This week, dineL.A. is kicking off its 10th year of enabling everyday people like you and me to eat at some of the finest restaurants in the city. While some of these restaurants have been participating for the past decade (Providence, A.O.C., Border Grill ), we decided to shine some light on newbies that need some love too. We pulled together a list of all of the dineL.A. first and second-timers for a taste of LA’s newest restaurants, and others who only recently jumped on the dineL.A. bandwagon. So grab a friend or call your lover, and start booking those reservations to secure a seat at the table.
Westside
HiHo Cheeseburger
Santa Monica
HiHo Cheeseburger caught a handful of attention last summer when they relocated their burger joint to Santa Monica after two years making waves in Ojai. This is their first time participating in dineL.A.
The Deal:
3 Course Lunch: $15
HiHo Double Cheeseburger with hand cut fries
Organic iceberg side salad
Slice of house-made pie or small organic Straus shake
4 Course Dinner + glass of wine: $29
Organic iceberg side salad
HiHo Triple Cheeseburger
Hand cut fries
Slice of House-Made Pie or Large organic Straus Shake
+Glass of any wine of your choice
The Stalking Horse Brewery & Freehouse
West LA
British pub vibes, brew, and English classics—perfect for a casual night out. When The Stalking Horse opened doors on Pico in August 2017, head brewer Brandon Edwards created a seven-barrel brewing system to ensure authenticity in English-style beers alongside traditional dishes.
The Deal:
2 Course Lunch: $15
Starters:
Your choice of …
Dipping Chips (V)
French Onion Soup
Welsh Rarebit (V)
Main:
Your choice of …
American burger
Chicken pot pie
Root salad
Lunetta (Dining Room & Bar)
Santa Monica
A few months after opening Lunetta All Day in early 2017, chef Raphael expanded to the Lunetta Dining Room and Bar next door. The dining room is a more formal dinner option, perfect for date night in Santa Monica.
4 Course Dinner: $49
Starters:
Your choice of …
Roasted organic Beet Salad
Kona kampachi
Wood grilled Spanish octopus
Homemade meatballs
Main:
Your choice of …
Pan roasted Norwegian halibut
Crispy duck breast
Wood grilled NY steak
Handmade spinach pappardelle
Dessert:
Your choice of …
S’more
Sticky toffee pudding
Uovo
Santa Monica
From the heros who brought us Sugarfish comes Uovo, a fresh handmade pasta bar that uses ingredients fresh outta Bologna. The casual pasta spot opened in August 2017 and has been luring locals, tourists and Sugarfish diehards in the mood for comforting carbs ever since.
The Deal:
2 Course Lunch: $15
Tagliatelle al Ragu (original “Bolognese” recipe, made without cheese, milk or cream)
Cavolfiori al Forno
2 Course Dinner + glass of wine: $29
Tagliatelle al Ragu (original “Bolognese” recipe, made without cheese, milk or cream)
Cavolfiori al Forno
Glass of Chardonnay, Super Tuscan, or wine of your choice
Kogi Taqueria
Palms
This November will mark 10 years since Roy Choi’s first Kogi Truck hit the streets. Although Papi has opened several other restaurants in the past decade, his praised Korean-infused-Mexican Kogi dishes finally got their own brick-and-mortar in mid-2016. This will be the first time Kogi has participated in dineL.A.
The Deal:
3 Course Lunch + Fountain Drink: $15
Pacman quesadilla
Mini carnita fries
Tres leches cake or Sriracha bar
Fountain drink
Belle Vie Food & Wine
Brentwood
Belle Vie, our favorite French bistro and Westside hangout has been serving up delicious wines and fresh tastes of France in Brentwood since summer 2016. Is this the only cool place in Brentwood? It just might be …
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner: $39
Warm smoked salmon
Slow cooked beef cheek burgundy style
Baba au rhum
Tar & Roses
Santa Monica
Opened back in 2012, Tar & Roses is a sexy Santa Monica dinner establishment that will definitely break the bank on a regular night. At long last, they have hopped on the dineL.A. bandwagon, so plebs like you and me can get a taste of the good stuff.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner + Glass of wine: $49
Starters:
Your choice of …
Oxtail dumplings
Sunchoke and pear soup
Chicken liver mousse
Main:
Your choice of …
Hanger steak
Shellfish pot
Lemon ricotta gnocchi
Wood roasted half chicken
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Chocolate “tar” bar
Strawberry ricotta crostata
Sticky toffee pudding
Downtown
The Mighty
Downtown
Located on the ground floor of the old landmark Higgins Building, The Mighty brought even more heat to Downtown’s dining scene when it opened last September. Dishing out New American dishes, chef Quinn and Karen Hatfield (also known for Odys+Penelope and Sycamore Kitchen) are fueling the hungry minds and stomachs in DTLA.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner: $29
Starters:
Your choice of ...
