Kelly Dobkin

Read the latest articles by Kelly Dobkin at Thrillist

Los Angeles

First Look

Thrillist takes you inside the hottest new restaurants, from upscale destinations to casual cafes.

First Look - Thrillist

Photo by Kelly Dobkin for Thrillist

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

If you’re one of those New Yorkers who was part of the pandemic mass exodus to Los Angeles, there’s a good chance that you spent a winter weekend or two in Miami during your Big Apple years.

Magical Miami Aegean Restaurant Mandolin Opens at Soho Warehouse in Downtown LA

New York

The eyes and ears of the world are on Ukraine right now, but you can also support the Ukrainian American community locally in NYC, which is home to a population of about 80,000.

Support Ukrainian-Owned Businesses by Dining at These NYC Restaurants

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

News

It’s been rumored for weeks now that LA was preparing to lift its indoor mask mandate, following Gavin Newsom’s announcement that the state of California would do so beginning February 15.

LA County to Lift Mask Mandate for Indoor Businesses with Proof of Vaccination

Photo by Dylan + Jeni, courtesy of Angelini Osteria

The beloved Angelini Osteria has charmed Beverly Grove diners for 21 years now with its handmade pastas, giant menu, and decadent entrees.

An Iconic 21-Year-Old Italian Restaurant Is Expanding to the Palisades

Image by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist

Drink

In the throes of early quarantine, I started watching Emma Chamberlain's YouTube channel.

Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Landing at Erewhon Is a Meta, Full-Circle Moment

Photo by Justin Chung, courtesy of Lulu's

The long-awaited debut of Alice Waters' first-ever LA project is finally here: LULU has opened inside UCLA’s Hammer Museum in Westwood.

Alice Waters Opens First-Ever LA Restaurant with LULU at the Hammer Museum

Dylan + Jeni

Centuries-old Roman cuisine has enjoyed some recent popularity in America on menus in NYC and more recently, here in LA (Oste, Evan Funke’s upcoming Mother Wolf, et al). Now soft-open in Echo Park, Bacetti (aka “little kisses” in Italian) is the culinary sibling to next-door Tilda natural wine bar, in collaboration with chef Joel Stovall (previously of Orsa & Winston).

Echo Park’s Bacetti Is a Love Letter to Rome

Photo by Jakob Layman, courtesy of Etta

Chicago’s much-beloved neighborhood restaurant, Etta, from the team behind Maple & Ash steakhouse, has expanded to LA with a brand-new location within Culver City’s Ivy Station.

First Look: Etta Brings Wood-Fired Fare with Mediterranean Inspo to Culver City

Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist

Waiting in line for a pie at Lucali in Brooklyn is practically a rite of passage for any New York pizza obsessive (you have to get in line right at 5 pm for even a chance at a table.) Because of its cult following and long lines, it’s also a destination for celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyonce, who are among the few who can cut right to the front.

Famed Brooklyn Pizza Joint Lucali Expands with Baby Luc’s Slice Shop

No matter what you’re craving, chances are, New York City’s got it.

The 25 Best Burgers in NYC

Photo by Anne Fishbein, courtesy of Bicyclette

Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke, the duo behind such hit restaurants as Republique and Petty Cash just debuted the newest addition to their restaurant family, Bicyclette Bistro, which opened this week in Beverly Hills.

First Look: Bicyclette Bistro Is a Love Letter to Paris From the Chefs Behind Republique

Nation

Grace Han/Thrillist

The 2020 General Election on November 3 is just around the corner, and if you vote in Michigan, so are the important deadlines you'll need to meet to make sure your vote counts.

Kelly Dobkin’s Recent Articles

Magical Miami Aegean Restaurant Mandolin Opens at Soho Warehouse in Downtown LA

The beloved Miami hotspot highlighting the cuisine of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey has expanded to a massive indoor-outdoor space in the Arts District.

Support Ukrainian-Owned Businesses by Dining at These NYC Restaurants

Help support the local community right here in the Big Apple.

LA County to Lift Mask Mandate for Indoor Businesses with Proof of Vaccination

This sweeping change in policy will take effect Friday.

An Iconic 21-Year-Old Italian Restaurant Is Expanding to the Palisades

Angelini Osteria will bring its legendary pizzas and pastas to a new part of town.

Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Landing at Erewhon Is a Meta, Full-Circle Moment

We chat with the YouTube star about her favorite LA coffee shops, what makes a great cup of coffee, and more.

Alice Waters Opens First-Ever LA Restaurant with LULU at the Hammer Museum

The Chez Panisse legend heads south of the Bay along with chef David Tanis.

Echo Park’s Bacetti Is a Love Letter to Rome

Beloved natural wine bar Tilda just got a new sibling.

First Look: Etta Brings Wood-Fired Fare with Mediterranean Inspo to Culver City

The Chicago export lands in LA inside the anticipated hotel, The Shay at Ivy Station.

Famed Brooklyn Pizza Joint Lucali Expands with Baby Luc’s Slice Shop

The celebrity pizzaiolo grows his empire with square slices and the lines have followed him.

The 25 Best Burgers in NYC

From classics to new, quintessentially New York patties.

First Look: Bicyclette Bistro Is a Love Letter to Paris From the Chefs Behind Republique

Classic bistro fare with a twist inside a charming bi-level space.

Michigan: How to Make Sure Your Vote Counts in the 2020 Election

What you need to know, including key deadlines, registration details, and how to vote by mail.