Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse
There’s been a little less steak in downtown L.A. over the last few months while Nick + Stef’s has been under the knife. But this week the 16-year-old steakhouse—by celebrated Chef and Founder of Patina Restaurant Group Joachim Splichal—opens back up for lunch on Oct. 5, and dinner on Oct. 8 with a revamped look and menu. The casual fine dining destination sports a contemporary take on a mid-century modern aesthetic. The dining rooms are decked out with coral blues, caramel and brass touches. Get a peek of your steak in Nick + Stef’s signature dry-aging room on your way into the main dining room where you can sink into custom leather banquettes. The menu centers around USDA prime onsite 28-day dry-aged selections in addition to eye-popping options such as a Tomahawk Rib Chop or Prime Fiorentine T-Bone that are carefully grilled over oak and mesquite. You can also savor Wagyu selections and expanded seafood items like a raw bar with $3 oysters, seafood cocktails and shellfish platters. Also indulge in comfort food like poutine with oxtail gravy, Bearnaise and Comte cheese; creamed spinach with bacon and breadcrumbs topped with a fried quail egg; and rum raisin chocolate soufflé cake. Pair dishes with a wine menu that showcases over 500 labels, a special water menu and contemporary signature cocktails. Toast the opening with the restaurant’s Martini Week weekdays Oct. 8-16 where you can sip seven martinis for $7 on the bar patio from 3-7 p.m. 330 S. Hope St., downtown, 213.680.0330. patinagroup.com/nickStef
Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant
The temple of caviar and smoked fish in West Hollywood now serves a monthly Joie au Choix dinner menu that offers four choices for each course, allowing for countless combinations of appetizer, first, second and main course and dessert that can also be ordered à la carte. Meaning, “the joy of choice” in French, the menu, created by Executive Chef Giselle Wellman features highlights like the restaurant’s signature Egg Royale with soft scrambled egg, vodka, whipped cream and caviar; corn soup with Dungeness crab; Petit Petrossian: Transmontanous caviar, blinis, crème fraiche; foie gras torchon with roasted baby beets, pickled strawberry and pistachio; squid ink fettuccini with sea urchin and salmon roe; gnocchi with chanterelle mushrooms, housemade ricotta and Medjool dates; Wagyu flatiron with horseradish butter, heirloom tomatoes and Castelvetrano olives; among many others. $125/pp for five courses, including coffee and tea service; $175/pp with wine pairings. A new, Joie au Choix menu will be introduced on the 1st of every month. 321 North Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.271.0576. facebook.com/PetrossianBoutiqueRestaurant
Bella Julia
Tucked a block above Hollywood Blvd. is new Bella Julia Café & Bakery. The all-day restaurant is the first project from Executive Chef and co-owner Chaza Smith and her husband Stephen. Named after their daughter Isabella and Chef Chaza’s culinary idol, Julia Child, their mission is to offer fresh handmade cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Much of the menu is influenced by Chef Chaza’s time spent in Sorrento, Italy where she immersed herself in Southern Italian cuisine with the help of revered chefs and knowledgeable Nonnas (grandmas), fishermen and cheese makers. Menu signatures include made-from-scratch eggplant Parmagiana, spaghetti al limon, linguine bolognese and farfalle with blood orange-pistachio pesto. Also enjoy a variety of sandwiches and salads and egg dishes for weekend brunch. Freshly baked desserts and pastries also take center stage with highlights like Nutella cheesecake, chocolate-peanut butter cookies, Tiramisu, and lemon creme caramel. 6363 Yucca St., Hollywood, 323.848.4727. bellajuliacafe.com
MiniBar