Sweet potato salad
Organic market greens
Main:
Your choice of …
Housemade candelle, chicken bolognese, roasted pumpkin, fried sage
Housemade rigatoni, fennel sausage, tomato passata, spicy peperonata
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Chocolate budino
Creme fraiche cheesecake, cajeta, pepita graham crust
Blacksmiths Restaurant
Downtown
Blacksmiths, which opened in August, is the newest project from the people behind District Pub and EAT. Located in Downtown’s old bank district, Chef Edgar Ramos is remixing American classics as he crafts comfort food with class.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner: $39
Starters:
Your choice of …
Ahi tuna
Bacon truffle mac & cheese
Rainbow heirloom tomato salad
Brussel sprout salad with chicken
Main:
Your choice of …
Mussels and clams
Braised bone-in short rib
Black truffle saffron fettuccine
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Flourless chocolate cake
Vanilla bean panna cotta
LASA
Chinatown
Lasa started as a pop-up in Alvin Cailan’s food incubator, Unit 120, back in 2013. The thoughtful Filipino spot gained such a loyal following that brothers Chad and Chase Valencia took over the space full-time in 2017. You can find them putting their own twist on traditional Filipino dishes at the Far East Plaza for lunch and dinner across from Roy Choi’s Chego.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner: $29
Starters:
Your choice of …
Winter citrus & radicchio salad
OG pancit
Main:
Your choice of …
lumpia sariwa
Crispy duck arroz caldo
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Chilled fruit ginataan
Condensed milk ice Cream
Hollywood/West Hollywood/ Beverly Hills
Kali
Hollywood
Kali from Chef Kevin Meehan isn’t just one of the best restaurants in Hollywood—it’s one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. Finally, you can get a taste of that fresh uni pasta without dipping too deep into your savings courtesy of dineL.A.. This lunch deal is looking pretty sweet to us.
The Deal:
3 Course Lunch: $25
Starters:
Your choice of …
Charred avocado salad
Black barley risotto
Main:
Your choice of …
Mary’s chicken breast
Uni pasta
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Meringue Gelato
Chocolate Cremeux
3 Course Dinner: $49
Starters:
Your choice of …
Charred avocado salad
Yellowtail crudo
Black barley risotto
Main:
Your choice of …
Mary’s chicken breast
Hanger steak
Uni pasta
Dessert:
Your choice of
Meringue gelato
Chocolate ceremux
Cal Mare
Beverly Grove
Recently opened at the new, renovated Beverly Center is Cal Mare: A spiffy Italian spot that pays homage to the coast of Italy with SoCal ingredients. Fresh seafood stars in most dishes here, finding its way into brick oven pizzas and handmade pastas.
The Deal:
4 Course Dinner: $49
Starters:
Your choice of …
Calamari alla diavola
Peperoni della nonna
Focaccia di patate
Main:
Your choice of …
Mozzarella della casa
Ricciola e peperoncino
Cavolfiore arcobaleno
Your choice of …
Pesce del giorno & patate croccanti
Pollo al mattone
Pizza alla carbonara
Dessert:
Gelato e cannoli
Commerson
Mid-Wilshire
This overlooked gem on the corner of Wilshire and La Brea opened late 2016 and offers a casual California menu ranging from grass-fed burgers, to poke, and steak. In addition to the industrial-chic interior, Commerson has a killer cocktail program.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner: $39
Starters:
Your choice of …
Caesar salad with Niman Ranch All-Natural Bacon
Tuscan kale, shaved brussel sprouts and pecorino
Charred wild caught Spanish octopus
Chicken liver mousse
Main:
Your choice of …
Ravioli doppio (vegetarian option available)
Grilled butterfield European Sea Bass
Prime Double R Ranch New York Strip
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Opera cake
Sticky toffee pudding
Jean-Georges Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Globally renowned restaurateur Jean-Georges finally opened up his Los Angeles location last summer at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. The new location has that swanky New York vibe we all need every now and then. Yes, even you in the corner with the hoodie and flip flops.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner: $95+
Starters:
Your choice of …
Amuse bouche
Meyer lemon gelee caviar
Main:
Your choice of …
Maine diver scallops
Steamed black bass
Lamb chops
Dessert:
Warm chocolate cake
Pasadena
Lost at Sea
Pasadena
We recommend diving into Holly Street for lunch in Pasadena for one of the best tuna sandwiches we’ve ever had. Opened in summer 2017, Lost at Sea’s menu is mostly American seafood with Chef Tim Carey (formerly of Papilles) slinging a mix of fresh and briny delights.
The Deal:
2 Course Lunch + Drink: $15
Starters:
Your choice of …
Chopped Caesar salad
Mixed green salad
Main:
Your choice of …
Smoked salmon sandwich
Jamon serrano sandwich
Albacore tuna sandwich
Albacore tuna Melt
Drink:
Iced tea or lemonade
3 Course Dinner: $39
Starters:
Your choice of …
Crostino
Prawn ceviche
Main:
Your choice of …
Pork chop
New Zealand King Salmon
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Pot de creme
Ice cream sandwich
Union Restaurant
Pasadena
Although Union has been dominating the pasta scene since 2014, Chef Bruce Kalman keeps us on our toes with rotating seasonal menus. Splurging one night on the five-course dinner will be a memorable experience, guaranteed.
