Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
130
District, chefs J on Shook and Vinny Dotolo turned a former teahouse into one of the
most talked-about restaurants in L.A. (and the countr y: In 2009, they w ere named two
of
Food & Wine
magazine's Best New Chefs). There's no sign out fr ont, and the long
narrow space is sparsely decorated with bar e wood banquettes and fir e-blackened wood
tables. The menu is stripped do wn as well, but bold: S ome of our fav orites include the
fluffy biscuit doused in slightly sw eet maple-sausage gravy , topped with a fat slice of
seared foie gras; french fries smothered in rich oxtail gravy and cheddar cheese; pork belly
seared to per fection partnered with spicy-sw eet cabbage slaw and peanuts; and butter-
milk-fried quail with grits and gr eens. No, not for the faint of hear t, and surprisingly
pork-heavy for a restaurant surrounded by kosher restaurants. The chefs go for ar tisanal
and seasonal ingredients, which are often called out by name on the menu.
435 N F airfax Ave. (btw. Oakwood and Rosew ood aves), Los Angeles.
&
323/782-9225.
www.animal
restaurant.com. Main courses $23-$37. AE, MC, V. Sun-Thurs 6-11pm; Fri-Sat 6pm-2am. Valet parking $5.
Campanile
CALIFORNIAN/MEDITERRANEAN Built as Charlie Chap-
lin's private offices in 1928, thisTuscan-style building has a multilevel layout with flower-
bedecked interior balconies, a bubbling fountain, and a skylight thr ough which diners
can see the campanile (bell tower). Consistently ranked as one of L.A.'s finest restaurants,
a meal here might begin with fried zucchini flo wers drizzled with melted mozzar ella or
lamb carpaccio surr ounded by artichoke leaves—a dish that arriv es looking like one of
van Gogh's sunflowers. Spago alumnus chef/owner Mark Peel heads up the kitchen and
is particularly known for his grills and r oasts. Try the wood-grilled prime rib smear ed
with black-olive tapenade; pappar delle with braised rabbit, r oasted tomato, and collar d
greens; or the rosemary-charred lamb with ar tichokes and fava beans.
Tip:
On Monday
nights chef P eel offers a $40 thr ee-course family-style themed menu that 's been v oted
Best Monday Night Dinner by
Los Angeles Magazine.
624 S. La Brea Ave. (north of Wilshire Blvd.), Los Angeles.
&
323/938-1447.
www.campanilerestaurant.
com. Reservations required. Main courses $26-$38. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Wed 11:30am-2:30pm and
6-10pm; Thurs-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30-11pm; Sat 9:30am-1:30pm and 5:30-11pm; Sun 9:30am-
1:30pm. Valet parking $6.50.
Dar Maghreb
MOROCCAN If you're a lone diner in sear ch of a quick bite,
this isn't the place for y ou. Dinner at Dar Maghreb is an entertaining dining experience
that improves exponentially the larger y our par ty and the longer y ou linger. Enter an
exotic Arab world of genie waitr esses who wash y our hands with warm water and belly
dancers who shimmy around an exquisite fountain in the center of a patio. You'll feel like
a guest in an ornately tiled palace as y ou dine at traditional tables on either lo w sofas or
goatskin cushions. Nothing is av ailable a la car te here. The fixed-price meal is a multi-
course feast, starting with bread and traditional Moroccan salads, followed by
b'stilla,
an
appetizer of shredded chicken, eggs, almonds, and spices wrapped in a flaky pastr y shell
6
Tips
Grilled Cheese Night
Every Thursday evening Campanile (see review above) hosts a hugely popular
Grilled Cheese Night. The menu offers 12 different gourmet sandwiches along
with appetizers.
