LAGuide
The LA Delivery Guide For A Big Night In
Even during quarantine, life events like anniversaries, birthdays, or simply making it through another week without losing your mind still need to be celebrated. And sometimes, it just feels f*cking good to treat yourself. So when the time comes for a big night in, arm yourself with the restaurants that’ll rise to the occasion. From sushi omakase to prix-fixe menus to prime rib dinners, here are 14 spots where you can go big without ever leaving your house.
The Spots
After two major fallouts last week, you and your quarantine-mate just successfully went seven days without a single spat. Treat yourself with Bestia. The seminal Italian restaurant in the Arts District is currently doing a $49 per person set menu every Wednesday-Sunday. The exact menu changes weekly, but just know that whether you get slow-grilled lamb neck, beet ravioli, or house-made prosciutto, it’s going to be fantastic. Keep an eye on their Instagram for weekly menu updates and order here for pick-up.
With a takeout menu that includes everything from matzo ball soup to whole roast chicken to chocolate layer cake, a meal from Birdie G’s feels like a celebration - whether there is one or not. The comfort food spot in Santa Monica is currently open for both takeout and delivery every day of the week, so no need to wait until the weekend for your big night in.
Downtown Pasadena is no stranger to upscale restaurants, but Bone Kettle stands out from the crowd with one of the most interesting menus in the neighborhood. It leans Southeast Asian, but with dishes that range from nasi goreng to oxtail dumplings to ramen burritos, it certainly covers a lot of ground. And right now, it’s all available for takeout and delivery. That said, if you’re in the market to throw-down tonight, go for one of their four-course family feasts instead. Ranging from $35-45 per person, they come with everything from Singaporean lobster to crab fried rice to lychee lemonade.
With your vacation to Singapore officially in the “maybe next year” folder, it’s time to raise everybody’s morale and order a feast from Cassia. The upscale Southeast Asian restaurant in Santa Monica has an excellent menu filled with staples like beef rendang, kaya toast, and a bowl of laksa that we think about at least once a day. If you have more than two people to feed tonight, spring for one of their family meal packages that range from $110-280 and feed up to 12 people. Both takeout and delivery are available.
In reality, nothing major happened to you this week, but at least you’re still upright - and that’s cause for a celebration. Call up Chengdu Taste. The iconic Sichuan spot in Alhambra is one of LA’s (and America’s) best Chinese restaurants, and has a huge menu filled with intense, boldly flavored dishes that’ll stay on your mind - and lips - for days. Yes, dishes like mapo tofu and boiled fish in green pepper sauce are quite spicy, but the trick is to mix in a few milder plates, like the sliced beef and dan dan noodles, to balance it all out. Available for delivery and takeout.
You tried to cook a progressive dinner last week and it only resulted in both you and your spouse getting progressively ruder towards each other. Let’s not do that again. Instead, head over to Kali, which has recently reopened for takeout only. The underrated prix-fixe spot on Melrose is currently offering a nine-course set menu for $59 per person that includes crudo, ribeye, panna cotta, and even their famous black barley risotto. It’s a very good value, especially considering you didn’t have to bring up old dirt on your husband to eat it.
Nothing says “You f*cking did it!” like a big slab of meat - and the cuts of beef don’t get much more epic than the ones at Lawry’s. The Beverly Hills original is home to a legendary prime rib dinner that comes with your choice of cut (get the Lawry’s Cut), plus spinning salad, Yorkshire pudding, and mashed potatoes. Throw in a few house-made cocktails and a side of the best creamed spinach in the world, and your night of celebration is set. Available for takeout and delivery.
When Pasjoli opened last year in Santa Monica, it immediately became our go-to spot when we wanted to treat ourselves (or impress the sh*t out somebody). And in quarantine, it’s still that spot. The upscale French spot has moved away from their regular menu and are now doing different set meals every day of the week. Keep an eye on their Instagram for the latest, but expect everything from Sunday chicken dinners to midweek Cambodian feasts. Available for pick-up only.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Celebrating an anniversary in quarantine might feel strange, but it’s important to do it anyway - not to mention easier, now that Rustic Canyon has reopened for takeout only. Right now, the classic Santa Monica restaurant is offering a four-course family meal for $49 per person that includes pasta, dessert, and - as always is the case with Rustic Canyon - plenty of fresh vegetables. The menu changes weekly, so keep an eye on their Instagram for the latest updates.
Scratch Bar has been one of our favorite prix-fixe restaurants in LA for a while, and though you obviously can’t take part in the immersive dining experience first-hand right now, they’ve officially reopened for takeout only. The menu will change weekly, but you can generally expect a three-course meal for $49 per person that includes a protein of your choice, a bunch of vegetables, and dessert. If you want to get a little boozy tonight, they’re also selling wine, beer, and liquor at additional prices.
Sure, half the fun of eating at Spago is watching A-list celebrities getting hammered on prosecco, but the fact is this Beverly Hills classic has some pretty tasty food as well. Right now, they’re offering nightly takeout and delivery specials that range from fried chicken night on Wednesdays to Sunday brunch service, plus regular favorites like their iconic salmon pizza. If you miss the celebrities, just do what we do - print out photos and tape them to every chair at the table.
Is the reopening of a specific restaurant reason enough for a big night in? When the restaurant is Sushi Note, the answer is yes. The tremendous sushi/wine bar in Sherman Oaks recently reopened their doors for takeout and delivery, offering both a regular menu with a la carte sushi, rolls, and appetizers, as well as their Half Note omakase (eight pieces of premium sushi, two appetizers, and a cut roll for $45). Tip: Do the latter and then throw in a kiniko itame (sauteed mushrooms) appetizer on the side.
In a city filled with world-class sushi, this tiny spot inside a West Hollywood strip mall is still top of the class in our eyes. That said, anyone who’s ever eaten at Sushi Park knows you’re going to have to pay for it - to the tune of about $250 per person. But right now, they’re offering a slightly paired-down omakase for $100. Named “Peter’s Choice,” it features more than 16 courses, including eight pieces of fish, sashimi, a cut roll, baked sea bass, wagyu beef, and more. Order takeout here
You finally found the inspiration to exercise in some capacity every day this week, and that calls for only one thing - pasta night. While you have good choices all over town, tonight calls for the best, so head to Union. The Pasadena Italian spot has a regular a la carte menu filled with dishes like cacio e pepe and squid ink lumache, or you can just spring for the $64 spaghetti and meatball family meal instead. Whatever you choose, your body will certainly thank you. Available for both delivery and takeout.
