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It's certainly true that chefs are putting a premium on preparing vegetables these days, but that doesn't mean that they've forgotten about meat. Far from it, in fact. We've been noticing that some of the city's hottest new restaurants are offering incredibly large-format protein dishes meant to be shared with the table. And though they aren't cheap, they certainly are delicious.
The ceremony of tearing into these massive hunks of meat fresh off the fire with other hungry humans is one of the most primal acts out there. And while 32-ounce steaks used to be a niche find for couples to split, it's now becoming quite common for chefs to include them on the menu. Some are large enough to share with three or more people. Things are getting bigger and better here in L.A. by the day. Here are some of the best large format options out there.
Chi Spacca: Chowing down on Chi Spacca's bistecca fiorentina is practically a right of passage for meat lovers, and it's easy to see why. The 42-ounce, $175 steak is said to require 45 minutes to grill to a respectable rare. (Originally, chef Chad Colby had planned on the dish being 80 ounces, but "scaled back" due to what they thought diners could handle price-wise.) There's also an outrageously juicy "tomahawk" pork chop that weighs in at 42 ounces in case you're more in the mood for pork, as well as a wide selection of house-made salumi, pâtés, and charcuterie. With just a few veggies and sides on the menu, this truly is a temple for meat eaters.
Republique's cote du boeuf (Photo courtesy of Republique)
Republique: Chef Walter Manzke makes all sorts of swoon-worthy dishes at this La Brea Avenue restaurant, from moules frites to a stunning 32-ounce cote du boeuf served with a wild mushroom bordelaise—a classic Bordeaux sauce made with red wine, bone marrow, butter, shallots and demi-glace. It's not cheap at $125, but if you're sharing it with others it's not as big of a dent in the pocketbook. You'll want to bring a few other diners for reinforcement though, because you'll definitely want to order more from his varied French-Californian menu.
Photo courtesy of Butchers & Barbers
Butchers & Barbers: The kitchen at the Houston brother's first restaurant is small, but chef Luke Reyes is turning out some massively flavorful food for the intimate dining room. The menu includes all sorts of meat-centric dishes and charcuterie, including a 34-ounce cote du boeuf. The plate of 28-day dry-aged beef goes for $90 and goes well with their more veggie-friendly sides like roasted cauliflower and delicata squash.
Photo of the ribeye at Bestia courtesy of Bestia
Bestia: With a name that translates from "beast" in Italian, it should come as no surprise that this downtown meat mecca is home to another epic steak, a 39 oz. Boulder Valley 28-Day dry-aged bone-in rib eye. The restaurant insists that it serves two for $140, which is fine if that's all you order, but bring more friends and get bone marrow shooters, house made charcuterie, and some of their impeccable desserts—and there won't be a regret in sight.
Brilliantshine: We've been fans of the new Brilliantshine in Santa Monica since their opening, and are particularly pleased with their craft cocktail offerings and bangin' brunch. For dinner, the Peruvian-inspired menu offers a 35-ounce bone-in rib eye—one of our favorite cuts—that's been aged for 54 days. The rich cut of beef comes with a smattering of aji amarillo butter and chimichurri on top, sautéed kale with white soy dressing and double cooked Yukon potatoes with ocopa sauce on the side.
The 30 oz tomahawk at Pistola is massive, but still 10 oz smaller than their fiorentina (Photo courtesy of Pistola)
Pistola: Pistola, which landed in the former AOC space on Third Street, pays homage to 1950s Italian restaurants of New York City. The menu is meant to be shared family-style, which explains the ridiculously large 40-ounce fiorentina porterhouse steak that clocks in at a whopping $125, making it a special occasion dish for a good-sized group. Just make sure to save room for their crostata.
Hutchinson's cote du boeuf (Photo courtesy of Hutchinson Cocktails and Grill)
Hutchinson Cocktails and Grill: This Indonesian-inspired steakhouse helmed by chef James Trees serves all sorts of steakhouse classics infused with Southeast Asian flare. Think dishes like tender short rib beef rendang simmered in coconut milk; grilled pork ribs with a hoisin sambal glaze; or lobster tom kha with fresh galangal, coconut and lime juice. Keeping true to their steakhouse backbone, Trees and his team offer a massive 40-ounce cote du boeuf gussied up with Indo-style spices. He serves it with Sichuan peppercorn and an uber-unctuous bone marrow bordelaise sauces. To further tap into your carnivorous instincts, it's presented in a cast iron with smoldering oak table side, which totally taps into your primal instincts.
