Catch LA
One of the hottest Los Angeles restaurant openings of the year finds trendy Manhattan eatery Catch opening above the streets of the West Hollywood Design District. Find a well-heeled crowd dining on a globally influenced, seafood-centric menu paired with expansive al fresco seating—340 seats under a retractable roof. Menu signatures unglue truffle sashimi; Cantonese lobster; bourbon-miso black cod lettuce cups; and “Hit Me” chocolate cake. 8715 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. catchrestaurants.com
Serafina Sunset
The beloved New York City-based Italian eatery opens its first West Coast outpost with a breezy indoor/outdoor location on the Sunset Strip. Dine on an array of handmade pastas accented with everything from pesto and porcini mushrooms to caviar, along with pizzas (over 20 varieties) and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. House specialities include tartufo nero pizza made with robiola cheese, fontina, truffle oil and black truffles; farfalle limoncello pasta; and prosciutto with creamy burrata. 8768 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 310.659.9130. serafinarestaurant.com
Manuela
Food and art unite in downtown Los Angeles. Manuela is the new daytime, artisanal southern restaurant that takes residence inside international gallery, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel. Expect cuisine made utilizing techniques including in-house smoking, fermenting, preserving and pickling. Some of chef Wes Whitsell’s dishes include the Redneck Sampler of country ham, pickles, pimento cheese and a biscuit; grilled peach with country ham and ricotta; smoked half chicken with charred eggplant, yoghurt and bitter greens and smoked baby back ribs. 907 E. 3rd St., downtown, 323.849.0480. manuela-la.com
Sweetfin Poké
Opens Oct. 7. It’s no secret that poké is taking Los Angeles by storm. Sweetfin Poké is the latest shop to open a new outpost—this time at The Village at Topanga. The newest location will feature a signature bowl called the Avo-Coco Albacore, which combines pineapple, Fresno chili, mint, snow peas and a new housemade sauce. 6256 Topanga Canyon Blvd. #1310, Woodland Hills. sweetfinpoke.com
Pink Thursdays at FIG & OLIVE Melrose Place
Oct. 6-27. Every Thursday throughout October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, FIG & OLIVE will serve an array of rose-tinted drinks and small bites—not to mention a dynamite selection of rosé. Kick off your night with pink Champagne; pink cocktails like the La Vie en Rose, berry-infused gin, grapefruit liqueur, lemon, and rose water; and pink bites like tomato-watermelon gazpacho with squash seed and basil oil. Their new menu also focuses on the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet and includes dishes like Provencal carrot and thyme soup; quinoa salad with red cabbage, roasted squash, pomegranate, orange segment and a pumpkin seed citrus dressing; and Riviera salmon with braised endive, baby kale, cauliflower purée and an olive and piquillo tapenade—get it as a prix-fixe for $55 all month long. 8490 Melrose Place, L.A., 310.360.9100. figandolive.com
Fritzi DTLA
You can now get your brunch fix at Fritzi DTLA. Their take on the weekend meal is inspired from past visits to Denmark. Choose either three or five items to fill your tray, ranging from Dutch baby pancake; white miso Kouign-amann; chocolate croissant; head-to-tail pork sausage; a variety of eggs, including baked eggs stuffed with sundered tomatoes and spinach; and more. $13/$18. 814 Traction Ave., downtown. fritzidtla.com
Casa Vega
Oct. 6. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the beloved Sherman Oaks restaurant throws back prices on their signature Mexican cuisine to 1956. For lunch on Oct. 6, dine on the house combo of Spanish rice, refried ceans and choice of two items (chile relleno, chicken taco, beef taco, beef enchilada, or tamale) for $2.15—normally priced at $18.95. The rollback prices will be available for lunch service only. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 13301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818.788.4868. casavega.com
Lucques Oktoberfest Beer Garden
Oct. 9. Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne throw an Oktoberfest celebration of first-of-the-fall season dishes showcasing winter squash, roasted apples and wild mushrooms with a variety of grilled and pan-roasted housemade sausages and Lucques’ sauerkraut. Also find German bottled brews and seasonal draft beers, along with wines from Austria, Germany and around the world to complement the menu. All guests will receive a welcome tulip glass of house made Mint Schnapps made by head barman Christiaan Röllich. Festive Oktoberfest attire for staff and guests is encouraged. $65/pp. 8474 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.655.6277. lucques.com
JINYA Ramen Bar and Robata JINYA
The two restaurant’s are debuting a new bowl of next-level ramen that combines pork broth, lobster sauce, lobster and shrimp wonton, Brussels sprouts, green onion, and an egg with delicious thick noodles. The seafood-centric ramen will only be served to 10 lucky diners per restaurant through the end of the year. JINYA Studio City, 11239 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, 818.980.3977; 8050 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.653.8877.
Komodo
Oct. 3-Dec. 31. For the rest of the year you can sink your teeth into Komodo’s famous Phorrito. The sough-after mashup fuses traditional Vietnamese noodle soup with thinly sliced rib eye, Thai basil, vermicelli noodles, spicy chili sauce, hoisin sauce, fresh squeezed lemon juice, bean sprouts, cilantro, onions and jalapeños all inside a flour tortilla. 8809 West Pico Blvd., L.A., 310.246.5153; 235 Main St., Venice, 310.255.6742. komodofood.com