By Carole Dixon
There are nearly 10,000 full-service restaurants in Los Angeles, so finding the perfect spot for a romantic Valentine’s Day meal can be tricky. Here are eight worth some love:
Little Door: West Hollywood
This beloved WeHo restaurant now has a westside outpost offering the best atmosphere for romance in the city: A dimly lit patio lined with trees, terra cotta tiles, and plenty of nooks and crannies for cuddling. The large plates of Mediterranean food are perfect for sharing. Since they’re cooking only a (pricey) three-course tasting menu on February 14th, we recommend celebrating your love on Friday night or on Sunday. ($$$) / Website
Love & Salt: Manhattan Beach
Chef Michael Fiorelli — last seen at Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula — brings pig ears, pizza, and pasta to the South Bay. Yes, this causal eatery is a bit noisy by the open bar, but that only adds to the energy. Grab a banquette seat along the far wall and order a bottle of the house red, then split a duck-egg pizza with pancetta, bucatini with fennel sausage and black kale, or the crispy fried pig ears with buttermilk aioli. ($$) / Website
Redbird: Downtown
Chef Neal Fraser had one of the most anticipated openings in years with this sleek, modern lounge in the historic Vibiana Cathedral building downtown. There are plenty of sofas for quiet conversation, but the showstopper is the open-air main dining room. Order a Russian Spring with vodka, champagne, lemon, raspberry, and cassis. The mini chicken pot pie is adorable and lighter than you’d think, but so is the gnocchi sardi with Maine lobster, nettles, and black trumpets. Split the duck breast with Hoppin’ John and a duck leg chorizo before ending the night with a bourbon chocolate caramel bar. ($$$) / Website
Butchers and Barber’s: Hollywood
This place delivers a cozy pub atmosphere from the Houston Brothers, who are responsible for some of the city’s best bars. For their first full-fledged eatery, they focus on veggies — from sunchokes to haricort vert — but don’t miss the roast chicken with French curry. If you just want to pop by the bar for a drink, be sure to hit the popcorn with rosemary and thyme oil, but beware: there is also roasted garlic in the mix. ($$) / Website
Tacoteca: Santa Monica
Mezcal is smoky and sexy, but so is a corner booth in a taco bar. The man behind Umami Burger, Adam Fleischman, along with chef Ricardo Diaz (of Guisados and Cook’s Tortas), has brought bold south-of-the-border flavors to the Westside. The décor is a bit sparse, but you’ll want to focus on the food, the drinks, and your date anyway. Start with a Maria Savila cocktail (mezcal, Chareau aloe liqueur with a lemon twist, and an aloe vera garnish) followed by a round of dry aged chorizo tacos with farmers’ market cheese and avocado salsa. For a real kick, the carne asada with Mexican chimichurri and roasted red peppers will make your mouth tingle, but follow that up with a crispy chicharrón quesadilla in a corn tortilla with queso Oaxaca. ($) / Website
Barrel & Ashes: Studio City
Nothing says ‘love’ like sharing some fall-off-the-bone BBQ pork spare ribs chased by a tasty, sweet Hoe Cake and a few brews. Chef Timothy Hollingsworth and chef Rory Herrmann from French Laundry and Bouchon Bistro, respectively, have pooled their talents for a lively valley eatery where smoked meats are plentiful. Try to nab the corner seat on the far right of the entrance for a little more elbow room — essential when tackling the tender brisket or pulled pork sandwich. ($) / Website
Photo courtesy of ThinkStock
