CHIC PLACES: NEW RESTAURANTS I’VE TRIED IN LOS ANGELES

[bigletter]Having a baby won’t stop me from getting back to my fun exploring this city and I am beyond excited Los Angeles has finally opened up! Since giving birth I’ve been doing my best to get back to all my old favorites, in addition to some newcomers I’m sharing today. It’s been absolutely amazing getting to dine in again, I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed bread baskets and a non-virgin cocktail that I didn’t make myself!

The only difference now is everything takes a lot longer bringing Parker anywhere, with more stuff to tote around, along with a persistent the fear that he might at any moment change his mind about whether or not he’s feeling “the vibe.”

However, I still plan to bring him along for the adventure as much as possible until he’s ordering his own plate of crispy rice off the menu!

Enjoy.[/bigletter]

The Terrace at The Maybourne, Beverly Hills

This is a wonderful location for any restaurant with it’s beautiful view of a Beverly Cañon Gardens. I’ve loved both previous iterations of the space as Scarpetta and then the aesthetically pleasing Georgie where I had an adorable birthday dinner with girlfriends a few years ago.

Since then not only has the restaurant changed over yet again, but the hotel itself went from being the Montage to The Maybourne, with a perfect place to eat al fresco, befittingly called The Terrace.

My husband and I strolled on in for lunch during the week, but you’d have no idea it was Tuesday with everyone enjoying the sunshine and garden views lounging in St. Tropez inspired white beach chairs, well spread out from one another. We fortunately had no issues requesting an umbrella covered table and bringing a sleepy baby in with the highest hopes he’d allow me to get my first postpartum cocktail down the hatchet while taking in the lovely surroundings.

We only ordered a few appetizers and drinks before handing over our credit card to pay the check in case Parker woke up unhappy. I was just happy to sip my first real cocktail in almost a year, in which I chose a French 75 over ice, in a wine glass.

The menu is fairly basic but good enough to please most with Californian cuisine. It’s not somewhere I’d go back to without good weather and a table with a garden view, but I think that’s all most of us want at this point following a year locked up at home!

A.O.C., Brentwood

Taking over the space of its former sister restaurant Tavern, A.O.C. has officially joined the westside. I’m familiar with the last two West Hollywood locations, the current one being my favorite space as it’s set inside what feels like a Mediterranean villa that will instantly transport you with its small plates to any coastal town in Spain, France or Italy.

The same chef closed out Tavern, the beautiful restaurant, cafe and bar that essentially served as the Brentwood the watering hole since I moved here 10 years ago. I was pretty sad to see it go but at least I know the same standards of service and snacks will remain, like the Spanish fried chicken I’d always order while mentally rolling my eyes on first dates.

They have also preserved the big beautiful bar but unfortunately the atrium and storefront cafe I loved is gone, leaving me to just feel really old missing a place that’s no longer!

However, one thing that cheered me up was a sunny table outside in a beautiful shade of sage green under a big umbrella, next to a fresh coat of creamy white paint. Sipping a Spanish G & T and munching on olives with my husband and baby in tow made me realize that things can change for the better, and who doesn’t love a European summer vibe?

We also ordered the cauliflower which was really good too but like everything else here, very heavy. So I recommend getting a salad at some point to balance out the goodies! Overall, a neighborhood spot I will most definitely be going back to frequently.

Santo’lina at The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills

The Beverly Hilton definitely needed this new rooftop hotspot from the young and buzzy h.wood group, known for their exclusively cool restaurants turned clubs like Delilah’s, Shorebar, Bootsy Bellows and The Nice Guy, just to name a few.

Walking in for lunch on a Saturday definitely gave me some Mediterranean beach club vibes, with beach inspired chairs, blue and white patterned tablecloth and views of the hills picked straight from a film set. The DJ was spinning, the food delicious but they are still working out some service related kinks and clientele.

This was my first big day out since giving birth for my friend’s birthday and so just getting to spend time with my girlfriends, wear a dress and have a few cocktails was more than enough for me. We didn’t feel super rushed out and the place wasn’t overly busy but I think it will blow up soon as there surprisingly aren’t that many great rooftop restaurants in Los Angeles to eat and drink at.

Nua, Beverly Hills

This was the very first restaurant Arthur, Parker and I visited since he was born, as well as the first restaurant Arthur’s frequented since March of 2020. We stopped here randomly on our way home from an early doctor appointment to grab a causal breakfast in their adorable little outdoor garden off the Crescent Hotel, right in the heart of downtown Beverly Hills.

The place is very laid back, almost a bit funky and most certainly reminded me of being in a cool cafe in Tel Aviv. The cuisine is Israeli and if I had to describe the vibe I’d say it’s like Central Perk from Friends meets the Middle East? Maybe I was over stimulated with the double shot latte I ordered and general excitement to see my husband and now baby dining out for the first time ever but that’s what I remember most.

It’s a spot I would go to after a workout in Beverly Hills for a cute, yet casual lunch with a friend. Sitting outside was really nice among all the greenery and bougainvillea bushes. I ordered the Shashuka which was delicious and Arthur loved his falafel. Overall a Venice Beach vibe for Beverly Hills!

And baby Parker seemed to like it too, so much so that he slept all the way through!