Fun dinner out for two couples

[BlondD]

Friends in from the mid-west and want to go out to see "cool" places in LA. We're all in our mid to late twenties. Want something not OVERLY pricey but no Barneys Beanery types here. Something along the lines of Bella. Could be anywhere from Hollywood to Santa Monica.

It just needs to be fun, classy, with good drinks and good food. Somewhere we could stay for a long dinner and even longer for drinks. And no sushi - they aren't fans :)

[JE33]

Bar Marmont would be great...also Asia de Cuba, Chaya Venice (actually either Chaya), The Penthouse?

[Emme]

Don't do the Penthouse... yes it's sceney but it qualifies as overly pricey.

Dolce (new menu and the branzino is good), Bowery, Social, Citizen Smith, Hatfield's, Craft, Canal Club, Abode, Rustic Canyon, Eurochow, and sadly, Ketchup.

[hrhboo]

BLD would be a good pick.

[Jaybay]

and then there's always Jones Hollywood and Bar Marmont,I love both spots. Jones is also across the street from the Formosa... classic. And Bar Marmont is great, impressive inside and i had a good meal there.

:-)

[mollyomormon]

I think the Bar Marmont suggestion is perfect!

[maxzook]

Depending on your friends' definition of "cool", you can't go wrong with Musso's, the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, where F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Bukowski, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and Douglas Fairbanks hung out. And although the menu is _very_ old fashioned, the food is quite good and not expensive.

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Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[Jaybay]

oh! and for drinks afterwards, it starts becoming a lounge around ten pm and gets pretty vibey. i really have had a good time there. The DJ plays good tunes..

[Silverlaker]

Cobras & Matadors - (mid-city and Los Feliz) trendy tapas that won't break the bank
The NewsRoom - you'll see minor-celebs here and reasonable priced
Magnolia - Hollywood, near Arclight
Malo - Silverlake, Mex tapas, very trendy, chowhounds had a recent event here (Brad Pitt goes here when in town)
Palermo's - Los Feliz, not the best Italian joint in the world but fun -- I use to go here a lot in my 20's
Michellis - Hollywood. Red-sauce Italian. Fun. Foods better than Palermo's -- same target auds - 20somethings.

That should give you some ideas. Magnolia may be a bit pricy and is more of a 30-something crowd IMO. Palermo's def more young and fun (food's so/so, go here for atmosphere).

[Jaybay]

Parc in Hollywood is trendy and nice, food is not bad..heavy a bit, but still yummy. usually a celebrity spotting or two, if they are into seeing that sort of thing..:-) www.parchollywood.com