The Resy Guide to Autumn in Los Angeles
Autumn in Los Angeles is more like the dog days of summer, weather-wise. But the back-to-school energy is real, the in-season produce at the market is shifting (persimmons!), friends and colleagues are eager to catch up, and there’s plenty of dining to be done. So we put together a Fall Bucket List — a.k.a. everywhere we want to eat right now.
1. Savor the last few days of ideal outdoor dining…
… by making a reservation for dinner at All Time, where the idyllic open-air dining room sits on wood planks and overlooks the restaurant’s garden. The romantic vibe makes it perfect for date night, and the kitchen’s seasonal menu of sizable, share-worthy dishes is fitting for a group hang. Ask about the vegetable specials.
2. Toast to the new season with…
… a round (or two) of margaritas at Atla in Venice. This chic, all-day Mexican restaurant — from the globally renowned chef Enrique Olvera — is a new addition to Abbott Kinney, with a bar that makes a killer marg (in addition to palomas, mezcal mules, and micheladas). Pair that with herb-laden guacamole, fish a la talla, and suadero tacos, and you’re in for a great night.
3. Take a weekend trip to Ojai and dine at…
… Rory’s Place, where the raw bar and seasonal California cooking are exemplary, and The Dutchess for tea leaf salad, goat masala, and other Burmese-inspired fare. Dinner reservations at both will ensure a weekend of very good eating, as will a meal at Pinyon (whether it be bagels in the morning, hoagies during the day, or wood-fired pizza at night).
4. Or if you can’t get out of town, check out a neighborhood you haven’t been to in a while.
Say, Beverly Hills, where there’s plenty new afoot, from chef Evan Funke’s eponymous Italian restaurant Funke to acclaimed New York import Dante for pristine rooftop cocktails, and the new-and-improved Beverly Hills Cheese Shop for all your cheese and charcuterie needs.
5. Take in masterworks by Rembrandt and Picasso at Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum, then refuel with…
… New York-style pies and cocktails at U Street Pizza. There is a lot to like about this casual, pizza-focused counterpart to pasta destination Union, including a Caesar salad with a dash of Calabrian chili oil, fried provolone with spicy marinara (a fancier cousin to mozzarella sticks), a chicken vodka parm, and soft serve swirls.
5. Indulge in fiery salads and comforting curries at…
… one of Night+Market’s three locations, where the atmosphere is ever-lively and the wine is always flowing. Order larb gai, som tum, and the crispy rice salad, followed by panang beef and sweet potato massaman, and perhaps a noodle, like the pastrami pad kee mao. Be sure to finish with mango sticky rice, so long as it’s still in season.
6. Don’t forget to treat yourself to immaculate kakigori…
… at ramen specialist Tonchin, the Japanese shaved iced dessert comes in flavors like matcha and strawberry, stunningly presented with dollops of whipped cream sauce. They’re almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
7. Hang onto summer Fridays with a power lunch at a Venice institution.
… a midday meeting at Gjelina is a bona fide L.A. power move. Order seasonally, share a pizza or two, and soak up the beachy, laid-back energy. Since it’s Friday, you may as well have a glass of wine and dessert — perhaps just a seasonal fruit plate or a scoop of housemade gelato.
8. Bring everyone together for dinner, then order for the table.
You can’t go wrong with Genghis Cohen when you’re dining with a big crew. The American Chinese restaurant allows Resys for up to 10 people in its dining room, outfitted with red leather booths and overhead lanterns, and boasts a sprawling menu that ranges from egg rolls to mu shu pork, shrimp chow mein, orange peel chicken, and Szechuan green beans. Better yet, there’s a full bar, so you can kick off dinner with a round of martinis.
9. Cozy up to a good book at these spots that are perfect for solo dining.
Anywhere with an inviting bar is a great bet for a solo meal. Try Sogo Roll Bar for unagi crispy rice and yellowtail hand rolls; sidle up for an expertly crafted cocktail and wood-fired Spanish-inspired plates at Bar Moruno, or a bowl of laksa followed by Vietnamese coffee pudding at Cassia. Pro tip: if you’ve yet to visit hot spot Queen St., you might have better luck nabbing a seat at the walk-in-only bar if you arrive alone.
