San Francisco foodie needs recommendation for "date night" restaurant in LA

[mromano207]

My wife and I are traveling to LA for a relaxing weekend and would recommendations for a sophisticated, top-notch restaurant in LA. Bonus points: our ideal restaurant would be new, unique to LA, mostly for locals, and not filled with tourists (like us!).

Thanks!

[New Trial]

In addition to some of the suggestions below, take a look at Bistro LQ (and some of the recent reviews on this Board--note that the service is not always up to the level of the cuisine) and Culina.

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Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Culina
300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[New Trial]

Scratch Bistro LQ as it just closed this week.

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Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[foodiemahoodie]

mromano - give us a comp in S.F. and we'll try to match it. Sophisticated and top notch yet unique and not filled with tourists in the information age isn't easy - word gets out and it gets out fast.

[The Chowhound Team]

We split off a list of great places in San Fransisco to that board. You can find that thread here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/774709

[mc michael]

This is a good thread for good au courant spots. Unfortunately, those that take reservations are all booked Saturday night (unless you want to eat at 5:30 or 10:00).

[goodhealthgourmet]

hopefully the OP's anniversary isn't *this* weekend :)

[mc michael]

we can hope. and hope it rains and some people cancel.

[mlgb]

Patina has seatings at 8:15 and 8:30

[mc michael]

TY

[Baconriffic]

I find that I can get reservations to lots of difficult-to-get-into restaurants by calling on the day-of. Call after lunch, 1-4pm. They should have a few cancellations by that point. People get sick, busy, etc. Caveat: this works best with small parties (2 people) and on weekdays. But it has also worked for me on weekends.

[mc michael]

Shh!. That was supposed to be a secret.

[Baconriffic]

I second Rivera. Also, you could try John Sedlar's newest restaurant.
Red Medicine (Jordan Kahn), despite the controversy, is a hot ticket.
So is Lukshon (Sang Yoon).
Animal is great but not what I'd call sophisticated. Chefs Jon & Vinny recently opened a new seafood-themed restaurant, Son of A Gun. Haven't been there so can't vouch for its sophistication level.
I also second Lazy Ox Canteen. Great and lots of fun but also not super sophisticated. Chef Josef Centeno just opened another restaurant next door, Aburiya Toranoko. Also, you'll be in DTLA so you'll be right near lots of bars if you want to go have a cocktail after dinner.
Hatfield's is a good idea.
Providence is always great.
A-Frame is definitely not sophisticated and the wait takes FOREVER.
Tasting Kitchen and Gjelina, both in Venice are great, though not new.
The new Royce is supposed to be very good but I haven't been. Good idea!
Scarpetta is EXPENSIVE and in a part of Beverly Hills, that has very little nightlife and pretty much dies after 8pm.

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

Lazy Ox Canteen
241 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

A-Frame
12565 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA

Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Red Medicine
8400 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90034

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

[goodhealthgourmet]

Scarpetta is no more expensive than Providence or Saddle Peak Lodge...but you're right about the dearth of after-dinner options in BH. that wasn't a factor in my suggestions because the OP didn't indicate that it was a consideration, but you never know.

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[goodhealthgourmet]

Rivera's restaurants and Saddle Peak Lodge are great ideas. a few other considerations:
- Providence
- Scarpetta
- Hatfield's

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Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302

Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[ipsedixit]

Two places to consider.

The Royce (part of the Langham Hotel in Pasadena)
http://www.thediningroom-langham.com/

or

Saddle Peak Lodge up in the canyons.
www.saddlepeaklodge.com

Enjoy your visit and stay.

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Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302

[wienermobile]

A big second vote for Saddle Peak Lodge. Their elk tenderloin is wonderful as is their beautiful rustic setting.

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Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302

[Ginger9]

Hostaria Del Piccolo in Santa Monica serves excellent, authentic Italian food. Minimalist decor, trendy. Lots of locals. The best gnocchi I've had anywhere in the U.S. They got a beautiful review in the LA Times a couple of weeks ago: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/...

Enjoy your visit to LA!

[fdb]

Not to forget....Lazy Ox.

[wienermobile]

Unique to LA is Park's BBQ in Koreatown. Some of the best cuts of meat in the city. Wonderful flavors and service. A true dining experience with all the meats grilled at your table. If you go make sure you order the boneless short ribs they are truly incredible. Open late too.
http://www.parksbbq.com/

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Park's BBQ
955 S. Vermont Ave, Suite G, Los Angeles, CA 90006

[cls]

"sophisticated" doesn't come to mind when I think Park's.

[cls]

What area?
I'm a fan of Bastide for a great sophisticated, date night, LA type experience.

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Bastide Restaurant
8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[mlgb]

Rivera might fit. Note that there are different menus for different rooms.

Some other ideas here.

Patina has reinvented itself so that might qualify as new.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2010/06/patina-why-fine-dining-matters.html

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/...

[mc michael]

Don't know about unique, but it is sophisticated, top notch and new. http://www.latimes.com/features/food/...

Or maybe Rivera.

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Rivera Restaurant
1050 S. Flower Street, #102, Los Angeles, CA 90015

[bulavinaka]

Yes on Rivera, but what about Rivera's hermana resto, Playa? It's pretty new and probably off most tourists' maps. I haven't been yet but it J. Gold gave it a smile:

http://www.laweekly.com/2011-03-17/ea...

[wienermobile]

I think from what you describe you would like Animal for wonderful meat dishes or Son of a Gun for seafood, both from the same creative owners and chefs.
http://www.animalrestaurant.com/

http://www.sonofagunrestaurant.com/

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Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[foodnmusic]

What about Lukshon? Might be a tough rez though.

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Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90034

[Phurstluv]

Ooo, you beat me to it, wieney!!

How about A-Frame?

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A-Frame
12565 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA

[wienermobile]

Another good choice! Remember they don't take reservations.
http://aframela.com/