For seafood delights from across the continent: Connie & Ted’s
West Hollywood restaurant Connie & Ted’s is simultaneously unique enough to stand out — a place where one of the city’s most celebrated chefs can show off his comfort-casual seafood fare while still sourcing sustainably — and familiar enough to blend in. The restaurant almost immediately became a deeply interwoven part of the LA landscape, a baseline spot for fantastic lobster rolls and oysters and chowder and an eyebrow-raising burger. But those seemingly easy eats belie a much more complex operation. The nine-year-old restaurant is, in truth, pushing the seafood restaurant and the seafood industry forward, thanks to Michael Cimarusti’s exacting vision for the food at opening and the very real day to day work being done by executive chef Samuel Baxter and general manager Matthew DeMarte. Comfort is one thing, compassion and conservation is another, and in Connie & Ted’s the city has a firm grasp on both. 8171 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. —Farley Elliott
For a historic and entertaining beachside bar: Townhouse
Fourth of July weekend is near and with it comes tourists — admittedly essential to the Southern California economy, but also a driver of increased traffic and dense crowds. Which means that now is the moment to get in some beach hang time at Townhouse in Venice. It’s the Westside’s oldest bar, having opened in 1915 by Cesar Menotti. Present owners Louie and Netty Ryan brought about Townhouse’s current iteration, which is a great multi-level space directly next door to Teddy’s Red Tacos. It touts speakeasy vibes on one level and a patio that rotates live musicians and DJs. There’s a regular calendar of events along with food pop-ups, so check it out to see if a designated night of comedy, house music, or Stuck Up’s Burgers Fries & Pies suits you. In the meantime, choose a preferred drinking spot, order one of the classic drinks, and settle in. 52 Windward Avenue, Venice—Mona Holmes
For sustainably-sourced chocolate: Car Artisan Chocolate
Come into Car Artisan Chocolate on the corner of Colorado and Catalina in Pasadena this weekend for a chocolate-fueled caffeine rush. Owned and operated by Haris Car, this bean-to-bar shop serves chocolate in both edible and sippable forms. In addition to beautifully packaged chocolate bars available to-go, the shop also sells croissants filled with chocolate that’s processed on-site. On the drinks menu are classic coffee-based offerings, as well as a few potent chocolate-coffee mashups. It’s important to note that all of the cacao beans processed at the manufactory are purchased directly from operations around the world that pay farmers above fair-trade wages. 1009 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. —Cathy Chaplin
For a casually baller meal just across the street from Crypto.com: Mastro’s Ocean Club
Mastro’s recently opened a ritzy outlet right across from Crypto.com Arena in a new building that speaks to the ever-changing dynamics of Downtown LA. Interestingly enough, the area lacks more, not less, in the way of big dining opportunities, with the Palm feeling a bit tired at this point, and the likes of Le Boucherie living too far north. People want and need something glamorous before a night watching sports or attending a performance nearby L.A. Live, and Mastro’s Ocean Club fits the bill, with its tender, buttery chops grilled to ideal temps and a truly decadent butter cake to finish. This Mastro’s outlet adds the sushi rolls and raw shellfish towers that adds some lightness (sort of) to bigger dinners, but overall I fully expect this restaurant to be a home run in this convention/tourist/business district steakhouse. 1200 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 —Matthew Kang