photo credit: Power House

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

LAFeature

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings

Summer is over, but there's chicken parm, Baja-style mariscos, and '80s Italian disco to look forward to.

Though we don’t expect this summer weather to taper off anytime soon, we’ve got a strong forecast for the fall: lots of new restaurants, coming in hot. On deck in the coming months are a major revamp of a historic Beverly Hills restaurant, a New Orleans institution opening a West Coast location, a retro Italian discoteca with refreshing cocktails, and a whole lot of places to eat seafood. So if you’re mourning the end of sizzling asphalt and beach sunburn season, don’t get too down: these 16 exciting fall openings are here to lift your spirits.

THE SPOTS

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Art Streiber

Dear Jane's

Opening: September 2022

Marina Del Rey's somewhat snoozy restaurant scene is getting a big addition in the form of Dear Jane’s, a seafood-focused sequel to Dear John's, the revamped retro steakhouse in Culver City. The yacht–club-adjacent restaurant is taking over the former Charter House spot, which means harbor views alongside throwback seafood dishes, raw bar options, and classic cocktails.


LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

Power House

Opening: September 2022

This legendary Hollywood bar is finally reopening under new ownership after a two-year hiatus, with the team behind All Season Brewing Co. and Las Perlas promising classic cocktails, a working jukebox, and lots of neon lighting. The plan is to preserve the gritty feel that made Power House the neighborhood's most beloved low-lit dive bar and one of the only tolerable places to drink within walking distance of Madame Tussauds.

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Natalie Schaefer

Saltie Girl

Opening: October 2022

One of our favorite Boston seafood spots is opening a new location in West Hollywood, but don’t expect just a standard menu of lobster rolls and oysters (although those will likely be on the menu, too). Saltie Girl specializes in East Coast seafood, like fried lobster and waffles and snow crab with stracciatella slathered on toast. For those that want a sneak peek: you can order their popular salt and vinegar chips online if you want to try them before Saltie Girl opens later this month.

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Nicole Franzen

Tonchin

Opening: October 2022

Tokyo-based ramen chain Tonchin is opening its first West Coast location in Larchmont Village this fall, where you can try "elevated" ramen with toppings like fermented bamboo shoots, smoked fish oil, and baby clams. Tonkotsu ramen, tsukemen, and brothless mazemen-style noodles are all on the menu, as well as small plates like pan-fried gyoza and a creative Japanese-style cocktail program that includes a yuzu-infused margarita. 


LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Ben Bashor/Heavy Handed

Heavy Handed

Opening: October 2022

Heavy Handed's two-year journey from pop-up to food truck and, soon, brick-and-mortar proves that LA is still going through a serious smashburger phase. The accomplished burger crew is opening on Main Street in Santa Monica and plans to serve the same crisp-edged, short rib patty cheeseburgers and fries cooked in beef tallow, plus soft serve, craft beer, and natural wine. 


The Let's Go Disco and Cocktail Club/Enzo Discoteca

Opening: October 2022

The folks behind De La Nonna have always liked to mix a little partying with their crispy square pizza (you'll usually find a DJ spinning at the restaurant on weekends), but now they are expanding in the Arts District with a full-on new cocktail spot inspired by '80s Italian discos. Expected to open in late October, the concept will combine retro discoteca decor with aperitivo-style cocktails, which means you’ll soon be able to catch us there dancing to Giorgio Moroder with spritz in hand.

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Le Coucou

Cafe Basque

Opening: Mid-October 2022

You can already spend an entire afternoon hopping between The Hoxton's pool and Peruvian rooftop bar for pisco sours, but soon you’ll be able to stick around for dinner at Cafe Basque, an appropriately named French-Basque restaurant from the NYC chef behind upscale French spot Le Coucou. Expect local seafood, pintxos, live-fire cooking, and of course—Basque cheesecake for dessert. 


LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Za Za Za

Za Za Zá

Opening: November 2022

The team behind Art District Mexican spot Cha Cha Chá (one of our Best New Restaurants in 2021) seems to really like catchy repetition, as perfectly summed up in their second restaurant concept: Za Za Zá. The new restaurant in Frogtown is scheduled to open in November and will specialize in dishes from the Sea of Cortés region in Northern Mexico, including Baja-style seafood, charcoal-grilled meats, and spicy Sinaloa-style mariscos. Located just a block from the LA River, the restaurant will offer lots of outdoor seating and a full cocktail menu.


LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

All'Antico Vinaio

Opening: Fall 2022

Florence is home to treasures like the Duomo, Michelangelo's David, and All'Antico Vinaio, a legendary sandwich shop with housemade Tuscan schiacciata bread. The shop attracts hordes of tourists daily, and has done the same at the location it opened in New York last year. Now another U.S. location of the Florentine deli is headed to LA's Koreatown this fall, where you'll find that signature crusty bread, Italian cold cuts like mortadella and porchetta, and spreads made with pistachios, truffle, and spicy 'nduja sausage, to name just a few.

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Eddie Sanchez

Willie Mae's Scotch House

Opening: Late 2022

People wait up to two hours to get their hands on the crispy fried chicken at Willie Mae’s Scotch House in New Orleans, and though we’re not sure if the lines will be any shorter at their new second location slated to open in Venice, you’ll be able to save on travel time at least. The owners of Sugarfish and HiHo Cheeseburger are behind this West Coast expansion, which will serve the restaurant’s signature fried chicken, gumbo, and red beans and rice. Though the brick-and-mortar space is scheduled to open this winter, you can order Willie Mae’s for takeout and delivery through Sawtelle’s Colony Kitchen right now.


Hudson House

Opening: Late 2022

Hudson House is a Dallas-based restaurant serving a menu of East Coast-inspired seafood dishes that is expanding into California for the first time (did you keep track of all that?). The new location is located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and will offer things like lobster rolls, seafood towers, and shrimp cocktails with chipotle remoulade. And heads up: there’s another restaurant named Hudson House in Redondo Beach, so maybe check your GPS twice before making the trip.

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele Belmont Shores 

Opening: Late 2022

One of the oldest and most famous pizzerias in Naples, L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele was a big hit when it landed in Hollywood several years ago (it even nabbed a spot on our Best Pizza guide, in fact). Now, the Neapolitan pizza specialist is bringing la dolce vita to Long Beach with a new location in Belmont Shores planned for next year. The courtyard-esque space is designed to resemble an Italian piazza, which means you’ll be able to enjoy a classic margherita pizza, flaky Italian pastries, and a double espresso while causally muttering “ciao” to whoever walks past. 


LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita

Opening: Late 2022

About 50 years ago, Beverly Hills Italian spot La Dolce Vita opened with help from none other than Frank Sinatra, an initial investor turned regular who even had a booth dedicated to him. Now, after closing temporarily for a big remodel, La Dolce Vita is reopening this year under the owners of Genghis Cohen. The plan is to continue serving chicken parm, spaghetti and meatballs, and highlight the old-timey details people love: white tablecloths, leather booths, and moody lighting that feels like you're in a mob flick. 


Jemma di Mare

Opening: Late 2022

Let it be known: Brentwood has no shortage of (mediocre) Italian restaurants, but we don’t expect newcomer Jemma di Mare to be one of them. The upcoming restaurant is the latest opening from the chef behind Ospi and Jame Enoteca, two of our favorite neighborhood Italian spots. The theme at Jemma di Mare is coastal Italian-American, so we're expecting lots of local fish, perhaps a martini, and hopefully a nice plate of pasta with clams. 


Reunion

Opening: Late 2022

Attached to the new NeueHouse location in Venice, Reunion is an Italian-ish rooftop bar and restaurant where you can expect 360º views and a certain sense of exclusivity dining among the “creative visionaries" of Abbot Kinney. Although NeueHouse members do get priority reservations, you don’t have to have a membership to dine here, which is good news—we plan to take full advantage of the cocktail program created by the guy who opened The Varnish for a beach-adjacent cocktail with a view. 

LA's 16 Most Exciting Fall Restaurant Openings image

photo credit: Garrett Sweet

Bazaar Meat

Opening: Early 2023

You'd think after opening three restaurant concepts at the Conrad Hotel in DTLA this year, José Andrés might want to take a little breather. But think again because next up is LA’s first location of Bazaar Meat, a high-end steakhouse concept from Andrés which will be located next door to the Conrad in The Grand LA center. Much like locations of Bazaar Meat in other cities, you’ll be able to sample caviar, glistening jamón iberico, and various Spanish tapas alongside a wide selection of steaks.

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