I am going to be staying in DTLA for work and wanted to experience some of LA’s best for my dinners while there. Here is what I was thinking.
Monday: Osteria Mozza (Maybe switch with Pizzeria Mozza, or Pizzeria Bianco?)
Tuesday: Dunsmoor (Maybe switch out if solo dining not recommended if dishes too big and can’t order much?)
Wednesday: Leopardo (I have been before and loved it!)
Thursday: Camphor (Maybe switch out?)
I do not really have any limitations, I just do not want very expensive tasting menus like Providence or Kato as I am saving those for a special occasion. Other options I was considering is Rasamurah, Baroo, Republique, Shibumi, Damian, ect. Let me know if there are any other considerations on what to order or if there are better choices for restaurants or suggestions. Also, is there specific dining locations I should try for? For instance, I am booked at Dunsmoor counter as I heard it is the best for solo diners.
The mozzarella bar at Osteria Mozza is great for solo dining. Majordomo, Mother Wolf, and Genwa Mid-Wilshire are other personal favorites for solo bar dining. Also Kismet and Rustic Canyon though they’re maybe not as comfortable.
I would keep Osteria Mozza compared to the other options
You should also consider Antico Nuovo which has excellent Italian dishes and as the solo diner you can order half portions of their pasta and gelato to try more dishes.
On a recent trip as solo diner I also enjoyed the prix fixe at Pasjoli
And, as you mentioned you should consider Baroo and sitting at the counter
If you’re looking to stay in dtown. Both bavel and bestia have bar seating. A lot of variety in the small plates sections of both. Damian also has great bar seating.
I would only choose Bianco over mozza due to proximity. If you’re feeling super hungry maybe even chi spacca, that is my favorite out of the 3 mozza plex restaurants.
I think among the ones you listed Baroo would be good as it’s a mid priced tasting menu.
I love Dunsmoor I would recommend keeping, most of the plates are on the smaller shareable side so easily accomplished by a solo diner.
Budonoki, azizam, and quartersheets might also be worth considering.
I don’t know if I ever eat solo, but the counter makes a lot of sense. You can strike up conversation w/ the bartenders and, b/c you’re in such close contact, w/ your fellow diners fairy easily. I think people sitting at a counter know that random (but pleasant) conversations can occur…
Le Comptoir (K-town) is counter-seating only and has a gourmet vegetarian tasting menu, 6 courses for $125, with a few heavier or non-veg substitutions for an upcharge. Oddly, the only beverage choices with dinner are still (purified tap) water and a very expensive wine pairing/tasting–$85 for 5 ~2 oz pours, which turns many people off. But I love the food.
The very delicious Steak & Frites menu is now available every Thursday night at Camphor, FYI. Chef Max and team dole out the best bread & butter service, and also the best fries… Maybe dinner #1 at Camphor, then dinner #2 at Majordomo.
I hope you’ll find that L.A. is quite amenable to discerning solo diners. Enjoy!
At Osteria Mozza I usually go for appetizers, pastas, and contorni over the mozzarella and mains, but it’s always hard to choose and I don’t think I’ve had a bad dish there.
That sounds like a great option as well. I do want to try their regular menu as well as it would be my first time. Maybe switch Mozza or Dunsmoor around with Camphor? Though the steak frites sounds tempting…