I enjoy a nice rooftop and good weather, so when this past Saturday came through warm and sunny, my…read morehomegirl and I felt personally invited outside. Naturally, we accepted. We walked in with no reservations and were promptly seated by the bonfire. Our waitress was extremely kind and knew the menu like the back of her hand, which is always appreciated. Once we got settled, we started the evening with drinks and water (because balance) and then proceeded to have a full-blown yap session while the drinks kept making their rounds. Good conversation, good vibes, and a cozy rooftop moment -- can't really ask for more than that. If you're in the area, stop by and show them some love. P.S. There's street parking... and it's free, which in itself deserves a round of applause.

This place is an adorable rooftop bar in the AC hotel on the 6th Floor. You can take the special…read moreelevator on the left or the regular ones on the right. There's free parking on the street so you don't need to park in the hotel. Our group got the grilled chicken sandwich and fries, and heard it was good. The flat bread was also tasty, although cut a little interesting in a diagonal shape. The flora fries were huge, perfectly cooked and with a lot of garlic! It was really good. I ordered the ahi tuna poke with the rice and ir was perfect. The crispy rice wasn't rock hard like other places, so you don't feel like you chipped a tooth. It was a little soft and chewy. For drinks, I got the Fall Spritz, and sorry I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it but it was delish! The service was good, we went before 8pm Social Hour so it wasn't as busy and the servers were attentive. There were only 2 for the entire roof top. It did get a lot busier at 8pm. This place is super cute for a date night and a lot of fire pits and heaters made it nice and cozy.

Been wanting to stop by the Manchester for a while, and I'm glad I did! It's an intimidate and…read moremoody space, featuring a nice selection of cocktails and food. Theres a parking lot, which helps for easy parking. Service was quick. The steak frites were addicting, highly recommend! There's also a nice cocktail hour on Saturday night from 9-close that I intend to check out one day.

What an unassuming little spot! Can be tough to be find!…read more Popped in for a happy-hour type get together with a few friends while we were in town. Super dark and vibey inside. The five of us were sat at a booth and quickly taken care of. Menu was hard to decide on, as there were lots of good picks, but in the end we went with everything that was good on the shareable end. From the wings and house-made chips, to the broccoli and burgers, all of it was super flavorful. Oh I also has a martini (olive + lemon), which was great and on happy hour special. My friend also ordered a cocktail and we were all shocked when it turned up looking like a tropical vacation blue drink. All and all a great little spot with solid ambiance.

Let me tell you about the melody Bar. The misses chose this spot for date night; constantly saying…read morewhen she use to work in the area years ago, here and a co-worker would go there for lunch. I was like bet, let's do this. When we got there, I looked at her... She looked at me.... I looked at her.... She look at me. We paid the cover charge and entered. The place was pact with people having a good ole time eating food, having drinks and giving to the old school hip-jop/r&b music. We sat at our time and were immediately were greeted and took our orders. We hade a couple drinks to go alongside our burgers. Let me tell you something. If you are a burger guru, you need to hit up this spot. One of the best burgers I've ever had in my life. Everyone was friendly and the music had you in a great mood. If we didn't have other plans after, we would of been there until they close. Definitely will have to check out this spot again.

Melody's Bar & Grill has the feel of a family-friendly dive bar, which could be appealing if you're…read morelooking for something casual. However, the $10 cover charge, especially on a Saturday night, felt unnecessary and more like a cash grab than anything else. The pricing overall is on the higher end compared to similar bars, but the quality and experience don't quite justify it. The ambiance feels dated and a bit worn down, which takes away from the overall vibe. Service was just okay, nothing terrible, but definitely not memorable or particularly attentive. Overall, it has potential, but between the cover charge, pricing, and atmosphere, it's hard to feel like you're getting good value for your money. The deejay was great!

My cousin was performing at this small bar. They had a Decent Menu but seemed a bit understaffed as…read moreit took quite a while to talk to the bartender to order and such. The chairs were super uncomfortable especially if you are hanging around to listen to music and have a few drinks. It was quite dark inside and the tv screens had strange videos playing. If you are local it may be your place especially on a rainy night to stay close to home but I wouldn't make a special trip from far.

Drink quality: 4/5 Presentation: 4/5, pretty but nothing…read morecrazy Service: 5/5 Vibes: Loud, but should be expected at a place like this w/ live music Value: 3/5 Times been: 1 Return? Maybe? No strong desire I enjoyed the vibes of the place, but the live music was a little too loud to have a comfortable conversation. However, I believe that having a comfortable conversation at a bar with live music is a contradiction, so no points lost there. My main issues with The Washington are as follows: 1) expensive 2) poor drink selection. These two issues are not independent as I am ok paying ~$20 a drink only if the cocktails are going above and beyond in some sort of way. For example, the drink has some sort of complicated syrups or uses some sort of unconventional technique that I would not want to replicate at home. However, you cannot really find creative cocktails here. And, on top of that, I also find a lackluster selection of drinks. I'm not entirely sure why there isn't more gin/vodka cocktail selection (I am well aware that they can make standard bar drinks that are not explicitly listed, but I am critiquing the lack of 'original drinks').

