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Eater
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: June 6
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. For a great pizza (practically) anywhere in LA: Prime Pizza LA's pizza scene has grown substantially in recent years, with shops around town serving New York-style slices, square pies, New Haven-style pizza, and practically every other style under the sun. However, many LA pizza shops have only a single location, making them more of a neighborhood destination than a widely accessible option for pizza night takeout or delivery. Prime is among those outstanding pizza parlors in LA, but it has locations across the city, making it easy to grab a slice no matter what part of town one is in. The vodka pizza is a standout among the round pies, topped with mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan. Square pies consist of a simple grandma pie, a Sicilian, a spicy pepperoni, and a meat lover's. Prime even offers gluten-free crusts for those avoiding wheat. 1900 Allen Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest For a gorgeous Italian patio vibe in the middle of residential Mar Vista: Beethoven Market One of the loveliest dinners I've had in recent memory, at least in terms of pure ambience, was at Beethoven Market, a neighborhood gem right in Mar Vista's residential expanse. Restaurateur Jeremy Adler has made a name overseeing some of the Westside's busiest spots, like Santa Monica's Cobi's, working for years to transform this former bodega into a community hub. On this front, Beethoven is overwhelmingly successful, perhaps to the chagrin of some neighbors who were happy to park their cars in our spots upon departing. But the benefit of a breezy, casual hangout like this must surely compensate for the traffic. Chef Michael Leonard serves a familiar California Italian menu of fried squash blossoms, blimp-shaped fried arancini, personal-sized pizzas, and medium-sized pastas. Evan Funke fans will find a lot of similar dishes here, such as grilled prawns in salsa verde, linguini al limone, burrata panzanella, and pesto-laden foglie d'Ulivo. Beethoven does venture in a different direction with the pizzas, sporting pillowy soft New York-esque crusts that offer a sweet fragrance, and the grilled sea bass over an herbaceous Sicilian tarragon sauce doesn't have a tangle of shredded fennel slices like at Mother Wolf. For dessert, be sure to share the excellent housemade gelati. Most people coming to Beethoven probably won't mind the similarities, and there's something to be said about the very reasonable pricing here (pastas are all under $20, pizzas max out at $23, a good meal can be had for under $75 a person before drinks). And LA has never been a city to ever tire of California-Italian food. 12904 Palms Boulevard, Mar Vista, CA, 90066. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an easy breakfast in Virgil Village: Virgil Cafe Lines at Courage and Sqirl may never truly die down, but Virgil Village now has another option for a more easygoing breakfast or brunch. Virgil Cafe is an unassuming breakfast spot near the intersection of Virgil and Melrose, serving all the classics like French toast, pancakes, and eggs, alongside huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and breakfast burritos. The interior is no-frills, but service is warm and quick, and the portion sizes are very generous. Fresh-pressed juices and smoothies are also available, like a green juice and a peanut butter and banana smoothie. During the daytime, Virgil Cafe serves more lunch-y dishes, including a tlayuda, a mushroom burger, and fajitas. 709 Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest For killer arroz chaufa and a la brasa chicken: Rosty Peruvian Rosty Peruvian owner Maritza Gomez hails from Peruvian restaurant royalty. Gomez's mother, Alis Reañ, owned two notable Lima restaurants called Listo de Pollo. Listo de Pollo opened in 1969 and closed permanently in 1993, while a young Gomez and her sisters (Carmen and Flor Bermudez also operate Rosty) learned the inner workings of a restaurant. The family debuted their Highland Park restaurant in 2018, which has some of the best Peruvian food in the city. It's a casual and friendly spot that serves lunch through dinner with an incredible arroz chaufa, a Peruvian fried rice that takes fairly uninteresting vegetables and makes them sing in a saucy, hearty mixture of herbs, tomatoes, and a healthy dose of onions. The addition of chicken makes it an incredibly filling meal, but it is absolutely stunning, even without protein. Traditional la brasa rotisserie chicken is available, but go beyond and try everything, especially the fried yucca, lomo saltado, and incredible ceviche that packs heat. The pescado frito is a filet that's deep-fried and served simply with salsa criolla, rice, and plantains. The best strategy is to go with a group, share, and enjoy every bite. 5511 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Related The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How One Buzzy New Los Angeles Restaurant Solved The $25 Burger Problem
