Best Restaurants To Eat At For dineLA Summer Restaurant Week
It's that time again - the time to enjoy dineLA's specials and deals with multiple LA restaurants participating. Starting July 18th, Los Angeles kicks off the culinary event of the summer, so it's time to block calls from your personal trainer, and put that gym membership on pause, because you are not going to want to miss these 14 sing-it-with-me "gloriously delicious" days!
So what are the best spots to visit for this year's 14-day (yes, 14!) culinary extravaganza? For starters, there are over 300 restaurants participating where you have the chance to sample special menus prepared by the finest chefs in Los Angeles. Beginning July 18 to July 31, foodies of Los Angeles have the opportunity to wine and dine while enjoying a special prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at a fraction of the normal cost.
In addition, for a second season, dineL.A.'s Exclusive Series returns with a new group of restaurants to feature some of L.A.'s most coveted chefs in distinct neighborhoods. Each restaurant will offer unique, specially priced menus starting at $95.
And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, there are companies proudly sponsoring 2016 Summer dineL.A.'s Dine.Snap.Win. Instagram contest. Snap a photo of your dineL.A. dish, hashtag it #dineLA, and include the restaurant name to enter. A winner will receive 100,000 American Airlines miles.
Dates
July 18, 2016 - July 31, 2016
The Albright
258 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-9683
www.thealbright.com
The Albright, a fun, casual restaurant located right on the Santa Monica Pier, is known for having one of the best lobster rolls in the U.S. and specializes in creating fresh, sustainable seafood classics with their own unique, local twist. In honor of dineLA Restaurant Week 2016, The Albright will be offering both a lunch and dinner menu featuring favorites such as Spicy Seafood Soup, their Market Salad with Mahi Mahi and their Pier Club Sandwich. The relaxed seaside setting is a perfect compliment to the delicious menu that reflects a commitment to sustainably caught seafood, locally sourced ingredients, as well as an extensive craft beer and California wine program. Their modern approach to classic dishes include Beer Battered Fish Tacos, Seasonal Ceviche and a Raw Bar, as well as a massive saltwater tank of live lobsters, crabs and prawns, one of the few places on the Westside to offer this.
Border Grill
1445 4th St
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-1655
www.bordergrill.com
The dineL.A. lunch and dinner menus this summer at Border Grill are clearly championed by the California avocados featured at every course (dessert included), along with 15 additional off-menu dishes. It's a new spin on the 14-day culinary event for Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, and comes in collaboration with the California Avocado Commission which aims to benefit the state's nearly 4,000 avocado growers responsible for 90% of the nation's crop. The three-course menu will feature California avocado huarache, pork cheek in avocado mole and an ice cream sandwich. Border Grill will offer a two-course lunch menu for $20 and a three-course dinner menu for $29.
Café Pinot
700 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 239-6500
www.patinagroup.com
Adjacent to the LA Public Library and McGuire Gardens in downtown, Café Pinot offers "elevated California French cuisine" by Executive Chef Megan Logan. Made with fresh, garden ingredients. Highlights from the dineLA lunch menu include: chopped black Tuscan kale with comté cheese, scallions, olives, baby tomato, and champagne vinaigrette and crispy duck leg confit with frisée, poached egg, chives, and dijon vinaigrette. The dinner menu, which incorporates dishes from the lunch menu, also have dessert options likes the strawberry shortcake with créme chantilly and macerated strawberries. Lunch for two courses is $20 person and dinner for three courses is $39 per person.
FIG & OLIVE Melrose Place
8490 Melrose Place
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 360-9100
www.figandolive.com
West Hollywood's olive oil oasis is treating guests to the delicacies of summery fruits and vegetables with four-course prix-fixe menus for lunch ($25*) and dinner ($39*) brightened by the simple aromatics of the coastal Riviera. After a crostini tasting, Angelenos may handpick their dineL.A. feast from a choice of pea soup seasoned with cucumber, feta, mint, and sunflower seeds; lamb albondigas served over basmati rice pilaf, sliced almonds, and gremolata; as well as strawberry vacherin, which offers the classic French pairing of meringue with strawberry sorbet, strawberry marmalade, thyme, and whipped cream.
Horse Thief BBQ
324 S Hill St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 625-0341
www.horsetheifbbq.com
With views of Angel's Flight, Horse Thief boasts the best outdoor dining at Grand Central Market, with a walk-up bar that features select wines and a dozen taps including Texas favorites like Shiner Bock, and Shiner White Wing as well as a rotating list of local and west coast craft beers. Their dineLA offering is a perfect way to experience Horse Thief's Texas style BBQ. For $29 diners can choose two meats (from Brisket, Pulled Pork, Half Chicken, Spare Ribs, Rib tips), three sides (from Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, BBQ Beans, Sweet potato casserole, Cornbread), and will receive dessert for two (with two chocolate chip cookies), and two crisp 16oz Shiner Bock beers, a Texas favorite, of course.
