"Special" date lunch, east of La Cienega, west of downtown

[janelle]

If you want to go out to a great, upscale, date-appropriate lunch on the east-ish side of down, where on earth do you go? I was thinking of Lucques, but it's closed on Mondays. Mozza isn't open for lunch. Most of the places that would fit the bill (Bouchon types) are in Beverly Hills or further west.

Any suggestions? Prefer to stay in the zone roughly between the Grove and the Americana, if you know what I mean.

[wutzizname]

Hey Janelle,

I'm assuming yesterday was your MOnday in question, but if not, and/or for future reference, Son of a Gun just added lunch service, including Mondays.

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

[janelle]

Alas, a day too late. We ate at Pizzeria Mozza and it was perfect. Thanks for the suggestions.

[happybaker]

No alas - you had a wonderful lunch. Yay!

And now you have recs for the future... : )

[sfgirl22]

Had a lovely lunch yesterday at Il Covo (the Old Orso space on 3rd) A little farther west than you wanted but worth a look. Had the raw artichoke salad, osso bucco stuffed pasta and branzino - all quite delicious and the covered patio is beautiful.

[Tom P]

I sure hear wonderful things about this place.

[wutzizname]

A few others you might consider:

Ago
Cecconi's (just west of La Cienega)
Katsuya (Hollywood & Vine)
Street

But I think Pizzeria Mozza or Campanile are probably your best options.

[Tom P]

I was going ti suggest Lucques! Lovely lunch. I second Campanile, however. Very good food and a lovely room midday, particularly if you are in the 'patio' section.

[Dommy]

I love the suggestion for Lucques... sadly it's not open for lunch on Mondays. Campanile is a great call, but it's a bit past the borders of the Grove given by OP.

--Dommy!

[wutzizname]

Campanile is east of the Grove.

[Servorg]

I think it was the approximate north-south boundaries that were the concern with Campanile (it being south of the Grove), although not by enough to matter in my opinion. I don't particularly like the dinners I've had a Campanile but their lunch is a much better value and tastier too boot.

[wutzizname]

Wow. That wouldn't have even occurred to me. I think I put the emphasis on "roughly" given the header's parameters of La Cienega and Downtown.

[janelle]

Well, basically we're going to hit a movie before or after - either at the Grove, the Americana, the Vista or the Arclight. So, somewhere around those areas. Hence the original parameters.

[janelle]

Good ideas. We live in Los Feliz/Silverlake and have hit almost all the local restaurants about two dozen times each, so trying to stay away from Vermont/Little Doms/Stella....

[New Trial]

How about Campanile or the relatively new Ray's and Stark Bar at LACMA?

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Campanile
624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Ray's and Stark Bar
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[Dommy]

Open Mondays for lunch is a tough call, I've been there... BUT, The first thing that comes to mind though is Osteria Mama.

--Dommy!

[Jwsel]

Is Marino on Melrose open for lunch on Mondays? I can't tell from the website, but I think it is a sorely overlooked restaurant in the city. It's old school, southern Italian, but the room is nice and definitely has the atmosphere you're seeking.

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Marino Ristorante
6001 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

[perk]

Pizzeria Mozza is open for lunch. May not be upscale enough for you....but it's very good. I like Vermont (on Vermont) in Los Feliz. Good food and service. Nice room. Dominick's on the patio?

[happybaker]

Palate has lunch Friday and Saturdays.
Hillhurst and Vermont (in Los Feliz) have tons of fab restaurants.
There's the katsuya at The Americana...
Hollywood has so many more options than it used to - Delphines, The Hungry Cat.

But I'd be tempted to go old school and hit Musso and Franks - it's just such fun.

[HaroldandMaude]

Lawry's Tam o Shanter maybe? Or better yet, Farfalla?