Gigi’s Hollywood

Gigi’s owner Alex Wilmot was the co-founder of NYC burger restaurant Whitmans (known for its take on the Midwest Juicy Lucy), so it’s no surprise that the burger at this Hollywood hotspot is worthy of inclusion. The juicy patty here is topped with caramelized onions, pickles and served on a potato bun with expertly made French fries. The only hard part is scoring a reservation.

The Hollywood Media Business Improvement District was officially formed in the year 2000, but it wasn’t much in the news until the last handful of years, when a few Hollywood power players opened new offices within its borders. After the big industry money came the casual lunch spots, the cafes, and, in November 2020, sumptuous Gigi’s, a high-energy restaurant with a classic French menu that is constantly hosting celebrity parties, inventing a genre unto itself—a sort of Bottle Service Bistro. There is Escargot and French Onion Soup. There is a prodigious raw bar with a full caviar service. There is Steak Tartare and Moules Frites. There is Dakota Johnson having dinner with Sara Moonves.

We’ve been salivating over this French-inspired bistro (with a wine list to match thanks to director Kristin Olszewski) since they first opened in late 2020. The patio is open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays, with highlights that include fried oyster-topped deviled eggs, an extravagant seafood tower, caviar service,andChanterelle Agnolotti, all courtesy of chef Matt Bollinger (Trois Familia).
How to book: online.