Looking for hip restaurant in H'wood or Santa Monica for anniversary dinner

[ASquared]

Hi,

I have a anniversary dinner with my fiance next week and I need ideas for a hip restaurant or restaurant/lounge to take her too. Any ideas you have would be great!

[ASquared]

Update: So I went to The Penthouse at the Huntley and had a great experience! We started off with calamari, and both ordered beef short ribs for our entree on recommendation of our server. After getting warning about the food I was pleasantly surprised, and on top of that we saw Bill Murray and Tara Reid. Thanks for everyones help!

[ASquared]

So I made reservations for next Saturday at the Penthouse. Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I'm going into the dinner expecting overpriced food but a great view and experience. Thanks for everyone's suggestions I appreciate it.

[PaliBruin]

Please do yourself a favor and cancel the reservation at Penthouse and make them at Abode. Great food and major hiptster scene. You will thank me. Penthouse is AWFUL.

[WLA_gal]

As long as you don't have too high of expectations on the food, you will really enjoy the Penthouse. On the downside, the food is hit & miss (can be really good, can be, well, not so good) & it is noisy... but the location is EXCELLENT and when the food is good, the experience is divine. If the food misses... well, you still have a great view. I've not found the people watching/"scene" to be anything great... but the place is already crowded enough, so who needs even more people showing up trying to catch a glimpse of someone or rub elbows with the tragically hip?

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

I'd go with Dakota at The Roosevelt.

[JE33]

i second the vote for the penthouse at the huntley...great views, great scene, much better food than you'd expect

[gsdaniels]

La Boheme in West Hollywood - beautiful atmosphere, and amazing food.

[SauceSupreme]

I wouldn't go as far as to say the food at La Boheme is amazing, but you're absolutely right about the atmosphere. La Boheme is quite stunning.

To me, La Boheme is the complete opposite of Hatfields, where the food is great but the ambience feels so underwhelming.

Regardless, I think because of how grand the interior of La Boheme is, it comes off as feeling a bit stuffy rather than hip. Am I alone in thinking this?

[SauceSupreme]

My favorite restaurant in Hollywood is The Hungry Cat. Great food and cocktails, but not a lounge at all. If you're looking for a more loungey atmosphere, there's Citizen Smith and Magnolia, both of whom have pretty decent food, too.

[Emme]

For hip in Santa Monica, I'd say the Penthouse at the Huntley. That or maybe Abode or Rustic Canyon, though it's a bit loud.

Hollywood, I'd consider Hungry Cat, Hatfield's, Table 8, Citizen Smith (some on here don't like it, but I had a great dinner last weekend), or Social Hollywood. Velvet Margarita is hip and fun too. If you want sushi, try Katana.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i haven't been to the penthouse yet, but based on leslie brenner's review in the l.a. times this past wednesday, i wouldn't suggest it if you're looking for good food or romantic atmosphere. apparently it's all about the view, and very noisy.

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

I feel bad for saying this, but I think this place is trying too hard to be cool and happening. I have to give them props because the food is a heck of a lot better than toppers. And, for a while, I thought they would put some Japanese sushi place here and call it "Sushi in the Sky". Glad they didn't.

So much potential at this place, unrealized. Same story with Tengu on Ocean. Does ANYONE go there?

[yogachik]

I've had such uneven food experiences at Huntley - but, consistently, it's waaaay overpriced, and there's really nothing to just munch on, no bar menu. It's a full dinner menu, only.

But it's still my favorite room in LA. Such a great spot.

[PaliBruin]

STAY AWAY FROM THE PENTHOUSE!!! YUCK!
My wife and I will be celebrating #24 at Abode next week.