The Los Angeles Restaurants We Loved in July

At Smorgasburg, I always beelined…

… for chef Rashida Holmes’ West Indian pop-up Bridgetown Roti, so I was thrilled to finally be able to pop into their East Hollywood brick and mortar. The whole vibe was colorful and cheery, and everything was delicious — especially the coco bread cutter, a fried fish sandwiched in puffy, deep-fried coco bread, topped with pickled cabbage, and slathered with tangy hibiscus jam.

I was so focused on devouring red pepper goat roti with peanut sauce and channa sweet potato roti with fried cauliflower and turmeric slaw that I didn’t notice two of my favorite comedians, Sasheer Zamata and Nicole Byer, sitting right next to us until the end of dinner (a good thing as I probably would’ve lost it). By the way, do spring for sides of mac and cheese pie and cucumber salad with jerk seasoning, one cup of each hot sauce (the habanero burns in a good way), and the tart, refreshing soursop punch.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Worth the journey to Sherman Oaks…

… Daisy is the electric follow-up to Mírate that puts the work of bartender Max Reis on a pedestal, highlighting a journey of sweet and savory drinks through the lens of the margarita. Like a hipster Chili’s, this place was mobbed on a Monday night. The over-the-top Salsa Macha and Dirty Shirly margaritas were both absolute bangers and perfect stars to the queso fundido and carne asada role players.

— Drew Nordstrom, Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager

I think I can speak for all of the people…

… of Ocean Park when I say: thank you for being here, Cosetta. This newly opened Italian spot is the sort of place you’d want to walk down the street to once a week (at least) — though it is just as worthy of a special visit for non-locals across town. This comes as no surprise as powerhouse Zach Pollack (formerly of Alimento) is behind the menu, offering a combination of playful classics and Pollack signatures (yes, those mozzarella sticks are back). On a recent visit, it was the scallop crudo, simply presented with olive oil and almonds, that got me. Finish that off with a shatteringly crisp chicken Milanese, the uni butter and clam-laden pizza, and a perfect Margherita cocktail (inspired by the pizza of the same name), and happiness is yours.

— Hillary Eaton, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

I was almost overwhelmed…

… by how flavorful the breakfast burrito at Marmalade Cafe was. Seriously, each bite was better than the last. I substituted the tortilla chips for a side of fruit, but still asked for the salsa (not for the fruit, don’t worry), and it added another layer of delicious to the burrito. Also, shoutout to my server, Marina, who was so sweet.

— Alisha Williams, Lead Hospitality Coordinator

After meeting some friends at the Burbank farmers market…

… we decided to grab brunch at our old reliable, The Tallyrand. The pseudo diner has been around since 1959 and does a killer job with homey staples, like fried chicken and a hot turkey sandwich that’s smothered in gravy. We spent hours in the dimly lit downstairs bar, filling up on scrambled eggs with sausage patties and a giant waffle, sipping on Bloody Marys with no one rushing us out to turn the tables. That old-school hospitality, and its quirky waiters, is a welcome relief from some of the more fast-paced hot spots in town.

— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

The first thing you notice about…

… Lucia when you step inside, is that it’s gorgeous — it’s easily one of the most stunning dining rooms to grace Los Angeles this year. It’s a dramatic space, centered by a cocktail bar outfitted with lit-up “wings,” that’s accented by seashell-shaped arches over its booths. The look feels modern, but also like an old-school throwback to Hollywood haunts from the Golden Age, like the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel. Back then, going out meant really going for it, and Lucia certainly feels the same — it’s a perfect date night or night-on-the-town kind of joint.

Lucia’s upscale Afro-Caribbean menu has been dreamt up by Adrian Forte, a Jamaica-born chef who competed on “Top Chef Canada,” and who was a private chef for the likes of Virgil Abloh and Alicia Keys. He’s bringing a new-school approach to classic dishes, and a few of my favorites included his pepper shrimp toast, the Trini mac pie, an oxtail pepper pot, and the jerked steak. Combine these with an okra martini and tamarind Collins from the bar, and you’re in for both a great meal and a memorable night out.

— Khuong Phan, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

I always have a lovely time…

… at Ètra, and this time was no exception. The burrata and tuna tartare are the ideal way to start, and the wood-fired branzino is always perfectly cooked and deeply flavorful. All the pastas are delicious, and you’ll want a bottle of chilled red to wash it all down. Don’t skip the panna cotta. Thanks to Andrew, Rebecca, and the whole team for another wonderful evening.

— Jonathan Toobi, Regional Manager, Los Angeles

Eating in Malibu can be a sad combination…

… of expensive and lacking, but not when it comes to Broad Street Oyster Company. After the recent Malibu fires, it’s been nice to see people coming to support the neighborhood, especially by indulging in their signature lobster roll, which is still my favorite thing on the menu (its greatness was reaffirmed on this recent visit). Their iteration is simple: just hunks of lobster claw tossed in warmed butter, overflowing from an even buttery-er brioche roll. It is easily the best iteration in Los Angeles.

— Hillary Eaton, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Though it’s nondescript from the outside…

… as soon as you walk in, 88 Club’s ambiance is something else. Our drinks were incredible and we wanted to order everything on the menu, but had to settle on a couple of items. I insisted on the mung bean jelly noodles, which are cold and are perfectly spicy thanks to the chile oil — I could’ve eaten that as a main by itself. We all agreed that we needed to try the sesame prawn toast based on word of mouth, and it didn’t disappoint — I loved the presentation and the flavor. We followed up with the sweet and sour fish, the kung pao scallops, and a side of charred hot and sour cabbage, which had a perfectly crunchy texture and was so flavorful. For dessert, we figured, why choose? We ordered the jasmine milk tea custard bun, the ginger ice cream topped with crystalized ginger and an almond cookie (which you should eat with the custard bun, as our server recommended), and the mango coconut sago with pomelo, which came out looking like mango Dippin’ Dots.

— Alexa Harrison, Communications Manager

As a fully vegan restaurant…

… I was blown away by the flavor of the non-dairy cheeses at Pura Vita. The baked cashew ricotta and vegan carbonara were absolutely amazing, and the towering chocolate fudge cake was a lovely end to the meal.

— Marissa McGovern, Senior Partner Success Manager

I love a perfect little bite in a chic little bistro…

… and Camélia’s bluefin tuna and uni toast with shiso, wasabi, and crème fraîche is so good, I could eat three. So is the kombu rice, something I would gladly eat for breakfast every morning: tender rice with garlic butter, nori, and shiso. While digging into the sweet potato gratin with miso butter, fontina, and Gruyère, I was thinking how French and Japanese cuisine kind of seem at odds at first, in terms of richness and ingredients, but work together so well.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

I wasn’t sure what to expect…

… when I headed to Wally’s in Santa Monica for a pre-birthday dinner, but was blown away by the opulence. We each started off with a glass of Krug’s Grande Cuvée Champagne paired with an oyster and caviar, before proceeding onto a decadent pasta with a pile of freshly shaved black truffles, served alongside a house special red Burgundy. Then onto a cheese board, washed down with a half glass of riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, a highly coveted sweet German dessert wine made by esteemed producer Weingut Keller. I haven’t had a food and wine experience like this in a while, and it’ll probably be some time before I do again.

— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

More Los Angeles staff picks, right this way.