3 nights in LA-girls weekend- where to go?

[EmilyCorson]

I am going to LA with some girlfriends in a few weeks and am trying to make reservations. i am already planning on going to
comme ca
osteria mozza
where else would you recommend? i have heard good things about AOC, katsuya, fraiche.......please help me some great ideas!! i really appreciate it.Thanks!

[BrentwoodBabe00]

Katsuya in Brentwood is a different vibe than the location in Hollywood.

I definetly say Bar Marmont - great food, cool loungey vibe and fun crowd!

Maybe Ago? Grab a patio table and let the people watching begin...

Also, STK just opened. I'm going there Sat night for the 1st time but have heard great things about it!

[trolley]

if you really want a hollywood type of night with perhaps a c-list star sighting katsuya in hollywood is good. i sent some people from out of town there and had a fun time. i haven't been to bar marmont since it's re-opening but it's used to be a good place to get a drink. There's also social hollywood.

[wutzizname]

Incidentally, regarding the Buratta, you should find some on the menu at Mozza -- hence the name.

However, on the off chance that your visit includes a Monday night, Jar does a special Mozzarella Monday (at the bar only, I think?) with a variety of special cheese-centric small plates, several of them Buratta based:

http://www.thejar.com/jar_menu_moz.html

[EmilyCorson]

Not all of us are as "houndish" as I am- actually not all of us will be drinking- as one of my friends is pregnant. These are all great suggestions!
I am definitely trying comme ca, and mozza (however a little worried that we will have additional friend joining and mozza wont accommodate- in which case i was thinking il sole or angelini)
thoughts on ago?
i am leaning toward katsuya in brentwood for the third night. (i have been to AOC a couple years ago and while i really liked it, i would rather go somewhere i havent been - esp if that is a bit "stuffier")

what about lunch on the westside?
i am definitely going to try for lunch at the ivy on robertson as well.

my friend and i recently were in SF and fell in love with mozzerella burrata- so we need to eat this cheese at some point during the weekend!!!

thanks for all the suggestions- please let me know if you have any additional ideas!

[DanaB]

You could stuff yourself on burrata at Osteria Mozza -- they have several variations on the "Mozzarella Bar" menu, one of which is flown in from Italy and which they tend to run out of ("burrata from Basilicata"). If are set on ordering that one, you might want to call ahead and see if they will let you "reserve" an order.

[ElissaInPlaya]

In what area will you be staying? Price range? Will you have a car?

Without knowing these things....
My girlfriends and I enjoyed Celadon a few weeks ago. The menu is comparable to Beetlenut in SF, with better decor and better cocktails. About $60 per person with food, alcohol, coffee, dessert. Go to Lola's on Fairfax after for martini's.

I also highly recommend Beachwood - both for the bar and the food.

26 Beach or Julienne are great brunch options.

-----
Celadon
7910 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Beechwood Restaurant
822 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292

[minnie]

Either Koi or Katana (sushi) is a good choice for a girls night out. Although I do prefer Katana over Koi. I can't comment about Katsuya in Brentwood but Katsuya on Ventura Blvd. in the valley is one the best sushi places in LA opinion. If you are more for the chow go to Katsuya on Ventura. If you want more of a scene go for either Katana or Koi.

[J.L.]

The scene at Katsu-Ya in Brentwood is as good, if not better, than Koi currently. Having "eaten" there before myself, one thing's for sure... people don't actually go for the food at that particular location.

[ipsedixit]

Some recs based on both scene and food.

Cut
Gonpachi
Jiltada
Takami
Providence
Matsuhisa

[Emme]

Agree definitely w/ Providence and Jitlada.

I think Katana would be fun and good for Japanese/sushi, with just the right amount of scene thrown in. There's also the new Kumo, which is pretty trendy. A little less pricey and scene-y, I'd recommend Hirozen on Beverly as well. Or, go to Musha in Santa Monica, and hit up the Penthouse at the Huntley for drinks (I know it's pricey but that view is awesome too).

If you like wine, I really enjoy the tasting menus at Bin8945.

Hungry Cat is always good; had a great dinner there last weekend.

Tasca is great for small plates/tapas type food.

If you're willing to drive, Babita is great (albeit far) for Mexican. Perhaps lunch at Tacos por Favor or Tacomiendo. Or, head to Guelaguetza for dinner.

Above to answer your question, AOC would fit your small plates; I'm one of the few that doesn't Katsuya as a "must do" in LA (in the vein of sushi, that's Urasawa, assuming you can afford it, for me). The only reason to consider Bar Marmont is for the scene, and certainly not for the food... just go hang out there in the afternoon by the pool and head elsewhere for dinner.

If you want a quintessential evening by the water, you could dine on the covered patio at The Lobster.

One other idea for "LA" would be Musso and Frank's.

