LAGuide
The Meet In The Middle Guide: Where To Eat When You’re Coming From Opposite Sides Of Town
Meeting people in the middle is simply a way of life in Los Angeles. Here's something that might help.
Studies show the average person will spend two years of their life waiting in line, nine years surfing the internet, and 13 years listening to music. And if you live in Los Angeles, you spend the rest of your life figuring out where to meet people halfway for dinner. That’s where we come in though. Broken up by specific—and distant—neighborhoods, this guide will finally help solve your long-distance dinner woes.
NEED TO MEET BETWEEN:
HOLLYWOOD & DOWNTOWN
With only a couple of posters on the walls, two communal tables, and a few chairs scattered on the sidewalk, Voodoo Vin feels like a no-name Parisian cafe that a local sent you to with the qualifier, “No one knows about this place—it’s great.” This quaint Virgil Village wine bar has an impressive collection of 400 bottles and a menu of simple small plates that are ideal for a snacky dinner with someone you met through a work event or a low-stakes date. Perhaps most importantly though, it’s only about a three-minute drive off the Vermont exit on the 101.
CULVER CITY & SILVER LAKE:
Given its central location and abundance of great restaurants, Koreatown is an ideal neighborhood for meet-in-the-middle dinners. One of our favorite places is Here’s Looking At You. This fancy-ish spot on 6th Street has a wide-ranging menu full of unique, delicious dishes like frog legs in spicy salsa negra, tamari-laden steak tartare, and crispy duck confit—plus excellent tiki cocktails. And though the prices at HLAY make it more upscale, the brightly lit dining room is still fun, casual, and perfect for a midweek friend dinner.
VENICE & ECHO PARK:
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Located just south of the 10 Freeway and about equal distance between the westside and eastside, West Adams is quite literally in the middle of it all. And for something quick and casual in the area, we love Mizlala. The Israeli spot has three locations across LA, but here, you order at the counter, grab some pickled sides from the condiments bar, and take a seat on the patio. It’s the ideal place for a weeknight meal or a last-minute group dinner that won’t break the bank. The menu is small, but it’s hard to go wrong—you can order any of the main proteins in a pita, on a salad, or as a plate with rice, hummus, and veggies. We especially love their chicken shawarma.
SANTA MONICA & WEST HOLLYWOOD:
Anyone who’s ever tried to cross under the 405 during rush hour knows it’s not for the faint of heart, which is why we always bookmark Hakata Izakaya Hero as our come-down spot. Walking into this Japanese izakaya in Westwood, you’ll be immediately hit with the tranquility of it all. The tiny, minimalist space holds about seven or so tables, with the sounds and smells of sizzling meat emanating from a semi-open kitchen in the back. The menu features dozens of shareable small plates—all of which taste great with beer or sake—but our favorites are the pan-fried Champon noodles, potato salad, and crispy chicken wings that’ve been stuffed with pork.
BEVERLY HILLS & BURBANK:
Thanks to studio backlots and towering agency offices, Beverly Hills and Burbank will always be tethered together by the entertainment industry. It also means most people trying to meet halfway will end up in Hollywood. Just be sure you choose Colibri as your destination. This casual Peruvian spot on Vine has a warm, rustic interior and menu that focuses on traditional classics like citrusy ceviche, briny squid ink rice, and tallerines rojos, a ragu-based pasta topped with crispy chicken thigh and housemade cheese sauce. There’s also a fun cocktail menu filled with pisco sours, caipirinhas, and chilcanos.
INGLEWOOD & SHERMAN OAKS:
When it comes to finding Italian food in Brentwood, you don’t have to look far, but Divino is our favorite because it delivers on both atmosphere and food—a rare combination for the sleepy neighborhood off the 405. At this dark, nautical-themed trattoria, servers bump into your chair as they squeeze through the cramped dining room and it's also really loud—all things that are usually annoying but feel refreshing in a strip mall on San Vicente. We like the rigatoni with creamy chicken ragu, the silky beef carpaccio, and tagliatelle with monkfish.
BRENTWOOD & LOS FELIZ:
The congested stretch of Melrose between Fairfax and Highland sees a lot of restaurant turnover, which makes Ronan all the more important for you and your midweek dinner plans. The neighborhood pizza spot is a quiet great: they have some of the best pizza in LA, salads that might make you say "wow," heavy wine pours, a full bar, and an under-the-radar side patio perfect for gossiping about a coworker. Start with the margherita for a showcase of Ronan’s expertise, then move on to much wilder creations like the Philippe's-inspired French dip calzone, stuffed with rare roast beef and hot mustard.
BEVERLY GROVE & PASADENA:
Part Mexican restaurant, part multi-floor labyrinth, Mírate is a deceptively huge dinner spot in Los Feliz from the people behind Beverly Hills' Mírame. There's an indoor bar area, an open-air courtyard, and even a top-floor terrace that overlooks the tree piercing the building's center. There’s alot going on here, but whether you’re with one friend or your entire work team ended up showing up, Mirate will have a table for you. Also, the food is quite good. We're big fans of the lamb flautas with feta, the smoky octopus taco arabe, and any drink that comes from the bar—especially the cold brew-spiked carajillo, which goes great with the corn churros.
