From the driving, to the parking, to the not knowing where to drive or park, dinner in L.A. is harder than it should be. That’s why we created Dinner Plan — your itinerary to a damn good time. This week, we’re off to Downtown for one last romantic date night before the chaos of the holidays are well and truly upon us.
Images: Rob Stark photography
Pre Dinner Drinks: Duello
Arts District
If there’s one foul on a romantic night out, it’s taking it too seriously. That’s where cocktails come in. Duello is the sidebar at SIMONE, which is where you’re doing dinner. The pine is manned by Iain McPherson, whose stint at Panda & Sons in Edinburgh is the stuff of tippler legend. For Duello, McPherson drew heavily on this region’s culture, finding inspiration in vineyards and citrus groves. Think salted citrus gin cocktails and Sauvignon Blanc with a lemon pineapple twist. Come early and enjoy a few before sitting down in the next room over.
449 S. Hewitt St. (map)
Website
Images: Rob Stark photography
Dinner: SIMONE
Arts District
SIMONE is the new restaurant by Jessica Largey, who won the James Beard Rising Star Award in 2015 and served a notable stretch at David Kinch’s Manresa in Los Gatos. Her modishly Art Deco haunt is plating dishes that you’ll not find elsewhere in town. Although vegetables take the main stage here — grilled cabbage, chanterelle mushrooms, kabocha squash — you will find some decadent mains, like pork collar or hanger steak with kimchi.
449 S. Hewitt St. (map)
Website
Images: Grimm Lee, Eden Tyler
After-Dinner Drinks: The Wolves
DTLA
After dinner, catch a Lyft to The Wolves, a new cocktail bar that feels like it’s been in Downtown since the silent picture days. Everything in the bar was sourced from vintage purveyors. The ceiling was literally part of the Chicago train station. The stellar decor speaks to the level of detail in the drinks, too. Mixologist Kevin Lee makes his own vermouths and bitters, which enhance the quality of his 27 drinks manyfold. There’s an entire old fashioned menu, as well as banana manhattans, pineapple mezcals and yuzu and gin. Don’t forget to drink water in between each round.
519 S. Spring St. (map)
Website
Main image: Rob Stark Photography
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