While I love AOC’s patio, seems like the food has been so unremarkable as of late. My last 2 visits have been very meh.
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Crud. We are waiting for a table and paid a deposit. Can I get a refund if I tell them you’re displeased?
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Agreed. Used to be one of my favorites but my last couple visits (pre-covid) were really average. As gorgeous as the patio is, I’m done with them.
Lol you can definitely try.
We just had 4 fantastic dishes. Actually way more impressed than our last 2 visits.
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Crooked Graff - Whittier
Alive & kicking @attran99. DIL sent these last night. They said the patio was very kush, romantic lighting and good distancing. They enjoyed the meal!
Pork Belly Bao
Salmon Asparagus Pea Risotto
Flat Iron Steak
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I’ve been to many of the Santa Monica restaurants, and been surprised how well they’ve converted. Feel safe, and it’s just so great to be able to be out and have something other than my own cooking. Favorites:
Ivy at the Shore has taken over their entire back parking lot, complete with palm trees and bougainvillea, it looks and feels like their main dining room. Really a delight.
Prima Cocino on Montana also with the back parking lot, with pinatas overhead, a lovely rattan wall which blocks the parking lot completely, and very good fresh Baja style food (no greasy enchiladas here).
Forma also in parking lot (be prepared to walk around the block to get to it, no going through the restaurant to the back), with their full menu (most menus are 50%). Forma is always fantastic.
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Out of area - I stopped at El Mexicali in Indio two weeks ago. My first time I’ve been, and we ate there around 3 or 4PM. They’ve converted two big portions of a parking lot to misters + very well spaced seating. No one but employees went inside the building; restrooms have a separate entrance.
Good food, good lemonade. They serve booze as well, but drinking in the heat grosses me out. Next time.
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Haven’t been recently myself, but Darya (Persian restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. near Bundy in West LA) appears to have converted the sidewalk in front to some sort of patio.
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Felix has done a good job creating an outdoor dining space behind (helped out, in part, by the closure of Hal’s next door) and Pasjoli has set up comfortable tables along Main Street and also has a lovely back patio. Buffalo Club just recently reopened with a large, well-spaced patio and, thus far, word does not appear to have gotten around as only a few were taken.
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I think I had mentioned it in another thread, but Dialogue had been doing an outdoor wine bar called Tidbit by Dialogue. Not sure if it’s still going b/c I see no mention of it on their website.
Tidbits is still going, though I have not gone. Tickets on Resy (under Dialogue) or walk-in. This week,Tidbits is supposed to have soft shell crab on the menu so I am tempted to stop in for that reason alone.
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I’ll be DTLA tomorrow (Pershing Square) for a tough series of meetings. Any good places where I can sit, have a civilized cocktail and small nosh for happy hour/dinner? In predemic days, I would have gone to Vespaio bar, or the Redwood Tavern. I’ll likely be solo.
I will have a car and can drive anywhere close to DTLA - I live in Boyle Heights.
Rossoblu is in my head as a good place. Does anyone know how the seating/reservations game is? My end work time is a little hazy so I’d like to drop in if possible. I have Bestia/Bavel earmarked for a more than solo celebration - whenever that timing works!
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Bar Ama is one of my go-to happy hour spots–especially for margs and nachos–and they have a nice patio set up. Plus you can get some of the Baco dishes if you stay for dinner.
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Manuela
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Anyone know what’s going on in Manhattan Beach dining al fresco wise? Trying to set up a dinner there for a Wed night
Jame Enoteca has outdoor dining in nearby El Segundo.
MB post is open for dine in. Their seating area is open air but I don’t know if it could be considered wholly outdoors.
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From LA Mag
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Coni Seafood’s patio has gotten much nicer over the years. I found their food as good as, if not better than, ever this past weekend despite the absence of Sergio.
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