One Night in LA: Manhattan Beach Post or Animal?

[acd123]

Or if neither of these work, any other suggestions?

[wienermobile]

Both are great restaurants. Both serve dishes meant to be shared. Animal is all about the meat and they have some great dishes like their barbeque pork belly sandwiches and the poutine with oxtail gravy & cheddar. Manhattan Beach Post has a more varied menu with some wonderful seafood and great veggie dishes like their butterscotch carrots, I also loved their MOROCCAN BBQ LAMB BELLY and their signature bacon cheddar biscuits. The two places are also about 20 miles apart so I think it would also depend of what part of town you are in, I also think it might be harder to get a reservation at MB Post at the moment (however they do keep 40% of the restaurant for walk-ins), but you will have a wonderful meal at both spots. So you can't lose. Welcome to LA.

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Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Manhattan Beach Post
1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[acd123]

Thanks for your reply. This is our date night, leaving our 5-month old with my in-laws in Palm Springs. We're staying in Santa Monica, so neither of these places are close by. So, I think I found another option: Gjelina. Have you been? Any good?

[wienermobile]

I love Gjelina, but it is also one of the toughest reservation in town. So call now. Both Fig and Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica are also great options.

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Rustic Canyon Wine Bar
1119 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Fig
100 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[acd123]

We got an 8:30 reservation at Gjelina for late next week. Perfect. Thanks.

[wienermobile]

Be sure to save room for their Butterscotch Pot de Crème with Salted Caramel w/ Crème Fraîche. Enjoy.

[foodiemahoodie]

Tried that once on a friend's recommendation - and yeah, it was pretty great.

However, I prefer both Animal and MB Post to Gjelina. The food is just a little more interesting and cravable. (is that a word?) I do like Gjelina though.

[heinous]

Agree. Animal would be my first choice, especially for a date night. The food is just sensual and luscious. After a meal there, I definitely feel very... romantic.