Loreto

Frogtown, a small residential enclave cozied up against the LA River, has grown into a real dining destination over the past few years, with standouts like Wax Paper and Salazar leading the pack. But even so, there’s never been a place quite like Loreto. With multiple dining rooms, exposed rafters, a wrap-around bar, and [collective gasp] valet, you might mistake this upscale Mexican seafood spot from the owners of LA Cha Cha Chá for a warehouse restaurant in the Arts District. And we don’t mean that as a slight, especially because there’s still plenty of neighborhood-y energy in the dining room. The menu puts a clear spotlight on raw fish—there are separate sections for sashimi, ceviche, and tostadas—and while all of it is excellent (definitely get the spicy rojo aguachile), the dish you can’t leave without is the whole grilled fish. Served with rice, beans, escabeche, blue corn tortillas, three different salsas, and unlimited quesadillas (yes, really), it’s enough food for at least three hungry adults. Even more exceptional is that it’s somehow only $64. We’d send you to Loreto just for that, but that’d be a shame—because you’d miss out on the lobster and shrimp-topped esquites and carajillo-inspired chocolate dessert (both just as stunning).