Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here 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 reviving meal in Pacific Palisades: Alphabet Bar and Grill
Nearly two years since the Palisades wildfire that devastated the tony Westside enclave, it seems Rick Caruso and company are trying to revive the commercial parts of the area. It’s slow going with structures and entire lots either still in the middle of construction or awaiting their demolition permits; Caruso’s development, Palisades Village, might have stayed standing but a lot of the surrounding community still remains dispersed. Even so, Los Angeles’s prolific h.wood group tapped chef Timothy Hollingsworth, who’s been busy opening restaurants in the D.C. area, Long Island, and soon Atlanta, to oversee a classic American bar and grill menu that subversively points to Los Angeles flavors. Consider the grilled shrimp appetizer, with sweet, plump shellfish placed over a creamy poblano sauce: chopped serrano chiles bring the kind of real sweat-inducing heat that Angelenos love to seek out. Burrata and beets seem standard issue until you see French Laundry levels of plating. Cabbage salad gains all the flavors of Burmese tea-leaf salad, sans tea leaves, though mango brings a tropical sweetness. Backyard-style roast baby back ribs require more than a few Wet-Naps while the rotisserie chicken, on trend with the national obsession with the dish, could win its own awards, served with a choice of sauce like chile oil or savory jus. Alphabet is pretty small, more than half the space dedicated to the street facing patio. Eating here, though, with its hand-drawn walls, nostalgic framed photos, and tiny New York–sized cocktail bar, gives this restaurant a sense of place — a ritzy one, one that befits the always wealthy Pacific Palisades — but a neighborhood joint nonetheless. Parking is free in the downstairs garage until the end of 2026, a welcome gift for Angelenos. 1033 North Swarthmore Avenue, Pacific Palisades, CA, 90272. — Matthew Kang, correspondent, Eater
For cocktails at a classic, decades-old bar: Avignone’s in Montrose
There is only one thing on local minds this weekend: the 100-degree heatwave finally broke. For me, I’ll be outside as much as possible and seeing friends after hiding out in the confines of an air-conditioned apartment. That may include cocktails at a classic spot on the Northeast end of Los Angeles: Avignone’s. This is the kind of unfussy bar I crave on the regular: no fancy drinks, nothing over $18, a charming fireplace, pool table, television sets tuned into the MLB playoffs, and an album wall featuring Marvin Gaye, the Sex Pistols, and Van Halen. And then there’s the history: the bar was founded by Joe Avignone in 1971 and soon became a scene backdrop for well-loved films like The Wedding Singer. It closed in 2017 for renovations and reopened under new ownership in 2018. At the bar, find $8 Kirin on tap, a cure-all vodka soda, and vibes that can soothe any soul in need of respite. 2321 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For platters of unique sushi: Fillet Sushi in Monrovia
If you’re an absolute sushi purist, yes, you can find sushi bar classics like chutoro and salmon belly nigiri as well as exemplary chawanmushi at Fillet Sushi. But what makes this sushi den more compelling are the unique dishes dreamed up by chef Thee Sawadid who trained at Matsuhisa Beverly Hills before opening Fillet Sushi in Old Town Monrovia nearly two years ago. Most would never think to put shavings of Pecorino Romano over toro sashimi, yet the funkiness of the cheese somehow complements the fish’s brininess. Of Fillet’s inventive sashimi offerings, my favorite was golden eye snapper dressed in a shiso ponzu sauce that had a kick of heat, a nod to Sawadid’s Thai background. The menu at Fillet feels massive — arguably too large — but it’s worth also getting an order of hot food, particularly steamed ginger and chilean sea bass, delicately tender against the sharpness of garlic, scallions, and a citrus soy sauce. Save room for dessert; the croissant bread pudding is not too sweet, especially when paired with the homemade soy sauce ice cream that is reminiscent of salted caramel. 618 S. Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For Central Coast soft pretzels and beer: Copenhagen Sausage Garden in Solvang
Although Los Angeles remains unseasonably warm, it’s hard to escape the pull toward cosplaying the beginnings of fall with Oktoberfest and at least a single light layer. Luckily, cooler weather is within a few hours drive on the Central Coast in a town like Solvang that cranks up the charm with Danish pastries, soft pretzels, and plenty of beer. Head to Copenhagen Sausage Garden to sip on a Hofbräu in a hefty stein paired with a salt-studded warm pretzel or currywurst. If you arrive in the morning, make a pitstop at the iconic Paula’s Pancake House for cinnamon apple–topped Danish pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice. Pop by Æbleskivehuset for puffy Æbleskiver, best eaten hot and fresh, or grab a kringle for the road from Mortensen’s and let your fall begin in earnest. 1660 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang, CA 93463. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
