Los Angeles

The stoner's mind is in constant need of fresh stimulus -- if that weren't true, then why are you always up at 4am, and why do you even know Ron Popeil's name? For a restaurant that understands, check out Animal.

The first spot from (trail) blazing caterers/Food Network personalities The Food Dudes, Animal's concept is one of constant change, starting with the interior (now all-white, soon to rock rotating art from NY) and the bar (a broad copper-top that'll be patina'd nightly with stains from whatever happens to spill on it, be it soy sauce, wine, or the lonely tears of a man who knows what patina means). The small menu's in constant flux depending on farmer's market choices/chef's whims; inspiration ranges from American to Asian to Spanish, playing out in the likes of baby halibut sashimi, burrata, beet & olive caponata, pork ribs w/ bacon potato salad, and a bacon-chocolate crunch bar dessert that'll cleanse your palate of bacon with a refreshing mouthful of bacon. Drinks-wise, the house wine ("Animal House") is a constant, but everything else on the 5-beer/20-wine list will be quickly changed out for a replacement, then, like Drew Bledsoe, never heard from again.

Once opened, Animal will be blogging its menus online; past dishes'll be available for catering orders, or just for late-night perusing after you've successfully covered your entire body with spray-on hair.

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