The biannual foodie "holiday" known as Dine L.A. is back for this year's highly anticipated "Summer Road Trip." July 14 through 28, some 300 restaurants around the city will be participating in the series that provides diners with a special lunch and/or dinner menu. We can't always promise that the deals will be cheaper than the regular menu, but the event is full of exclusive Dine L.A. dishes that are a treat unto themselves. For a full list of all participating restaurants and their special menus, check here. Otherwise, we've listed out below some of our favorite participating restaurants and a few of the plates we're excited to try. Reservations can be made via Open Table, and all menu prices exclude tax and tip.
A.O.C.
Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne's venerable a.o.c. will be offering a $25 three-course lunch menu that includes choices of Spanish fried chicken, flaked albacore salad, and lemon meringue pie. For dinner, a four-course, $49 menu is available, with options that include melon and stone fruit salad, grilled hanger steak, and creme fraiche plum cake.
a.o.c. is located at 8700 West 3rd Street in Mid-city. (310) 859-9859
ALIMENTO
Silver Lake favorite Alimento opened three years ago, yet continues to churn out northern Italian fare that draws fans from all over town. Chef Zach Pollack will serve a $39 three-course tasting menu that features marinated olives and cauliflower zeppole (deep-fried pastry balls) as an opener, and a choice of antipasto and entree (corn and ricotta raviolini, anyone?).
Alimento is located at 1710 Silver Lake Boulevard in Silver Lake, and is closed on Mondays. (323) 928-2688
Sweet corn salad at The Bellweather (Photo via The Bellweather/Instagram)
THE BELLWETHER
If you need proof that the Valley is in the middle of a culinary renaissance, chef Ted Hopson's The Bellwether should be high on your list. The restaurant is offering a $29 dinner menu for Dine L.A. that offers a choice of three dishes. Options include crispy striped bass with marrow beans, strawberry shortcake with marscapone, and pickled blue crab toast.
The Bellwether is located at 13251 Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. (818) 285-8184
CAFE BIRDIE
Cafe Birdie will host Dine LAers for a three-course $39 dinner menu. Enjoy the Moroccan-spiced fried chicken from the "Second Course" selection, or the chocolate tart with salted caramel for dessert. And did we mention the complimentary glass of red, white, or rose wine?
Cafe Birdie is located at 5631 North Figueroa Street in Highland Park. (323) 739-6928
CONNIE & TED'S
Lovers of seafood will rejoice with Connie & Ted's lunch and dinner Dine LA menus. The $25, three-course lunch menu includes a sampler of New England, Manhattan, and Rhode Island Clear chowders. While the $39, three-course dinner menu offers the half-dozen chef's choice oyster plate and lobster roll. A special Dine L.A. cocktail is available for an additional $10.
Connie & Ted's is located at 8171 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. (323) 848-2722
E.P & L.P.
If the hip crowd and Thai food are more your scene, E.P. & L.P. is offering up a $29 three-course dinner menu. Choose between "sticky" spare ribs or heirloom tomatoes for a starter, and even mango pudding for dessert. Whether you choose to grab a cocktail on the rooftop, afterwards, or just snap a few Instagram pics, is up to you.
E.P. & L.P. is located at 603 North La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. (310) 855-9955
ERVEN
Though Erven may no longer be strictly vegan, this vegetable-centric, Santa Monica darling will offer a $29 three-course dinner menu that will only be available Tuesdays through Saturdays for Dine L.A. The menu options include charred avocado, salmon with chorizo chowder, and cheesecake with roasted plums.
Erven is located at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica. (310) 260-2255
Seafood platter at Fishing With Dynamite (Photo via Fishing With Dynamite/Instagram)
FISHING WITH DYNAMITE
Diners may be lured to Manhattan Beach by Fishing With Dynamite's $25, three-course lunch menu. First course options include a rockfish and shrimp ceviche with blood orange. Grilled shrimp tacos are on deck for a second course option, and try the key lime pie for dessert.
