The Resy Guide to L.A.’s New Old-School Restaurants

The Yenbamroong family made waves on the Sunset Strip when they opened Talesai back in 1982. The first mainstream Thai restaurant to open in L.A., the spot was frequented by actors and musicians and gained a near-immediate following. Today, it carries on the legacy at its Studio City location, known for signature dishes like Hidden Treasures and Islander’s Fried Rice. Son Kris took over the original WeHo location in 2008, and then opened his own wildly popular concept Night + Market next door (and eventually took over the old Talesai space), which now has multiple locations as well.

(Fun fact: As part of the Resy Rewind series, Kris turned his Venice eatery Night+Market Sahm full 1980s for one night only to throw back to Talesai in its original glory.)

For over sixty years, Chez Jay has been more than just a Santa Monica dive bar — it’s a living legend. Located at the end of Route 66 on Ocean Avenue, the landmarked watering hole and restaurant feels like a time capsule between its kitschy maritime theme, ramshackle wooden bar (complete with a captain’s wheel), steak dinners and stiff martinis, and iconic memorabilia lining the walls. Founded by actor Jay Fiondella in 1959, Chez Jay has long been a hangout for celebrities and colorful neighborhood regulars. It’s currently owned by former manager Michael Anderson and his son Chris, who grew up working at the restaurant, just like his father. Stop by for a classic surf ‘n turf dinner from the throwback-laden menu either indoors or out back on the expansive patio. If you’re lucky, Michael might be around to show you the famous Rat Pack table and/or regale you with decades of stories and recent celebrity sightings.  

Few places capture the mythology of Hollywood quite like Chateau Marmont. Perched above Sunset Boulevard since 1929, its ivy-draped terrace and candlelit dining room exude the kind of old-school glamour that can only be found in L.A. Whether you’re tucked into a corner booth or poolside at twilight, it’s a masterclass in ambiance. The menu may lean classic — steak frites, roast chicken, the perfect omelet — but the real draw is the history and vibes. Generations of Hollywood royalty have eaten (and partied) here, and somehow it still feels like a secret.

Family-run since 1982, Marouch remains a touchstone for Los Angeles’ Lebanese-Armenian dining scene, and one of the city’s great neighborhood institutions. Founded by Sossi and Serge Brady, it’s been run by grandniece Haikouhi Keshishyan and her husband since 2018. Inside its unassuming East Hollywood strip-mall space, perfect plates of meze arrive in waves: creamy hummus, garlicky toum, and delicate grape leaves, just to name a few. Long before “Middle Eastern small plates” became a trend, Marouch was quietly perfecting them.

This revamped Santa Monica hotel restaurant channels Art Deco-era glam, with a speakeasy twist. Originally debuting in 1933 as the Red Griffin, It was a hangout for Hollywood starlets during its Golden Age and through the 1960s. Restored and reopened as The Georgian Room in 2024, the entrance is hidden off to the side of the Georgian Hotel along Ocean Avenue (press the brass buzzer for entry). One part steakhouse and another part jazz club, it’s the perfect setting to enjoy dishes from Nancy Silverton alum David Almany, including linguine alla scampi, garganelli with oxtail ragu, and a steak menu including a dry-aged Tomahawk ribeye. To channel that old-school, red sauce vibe, stop by for Spaghetti Sundays, which features a prix-fixe Italian-American inspired menu every week for $65 per person.

To the right of Damon’s door is a placard that lures you in with the promise of thick steaks and tropical drinks. Mosey inside its weathered thatch-and-bamboo facade to find just that: mai tais and chi chis, plus filet mignon and sirloin coulottes that anchor a menu of classic American family-style fare, which also includes coconut shrimp with tangy orange horseradish sauce and five-layer chocolate cake. First opened in 1937, Damon’s is the second-oldest restaurant on this list, although it’s only been on Brand Boulevard for 42 years. The Polynesian steakhouse moved from its original location on South Central Avenue in 1980 so that the Glendale Galleria mall could expand.

When Michael’s debuted in Santa Monica in 1979, it made a big splash. Ambitious chef Michael McCarty was just 25 when he opened his namesake restaurant, cooking food now considered an early, cutting-edge example of California cuisine. Alongside a team of now-famous chefs such as Jonathan Waxman and Nancy Silverton, McCarty served French dishes starring the best of L.A.’s local, seasonal ingredients. Today, Michael’s menu reads as charmingly dated (smoked salmon toast, duck leg confit, pan-roasted halibut) but still manages to stay relevant — the seeded sourdough bread is sourced from Jyan Issac, a 20-year-old baker whose naturally-fermented goods have been drawing lines around the block. Enjoy the restaurant to its fullest by requesting a table on the gorgeously lush patio.

With the recent passing of Marty Roberts, the jazz musician who performed live at The Dresden for over 40 years, now is a good time to visit this Los Feliz haunt to pay tribute over shrimp cocktail and prime rib. The Dresden’s fancy dining room boasts an ‘80s aesthetic, with red walls and white leather booths, yet it’s been around since 1954. Meanwhile, the restaurant’s more casual cocktail lounge is a go-to place for snacks and strong drinks — signature, seasonal, shaken, or stirred. Be sure to get a glance of the Wall of Fame on your way to the bathroom and keep your eyes peeled for The Dresden while watching “Swingers,” “Anchorman,” or “Mad Men.” Live entertainment is expected to return this spring.

Tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu, Saddle Peak Lodge is a romantic hideaway with an illustrious 100-year old history. First, it was a dry goods and beer shop, then a roadhouse for folks working on the nearby ranches run by Hollywood studios, and eventually a sprawling restaurant designed in a classical lodge fashion, with walls made of logs and taxidermy galore. The menu reflects the Old West theme as well, from New Zealand elk tartare to mesquite-cooked rib eye with red wine jus. Dinner here is destination dining within the bounds of L.A., so make a night of it.

Like Dear John’s, Carmine’s was a go-to hangout for the Rat Pack. It’s where Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin went for New York-style Italian food: elevated red sauce fare like eggplant rollatini, spaghetti Bolognese, and chicken piccata. Its brick building in Century City looks unassuming, but inside you’ll find a handsome, dimly lit space where customers have been swirling pasta and splitting plates of Parm since 1972. A meal here isn’t cheap, but the vibe is priceless.

Yamashiro is a sight to behold. The bona fide mansion in the Hollywood Hills is a replica of a palace in the mountains nearby Kyoto. Originally constructed in the early 1910s as a private residence, it’s been operating as a restaurant for just under 70 years. The food is firmly Asian fusion, with a menu ranging from sushi boats to braised short rib lollipops and hibachi pineapple fried rice. But you’re not here for the fare; the draws are an incredible view of the city, a garden courtyard with a koi pond, and a 600-year old pagoda from Japan (apparently the oldest structure in California).