Where to Eat in October: Dear Jane’s, The Garden at Horses, and More

“What Dear John’s is to steak, Dear Jane’s will be to seafood,” says the team behind this brand-new throwback of a restaurant with front-row views of the marina. Vintage buoys hang from the wall that frames the open kitchen. Chopped Shrimp Louie is prepared tableside, as are flambéed crepes suzette for dessert. And to drink, there are bright-blue margaritas and spiced rum Lady Janes. Don’t miss the bougie fish sticks, served with caviar and seven-layer dip.

The Garden at Horses is more than the garden at Horses, if you catch our drift. It’s a standalone al fresco restaurant with a dining room anchored by a pink peppercorn tree and a menu driven by wood-fired pizzettes. Sip on spritzes and a Garibaldi, and order everything to share. Fans of Horses’ off-menu pasta with vodka sauce and ‘nduja should spring for the dish in pizzette form. (It’s called the Herman if you want it.)

Bub and Grandma’s already makes bread for some of L.A.’s best restaurants, like the seeded babari at Kismet and the baguettes and ciabatta used by Wax Paper. Their sourdough boules and focaccia slabs are coveted at local farmers markets. Now, founder Andy Kadin finally has a place of his own to showcase what can be done with his bread, so naturally, the sandwiches are the focus. Challah toast with butter and jam, greens-egg-and-cheese on a kaiser roll, and a proper Italian sandwich on a hoagie are just a few of the highlights. Oh, and pastries are on as well.

More info here.

According to the New York Times, Kato is one of this year’s 50 most beloved restaurants. Jon Yao’s fine dining approach to Taiwanese-American cuisine has been widely celebrated since it first opened in a West L.A. strip mall, and again after it relocated to a serene and soaring space in the Arts District. Even so, here’s a tip: it’s not an impossible Resy to nab. If you’ve yet to go, make it happen. If you’ve been, consider it time for a return trip.

On a given night, and particularly on weekends, most parties dining at Carousel are upwards of 10. They’re there to celebrate birthdays or promotions, or just to catch up over excellent kebbeh and kebab, dips galore, fattoush, and rice pilaf. Take a cue from the regulars and book a table for a big crew. Maybe you have a reason to gather, or maybe you don’t, but when you order the soujok that’s flame-broiled at your table, it’ll feel like a celebration regardless.

More info here.

Voodoo Vin is not new, but it has finally settled into its identity as a European-style neighborhood wine bar with cheffy snack-y plates. Chef Travis Hayden is at the helm dishing out housemade mortadella with pickled cauliflower, chicken liver tartine with peach jam, tagliatelle Bolognese, and other seasonally-driven stuff. As for the wine, this bottle shop-turned-restaurant has plenty to choose from to suit your mood. Also, it’s now accepting Resys! 

Editor’s note: As of Jan. 24, 2024, Kinn has rebranded into a new concept, Jilli.

Chef Ki Kim just unveiled his fall menu: seven courses ranging from confit mushroom to charcoal grilled wagyu shortib to corn bingsoo, and it’s only $72. So that’s one reason to visit Kinn this month. Another is that Kim regularly collaborates with various and talented chef friends for special, one-night-only meals, the tickets to which are always on Resy. Give Kinn a follow on Instagram and keep your eyes peeled for those.

Fans of the Butcher’s Daughter take note: the pioneering plant-based restaurant just opened the doors to its second L.A. location. In West Hollywood, the same lush, green, and airy aesthetic holds, and there are new drinks and dishes to boot. The Melrose Martini features olives roasted in Mediterranean herbs, and the chef Andy Barbarto is behind vegan raw bar items like eggplant oysters and handmade pastas, including ravioli stuffed with lemony tofu ricotta and topped with white truffle sauce.

From Zankou to Pollo A La Brasa, there’s no shortage of very good roast chicken in L.A. Another major contendor is the barbecue-style gai yang at Thai Original Barbecue, a local chain with a handful of locations around the city, including Hollywood, Culver City, and Glendale. The dish is perfectly marinated and grilled to produce a juicy, flavorful bird and served with Thai chili sauce. Ask for peanut sauce, too, and nam prik pla for spice.

More info here.

Local roaster Canyon Coffee now has its own coffee shop in Echo Park, decked out in natural light and blonde wood. Better yet, there’s more than cold brew, cortados, and oat chai on tap. Very good toasts on polenta spelt bread include avocado with furikake and black lime, labneh with citrus-fermented honey and za’atar, and almond butter with olive oil and sea salt. Also: sweets from pastry chef Sasha Piligian (think scones, pie, and chocolate chip cookies).

More info here.