Omg this place is SPECIAL and you must absolutely get tickets in advance. I am a sucker for high…read morequality live jazz, the kind that's not just in the background and if you're looking for that too, then this is it. World-class musicians and a warmly-lit, beautiful space with great cocktails. They recently added empanadas to their menu and they are reaalllly yummy! Parking isn't usually a challenge and the crowd is full of to-the-bone music lovers. Be warned, this is not a spot to chat while the music is playing; the focus IS the music. Because they are also streaming and recording the sets, the crowd is pretty subdued. However, if you get there early, you'll have time to sip and socialize. Recently, the ticket prices have increased significantly, but it's still well worth the cost to support local talent and a great venue.

Located near LAX among the airport hotels, Sam First is a small space in the back of a nondescript…read morebuilding off Century Blvd. The welcome is warm and atmosphere inviting. Seating is in comfortable armchairs. The bar is well stocked with some standards as well as rarities. Bartender is expert in turning out high quality spirits. Food is mostly appetizers, we had the empanadas which were OK only. Most people had nothing to eat. The attraction is the music which was quite good. As the room filled up, the sole server and bartender were working continuously and were hard to flag down. I wanted some coffee and ice cream that but couldn't get the attention of the server. After the concert, there was a line to settle up and then we had to leave. Sam First has a unique atmosphere but falls short on food and service. If you want some good jazz and drinks, it is a strong contender.

Went here on a Saturday night and the vibe was cool, the staff was great, and the food was…read moredelicious and super quick! New spot for sure!

Caló is still going strong always love coming here. the…read moreambiance is unmatched, so cozy and the staff always looks so professional. This visit I had the mezcal drink with tamarind and valentina hot sauce, shrimp taquitos, ribeye tacos, chips with salsa beans and guac and for a dessert later on tres leches cake. the tres leches lives rent free in my head ‍

Server Álvaro is an actual SAINT at Saint & Second!…read more I want to start by clarifying that I went to S&S yesterday afternoon ready to cry major boo-hoo tears to my two besties, without much of an appetite. Instead, I ended up with a full belly and side cramps from laughing along with our awesome server, Alvaro. The Man. The Myth. The Legend that he is! Small Backstory: Last Friday I lost my job of almost 25 years in public education due to a complicated work accident (my back was broken & I now have screws in my spine) and I planned to whine to my best friends into a cocktail or two, and get out plenty of Kim Kardashian ugly-cry faces until it would be time to go home. Enter ALVARO! This kind man had the nerve to be polite to us! The nerve! LOL. He greeted us with a warm smile while my cold heart was practically making it snow. He explained all portions of the breathtaking menu when I had planed to eat my sadness. He even had the GALL to say if we wanted something not on the menu that he would see what he could do to make it happen! Here I was, ready to drink Unicorn Tears, and he was cheering me up! WHAT THE??! LOL The three is us started with the MEZZE PLATE. And OH LORD! I think we ate the print off of the plates while trying to get to the last crumb. We polished off a whole extra serving of cucumber slices in the process, by the way, and I'm not embarrassed to say that. The Turkish honey-sweetened labne was such a party in our mouths! Make of that what you will. Each of us got a dinner entre, with mine being the S&S Fish and Chips. I loved that the fillet was not overly battered and the chips had an almost double-Belgium fried taste going on. I couldn't help but swipe several spoons worth of aged-cheddar grits off a friend's seared pork chop plate. Now THOSE were some butter-heaven sent grits! My drink, that kept shooting partially through my nostrils from laughter, was a classic margarita on the rocks. No margaritas were injured/harmed in the process of my belly laughter. At some point towards the end of our night, a patron of the mall next door pulled the site-wide fire alarm, ringing through the whole location for everyone to use caution and head to the closest exit. If you grew up like my friends and I, you don't follow that suggestion unless you're trying to run out on the bill like a jerk. Bless be to Alvaro, he stopped by our table several times to apologize about the noise and flashing lights and explained the fire department was working on it. I explained that the Hood Cricket sound didn't bother us and we were happy to wait out the alarm. So not only did Alvaro provide us with excellent service, an outstanding meal, and generous smiles, but he also made sure that we felt SEEN. And THAT is what made the whole evening worth it. No sadness or cringey tears about a lost job were needed. It ends up all we needed was a server named Alvaro at Saint & Second to make my spirits feel high again. Pricing is a bit high but was totally worth it! Patrons were dressed business casual. Sound level, not counting the hood cricket, was mid and conversation was easy to have. Several televisions were playing different stations but no captions were provided. There is handicap parking available in the parking garage located just outside the front door of the establishment and no stairs or elevators are needed to enter. There are several entrances/exits to the available outdoor seating area and outdoor heaters are available. Glances around showed me that every patron I saw was tucking into their plates with smiles and were enjoying themselves. I have already made plans to return to S&S in another two weeks because it was indeed THAT GOOD! And for those fine diners that are wondering, "But what is a Hood Cricket?" An HC is a chirping fire-alarm that some of us are able to tune out with ease. You're welcome!

