Arata at Plant Food + Wine Venice
Through Aug. 7. Head to Plant Food + Wine in Venice for a vegan Far East-inspired pop-up of dishes from Matthew Kenney Cuisine’s culinary incubator in Belfast, Maine. Dishes on the menu include smoked oyster buns; Arata ramen with pulled mushrooms, baby bok choy, sea palm and corn puree; kimchi pancakes with sesame chili sauce; toasted sesame cheesecake and a matcha ice cream sandwich. 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.450.1009. plantfoodandwinevenice.com
Boozy Milkshakes at Westbound
Aug. 1-30. The new arts district bar and eatery downtown is partnering with Van Leeuwen Artisanal Ice Cream to offer three boozy milkshakes this month. Selections include: London Fog with Earl Grey ice cream, paired with Westbound’s housemade lemon sorbet, Beefeater gin, and garnished with lemon curls; Matcha Madness with vegan matcha ice cream, Rittenhouse rye, honey syrup, Amaro Montenegro and matcha powder; and Grasshipster, with mint chip ice cream, Fernet Branca, crème de cacao and menthe, and served with mint (a play on the ’70s favorite “Grasshopper” cocktail). 300 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown, 213.262.9291. westbounddtla.com
Peninsula Beverly Hills
Aug. 1-30. Celebrate the 25th birthday of the luxurious Beverly Hills hotel with two treats this month. Enjoy an afternoon tea—brimming with buttery scones, savory tea sandwiches and exquisite pastries—Mondays-Thursdays throughout the month and enjoy free-flowing champagne with the service. Those who want to stay awhile longer can book the recently refurbished Silver Suite, and when they do they’ll get the keys to a striking new convertible coupe: The Rolls-Royce Dawn. 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.551.2888. peninsula.com/beverlyhills
Takami Sushi & Robata
Aug. 1-9. The high-flying restaurant in downtown LA celebrates its nine-year anniversary with nine days of $9 specials. The anniversary menu includes Japanese tacos, a variety of hand rolls, rock shrimp tempura, Yukinobosha sake by the glass, wildberry martinis and more. 811 Wilshire Blvd #2100, downtown, 213.236.9600. takamisushi.com
Georgie
The Beverly Hills dining destination inside the Montage Beverly Hills from Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian, rounds out its dinner offerings with the launch of breakfast and lunch. Start your day over freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, and decadent dishes like the Maine lobster Benedict, foraged mushroom omelet and caramelized French toast with cherries “Jubilee.” The best way to begin a leisurely lunch at the restaurant is over their bountiful ice box of vegetable crudités, which holds what seems to be a weekly CSA’s worth of produce in an elegant arrangement. An assortment of salads are perfect for adding kabobs—curry-marinated chicken, spiced-rubbed flatiron steak and salsa verde-marinted shrimp. Larger dishes include plates of short rib ravioli and Dover sole, along with sandwiches and elegant tartines. 225 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.860.7970. georgierestaurant.com
CUT Beverly Hills International Menu Series
Through Sept. 15. The second roundup of CUT’s international dining series focuses on cuisine from Italy. The four-course family-style menu features techniques and traditions practiced throughout Italy. Dine on seasonal crudo d’orto (vegetable crudo); various salumi and fromaggi; ravioli zucchine (zucchini ravioli); and served for the table costata alla Fiorentina and bistecca Fiorentina. $95/pp, $55/pp optional wine pairings. Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel), 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.276.8500. wolfgangpuck.com
Lost at Sea
The team behind Mignon and Papilles are setting their sights on Pasadena with a new restaurant serving modern Southern California seafood dishes with hints of classic French technique. Now in soft open, dine on dishes from Chef Tim Carey (Papilles) that include butter-poached lobster with sweet corn velouté; scallop aguachile with tomato water, cucumbers and avocados; and charred Spanish octopus with mole, strawberry gelled and pickled and sesame tuple. Wine Director Santos Uy curates an exciting globe-trotting list of natural wines from Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Chile and more. Soft opening dinner only, 5:30-10 p.m., grand opening Aug. 9 with social hour from 4:30-6 p.m. in addition to dinner service; lunch and brunch to arrive this fall. 57 E. Holly St. Pasadena, 323.553.0563. lostatseapas.com