You pretty much have everything you’ve ever wanted in a cocktail lounge at new MiniBar in Hollywood. The low key spot offers a ‘70s vibe with a dark wood bar surrounded by gold-dipped tables and booths with refurbished leather office chairs. The cocktail menu is simple, stocked with updated takes on classics like the Fuzzy del Navel (not quite vodka, not quite peach but still orange, cold and delicious) and Harvey Wallbanger (back and radder than ever with gin, Galliano and orange juice with lemon bitters on ice). If that’s not enough the retro spot is tucked next to the 101 Coffee Shop inside the Hollywood Hills Best Western, which gives you endless options for continuing your night after last call. 6141 Franklin Ave., L.A., 323.798.4939. minibarhollywood.com
Cocktail Workshop at The Ambrose
Oct. 7. Join cocktail bloggers Jordan and Jocelyn from This Girl Walks Into a Bar for a cocktail workshop at The Ambrose. The duo will share their mixology knowledge with you and give you the opportunity to sample some of their favorite cocktails. RSVP: daniellew@workshopcollective.com. 6-8 p.m. 1255 20th St., Santa Monica, 310.315.1555. ambrosehotel.com
Cooking with Chris
Oct. 6. Hyde’s Executive Chef Chris Crary offers you an inside glimpse of the culinary magic behind the scenes of Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails. With freshly harvested produce from Weiser Farms, Chef Crary will demonstrate how to prepare a delicious fall salad, and numerous seasonal side dishes and sauces. Throughout the evening, you’ll get the chance to indulge on a roasted beet salad with apples, goat cheese, watermelon radish and crispy sunchoke, while Chef demonstrates his secrets to the perfect crispy parsnip, roasted carrot, and Parsnip puree. When the class is over, you’re invited to relax and enjoy the rest of their evening at Hyde. 7 p.m. Tickets. 8117 Sunset Blvd., L.A., 323.940.1650. sbe.com
Tom Bergin’s Public House
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28. Up your beer knowledge at Tom Bergin’s new “Get Schooled” Craft Beer Dinner Series. Every Wednesday in October you can enjoy a special four-course dinner menu paired with six specialty 7 oz. beer pours. You’ll also be able to meet the brewer of that evening’s featured brewery. The series kicks off Oct. 7 with Sierra Nevada, and continues Oct. 14 with Three Weavers Brewing Company, Oct. 21 with Ballast Point and a special brewery on Oct. 28 that will be revealed soon. 840 S Fairfax Ave., L.A., 323.936.7151. tombergins.com
Ruth Reichl at LUCQUES
Oct. 11. Dine at Suzanne Goin’s and Caroline Styne’s flagship restaurant on a special edition of their Sunday Summer series that features dishes from My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes that Saved My Life, the new cookbook by Ruth Reichl just published by Random House. Dubbed “The Supper that Cures Everything,” the four-course menu celebrates the restorative powers of cooking prepared with a bounty of Southern California best ingredients. The dinner begins with Ruth’s creamed lobster claws on toasted brioche, followed by a fall salad of Puntarelle with anchovy dressing, burrata, pecorino and breadcrumbs. The main course is Michael’s grilled London broil with red onions, tomatoes and cream and new potatoes with green garlic. And Ruth’s Cake that Cures Everything will be served for dessert. Ruth Reichl, the acclaimed editor in chief of Gourmet magazine and accomplished writer, will be present throughout the evening to meet guests and sign books. The book will be available for purchase at LUCQUES during the evening. $75. RSVP required through RESY or by calling the restaurant. 8474 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.655.6277. lucques.com
Abigaile
Get into the Oktoberfest spirit this week with a five-course beer pairing dinner at Abigaile on Oct. 8. Highlights of the menu include a sausage plank with Bavarian bratwurst, knockwurst, bockwurst, curry ketchup, hot mustard, sauerkraut; Emmental onion tart; smoked trout and apple salad; Sauerbraten; and Kaiserschmarrn (torn pancakes) with rum-soaked fruit and Speedway Stout caramel sauce. On Oct. 9, get a change to meet Abigaile’s new head brewer over a pint. Paul Papantonio will offer a selection of his favorite beers, including Uinta Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin and Firestone Wookey Jack, at happy hour prices ($4) all night, along with a special R+D menu of festive, experimental dishes. 1301 Manhattan Ave., Hermosa Beach, 310.798.8227. abigailerestaurant.com