Lovely location that's beautifully decorated with an indoor/outdoor space. No issue parking in…read moreadjacent garage, but I'm sure it gets busy at peak times. I enjoyed the chorizo tacos. Although, the portion seemed small considering there is no side dish served with this. (Comes with 3 tacos). I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with how big their brunch menu is. They have a little bit of everything from avocado toast to pancakes to sandwiches. The service left a little to be desired. It seemed very slow even though we arrived not long after they opened and things were fairly quiet. It took a while to get requested items like creamer, receive our food and have our plates cleared.

Work event here and the vibe was perfectly chill -- laid-back, summery, feels like you're on…read morevacation even if you're not. Ordered two things: Guacamole: avocado + yuzu + jalapeño with three salsas and great chips. Bright, tangy, and not boring. Fish tacos: grilled fish with red/white cabbage slaw, pico, cilantro-lime aioli on corn tortillas. Fresh and satisfying -- solid execution. Also tried the elote off the cob (chili/lime/cotija) and it was exactly what you want it to be. Bonus: had a passion fruit mocktail that was genuinely delicious (name escaped me). Would happily come back -- 4 stars.

We joined for the Lunch DineLA experience. The food was excellent: we got the octopus carpaccio,…read morearroz con mariscos (which I would call a paella), and a scoop of gelato or sorbet with a mini bite-size cookie. My compliments to the Spanish chef (you could really feel his Spanish influence in his food as well as Italian influence from his years spent living in Italy). Our server Josh was also a fine, pleasant fellow. The issue we had was more with the management (or seemingly lack thereof) and the excessive fees. This is the first restaurant I've ever been to that doesn't (or "can't") accept prepaid Opentable Reward cards - everyone who has an Opentable Reward card needs to proceed with extreme caution. Our server Josh did everything he could, but I believe the manager(s) could have done SOMETHING: they could have offered some gesture/compromise or at least come to our table to talk with us - to show some hospitality. Maybe I'm just comparing with my excellent managers at my restaurant, but I definitely noticed that at this restaurant. Regarding the excessive fees, the automatic 20% gratuity even for small parties is extremely excessive, I could see that possibly making some servers complacent - and that's not to mention that apparently there's another 4% or so wellness fee added on top of that. All in all, the server and food were quite good, while the management/manager(s) and fees were unsatisfactory. If you have an Opentable Reward card, go to any other restaurant.

Stopped by The Meeting Spot during the middle of the day and really enjoyed the vibe here. I didn't…read moretry any food this time around, but I did order the Ginger Lime Cooler mocktail and it was super refreshing and well balanced. What stood out most to me was the atmosphere. The outdoor patio is such a cool space to just relax, people watch, and enjoy the scenery. They had music playing along with a big screen TV, which made it feel like a perfect chill spot to unwind without feeling overcrowded. Since I went midday, it wasn't too packed, which honestly made the experience even more enjoyable. The staff were absolutely sweet, friendly, and very attentive -- not just to me, but also to the couple sitting nearby. Customer service definitely did not go unnoticed. I'll definitely be back to try the food next time!

Stopped by during the Rams Block Party event -- it's a nice outdoor restaurant and bar with plenty…read moreof shaded areas. Great ambiance with several televisions. Ordered the Napa Salad with chicken -- it was a decent salad with crunchy croutons. Also order the duo dip with warm tortilla chips. The pimento cheese dip was really good. Did not order from the bar this time, but looked good like they have a great selection of liquor to choose from. The service was meh -- once we received our food, the wait staff never stopped by to check if we needed anything else nor refill our beverage. Also waited for at least ten minutes after we were finished eating before having to flag down the wait staff for the bill. Be sure to get your parking ticket validated. Also the pricing is a bit high -- not as affordable for a lunch menu.

Truxtons was AMAZING. I'm so sad I live 2 hours from this gem of a spot. Anytime I'm in the area I…read moreplan on coming back to eat. From the savory monkey bread, to our drinks, entrees, and service, everything was off the charts. Fresh delicious food, and our Server Sam was phenomenal. My drink was never empty, he was so attentive and great to chat with. The restaurant itself was clean, and super cute! Please open a San Diego County location!

Truxton's is a nice after work spot or for Anything else. A…read morelittle bit pricey but good food. Wifey had a 9oz wine and it was $19.75, not including the tip. We waited 10-15 minutes before our table was ready She had Spaghetti and Meatballs and I had the Curry rice and chicken bowl. Both were delicious, however, the potatoes in my curry were not done and were a bit too hard. I sent it back actually. Our server Olivia made us pay before we were finished eating cuz she said that she had to clock out. I absolutely hate being made to pay before I'm done eating. It's a pet peeve of mine. Everything else was Decent I would say.