Make it a ‘Late Night’ with the new menu items at the Wilshire Boulevard establishment. (photo courtesy of Descanso Restaurant)

Descanso debuts new ‘Late Night’ offerings

Descanso Restaurant, renowned for its signature Plancha dining experience, is turning up the heat in Mid-Wilshire with a dynamic new lineup of menu offerings. Guests at the newly opened Los Angeles flagship location can explore an inspired selection of craft cocktails, flavorful entrées and a brand-new Late Night menu – each celebrating the vibrant, street-style cuisine of Central West Mexico.

With Head Chef Sergio Lopez at the helm, the new menu features hearty salads, satisfying entrées and distinctive cocktails that elevate every bite. Highlights include the chipotle shrimp salad, made with baby arugula, lemon vinaigrette, queso fresco, pico de gallo, elote asado and habanero pickled onions; and the pato con mole negro, featuring tender duck leg in rich and savory mole negro topped with crema, onions, sesame seed and micro cilantro, served with blue corn tortillas.

For an after-hours indulgence, discover Descanso’s new Late Night menu, available Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m.–midnight, offering even more irresistible bites, perfect for getting the party started or ending a late night out. Highlights include ceviche tostadas, pork belly aguachile, carne asada potatoes and carnitas alambre, along with a selection of made-to-order tacos.

Pair the new menu with an equally show-stopping lineup of cocktails and mocktails, each crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients. The Fresa Fresca blends Deleon Blanco, Giffard Framboise, Ancho Reyes Verde and house-made strawberry agua fresca with a touch of vanilla for a vibrant, slightly spicy sip. For a zero-proof option with just as much depth, the La Catrinal combines guava purée, fresh lime, house-brewed green tea and spice syrup, topped with Grapefruit Jarritos for a refreshingly complex mocktail.

Descanso’s new menu is now available exclusively at the Los Angeles location. For information and to make a reservation, visit descansorestaurant.com or call (213)672-2444. Descanso is located at 5773 Wilshire Blvd.

Chef Liza adds sizzle to Cat & Fiddle

The Cat & Fiddle has announced the second installment of its Chef Series, following the success of its December debut. This June, dive into vibrant Mediterranean flavors with acclaimed culinary talent Chef Elizabeth Mehditach.

Mehditach, known as Chef Liza, is a celebrated TV personality and private chef to the stars. Her dynamic approach to Cali-Mediterranean cuisine has been showcased on KTLA’s “Taste This”, Good Day DC (FOX 5), Food Network’s “Battle of the Decades” and Hulu’s “Baker’s Dozen.” Her signature style blends the bold, fresh flavors of the Mediterranean with California flair.

Together with The Cat & Fiddle – Hollywood’s beloved British restaurant and pub known for its warm hospitality and charming patio – Chef Liza will curate an unforgettable dining experience Mondays in June.

Menu highlights include spinach and feta bourekas, curried deviled eggs, spicy meatballs with scratch focaccia, pistachio kataifi cheesecake with chocolate ganache and olive oil citrus cake.

For information, visit thecatandfiddle.com or call (323)468-3800. The Cat & Fiddle is located at 742 Highland Ave.

Sneak a taste at Bourbon Steak events

Beginning Friday, May 16, Bourbon Steak Los Angeles – the modern American steakhouse by acclaimed Chef Michael Mina, located at The Americana at Brand – welcomes guests for a series of curated culinary events.

“The Mina Experience: A Bourbon Steak Tasting Menu” is a one-night-only culinary experience on Friday, May 16, as Mina presents an exclusive multi-course tasting menu. Priced at $175 per guest, the evening includes a signed copy of Mina’s highly anticipated new cookbook, “My Egypt,” along with complimentary access to the Bourbon Lounge after-party – featuring live jazz, craft cocktails and elevated late-night bites.

“Bourbon Lounge: Unwind at the Bourbon Lounge” on Friday, May 16, from 8–11 p.m. will have live jazz, craft cocktails, and bites from the new lounge menu. Tickets are $45, but guests of The Mina Experience tasting menu enjoy complimentary access – because the best nights go beyond dessert.

“Caymus Wine Dinner” on Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. will see executive chef Gabriel Pulido and lead sommelier Julia Djaoui host a five-course wine pairing dinner featuring the bold elegance of Caymus Vineyards. Enjoy expertly paired dishes like heirloom tomato tartare, braised short rib pappardelle and Santa Maria tri tip. Tickets are $250 per person.

Reservations, including those for each event, can be made via Seven Rooms at sevenrooms.com/explore/bourbonsteakla/reservations. Bourbon Steak L.A. is located at 237 S. Brand Blvd.

