Felix, Kismet, Kato, Now on the Resy Hit List

Because maestro Evan Funke’s pasta will have you feeling felix! When the primi piatti are divided by Italian regions, you know the food is legit. Two types of in-house bread will direct your voyage – and all roads lead to Rome – so don’t miss the Cacio e Pepe.

Because Food and Wine’s Best New Chefs know how to serve summer on a plate. Cool off with a crisp white, then dig into the clams with red peppers and confit lemon. Pro-tip: extra bread to soak up the sauciness is a must.

Because how do you make a cocktail even better? Add boba. Dine downstairs with Chef Louis Tikaram’s “Asian eating house” menu (which happens to be gluten-free), then head to the rooftop for a cocktail to finish the night on a high note.

For reservations, call the restaurant at (310) 855-9955.

Because “against all odds, Michael’s feels alive again,” says Jonathan Gold in his LA Times review. Share-plate dining is the idea, and the Pork Milanese is not to be missed.

For reservations, call the restaurant at (310) 451-0843.

Because Thai town has a brand new addition, and…. Cooks County fans rejoice: chef duo Roxana Jullapat and Daniel Mattern have opened for daytime service, and dinner is on the horizon. Expect tasty za’atar spreads, the Hippie Sandwich with – you guessed it – smashed avocado, and plenty of killer baked goods.

Walk-ins only.

Because are you really doing summer right if you’re not sipping a cocktail on a rooftop while the sun sets? Hollywood’s latest watering hole, Filifera, offers poolside drinks, small bites (charcuterie and the likes) and an It-crowd, 22 stories above the city bustle. Cheers to LA living.

For reservations, call the restaurant at (323) 499-4009.

Because this family-owned Southeast Asian spot dishes out innovative riffs on Indonesian cuisine from mashup-master Chef Tjahyadi (his food truck “phorrito” fused pho and burritos). The menu delivers with dishes like ube gnocchi with duck confit, apricot cubes, and roasted mushrooms.  

For reservations, call the restaurant at (626) 795-5702.

Because it’s “Mexican food with a different point of view,” according to Jonathan Gold, and now it serves brunch. The quintessential esquite corn is topped with toasted chapulines (yes, grasshoppers) and the lamb barbacoa melts in your mouth.

For reservations, call the restaurant at (626) 787-1512.

Because let the summer sake flow. Daily specials of wild-caught fish are offered as sashimi and braised whole nitsuke style, and happy hour means tonkatsu sandwiches Tuesday through Friday. Pro Tip: the gyoza are on point.

For reservations, call the restaurant at (213) 900-4900.

Because Japanese food in a mini mall means you’re in for the real deal. Every plate is picture-perfect, and omakase is the only option. So sit back, relax, and let Chef Jonathan Yao take the lead.

Because when Nonna’s tagliatelle al ragu’ bolognese is on the menu, you know what to order. Chef Steve Samson grew up spending summers in Bologna (in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy), where tortellini in brodo reigns supreme. Qui si mangia bene – you’ll eat well here! 

For reservations, call the restaurant at (213) 749-1099.