After taking over the space (and name) of a beloved corner store in Los Angeles, Beethoven Market aims to reinvent the neighborhood restaurant experience. The last time I was in Beethoven Market, I bought a quart of milk, a pack of mints and a lottery ticket. The scratch-off was a bust but the real payoff finally came last night when I dined at the stunning new restaurant now occupying the space where Slim Jims and Little Debbies once passed for starters. Two years ago, my neighbors near the beach in Los Angeles quietly felt the loss when the family-run convenience store—built in 1949—closed its doors for good. Then came the inevitable laundry list of 'uh-ohs' when restaurateur Jeremy Adler took over the Mar Vista property and turned the old Beethoven Market into a glossy, indoor-outdoor Cal-Italian hot spot: The noise! The parking! The safety of our kids! Nothing on the menu at Beethoven Market is over $35 and most dishes land comfortably under $30. But something interesting happened on the way to wood-fired pork collar and thyme: A true neighborhood void got filled. Not because Mar Vista desperately needed another open-beamed spot for tuna carpaccio and natural orange wine—it didn't. But Adler and his team figured out something most restaurants don't, which is how to belong. The reborn, unrecognizable, completely delicious Beethoven Market isn't trying to gouge or dazzle or food-snob its way to success. It just wants you to come back, and feel good and then come back again. Let's talk prices. Lately, you need to say a prayer (or pop a gummy) before even glancing at a menu. 'The $25 burger problem' has spiraled into $28 Caesar salads, $11 espresso shots, and an $18 slice of olive oil cake you won't even like that much. Plus, automatic 20 percent gratuities, employee healthcare surcharges and whatever you're Venmo-ing your 14-year-old babysitter/TikTok consultant. It's a lot. Beethoven Market has a three-week wait for reservations but the bar has 24 spots for walk-ins. Beethoven Market doesn't have a dish over $35, and most land comfortably below $30. That pork collar is $29. Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe is $15. The Meyer lemon and clam pizza is $23, and that's the most expensive one. A generous and memorable side of roasted artichoke hearts runs $13, and cocktails cap out at $15. No, they're not giving food away but it's a refreshing difference from another newish place five minutes down Venice Boulevard charging $45 for gnocchi with black truffles and $55 for short ribs, and pretending it's doing you a favor (And I won't even mention the $60 half duck confit at Gjelina). Adler is intentional about all this. He was roving around the restaurant last night and told me he designed Beethoven Market so neighbors can linger like it's an extension of their own living room. He instructed his staff never to upsell or sneer if a guest — he hates the word 'customer' — just wants a beer and a $12 plate of crispy rice balls. He sees Beethoven Market as a 'third place'—not home, not work— where the community comes together. It's why he installed VIB Parking for strollers (the b is for babies) near the entrance on Palms Boulevard. It explains the happy hour pricing that keeps drinks at $10 and appetizers in the Trader Joe's range. One other move Adler made gives me hope. When the old market and liquor store went away, regulars worried about what would happen to the Beethoven Market staff, including Bernardo Mendoza, who was the face behind the counter seven days a week for 30 years. Mendoza didn't have restaurant experience but Adler asked him to join the restaurant team, and he's now working as a back server and training to be a waiter. He recently told LA Weekly, 'This is where I belong.' Maybe this will all change. It's already nearly impossible to score a reservation at Beethoven Market without a three-week wait. But there are options for walk-ins at the 24-seat bar, and Adler, who works full time for Resy, says he's thinking about making some adjustments—perhaps allowing priority booking for locals. But that's still to come. The point is, sometimes a place can change without losing its sense of place. Restaurants don't always need to chase hype to fill seats. Even in 2025, menus don't have to bankrupt you to make you feel taken care of. And if you treat neighbors like people, they'll tend to stick around. Beethoven Market is located at 12904 Palms Boulevard. The Los Angeles restaurant is open Sunday through Wednesday, from 5 pm to 9 pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 5 pm to 10 pm. Happy hour is daily from 4 pm to 5 pm.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