Cure May gray at Katana

It’s been an overcast May, but with summer right around the corner, Angelenos can soon enjoy the best outdoor patio restaurants L.A. has to offer, and Katana is one not to be missed. Perched on the iconic Sunset Strip, the hot spot has been drawing in diners for over 20 years. In a city where restaurants come and go, Katana continues to stand out for its robatayaki, premium sushi and fun ambiance.

Katana’s buzzy patio area offers one of the best views of the strip, where diners can enjoy authentic robatayaki, an open flame cooking technique using Binchotan (a special Japanese charcoal from the seaside village of Wakayama). Menu highlights include Kobe Pepper skewers made with American wagyu and black pepper sauce, Toro sushi featuring bluefin tuna belly, kizami wasabi, tosa shoyu and A5 wagyu seared on a flaming hot rock. Pair it all with craft cocktails like the “Tea & Harmony,” with green tea-infused Grey Goose vodka, lemongrass, honey, orgeat syrup and yuzu, and “Sundown on Sunset,” made with Monkey 47 gin, ozeki nigori, Liquid Alchemist blood orange, apricot brandy, lime and grapefruit bitters.

Katana is located at 8439 W. Sunset Blvd. For information, visit katanarobota.com or call (323)650-8585.

Head to the World Fair on Level 8

The World Fair Festival is taking over Golden Hour at Level 8. The iconic rooftop is being transformed into a vibrant, carnival-inspired playground right in the heart of Downtown L.A. Guests can enjoy classic carnival games, globally inspired bites and stunning rooftop views, perfect for springtime vibes. Attendees can try their luck at traditional carnival games like high striker, skee ball and ring toss, all while enjoying music from the resident DJ throughout the evening.

The menu offers a flavor-packed journey with treats like funnel cake fries, churros and savory favorites such as smashburger sliders, chicken satay and quesabirria spring rolls. For drinks, the carousel bar will serve refreshing cocktails, cold beers and more throughout the evening.

Guests can also test their skills for a chance to win prizes, ranging from complimentary drinks to a weekend stay at Moxy DTLA. For information, visit goldenhourdtla. com. Level 8 is located at 1254 S. Figueroa St.

Truly Pizza pops up at Patio del Mar

This Memorial Day weekend, two beloved coastal destinations come together for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience. On May 25-26, acclaimed Dana Point pizzeria Truly Pizza will take over Patio del Mar, the seasonal beachfront patio at Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica for an unforgettable, two-day-only seaside pop-up.

With just one opportunity to taste this exclusive, never-before-seen menu, guests are invited to indulge in a truly rare culinary moment – one that marries the refined elegance of Casa del Mar’s oceanside ambiance with Truly Pizza’s inventive, celebrated flavors. Set on the open-air Patio del Mar, the limited-time event offers front-row ocean views, fresh coastal bites, cool cocktails and innovative pizzas – perfect for a sun-soaked lunch or a breezy dinner under the stars. It’s an unforgettable summer dining experience in an unparalleled setting.

From the team behind Truly Pizza that includes four world champion pizzaiolos, the pop-up will showcase a menu that harmonizes the refined, seaside spirit of Casa del Mar with Truly Pizza’s signature innovation, hospitality and commitment to craft. The menu is a love letter to California’s coastal bounty, spotlighting signature pies like its smoky vodka and sweet and spicy, and featuring first-time creations not found anywhere else.

Patio del Mar is located at Hotel Casa del Mar, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica. For information, visit hotelcasadelmar.com/experiences/truly-pizza-pop-up.

Andy Schwartz and Miles Thompson have crafted a restaurant that combines their unique strengths. (photos courtesy of Baby Bistro)

Restaurant team christen their ‘Baby Bistro’

Baby Bistro, the Los Angeles restaurant by partners Miles Thompson and Andy Schwartz, held its grand opening on Thursday, May 8. Its constantly changing, concise menu showcases Thompson’s unwavering obsession with peak-of-season produce. Add-ons for the table, such as country terrine or a side of beans and nettles, are available. An approachable drink list is centered around winemakers in California and Europe that Schwartz has cultivated deep relationships with. The restaurant is inside a gently restored, century-old Victorian bungalow located in the Alpine Courtyard complex at the edges of Chinatown and Echo Park with an interior refitted in collaboration with artist/designer Grayson Revoir. For Thompson, who originally opened the critically acclaimed Allumette in Echo Park over a decade ago, the brick-and-mortar represents a meaningful return to the area.

As their first independent restaurant, Baby Bistro is the realization of the partners’ sincere desire to extend both warm hospitality and comforting fare in a long dreamt of space of their own.

For information, visit babybistrola.com or call (213)266-8784. Baby Bistro is located at 1027 Alpine St.