Kendall's Brasserie and Bar
135 N Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-7322
www.kendallsbrasserie.com
Located in the heart of downtown, Kendall's Brasserie and Bar serves some of the most authentic traditional French brasserie fare in Los Angeles. The special dineLA menu, three-courses for $25, highlighting Chef Jean Pierre Bosc's classic and contemporary French plates, includes: brasserie salad with little gem lettuce, St. Agur blue cheese, candied walnuts, grapes, pickled shallots, and champagne vinaigrette; Skuna Bay salmon with green asparagus, Meyer lemon confit, Castelvetrano olives, piquillo pepper, and olive oil; and the floating island with vanilla sauce, crispy almonds, and caramel.
Nick + Stef's Steakhouse
330 S Hope St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 680-0330
www.nickandstefs.com
The recently renovated Nick + Stef's Steakhouse is a return to the golden age of steakhouses. Chef Andreas Roller's dineLA menus represent his expertise in exquisite meats and fresh seafood options. Lunch menu highlights include: organic red and white quinoa with baby kale, dried fruit, crushed almond, and finished with a Meyer lemon dressing and bucatini prepared with braised lamb ragout, Weiser Farms organic carrots, sweet peas, and pea tendrils. Nick + Stef's dineLA dinner menu includes: Japanese tomato with compressed melon, green tea tofu, and pine nut vinaigrette; and Valrhona chocolate cake with rhubarb compote and elderflower Chantilly. The two-course lunch is $25 and the three-course dinner is $49.
Patina Restaurant
141 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-3331
www.patinarestaurant.com
Located within the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall, Patina is the flagship restaurant by Chef Joachim Splichal. Executive Chef Paul Lee serves Asian-influenced cuisine in a classic French context which can be seen in dineLA menu items, such as: squid ink chitarra with lobster, foie gras butter, and fine herbs; Israeli couscous paella with charred octopus, calamari, chorizo, and a chicken wing; and slow-roasted pork shoulder with black vinegar glaze and cabbage shumai. The four-course meal is $45 with wine pairing is available for an additional $25.
Plan Check Kitchen + Bar
1800 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 444-1411
www.plancheck.com
Things are about to get awesome at Plan Check Kitchen + Bar during this summer's dineL.A. With a three-course prix-fixe lunch ($15*) and dinner ($29*) menu options guests can expect to dine on a "culinary collision" of Japanese flavors including miso, kobu and katsuobushi mixed with American comforts such as bacon burgers, loaded fries and donuts. Yes, donuts. But it doesn't end here. In addition to a complimentary pickle plate, locals may indulge in miso-marinated stuffed mushrooms mounted with Swiss cheese fondue, crispy kale, and garlic steak sauce.
Ray's and Stark Bar
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6180
www.rayandstarkbar.com
Executive Chef Fernando Darin recently arrived at Ray's at Los Angeles County Museum of Art with an all-new, artistic, and globally inspired menu featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients. To highlight his culinary influences, the dineLA menu highlights items include: tuna tartare with avocado, pomelo, and taro chips; spaghetti alla chitarra with Sibillina pesto and Pecorino Romano; and dark chocolate tart with caramel and sea salt. This three course dinner menu is available for $29 per person.
ROKU Sunset
9201 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 278-2060
www.innovativedining.com
The new flagship elevated Japanese concept, ROKU on Sunset, is featuring special dineL.A. menu for both lunch and dinner. Guests will have the opportunity to experience spicy sunomono with smashed cucumbers; grilled eryngii mushrooms with almond butter; Kakuni fried rice with spicy pork belly, kimchi, fried egg and wood roasted cauliflower served with sweet prunes and pine nuts. The lunch menu is $25 per person and $39 for dinner.
Sushi Roku
33 Miller Alley
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 683-3000
www.sushiroku.com
Get ready to be delighted because under the careful guidance of Chef Hiroshi Shima, IDG's signature sushi concept, Sushi Roku, has created lunch and dinner including popular dishes in preparation for this summer's dineLA. It will certainly be a challenge to choose just one dish from each course, but no matter what you decide on, you simply cannot go wrong. Depending on your appetite, choose from the likes of 6-piece sushi assortment and spicy tuna roll for lunch; and mixed seafood & vegetable tempura or "Ji-Dori" free range chicken for dinner. Oh, and make sure to save room for the Mini Chocolate Volcano and you can thank us later. $25 per person for lunch and $39 for dinner.
The Terrace
1401 South Oak Knoll Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 568-3900
www.langhamhotels.com
The California bistro-style menu at The Terrace at The Langham Hotel is comprised of the freshest, seasonal and sustainable ingredients for the dineL.A. culinary event. The outdoor patio offers guests alfresco dining with a view of the Picture Bridge and pool, and provides the perfect setting for a business lunch or relaxing dinner. Some standout dishes of the special menus include the sesame chicken salad and crab cake; the kim chi loco moco with jasmine rice, burger patty, fried egg, shiitake beef gravy, cucumber kimchi, and gochujang aioli; and leche flan. $25 per person for lunch and $39 for dinner.