Fishing With Dynamite is located at 1148 Manhattan Avenue in Manhattan Beach. (310) 893-6299
GRACIAS MADRE
Calling all vegans, Instagram models, and lovers of Mexican food alike: Gracias Madre has prepared both a lunch and dinner menu for Dine L.A. The $25 lunch menu begins with house-made chips and guacamole, along with a beverage choice, and two main course items including a jackfruit carnitas taco option and flautas de camote. The $49 dinner menu also begins with a beverage choice and house-made chips and guacamole, and adds a choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert.
Gracias Madre is located at 8905 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. (323) 978-2170
THE HUNGRY CAT
Hollywood seafood favorite The Hungry Cat is offering both lunch and dinner menus for Dine L.A. The $20 two-course lunch menu offers a gazpacho that's served with grilled avocado and Oregon sweet shrimp as a starter option, as well as a fried fish taco entree. The $39 three-course dinner menu offers items like six oysters on the half shell, grilled trout with corn puree, and a stone fruit crumble dessert.
The Hungry Cat is located at 1535 North Vine Street in Hollywood. (323) 462-2155
Caviar spoons at .ink (Photo via .ink/Instagram)
INK.
Michael Voltaggio and company will serve a four-course, $95 dinner "caviar" menu for Dine L.A. The fixed menu lists a smoked burrata with Shasetra caviar for a starter, egg yolk gnocchi with trout roe, steak with "cheesy caviar," and even a white chocolate dessert with Shasetra to finish out the night.
ink. is located at 8360 Melrose Avenue in Mid-City. (323) 651-5866
JAR
Steakhouse stalwart Jar is offering a $49, three-course dinner menu. Choose from options like a roasted beets salad, a lemongrass and kefir lime Jidori chicken, Jar's famous pot roast, and an ice cream sundae dessert. No word on La La Land cameos, however.
Jar is located at 8225 Beverly Boulevard in Los Mid-City. (323) 655-6566
MAPLE BLOCK MEAT CO.
For addicts of barbecued meat, Culver City's Maple Block Meat Co. will offer both a lunch and dinner menu for Dine L.A. Both menus will include a choice of two meats (chicken, brisket, or ribs). The $15 lunch option will offer up a choice of two sides, a drink, and a cookie. The $29 dinner menu will offer one choice of side, plus a seasonal salad, and chocolate bread pudding.
Maple Block Meat Co. is located at 3973 Sepulveda Boulevard in Culver City. (310) 313-6328
MELISSE
If you have never had the chance to dine at chef Josiah Citrin's perennial fine dining classic Melisse, Dine L.A. may be your chance. For $99, enjoy a five-course dinner menu that features a Dungeness crab and cucumber custard starter, along with options like Waygu beef with porcini mushrooms, Santa Barbara black cod with eggplant, Mandarin tomato soup, and chocolate and caramel popcorn.
Melisse is located at 1104 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. (310) 395-0881
ODYS + PENELOPE
For some of the finest barbecue along La Brea (or anywhere else in the city) head to Odys + Penelope. The Dine L.A. menu here is $39 for three courses that include choice of grilled Argentinian white prawns to start, grilled salmon or pork belly parparadella for seconds, and a coconut-chasew lime "pie" with muddled raspberries for dessert.
Odys + Penelope is located at 127 South La Brea Avenue in Mid-City. (323) 939-1033
PLAN CHECK
All four Plan Check locations (Sawtelle, Fairfax, Downtown, and Santa Monica) will be offering lunch and dinner menus for Dine L.A. The $15 lunch menu will include two items (an entree along with an appetizer or dessert), and the $29 dinner menu will include three items (appetizer, entree, and dessert). Dine L.A. exclusive dishes include a grilled watermelon salad, a spicy mac and cheese, the Blended Truffle burger, and a summer berry cobbler.
Plan Check has multiple locations throughout Los Angeles. Check here for hours and address.
