner, I poked around the inside before leaving, and the dark haired, moustached staff member accompanied me giving a short commentary of the restaurant features that I appreciated. It reminded me of another occasion in the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas where I was also treated with graciousness. The eclectic food with emphasis on Izakaya based Japanese cuisine is so L.A. that hosts and encourages eclectic diversity. Doto reflects that ethos beautifully. My experience of the exquisite kindness by Tom and staff also seals the deal for 5 stars.

Everything is pretty solid. I think it's more of a seafood restaurant than anything else. Brisket…read morefried rice went crazy the first time. Second time the brisket seemed kinda old. Still good. This is a solid option though