The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Dessert tasting menu at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Photo by Dylan+Jeni.

Each week we spotlight top Los Angeles restaurants, dining and drinking experiences you need to try.

Edited by Christina Xenos

Dessert Tasting Menu at The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Dessert never needs to be an afterthought ever again. The Peninsula Beverly Hills is putting it center stage with their new seven-course dessert tasting menu from executive pastry chef Stephanie Boswell. This isn’t your everyday molten lava cake; Boswell has lined up all her favorites like a coconut terrine, Baileys cheesecake and Nutella crepe—to name a few. The tasting is also paired with free-flowing Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne for two. $76. Thurs.-Sat. from 8 p.m. The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Living Room, 9882 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.975.2736. beverlyhills.peninsula.com

Black Rabbit Rose
The mysterious new Hollywood nightlife destination conjures a blend of style and spectacle synonymous of the dynamic duo behind it—the Houston Brothers. This concept is equal parts bar and theater, with ticketed shows from an array of talent from magicians and illusionists to burlesque dancers, performing in its speakeasy theater space Thursday through Saturday nights. Cocktails in the intimate main bar blend perfectly with the ambiance, some like the Smoke N Mirrors are a spectacle with gin, sweet vermouth, a hickory smoke filled glass and flamed orange zest. You can also order Thai-Chinese favorites from neighboring take-out window, CryingTiger while you’re imbibing. 1719 N. Hudson Ave., L.A. blackrabbitrose.com

Black Rabbit Rose
Black Rabbit Rose brings mystery, illusion and cocktails to Hollywood. Photo by Jakob Layman.

Salt & Straw West Hollywood
Opens Feb. 17. The iconic, family-run ice cream purveyor known for its artisanal, chef-driven approach to ice cream opens its fifth scoop shop in West Hollywood. Find all your favorite flavors—Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Stumptown Coffee & Compartes Love Nuts—in addition to head ice cream maker Tyler Malek’s seasonal, monthly-rotating offerings, sundaes and milkshakes. As part of an introduction to those neighbors, Salt & Straw will host pre-opening fundraisers for The Trevor Project with their ice cream truck and pop-up station this week. On Feb. 15, the truck will be at 8921 Santa Monica Blvd. from 7-10 p.m. offering $1 scoops, and on Thursday, a pop-up station will be at Guisados from 6-9 p.m. Full and partial proceeds, respectively, will go toward crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. 8949 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. saltandstraw.com

Hanging with Harris
Feb. 20. Celebrated culinary MC and fundraising auctioneer Billy Harris announces his new dinner series that kicks off this month at Union in Pasadena. In each of the eight sessions Harris hosts a unique dinner at restaurants like Union, Lucques and Osteria Mozza, to name a few. The evening begins with a cocktail reception hosted by a mixologist from the leading Scotch whisky distiller, William Grant & Sons, followed by a four-course seated dinner with wine pairings from each distinguished chef. Each event will also have a charity auction where all proceeds (and a portion of ticket sales) will benefit James Beard Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, No Kid Hungry and PIGGY BANK. $125/pp. View full schedule on website. hangingwithharris.com

Salt & Straw West Hollywood
Salt & Straw West Hollywood opens Feb. 17.

Kaliboration Dinner at Michael’s Santa Monica
Feb. 20. Chef Miles Thompson & chef Kevin Meehan of Kali restaurant team up at the newly re-vamped Michael’s Santa Monica for a collaborative dinner celebrating California cuisine and ingredients. The 4-course prix-fixe dinner features, in addition to an amuse + housemade bread for the table, highlights from the Kali & Michael’s menus such as Miles’s Dungeness Crab Chawanmushi with uni, ginger sprout, and Japanese sesame and Kevin’s Black Barley “Risotto” with black garlic and toasted cheese. 5:30-9:30 p.m. $70/pp. Michael’s Santa Monica, 1147 3rd St., Santa Monica. michaelssantamonica.com

Hear Sunday at elysian
Feb. 19. The newly remodeled Frogtown restaurant continues its Sunday live music series this weekend with a concert from Eyvind Kang & Jessika Kenny. The restaurant’s new bar will be open, offering heady cocktails to enjoy during the performance. Buy tickets HERE. 7-9 p.m. 2806 Clearwater St., L.A. elysianla.com

neat.
The new West Side cocktail bar sports a chic ambiance and classic drinks with a focus on high quality and distinct mezcals, bourbons and scotches. Also find live entertainment, including a mix of blues and rock bands, in addition to nightly happy hour from 5-8 p.m. 11780 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. More Info.

