Dining

Open for over 10 years, Scopa Italian Roots (in Venice Beach) is a wonderful hidden gem in the neighborhood. Owned and operated by Food Network’s star Chef Antonia Lafoso, Scopa is fun, innovative, and special. 

Recently, I met up with some local (Venice) pals of mine for brunch. Scopa, of course, did not disappoint. The dining room is handsome and boasts fabulous views of the bar with all its grand (top shelf) liquor on display. We sat in a wonderfully cozy booth and settled in for a tasty dining experience.

After some negotiating, we decided on what to order. First, we nibbled on the freshly baked Crostata smothered in house made whipped cream. Delish. Then, I chose the savory route, while my guests enjoyed breakfast items such as the Frittata and Challah French Toast. Both were rich and decadent. I ordered Chef Antonia’s signature Rice Ball (stuffed with meat sauce, peas, ricotta, mozzarella, and served on tomato sauce), and then the Feltman’s Hot Dog (served with sauerkraut, peppers and onions, capers, and cream cheese). This “street dog” was everything! I’m still thinking about it, and I suspect my guests wished they had ordered it as well. This is a must-have! Brunch is only offered on Sundays, and reservations are highly recommended. Go!

For menu and reservations, click here.

Dear Jane’s is located in the Marina at water’s edge. This is a seafood restaurant that takes you into a time warp in the best possible way. The walls are lined with a plethora of vintage store paintings, tables are adequately spaced, and the menu features slightly modernized versions of the most popular dishes from the 1960s to 1990s, and with premium ingredients. Owners Josiah Citrin and Hans and Patti Rockenwagner are the team behind Dear Jane’s, just like the well-known Dear John’s, which was a revival vintage steakhouse. So, they’ve done something similar here.

The seafood tower featured some of the best stone crab claws around, along with oysters, clams, scallops, shrimp, and lobster. We dove into clams casino, in which chorizo replaced bacon and piquillo peppers brought a zing. Hans’s sourdough bread came out with fished shaped butter and is a must with a bowl of creamy New England clam chowder.

Shrimp Louie for two people was art — perfectly poached shrimp with eggs, tomatoes, and avocado tossed with a delicious and special thousand island dressing! I heard the crisp fish and chips and scampi with tagliolini are the two to try next time. The trout amandine and sand dabs Grenobloise, both playing on the same theme, were cooked in butter and topped with capers and lemon and were hands-down delicious!

Located in Marina Del Rey, click here.

Located in downtown LA at The Music Center, Kendall’s is a modern take on a classic French Brasserie. Guests have the option to dine al fresco, with an inventive cocktail at a modern bar, or within a light, expressive interior. Boasting a focus on local ingredients, the menu re-energizes classic French dishes like Braised Short Rib and Salmon Beurre Blanc with just a touch of “Je ne sais quoi.” This place is my pre-and-post-show go to spot. The staff is wonderful and can get you in and out in time for curtain! 

We started with the mussels and prawns with the heavenly mustard sauce for the table. Then it was Surf and Turf time! The popular braised short rib was a hit! The meat fell off the bone into my mouth, feeding my taste buds with happiness. The whipped mashed potatoes were creamy and paired well with the meaty juicy short rib. The Branzino that I ordered arrived at the highest level of deliciousness, with the crispy fish skin and cooked very well, but what made the dish was the tarragon yogurt sauce. I wanted to lick the plate! From the moment you step into the restaurant, you will be in for a memorable dining experience.

Located at The Music Center, click here.

Feeling on the sweet side in Beverly Hills? Go to La Provence! Farshid Hakim, the talented pastry chef who honed his skills at the Hotel de Paris, then came to the U.S. and became a successful restaurateur, is not the whole story. While those things are true, there is more to the story and the man. He was the first person to introduce the Parisian Macaron in Los Angeles. His baked goods, cakes and cupcakes have a cult following, and any day at almost any time, people constantly stream into La Provence to order pastries, coffee and tea lattes, lunch, afternoon tea, early dinners and plenty of takeout. 

For a slice of France, go to this little nook in a corner of an outdoor second level shopping center, in the lower flats of Beverly Hills. La Provence, named after one of the most beautiful regions, Provence, in the South of France, has friendly servers at the small interior with some tables for enjoying their cozy inside or with the lovely weather sitting outside on a patio that follows the curvature of the restaurant and kitchen. 

You may not have the view of sitting in a Patisserie in Provence but biting into their remarkable pastries, sandwiches and salads you will be transported. Excellente and à bientôt, La Provence.

For more, click here.