Asterid

When it comes to dining at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, you have two options: the basement-level food court, or Asterid. Each has its own appeal  (the food court carries a mean oatmeal raisin cookie), but if you’re looking for an upscale dinner, obviously go for the latter. While nothing on the “New American” menu will blow your mind, it's a perfectly respectable place to go before or after an LA Phil performance (or Dear Evan Hansen at the Ahmanson, if that's what you're into). The space is suave and swanky, and lit in a way that feels like being aboard a starship. Chicken liver mousse comes with shaved truffles and a particularly buttery slice of bread, and we liked the hiramase aguachile and its punchy serrano pepper sauce. They’re both enjoyable things to put in your mouth while trying to think of something witty to say about Gustavo Dudamel.