Thrillist Los Angeles
Emailed on: Monday January 14, 2008V-Day Prix-Free
Valentine's Day is a month out. Call any of these places now, and not only will you reserve the romantic table your girl craves, you'll also avoid the predatory gougings of ubiquitous mandatory prix-fixe menus. Your options:
All' Angelo
7166 Melrose Ave, Mid-Wilshire; 323.933.9540
Pair Venetian grub with 25 wines poured by a Cuvinet system, which keeps various varietals at their ideal temperature -- which in the case of Franzia, is 3° below delicious.
The menu's at AllAngelo.com
The Penthouse
At the Huntley Hotel: 1111 2nd St, Santa Monica; 310.393.8080
Hit this top-floor spot for Asian/Brazilian fusion and a view of the Pacific -- because you're a dirtbag for staring at other women, but staring at the ocean makes you a soul-searcher.
The website's at TheHuntleyHotel.com
La Dolce Vida
9785 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills; 310.278.1845
This intimate, trad-Italian spot was once a Rat Pack favorite; if your martini olive starts ogling your date's cleavage, no worries: that's just Sammy's glass eye.
The menu's at LaDolceVitaBeverlyHills.com
The Minotaure
333 Culver Blvd, Playa Del Rey; 310.306.6050
Share small plates and sip sangria to live flamenco -- if the clam you ate was empty, call a doctor, because you've eaten a castanet.
Check out the menu at TheMinotaure.com
Chaya Brasserie
110 Navy St, Venice; 310.386.1179
Centered by a skylit bamboo garden, Chaya's chef brought Franco-Japanese cuisine to LA in the '80s -- when your own idea of fusion meant mixing Grape and Watermelon Nerds.
More info's at TheChaya.com
Kumo
8360 Melrose Ave, Beverly Hills; 323.651.5866
This lavish, all-white sushi spot's throwing distance from a wedding dress store; avoid mentioning it, or face a California Roll of regret.
Click here for the menu
Firefly
11720 Ventura Blvd, Studio City; 818.762.1833
This intimate, open-air bistro/bar sports a mid-restaurant fireplace and a liberal, post-11pm smoking policy, convenient if you had sex over appetizers.
There's not much at the website, but it's at FireFlyStudioCity.com
Mastro's
246 N. Canon Dr, Beverly Hills; 310.888.8782
This renowned steakhouse is famed for lobster mashed potatos served alongside meat so massive, your date will want its phone number.
The menu's at Zagat.com
Primitivo Wine Bistro
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice; 310.396.5353
Sit in the candlelit outdoor patio and nosh on seafood-centric tapas while enjoying let's-not-move-in-together-yet-centric conversation.
Both wine and food menus are at PrimitivoWineBistro.com
Bungalow Club
7174 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood; 323.964.9494
Reserve a private bungalow at this Mediterranean spot, and no one will see as your date does that special thing that gets you so hot. You know, eating?
