1. BROKEN SPANISH
To be honest, I never truly liked Mexican cuisine (chicken quesadillas never spoke to me) until recently I discovered that black beans, guacamole, nachos, and brown rice are actually pretty tasty. When I searched for the best restaurants in Downtown LA, Broken Spanish would usually be at the top of the ratings – L.A. Weekly even ranked it as their very first choice, higher than famous Bestia (http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/the-10-best-restaurants-in-downtown-los-angeles-6529794/2). Inspired by the reviews, we dined at Broken Spanish on a weekend night.
To our disappointment, food was not as amazing as was expected. One thing that was truly very delicious was crispy Tostada with beans and goat cheese. Tortillas with refried lentils were also pretty good, but the other vegetarian dish we took – Queso Fundido – wasn't worth taking at all. Cheese with peppers was overly salty, so we ended up barely eating it. Another thing that didn't go unnoticed was the emptiness of the restaurant. If Italian paradise Bestia needs to be booked months in advance, Broken Spanish was more than 50% empty on a Sunday night. The interior leaves a nice impression, so overall I would recommend coming in here to indulge in Tostada because that dish was worth it.
2. PROSPECT GOURMAND
I can't necessarily say that this little place on La Cienega can impress you with an amazing interior: it is rather simple and it might be dark inside due to the narrowness and depth of the space. The food, however, was beyond delicious. We came here for brunch looking for some special and creative brunch menu and enjoyed whatever we ordered a lot. I went for Drake Farms Goat Cheese which was served in a cute little jar, while my friend Shivain did a more classical brunch move and asked for an omelette with hash browns, bacon, and cauliflower.
If you are coming here for brunch, I highly recommend requesting a table by the window. We unfortunately ended up sitting quite far from the entrance and barely saw even a glimpse of sunlight on a Sunday morning.
3. BARTON G.
Last fall, as my best friend Radhika's birthday was approaching, I started twisting my mind around where we could take her for a birthday surprise dinner. Something that would be super memorable. Well, Barton G. is quite an amusing dining experience, definitely worth trying at least once.
I booked Barton G., the plan was set, and we drove 'kidnapped' and blindfolded Radhika to Beverly Hills. Barton G. left a really positive impression in my mind. It has a very cozy interior in pastel tones and then the food is presented in funky, unexpected ways. The birthday girl ordered Mouse Trap Mac and cheese, while one of her guests ordered Lobster Poptarts which were served in an actual toaster. The final grandiose touch of the evening was the Mary Antoinette's head where her wig was edible – made out of cotton candy.
Barton G. is definitely one of the top-choices when it comes down to throwing a birthday party or to just surprising someone.
4. LOBSTER
Lobster in Santa Monica is an ideal lunch spot by the shore if you have been missing the picturesque ocean views along with the famous Santa Monica pier ferris wheel (coming here on a sunset would be a lovely option too). The space has a lot of windows and sunlight coming in, while the interior is quite plain. My parents are fans of lobsters and seafood, and they claim that the way that lobster is cooked in Lobster leaves the meat very tender and full of taste. I personally do not like lobsters too much, so when I tried the lobster salad here once, I can't say I fully enjoyed it. Fish and chips here, however, were so so good! I could come here everyday just for that. Mussels are a nice option too along with the salmon sashimi.
