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 Halloween weekend cocktails at a classic Los Feliz haunt: Ye Rustic Inn
The only things likely haunting Ye Rustic Inn are your exes (or people who look just like them) and memories of going too hard at Tuesday karaoke, but it’s still a perfect stop for Halloween weekend. The Los Feliz dive goes full spooky season each October with spider webs stretching across the interior and a devil watching over the well-worn bar. On Halloween itself, Ye Rustic will host A Haunting on Hillhurst, a no-cover party with a costume contest and a DJ from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Plus, the beloved bar may be facing an uncertain future in its longtime home, so there is no better time than now to visit for Los Angeles’s best Buffalo wings. 1831 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For an occasion-worthy meal that’s also easygoing: Barra Santos in Cypress Park
Sometimes you want a special occasion-caliber meal that feels like an everyday thing, an evening out where the quality is high, but the atmosphere is breezy. That’s the niche in which restaurant group Last Word Hospitality lives. Between Hermon’s, Rasarumah, Queen’s, Found Oyster, and Barra Santos, the group has uncovered something essential about the way Angelenos aspire to eat. Each restaurant is stylish, comfortable, and fun, with mostly excellent cooking that blends intrigue and accessibility. I think Barra Santos gets overlooked among them. The Portuguese wine bar-inspired restaurant in Cypress Park has relatively recently expanded its physical footprint, its menu, and its cocktail program, and it’s worth a revisit for its gin- and port-focused drinks, little bites of Ibérico ham, grill-kissed large proteins like an herb-marinated pork chop, and a trendy insouciance that says “Tuesday-night drop-in” — though the price may be a little too dear for that. The cooking may also be a little too good to regard it so lightly. On sunny days, the sidewalk tables are a cosmopolitan reverie, and when it’s chilly the inside buzzes with cozy charm. — Ben Mesirow, editor, Eater Travel
For a ghostly experience with strong cocktails: Gilbert Pérez Bar in Sherman Oaks
Though barely one week old, Gilbert Pérez Bar, just above sister establishment Daisy Margarita Bar, is where you want to be for Halloween. Let’s start with how the experiential bar centers on the ghost of Gil Pérez, a soldier allegedly magically transported from the Philippines to Mexico City in the 1500s. Add co-owner Matt Egan’s obsession with paranormal and portal events, plus barman and co-partner Max Reis’s desire to create a next-level adventure around cocktails, and you’ve got the place to be on or around October 31. This is not a tiki bar: It’s a Mexican rum bar where the surroundings change every 45 minutes, creating a portal for visitors to sip through — and the ideal way to celebrate the eeriest night of the year. 14633 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91403. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a reasonably priced family dinner in Inglewood: Panini Kabob Grill
Our family loves to do Persian food and especially enjoys Manhattan Beach’s excellent Toranj, but sometimes you want something substantial without the splurge. Our other go-to, Panini Kabob Grill, doesn’t have the same cooking chops but still manages to feed everyone for a great price. The three-skewer family meal comes with a choice of two salads, enough basmati rice for six people, and enough meat and grilled vegetables for four adults. On my last visit, the chicken breast kebabs were juicy and well-seared, while the hefty koobideh (ground beef), which can be subbed in for a small upcharge, carried a strong onion aroma that we all enjoyed. Again, these aren’t world-beating kebabs, but the portions are fantastic for $65. I’d recommend getting at least one side, like tzatziki with pita bread, to mix it up. Panini Kabob Grill’s new Inglewood location, next to SoFi Stadium, is pretty much undiscovered at this point, meaning tables are easy to get any night of the week. (Maybe just avoid going when there’s a football game or concert going on.) 1261 District Drive, Suite 600, Inglewood, CA, 90303. — Matthew Kang, correspondent, Eater
