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cakes fried in olive oil. It serves a range of delicious housemade pastas, but doesn't have
beer or wine. Bring your own.
Bestia
ITALIAN
213-514-5724;
www.bestia.com
;
2121 7th Pl; dishes $10-29;
6-11pm Sun-Thu,
to midnight Fri & Sat)
The most sought-after reservation in town can be found at this new and splashy Italian kit-
chen in the Arts District. The antipasti ranges from crispy lamb pancetta to sea urchin
crudo to veal tartare crostino. Did we mention the lamb's heart? Yeah, you may have to
leave the vegan at home.
There are tasty pizzas and pastas, and squid-ink risotto stuffed with chunks of lobster,
mussels, clams and calamari. Roast chops and whole fish are on the menu as well. A
worthy splurge indeed.
Bar Amá
MEXICAN, FUSION
$32-36; 11:30am-2:30pm & 5:30-11pm Mon-Thu, 11:30am-3pm & 5:30pm-midnight Fri, 11:30am-
midnight Sat, to 10pm Sun)
One of three exquisite downtown restaurants with profound Mexican influences offered by
Josef Centeno. This one fries pig ears, braises short rib, and smothers enchiladas with
mole sauce. Brussel sprouts are garnished with pickled red onions, and the roasted cauli-
flower and cilantro pesto, served with cashew and pine nuts, is a tremendous veggie
choice.
Hollywood
Jitlada
THAI
$11-30; lunch & dinner; )
A transporting taste of southern Thailand. Its crab curry and fried
som tum
(papaya salad)
are fantastic, as is its Thai-style burger. The vivacious owner operator counts Ryan Gosling