CasaDami Brings European Leisure And Terrific Tapas To Newport Beach
One thing about la dolce vita is that the sweet life is often about the moments when you're lingering, when you're not doing much of anything, when all that matters is the food and drink and people around you. Southern California has been getting a nice dose of European leisure this year. At the new Alba in West Hollywood, Cobi Levy is celebrating il dolce far niente, which is the sweetness of doing nothing. At Jeremy Adler's new Beethoven Market in L.A.'s Mar Vista neighborhood, happy hour is called ora del dolce far niente. (Having outdoor seating is vital at both Alba and Beethoven Market.) The idea, of course, is that doing nothing can often make you feel everything. Newport Beach also has a new beautiful new ode to la dolce vita. Going to CasaDami, with a floral-draped 40-seat patio near the water in Peninsula Village, might make you think you're in the Italian Riviera. There are charcuterie boards, caviar service (with both bread and blinis at a restaurant that carefully calibrates every menu item) and chicken Milanese to fill out the postcard-worthy picture. Chef Rodney Gutierrez (who previously cooked at New York restaurants including Rosemary's) hones in on difference-making little details as he creates tapas at CasaDami. After extensive R&D, Gutierrez uses a housemade focaccia/ciabatta hybrid and heirloom tomatoes from the Santa Monica farmers market for exemplary pan con tomate. He amps up croquetas (with Serrano ham and manchego) by adding in jamón Ibérico de bellota trimmings. This is confident cooking that's nuanced and purposefully understated. The ingredients shine. CasaDami has luxury and big flavors to spare. Crudo is made with three cuts of tuna, including chutoro and otoro, that are complemented with leche de tigre as well as squid ink tapioca chips. Partners Camilla Caremoli and Dave Shah debuted CasaDami at the beginning of March to bring both of their dreams to life. Caremoli, who was born and raised in Milan and comes from three generations of a food-industry family, wanted Newport Beach to have a proper European-style all-day café. Shah, an avid wine collector, wanted to open his own wine bar. CasaDami was born because Caremoli, who's also lived in Miami and Boston, felt that Newport Beach deserved the kind of transporting destination that she's found in other cities. 'Her family still lives in Italy, so we would travel to Italy,' Shah says of the inspiration behind CasaDami. 'And when we were there, we'd go to France and to Spain. And when we came back home, we missed those experiences. We wanted something that's going to really take us back to our happy place, which for both of us is Portofino, Italy.' Shah has a CasaDami wine list with selections including Château Margaux and super Tuscans. (He says that drinking his first glass of Sassicaia in Italy was what started his 'true love for wine.") Adept CasaDami beverage director/sommelier Allan Camarena, who was previously beverage director at Wolfgang Puck's Merois at the Pendry in West Hollywood, might pour you bangers like Comte Lafond sancerre grande cuvée and Giovanni Manzone barolo Bricat. Olive oil cake is a standout dessert at CasaDami. Outshine PR Both those wines are part of CasaDami's new spring beverage menu and available by the glass. Camarena says he also encourages half glasses and is, of course, happy to personally pair wines with your meal. There are all sorts of great reasons to linger when you have dinner here. 'It's that concept of la dolce vita, where you're more present,' Shah says. 'You're in the moment and you let the experience take over. You let your mind drift away. It's that concept of being transported. That's what we wanted.' Like many European destinations, CasaDami is set up to be an all-day affair, whether you're looking for an early-morning espresso, a prosciutto sandwich for lunch, truffle eggs Benedict for weekend brunch or a wagyu flat iron steak (a dish that nods to Gutierrez's Filipino heritage, with chile onion jam alongside parsley veloute and charred lime) for dinner. Olive oil cake is a fantastic sweet but not too sweet finish after lunch, brunch or dinner. Dom Pérignon by the glass is available all day ('from 7 a.m. to close,' Camarena stresses). Mid-afternoon golden hour means you can pair Dom with charcuterie and caviar before the sun starts setting. Whether you're on the patio, in the dining room or at the 15-seat Italian marble bar, CasaDami feels like vacation even if you live nearby. In-the-know locals, in fact, are raving about how this restaurant is unlike anything else in Newport Beach. Expect to see a lot of blissful guests partaking in the sweet life here this summer, doing nothing and enjoying everything.
