When the Greek restaurant Sofi closed, I hoped another restauranteur would take over the space at this hidden gem in Los Angeles. Recently I learned the Bacari Restaurant Group took over the space and opened Bacari W. 3rd. I’ve been to the Bacari GDL at Caruso’s Americana at Brand in Glendale. It’s a Venetian-inspired Cicchetti-…
Category: Brunch
The stars align at Beverly Hills Ocean Prime
While sitting on the elegant al fresco terrace near a DJ spinning lively tunes, one of my favorite actors and singers Daveed Diggs passed by my table with actress and singer Emmy Raver-Lampman. For Hamilton fans, this is seeing musical royalty. Not only did Diggs play Thomas Jefferson and Lafayette in the original Hamilton cast…
Italian Food & Art at Luigi al Teatro
The Chateau Paintings displayed at Michelin-starred chef Luigi Fineo’s restaurant Luigi al Teatro, adds to the theatrics of the Santa Monica California seafood with a Southern Italian flair menu. Luigi al Teatro has an artistic past as once the historic Powerhouse Theatre. Inside the dining room on the walls are painted faces of actors looking towards…
Sweet Sunday Brunch at Herringbone
With whimsical marine décor and artwork displayed among the interior’s cool blue and green hues, Herringbone allows beachgoers to revel in the seaside without the crowds of the Santa Monica Pier just a few blocks away. On a beautiful day, the best way to experience this California coastal restaurant is with brunch on the al…
BOA Brunch is Better than most
Entering BOA on Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, we were welcomed by a hostess offering us a tray of deviled eggs, while we waited to be seated. This wasn’t an ordinary deviled egg, because BOA Steakhouse isn’t an ordinary restaurant. It’s extraordinary. The elevated egg snack is called Green Eggs & Ham. The chefs at…
Solid Gold Citizen in Beverly Hills
When Citizen opened about two years ago next to Spago on Canon Drive, I enjoyed the creative food, kitschy decor and more reasonable prices than many of the other restaurants along the street. When my husband and I returned to Citizen for dinner last month, we noticed they still have the macrame wall coverings and…
Crack Shack takes fried chicken up a notch
Celebrity chef Richard Blais is known for his appearances on the reality cooking show Top Chef, and as San Diego’s top restaurateur with his fine dining restaurant Juniper & Ivy, and fine-casual fried chicken eatery The Crack Shack. Fine-casual restaurants are popping up all over Los Angeles since restaurateur Danny Meyer of Shake Shack came…
Fun Birthday Venues in Los Angeles
Planning a birthday is easy in LA. The city has so many fun celebratory venues for brunch, roof top soirees and festive dinner affairs. When friends ask for my advice about a fun birthday destination, I always give them a list of three. Now my list has grown. Here are my favorite restaurants to celebrate…
Authentic Farm-to-Table at FARMHOUSE
Earlier this year I was invited to a preview of Farmhouse at the former Grand Luxe space, located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Beverly Center. The 7,000 square foot space has been transformed to an upscale farmhouse with wood flooring, three dining areas with tall wood ceilings, and lots of green plants. …