Leona Seaside Cookout
Aug. 7. The “progressive Californian” restaurant from Chef Nyesha Arrington celebrates their first anniversary with a seaside feast. Stop by for a pop-up clam bake, in addition to $2 beers and specials on champagne and wine. $40. 2-6 p.m. The patio at LEONA, 123 W. Washington Blvd., Venice. leonavenice.com
POCO Wine Bar
The new tasting room within smoke.oil.salt on Melrose Ave. brings relaxed noshing on European tapas to the restaurant. The dishes—all under $10—include grilled chorizo-stuffed squid $8; papas bravas: crispy fried potatoes in herb aioli, with chopped parsley and a fried egg $6; akitas de pollo: house-brined chicken wings with picante sauce $7; pan a la parilla: grilled homemade flatbread with spicy tomato sauce and housemade cheese with basil and olive oil. Also enjoy weekly wine specials: white wine at $5, red at $6 and a sparking wine at $7. The space plans to feature wine social events each month like dinners led by the city’s top sommeliers, women’s only wine nights, industry nights and more. Sun.-Thurs. 5:30-11 p.m. smoke.oil.salt, East dining room, 7274 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.930.7900. smokeoilsalt.com
The Pop Up at El Chavo by Cocktail Academy
Through Sept 5. Summer in Silver Lake is full of dance parties, dinner and movie nights, cocktails and more on the patio of El Chavo. The summer schedule includes Taco Tuesday; Dinner & a Movie on Wednesdays; Throwback Thursday Music Video Sing Along; Freestyle Fridays with surprise guests and entertainment; “No Dancing Allowed Party” on Saturdays; and Summer Sundays with food, drinks and music on the patio. 4441 Sunset Blvd., L.A. elchavorestaurant.com
Tender Greens
The newest location of the chef-driven, fine-casual dining concept is now open in Westwood. Dine on all your favorite salads, sandwiches, hot places and soups with the addition of Executive Chef Kirsten Walker’s daily specials. This will also be the first Tender Greens to serve organic Straus Creamery soft serve ice cream topped with locally handcrafted shaved Letterpress chocolate. 1109 Glendon Ave., L.A., 213.335.5359. tendergreens.com
An Evening on the Beach
Aug. 4. The seaside celebration showcases tempting bites from LA’s top chefs, curated vintner tastings, and carefully crafted specialty cocktails – all without needing to step off the sand. This year’s lineup include Gino Angelini (Angelini Osteria), Genevieve Gergis (Bestia), Ken Concepcion (CUT Beverly Hills), among others. Dress is casual, shoes are optional, and proceeds will help provide over 4,000 meals needed to feed homebound seniors and other vulnerable residents across the Los Angeles area daily. 6-10 p.m. $185 (includes parking). Jonathan Beach Club, 850 Palisades Beach Rd., Santa Monica. eveningonthebeach.com
626 Night Market
Aug. 5-7. The original and largest Asian-themed night market in the country features hundreds of food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, music and entertainment attractions for the whole family. Taste everything from shot glass-shaped cookies filled with milk at Dirty Cookie, to Kobe-Wagyu hot dogs at Kobe Wagyu Freaks. Also happens Sept. 2-4. Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia. 626nightmarket.com
Brew at the L.A. Zoo
Aug. 5. Sip craft beer and frolic with the animals while you enjoy live music and pub-style grub at the zoo. Grab a 4.5 oz beer mug and enjoy tastings from local craft and microbreweries, while you listen to live music from ‘80s arena rock band Wayward Sons and choice rock cuts from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s by the Black Canyon Band, among others. A new VIP lounge offers offers early entry, exclusive access to all breweries and complimentary food. 7-11 p.m. $25-$75; $125 VIP. 5333 Zoo Dr., L.A., 323.644.6001. lazoo.org/brew