The Resy Guide to Monday Night Dining in Los Angeles

Enrique Olvera’s modern Mexican stunner in a lush, plant-filled space recently launched an only-in-December Monday Industry Night series, with the hopes of making it permanent in the new year. You don’t have to work in a restaurant to enjoy a special menu of mariscos, bar snacks, and grilled bites like kanpachi crudo with wasabi-turnip salsa, smoked quesillo, and tlayudas with melted leeks and huitlacoche. DJ Que Madre will be spinning tunes to set the mood, and expect drink specials with Agua Del Sol mezcal, Condesa gin, and Yola mezcal.  

It’s been just over five years since chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson opened their vibrant and beloved Kismet. A bona fide Los Angeles fixture, this Mediterranean-meets-SoCal restaurant in Los Feliz always delivers, and every night of the week no less. Come ready to share, and order more than you think, as the plates here are small in size but long on flavor. Pro tip: on top of whatever else you choose, throw in an order of flaky malawach or seeded barbari bread to mop up every last bit.

This Silver Lake favorite for pasta and share plates is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but open on Mondays. So make a date early in the week to enjoy chef Zach Pollack’s craveworthy renditions of chicken liver crostone, albacore crudo, and chopped salad, in addition to some of the best pasta dishes in L.A. (think casarecce with tomato, basil, and burrata and radiatori with braised pork sugo, kale, and fennel pollen).

If you’re looking for a more immersive approach to a Monday night on the town, try Grandmaster Recorders, a restaurant, bar, and rooftop lounge housed in the original recording studio of the same name, where legendary artists such as David Bowie and No Doubt cut tracks back in the day. The lengthy Australian-Italian menu begins with spuntini, crudo and caviar, and antipasti, moves onto pasta, mains, and plentiful grilled steaks. Before or after your meal, head upstairs to the sumptuous rooftop bar for a glass of Champagne or a cocktail on tap with the Hollywood skyline as your backdrop. Not bad for a Monday.

All Time’s lush, multi-level patio is a dreamy place to dine, particularly on a quiet Monday night. The menu is simple, but executed very well, and chock full of signatures that regulars can’t get enough of. For starters, you can’t go wrong with melty burrata and cherry tomatoes atop thick toasty focaccia, or the Big Ass Salad, which comes in a vintage ceramic serving bowl. The steak with wild arugula and shaved Parm is great, as is the whole branzino served with crispy sushi rice. The portions are wonderfully large, so veer on the side of modest ordering, and be sure to chat with the staff about a nice bottle of wine to share.

When a special occasion falls on a Monday — say a birthday, your parents are in town, or there’s a milestone to celebrate — consider Camphor. The former Nightshade space is airy and elegant, with white-painted brick walls. Co-chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George bill it as a “modern bistro” and cook technique-driven French fare with influences from their South Asian upbringings. Expect fancy touches in dishes such as dry-aged and slow-roasted chicken stuffed with chicken thigh mousse and drizzled with jus from an antique silver sauce boat. And don’t skip dessert— Boonthanakit is a skilled pastry chef as well.

The Charcoal-kissed California fare at Eszett provides just the right amount of bold flavor to liven up an otherwise dull Monday. Appetizer highlights range from rock shrimp toast with Eszett’s house-made sweet chili sauce to grilled broccoli with fermented black bean and tamarind pastes,, while mains include a vegan French dip sandwich with confit mushrooms and caramelized cabbage, and clams casino with brown butter and ‘nduja. Dine inside the warmly lit space, or grab a Resy on the shaded patio.

Madre calls itself an Oaxacan restaurant and mezcaleria. After all, it boasts 400+ rare bottles of mezcal. Order a margarita or sip on a flight, then enjoy grilled oysters with chapulines (read: Mexican grasshoppers) a la diabla, fried quesadilla with epazote and squash blossom, tamal de mole, and tacos on handmade tortillas. Who says mezcal Mondays can’t be a thing?