Rossoblu (Photo via Rossoblu/Instagram)
ROSSOBLU
Chef Steve Samson (who also heads Sotto—see below) recently opened Rossoblu downtown as a tribute to his familial roots in Bologna, Italy. A special $39 Dine L.A. menu will allow guests to share in the experience. Enjoy menu options such as pork meatballs with polenta bread, marinated albacore with heirloom beans, milk-braised pork shoulder, and ricotta pound cake.
Rossoblu is located at 1124 San Julian Street in Downtown Los Angeles. (213) 749-1099
SAME SAME
Are you a Silver Lake Shaman? Do you love Thai food? Have you been meaning to explore the burgeoning pocket of inventive Thai cuisine appearing along the eastern edge of Silver Lake? Whomever you are, Same Same is for you. The Sunset Boulevard Thai joint will be participating in Dine L.A. with a three-course $29 dinner menu. In addition to options like pork and crispy rice salad, beef drunken noodles, and mango sticky rice, enjoy a complimentary red or white wine pairing.
Same Same is located at 2835 West Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. (213) 273-8424
SOTTO
Tucked in an intimate basement level space along Pico Boulevard, Chef Steve Samson's Sotto (a frontrunner for one of our perennial favorites) will be hosting a three-course, $39 dinner menu at this Beverlywood mainstay. Diners can choose between items like a wood-roasted summer squash, grilled swordfish, and buttermilk zeppole with blueberry marmalade.
Sotto is located at 9575 West Pico Boulevard in Beverlywood. (310) 277-0210
SPRING
After his time at Church & State, chef Tony Esnault opened one of downtown's most stunning fine dining spots: Spring. And though the restaurant may be keeping things low-key, the experience is definitely a stunner. For Dine L.A., Spring is offering both a lunch and dinner menu. At $25, the three-course lunch menu offers options like tomato gazpacho, slow-cooked salmon, and vanilla panna cotta with poached peach. The $49 three-course dinner menu includes options like shrimp ceviche and pasture-raised flat iron steak.
Spring is located at 257 South Spring Street in downtown. (213) 372-5189
Tagine Beverly Hills (Photo via Tagine Beverly Hills/Instagram)
TAGINE BEVERLY HILLS
This Beverly Hills Moroccan restaurant (co-opened by Ryan Gosling) will be offering both lunch and dinner menus for Dine L.A. The $25, three-course lunch menu includes items like hummus and Berber bread, as well as braised beef couscous. The $49 three-course dinner menu features grilled quail, a baklava dessert, and a stripe bass tagine. No promises on seeing Ryan Gosling, though.
Tagine Beverly Hills is located at 132 North Robertson in Beverly Hills. (310) 360-7535
TAIX
Regardless of how you pronounce it, Taix, the grand dame of Echo Park's dining scene, will be serving up both lunch and dinner menus for Dine L.A. The $20 two-course lunch menu comes with an entree option, along with either a starter, side, dessert, or glass of wine. The $29 three-course dinner menu includes options for a beet salad starter, a lamb "Navarin" entree, and a lemon tart dessert.
Taix is located at 1911 West Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. (213) 484-1265
VIVIANE
Beverly Hills newcomer Viviane is inviting diners into the restaurant's mid-century modern chic interiors with both a lunch and dinner menu. The $25 two-course lunch menu offers first course items like a cucumber avocado carpaccio, and second course options that include sweet corn agnolotti. For dinner, a $49 three-course menu includes crab and corn fritters, merguez lamb cavatelli, and sweet potato and lentil curry.
Viviane is located at 9400 West Olympic Boulevard in Beverly Hills. (310) 407-7791
WOLF
Celebrity chef Marcel Vigneron's Melrose Boulevard spot has already become a favorite for both weekday dinners and weekend brunches, and we agree. If you've never been, Dine L.A. may be a good introduction. Wolf will be offering a $49, three-course dinner menu. Indulge in options like a yellow peach and pickled corn starter, Kabayaki short ribs with whipped potatoes, and an elderflower souffle dessert.
Wolf is located at 7661 Melrose Avenue in Midcity. (323) 424-7735
