Los Angeles’ Best Places for Small Plates
The philosophy at Monkey in LA is to celebrate life with good food and good people. And with the weather warming, there is no better time to put down the pan and make a date at one of Los Angeles’ best places for sharing. From the beach to the city, here are a few favorites for a night out with friends.
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Forget the entrees at this Venice favorite; it’s all about the small dishes and farmer’s market vegetables. For this shared plate date, make a reservation. Gjelina may be a few years old, but it’s still the busiest spot on Abbott Kinney.
Once inside and seated at one of the reclaimed wood tables (or on the patio if you’re so lucky), go straight to the greens with the charred okra with black olives and pinenuts, braised butter beans with gremolata, or the wood roasted sunchokes. Add a plate of the burrata with salted anchovy and mint pesto and the hamachi crudo with kumquats for a perfect spring dinner.
Finish your feast with the marvelous warm strawberry and rhubarb crisp with a scoop of almond gelato.
Yatai
8535 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
Calling itself an Asian tapas bar, Yatai is a warm and hidden West Hollywood spot with a long list of fresh plates perfect for sharing. In fact, with dishes priced from $4-$9, it’s easy to try a range and still leave room in the budget for a round of soju cocktails or a few bottles of ginjo sake.
Not to miss: The crispy rice with spicy tuna, stuffed shitake mushroom, nasu-miso (Japanese eggplant) and the baked black cod.
And for dessert? The warm chocolate cake with ginger ice cream.
Bar Pintxo
109 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
A cozy Santa Monica eatery only a block from the ocean, this is the closest thing to a traditional Basque bar this side of the Atlantic. With a variety of pintxos (small bites served on grilled bread) and an extensive list of Spanish wines, you’ll feel like you’re in Bilbao for the evening.
Make it here for the $6 for 6 Happy Hour where you can sample the filet mignon with shallot jam, crimini mushrooms with idiazabal cheese and the manchego, quince and marcona almond pintxos with a $4 glass of sangria.
Feeling a little more Madrid? Bar Pintxo also serves up plenty of tapas including patatas bravas, tortilla española, and empanadas del dia.
Wood & Vine
6280 Hollywood Blvd
An industrial brasserie located in the 1923 Taft Building, this new Hollywood eatery is all about the small plates with a wide range of charcuterie, cheeses and seasonal dishes. With a friendly staff and menu of cocktails that reads like a homage to the building’s history, it’s a perfect stop to escape the bustle of modern Hollywood for classic food and libations.
To start, order the saucisson sec (French dried sausage), the pork and olive rillettes, and the creamy Pont-l’Évêque or Bermuda Triangle, an earthy goat’s cheese from California, followed by the potato gnocchi with truffle and the must-try house fried chicken and waffles with maple roasted squash.
Top the evening with the butterscotch pot de crème and a round of profiteroles with hot chocolate sauce.
Barbrix
2442 Hyperion Ave
Located in an old house, this charming spot may be a familiar fixture within Silver Lake, but it’s always worth a visit with their ever-changing menu and long list of carefully chosen wines.
For a taste of the Mediterranean, sit under the umbrellas on the patio and share the saffron arancini, deviled eggs made with a sliver of Spanish boquerone (white anchovy), the grilled polenta with gorgonzola and mushrooms, and the refreshing farro salad made with asparagus, mint and feta.
Order a few glasses of Moscato and end the meal in European style with a selection of cheese like the nutty piave vecchio from Italy or the rich epoisses from France.
For more on LA’s finest eateries, visit Monkey in LA