Bacari GDL
The third and newest outpost of the Venetian tavern concept lands at the Americana at Brand. The Italian-inspired restaurant focuses on fire-roasted dishes made in the new wood stone oven, and incorporates Mediterranean influences from executive chef and co-owner Lior Hillel’s Israeli heritage. The menu features a new collection of Bacari’s “cicchetti” Italian small plates, like oxtail with doah spice, toasted buckwheat and shaved radish salad; banana prawns with pipel chuma, farro and parsley salad; and braised fennel with poached cranberry, toasted pine nuts and whipped goat cheese. Other find other Bacari favorites like the open-faced Bacari burger and mac ’n’ cheese. You can also make the most of the bar with their GDL Special—a 90 minute open bar, which includes house red and white wine, champagne, sangria, and a select beer for $25/pp or $30/pp when you add well cocktails. The Americana at Brand, 757 Americana Way, L.A., 818.696.1460. bacarigdl.com

Lukshon
Dine on a new tasting menu from chef Sang Yoon. The  multi-course dinner menu showcases traditional Asian cooking through a modern lens and features dishes like tom ka kai custard; Deer Island scallop with celtuce pickles, Iberico De Bellota ham, XO crumble and pea Greens; Liberty Farms duck with daikon cake, shallot chili jam, watercress; and XO crab rice. 3239 Helms Ave., Culver City, 310.202.6808. lukshon.com

Killer Shrimp Seafood Festival
Through March 15. Killer Shrimp in Marina del Rey is celebrating seafood with a month-long fest. Dine on 13 exclusive seafood dishes not currently on their menu and give your feed back on them. At the end of the fest, they’ll be tallying feedback to award a new seafood dish to their menu. 4211 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, 310.578.2293. killershrimp.com

Sweetfin Poké
The rapidly expanding poke shop just opened in Westwood and will soon open a new location on West 3rd St. They’ve partnered with best-selling cookbook authors of Thug Kitchen to offer a special, vegan menu item available at all four locations. The TK Bowl is comprised of braised daikon with the classic sauce, chili oil, cilantro, avocado, crispy garlic and Napa cabbage and blistered Fresno chili) will be available through March 7. Twenty percent of proceeds from the bowl go to help Groceryships, a program supporting and educating families on healthy eating. Find all locations at sweetfinpoke.com

Maré Silver Lake
The third outpost of Chef Eric Greenspan’s and Midcourse Hospitality Group’s breezy coastal European-influenced restaurant takes you to the shores of Portugal in Silver Lake. Find many of your favorite dishes like shellfish served with your choice of broth, and whole branzino with fig-pomegranate glaze. The location also features unique rotating specials like bouillabaisse croquettes, Greek yogurt and pistachio arancini and grilled focaccia with chorizo and leek fondue, which compliment noshing at the large dining bar. Jim Hustead designed the lush airy spot with large open windows and accents of plants and candles. Other additions include an extended wine by the glass program and late-night hours until 2 a.m. Thurs.-Sat. Open from 5 p.m. with brunch and happy hour to come. 2609 Hyperion Ave., L.A., 323.522.6656. marerestaurants.com

Mikkeller
Danish brewing company, Mikkeller opens its first LA outpost downtown this weekend. The expansive destination is housed in a 100-year-old auto repair shop and features more than 62 taps dedicated to their own brews and other top selections. Also enjoy a variety of specialized bottles, craft cocktail program and meat slow cooked in their J&R Manufacturing wood smoker along with upscale tavern fare from chef Enrique Cuevas. The space also features Kaffebaren cafe, which offers nitro cold brew, green tea and kombucha  on tap along with salads and sandwiches. 330 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown. mikkellerbar.com

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