The July Hit List: Greekman’s, The Dresden, El Ruso, Afuri Ramen, and More

With vine-covered walls, a white-sail ceiling, and cobalt blue accents, you’d almost think this dining cabana was sitting on the Aegean Sea. Maybe if you pretended the Sunset Boulevard traffic wasn’t car noise, but the sounds of waves crashing. Silver Lake’s Freedman’s restaurant turned its parklet into this Greek-inspired spot for the summer, complete with charcoal-grilled souvlaki, bright salads, branzino and octopus; plus cocktails, Greek wines, and beer to match. Should you want a before- or after-dinner drink, the Freedman’s bar is still serving, along with a few snacks like brisket sandwiches.

Chad Colby’s second act takes a tour through the heel of Italy — the Puglia region, to be exact. The short-lived Kassi space was ready-made to evolve into Colby’s farmhouse villa-inspired look, with its archways and stone walls, and the open-flame grill is perfect for his menu full of skewered meats and fish. Of course there’s handmade pasta and charcuterie, not to mention a great wine list put together by Mozza vet Sarah Clarke.

If you haven’t made it to Boyle Heights to check out El Ruso for tacos, caramelos, sobaqueras, and birra des res, you’ll have more opportunity when owner Walter Soto parks his booming operation in Silver Lake. While he builds out a new trailer to reopen in the original spot, you can get those legendary Sonoran-wheat flour tortillas stuffed with mesquite-grilled carne asada and more at 3140 West Sunset Boulevard, just across from All Day Baby. Follow the IG account for more info and updates.

Fans of Teresa Montaño’s pan con tomate, prawns à la plancha, and paella will be beaming that her Spanish-inspired Highland Park restaurant is back. With indoor seating and new outdoor tables, though limited, there’s room to spread out for festive meals with plenty of gin and tonics and sangria.

In addition to its morning coffee service, marketplace, and lunch menu, the sweet Santa Monica spot now serves dinner five nights a week. That means more time for oysters on the half shell, kmapachi with yuzu and calamansi vinegar, summer melon salads, and a delightful selection of wines from around the globe. With beach season in high gear, it seems like a fitting time to try the Main Street spot before or after hitting the sand.

This newly-opened robata restaurant is heating up faster than the binchotan charcoal in its grills. With towering ceilings inside, living plant walls outside on two different patios, and a trendy vibe, it’s perfect for a night out in the Valley. The menu has a bit of everything, including lobster garlic noodles, but skewered chicken meatballs, brussels sprouts, and more are the way to go. Don’t forget the impressive sake list.

The rousing success of Ray Garcia’s Broken Spanish residency at Neuehouse in Hollywood prompted the team to extend through the end of July.  So if you haven’t gone yet, book before it’s too late.

There’s more, though: They’ve joined forces again for a summer pop-up bar: Bar Sala. Carts roaming with mezcal and Tequila tastings, small bites from Garcia and crew, and DJ performances, it’s definitely the happening of the season. Set up in the library and bar space on Friday and Saturday nights, the lounge is open to the public (after members get their spots, of course) and reservations aren’t needed there.

Tucked away in Glassell Park, this cozy bistro, wine shop, and sipping spot is the epitome definition of neighborhood gem. With uncomplicated dishes like crispy brussels sprouts, charcuterie and cheese boards, barramundi with garlic confit, and chocolate pot de creme, the menu hits all the best notes. It’s all just enough to keep you there for another glass of vermentino from Carneros or Austrian rosé. Date-night material, for sure.

You know things have gotten back to normal when Marty and Elayne are back at The Dresden. The hipster-filled bar that still evokes Swingers references, the dining room with its Mad Men white booths (yes, scenes for that were shot here too), and steak-and-martini nights are a welcome sight. Reservations for dinner are a must, but you can also reserve the lounge and patio for cocktails and bar food.

This Miracle Mile spot is more Californian than French, but the buzzy brasserie vibe nonetheless gives off a sense of both. Chef Sascha Lyon, who got his start right here at L’Ermitage and cooked with many greats, including Daniel Boulud, has created a globe-trotting menu of things like chicken liver mousse with grilled sourdough, ceviche, grilled pork chop with gremolata, and a dry-aged burger that’s just fancy enough. Happy hour is clearly a must now that we can feel happy again.

Take joy in the fact that ramen wasn’t just a fly-by-night trend in L.A. While we haven’t had many big openings of noodle shops in awhile (thanks, pandemic), this one is kind off the charts. Originally from Tokyo, with strongholds in Portland and San Francisco, Afuri is bringing its housemade noodles and yuzu-scented broth to the Arts District. Other dishes, like chicken karaage, soft shell crab buns, and pork dumplings are also available. Expect a line — one is almost always present already.