The Deal:
5 Course Dinner: $95+
Citrus cured pacific yellowtail, pickled radish, pomegranate, chile oil
Little gems, roasted pear, creme fraiche-poppyseed dressing, dukkah
Potato leek agnolotti, parmigiano-reggiano, white truffles
Flannery holstein beef ribeye, winter squash, horseradish
Olive oil cake, salted honeycomb gelato
Twohey's Tavern
Pasadena
After 74 whopping years of providing solid diner food, the original Twohey’s opened up Twohey’s Tavern in late 2017 to give the new generation a trendy upgrade to the Alhambra location.
The Deal:
3 Course Dinner + one glass of wine or beer :$39
Starters:
Your choice of …
Wedge salad
Boston bibb salad
Dinner salad
Beet salad
Main:
Your choice of …
Roasted roots
Fried chicken
Dock to dish, catch of the week
Montreal smoked meat
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Bread pudding
Twohey’s bittersweet Sundae
Chocolate tart
Citrus pound cake
Eastside
Cosa Buona
Echo Park
Just one year after taking over the kitchen at Alimento, chef-owner Zach Pollack opened nearby Cosa Buona, a more casual Italian restaurant just a couple blocks down that dishes out pizzas, deli-inspired sandwiches, and a handful of antipasti.
The Deal:
2 Course Lunch: $20
Starters:
Your choice of …
Green salad
Pasta salad
Broccolini
Main:
Your choice of …
Margherita pizza
Sausage pizza
Turkey sandwich
3 Course Dinner: $29
Starters:
Your choice of ...
Green Salad
Chicken wings
Soup of the day
Main
Your choice of ...
Margherita pizza
Sausage pizza
Eggplant parm
Chicken parm
Dessert:
Your choice of …
Cheesecake
Cannoli
Cookies and cream semifreddo pie
We Have Noodles
Silver Lake
Chef and founder of We Have Noodles, Darren Sayphraraj, caught our attention at Smorgasburg in 2016 before establishing his prime location in Silver Lake at the end of last year. Sayphraraj's menu takes inspiration from his Chinese, Vietnamese and Laotian backgrounds, making for wildly unique flavors and spices. He also offers a vegetarian/vegan menu, listed on dineL.A.’s site.
The Deal:
2 Course Lunch: $15
Starters:
Banchan
Assorted homemade kimchi and pickles
Main:
Your choice of …
Chicken khao soi
Wonton noodle soup
Chili garlic noodle (spicy)
Side of crispy pork
2 Course Dinner + Sides + One beer or glass of wine: $29
Starters:
Your choice of …
Chicken karaage
Crispy pork gang gang
Main:
Your choice of …
Chicken khao soi
Chili garlic noodles
Wonton noodle soup
Side of crispy pork
One beer or glass of wine
The Valley
SOCA
Sherman Oaks
From the same people who bring us the best BBQ in the valley at Boneyard Bistro comes SOCA, which opened on Ventura Blvd last March and serves some damn desirable meat and fish dshes.
The Deal:
2 Course Lunch:
Your choice of one item from two of the three courses …
Starters:
Soup du jour
Shrimp ceviche
Main:
Fish tacos
Fresh fire-roasted albacore tuna salad sandwich
Mediterranean chop
Porterhouse sliders
Dessert:
Rum spice cotta
Classic bread pudding
Dojo Sushi
Sherman Oaks
There’s no shortage of sushi spots in Sherman Oaks, but Dojo Sushi rolls out an appealing menu and offers top-grade fish in every form you could possibly want. This small but modern spot is new to dineL.A.. Three-course sushi lunch for $15? Don't mind if we do.
The Deal:
3 Course Lunch: $15
Starters:
Complimentary small hot sake or miso soup
Your choice of …
Yellowtail jalapeno, halibut cilantro and albacore with crispy onions (6 piece sashimi)
Kampachi, black snapper and salmon (6 piece sushi)
Main:
Your choice of …
California cut roll
Spicy tuna cut roll
Your choice of …
Baked snow crab hand roll
Blue crab hand roll
4 Course Dinner: $29
Starters:
Complimentary small hot sake or miso soup or seaweed salad
Your choice of …
Crispy rice with spicy tuna
Crispy rice with crab
Main:
Your choice of …
Sushi/Sashimi
Yellowtail jalapeno, halibut cilantro and albacore with crispy onions (sashimi)
Kampachi, black snapper, and salmon (sushi)
Your choice of …
Rolls
California cut roll (8 pieces)
Spicy tuna cut roll (8 pieces)
Your choice of …
Hubba hubba premium roll (8 pieces)
911 premium roll (8 pieces)
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Keana Phan is an intern at Citizine who is happiest listening to hip-hop and R&B music. When she’s not jamming out, she’s either watching NBA basketball games or waiting for the next sneaker drop.