Winter dineL.A.
Jan. 13-27. More than 300 of the county’s top restaurants offer specially priced menus for lunch and dinner. Discover new restaurants like Geoffrey Zakarian’s Georgie, Plan Do See’s Paley and Tony Esnault’s Spring, or revisit notable favorites like Lucques and CUT. You can also splurge on fine dining at with dineL.A.’s exclusive series at Providence, Melissé and Patina. See website for all participating eateries. Lunch menus are $15, $20 and $25, with dinner menus priced at $29, $39 and $49, or beginning at $95 for the exclusive series. discoverlosangeles.com
Santa Monica Restaurant Week
Jan. 9-15. Get a healthy start to 2017 by dining out at select restaurants in Santa Monica. This year 21 participating dining destinations like newly opened Maré Santa Monica, Obica Mozzarella Bar, FIG Restaurant, BOA Steakhouse and others, offer a dish highlighting the health benefits of Santa Monica Restaurant Week’s signature ingredient—the radish. santamonica.com/restaurantweek
Pasadena Cheeseburger Week
Through Jan. 13. It is widely claimed that in 1924 Lionel Sternberger married cheese to burger at the Rite Spot in Pasadena and the first cheeseburger was born. To commemorate this genius idea, you can spend the week dining on signature cheeseburgers, and specials at 40 of Pasadena’s restaurants, lounges and burger joints like El Portal, Dog Haus, Slater’s 50/50 and Pie ‘n Burger. pasadenarestaurantweek.com
Redondo Beach Restaurant Week
Jan 13-27. Explore Redondo Beach dining during the second annual event that features specially priced menus and deals from 12 restaurants like A Basq Kitchen, Orlando’s Pizzeria & Birreria and Sea Level at Shade Hotel. visitredondo.com/restaurant-week
Drago Ristorante
Fast cars and Italian food go hand-in-hand, especially at new Drago Ristorante onsite at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The dining destination is a collaboration between brothers Celestino, Calogero, Tanino and Giacomino Drago. Go for housemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, an innovative assortment of Italian entrees, artisanal breads and pastries from Drago’s Dolce Forno bakery and produce from Drago Farms in Santa Ynez—basically, the best of the Drago concepts in one space. Highlights of the menu include Aragosta Panzanella with spelt, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and lobster; Pappardelle con Pagiano e Morelle, wide-cut housemade fettuccine, pheasant and morel mushroom sauce; and Lombata di Vitello, a pan-roasted veal chop with truffle potato puree and roasted mushrooms. Felderman Keatinge + Associates designed the dining room, which blends seamlessly with the museum lobby and boasts rugged design elements of blackened steel and hammered copper with refined finishes incorporating curves and fluid lines. Lunch and dinner daily. 6060 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.,323.800.2244. dragoristorante.com
The Mar Vista
Pioneering its namesake neighborhood restaurant scene, The Mar Vista offers progressive Los Angeles cuisine inspired by the city’s diverse communities. Indulge in daily specials, a Brazilian churrasco and granita made tableside. Signature dishes include ceviche of Peruvian bay scallops with aji amarillo and Fresno chili; black barley hot pot with shiitake mushrooms, rapini and arbol chilies; and lamb churrasco with curried couscous, crispy kale and mint chimichurri. The restaurant also offers live music on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 10 p.m., accompanied by a late-night menu. Dinner nightly from 5:30 p.m. 12249 Venice Blvd., L.A., 310.751.6773. themarvista.com
FrankieLucy Bakeshop
Opens Jan. 14. The new Silver Lake cafe blends the passions of proprietors Kristine de la Cruz (Crème Caramel LA) and Annie Choi (Found Coffee)—custard and coffee. Stop by the modern airy space for sweet and savory custards, traditional and whimsical confections and craft coffee and specialty beverages. On opening day the cafe offers $1 coffees and complimentary pavlovas starting at noon until supplies last. 3116 1/2 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A., 323.285.1458. frankielucybakeshop.com
Where Tiki Lives at Frankie’s Private Bar
Jan. 11. West Hollywood’s modern Asian eatery, E.P.&L.P., celebrates the launch of new custom E.P.&L.P. tiki mugs with a themed soiree. Sip classic tiki cocktails from Ryan Barrington and George Garcia, while you nosh on complimentary, passed chicken sliders at 7 p.m. The custom, new E.P. Tiki mugs—designed by Tiki Farm as part of a special collaboration with E.P.&L.P.—will be available for a commemorative price of $20 each (inclusive of one cocktail) with refills available at an additional cost. 7 p.m.-midnight. 603 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.855.9955. eplosangeles.com
di Alba
Matt Kliegman, Carlos Quirarte and Melia Marden, of Manhattan’s popular The Smile, bring their stylish, community-driven breakfast and lunch restaurant to LA’s Arts District—their first outpost on the West Coast. Stop in for a variety of Roman-style focaccias with seasonal accompaniments inspired by those chef Nina Clemente grew up eating during childhood visits to Italy. Also dine on market-driven salads, along with pastries and desserts from sous chef Zena Scharf, such as rye brownies with smoked salt, gluten-free toffee chocolate chip cookies and vegan citrus bundt cake. Find the casual counter and takeaway spot in the same strip as Shinola and Salt & Straw. Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Photo by Emily Hart Roth) 827 E. 3rd St., downtown, 213.620.6244. eatdialba.com
elysian
One of Frogtown’s best kept restaurant secrets reopens with a newly remodeled bar, expanded cocktail program, new hours and seasonal dinner menu. Find the oasis—which also boasts a perfect patio—hidden behind wooden gates and a garden of bamboo. Go there for cocktails like Winter in Oaxaca with mezcal, lime, Campari and kumquat. Stay to dine on Mediterranean-inspired dishes like hanger steak, ridgeback shrimp, kimchi with fried barley; and tagliatelle with duck ragout. Dinner Weds.-Sat 6:30-10:30 p.m., anti-#sad! time (aka happy hour) Fri.-Sat. 5-6:30 p.m. Hear Sunday live music series kicks off Jan. 15. 2806 Clearwater St., L.A. elysianla.com