Snack-sized Spanish vibes abound at Otoño, which specializes in tapas, paella, gin and tonics, and vermouth over in Highland Park. Little bites include classics like pan con tomato and croquetas, while meat, seafood, and vegan-friendly versions of the iconic Spanish rice dish round out the menu. Expect a crowd of regulars at the bright, modern space on the main Figueroa drag. 

Chef Yoshimoto, who honed his skills at the famed Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, now showcases his craft in Beverly Hills, at Sushi Tama. Grab a seat on the patio or at the sleek, blonde wood sushi counter and delight in a meal of freshly cut fish over rice. Maki, temaki, and donburi are available as well, with sake to drink. This is one the tony neighborhood’s better mid-range options, perfect when you’re craving sushi without breaking the bank.

Son of a Gun takes a back seat to Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s more well-known eponymous mini-chain, but it remains one of L.A.’s best places for a seafood-focused dinner— including on Monday nights. Consistently is key for a restaurant that’s been around as long as this one, so let the menu’s mainstays guide your order: bigeye tuna stuffed with avocado and tortilla chips drenched in leche de tigre, lobster rolls garnished with house-made chips, and a fried chicken sandwich with spicy bread-and-butter pickle slaw and aioli.

Most people go to Roberta’s for the wood-fired pizza, and with good reason. You definitely one (or two, or three) on your table at all times. But trust us when we say that the dish not to miss at this Brooklyn import is the bread, which looks like a pita but is puffier and charred, and best paired with the restaurant’s house-made stracciatella. If it turns out you’re not in the mood for pizza after all, don’t stress — the pastas here are resolutely solid, as is the cheeseburger.

Union is a perfect pick for a Monday date night—provided both parties like pasta. Here in Pasadena, chef Christopher Keyser blends California ingredients with Northern Italian cuisine to create juicy pork meatballs, seasonal salads, a stunning pasta menu, and a sprinkling of entrees. The intimate yet rustic atmosphere only adds to the appeal.

Maybe it’s Monday and you’re craving steak frites. The original Petit Trois in Hollywood can’t help you, but the Valley outpost of Ludo Lefebvre’s cherished bistro will welcome you with open arms. All the classics are available in Sherman Oaks as well, from buttery escargot to Croque Monsieurs and a bubbling crock of French onion soup.

American Beauty takes the steakhouse concept but makes it casual in beachy Venice. In addition to a selection of wood-grilled steaks, the menu holds crispy Brussels sprouts with kimchi aioli, a chopped vegetable salad with spicy vinaigrette, stuffed hash browns, and mac and cheese. And for those who don’t partake in red meat: a whole orata and a half chicken. Enjoy it all on one of the best outdoor patios in town (heat lamps included).

From a perfectly seasoned bowl of matzoh ball soup to the corned beef short rib feast, a meal at Jeremy Fox’s Birdie G’s feels like a warm hug, which might be exactly what you need at the beginning of a long week. Always order the relish tray, which is a study in fresh, pickled, fermented, and marinated farmers market vegetables, and comes with a creamy five-onion (or vegan cashew) dip, and the Technicolor desserts, including a wobbly (and highly photogenic) rose petal pie.

Cobi’s is the kind of restaurant that makes East Siders jealous of West Siders. From its alluring floral wallpaper and bamboo-enclosed patio to the delectable curries, this Southeast Asian restaurant is worth a visit, no matter where you’re coming from. Santa Monica locals are lucky to have easy access to grilled prawns with ginger and yellow bean sauce, beef rendang with chili sambal and crispy shallot, and Thai tea pudding with boba pearls and lemongrass.

If you live in Malibu or you’re a frequent surfer, you likely already know about Taverna Tony, but it still feels like something of a hidden gem for those who stumble across it. In a city where Greek food is hard to come by, dinner here is transportive. Bright blue tablecloths and wood chairs set the scene for typical taverna fare, like tzatziki, charred octopus, moussaka, flaming saganaki, fresh fish, and souvlaki. Let an evening amongst bougainvillea on the restaurant’s patio be your Monday night getaway.