If you want to pony the dough for great crab cakes, a great grilled vegetable salad, and yummy apple tarte tatin, alongside some great patio dining and almost guaranteed celeb sitings, head to The Ivy on Robertson.

Just as an aside, hit up The Griddle Cafe for breakfast, Barney Greengrass for a scene-y lunch or The Newsroom on Roberston, Langer's for pastrami, Mashti Malone's for rosewater ice cream, the Fairfax/3rd Farmers' Market for lunch or Bay Cities Deli in Santa Monica, Father's Office for a late afternoon burger and beer...

[ipsedixit]

Bin8945 is closing and Haskell has already left.

[Emme]

do you know the date?

[New Trial]

I was at the Palm on Tuesday evening and, as I passed by Bin 8945, it looked like it had already closed. Chairs were stacked and the lights were off.

[Emme]

thanks, i'll have to stop and have a look-see myself, given that i drive by almost daily.

[ipsedixit]

I think the closing date is mid-Feb. In the interim I believe the restaurant is open only on certain days, maybe Wed-Sat?

[J.L.]

Caveat: Gonpachi is mostly scene, with very little edible food...

"Girls weekend" needs clarification...

Are all of you 'houndish in your food selection (a la AOC, Lucques), or are you... how shall I put it... more into having pomegranate martinis at Hyde (a la Koi, Katsu-Ya Brentwood)?

Nothing wrong with either ends of the specturm, but your outlook will dictate your venue selection while visiting our fair city.

[EmilyCorson]

Not all of us are as "houndish" as I am- actually not all of us will be drinking- as one of my friends is pregnant. These are all great suggestions!
I am definitely trying comme ca, and mozza (however a little worried that we will have additional friend joining and mozza wont accommodate- in which case i was thinking il sole or angelini)
thoughts on ago?
i am leaning toward katsuya in brentwood for the third night. (i have been to AOC a couple years ago and while i really liked it, i would rather go somewhere i havent been - esp if that is a bit "stuffier")

what about lunch on the westside?
i am definitely going to try for lunch at the ivy on robertson as well.

my friend and i recently were in SF and fell in love with mozzerella burrata- so we need to eat this cheese at some point during the weekend!!!

thanks for all the suggestions- please let me know if you have any additional ideas!

[DanaB]

I had a good meal at Katsuya in Brentwood recently. It's pricey and sceney, but of the "sceney" places, I think it holds its own food-wise. Good drink menu as well.

[rascalplanner]

Katsuya and AOC or totally different. AOC great tapas and wine bar. Katsuya sushi and different vibe at each location. I like the Studio City one cuz it isn't as LA as the other's but depends on what vibe you are looking for.

I would also throw Angelini on Beverly in to the mix, great Italian.

[EmilyCorson]

thanks! i will look up angelini. is it too similar to mozza?
i was going to go to the katsuya in brentwood. are there any other fun tapas-type restaurants? fun mexican/latin?

[PrettyPlaty]

I recommend getting reservations for Osteria Mozza ASAP.

[EmilyCorson]

I do have osteria mozza reservations! Thanks!

[PrettyPlaty]

Awesome- Enjoy! (A friend of mine wanted to eat there and got shut out on reservations- she was bummed- didn't want the same thing to happen to you! It's a fun place.)

[jlrobe]

LA is such a big and strange animal. It is always hard for me to advise out of towners on a short trip. Anyhow. Maybe the current ultimate restaurants thread can give you some insight

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/485538

[wutzizname]

AOC is a good choice. Don't think Fraiche is worth the trip for a 3 day visit. Others I'd recommend are:

Jar
Grace
Lucques

And/or Bar Marmont for a slightly less upscale meal (food's still great, new chef from Spotted Pig in New York) but a great LA vibe.

[EmilyCorson]

I am trying to decide between AOC, katsuya and bar marmont...what do you think?

[wutzizname]

Haven't been to Katsuya. If it were between AOC and Bar Marmont, I'd go AOC is you want more of an upscale, trendy dining experience, Bar Marmont for a slightly younger, hipper lounge vibe with very decent food.

[EmilyCorson]

I actually am not worried about going somewhere "upscale" and have been to AOC a few years ago- maybe bar marmont is better for a fun night with good food if AOC is pricier and nicer?

[wutzizname]

Exactly. AOC is pricier and "nicer." But Bar Marmont is a great place to have a nice mid-range sit-down meal and then move to the bar for a fun. interesting L.A. evening -- in a good way.

SauceSupreme, back me up.

[SauceSupreme]

I'm actually okay with recommending either AOC or Bar Marmont as being a good LA meal, and while both have a great energy to them, Bar Marmont is definitely much more of a real bar feel as apposed to AOC, which is just wine. It really depends on what type of mood you're in.

And wutzizname brings up an interesting possibility. AOC is the type of place where you would have dinner and wine and possibly move on to somewhere else to close out the evening, whereas Bar Marmont is a one stop shop.