Leap day spectacular

Hillstone hive, LA Wine & Food tix, Montecito, Baby Battista, Santa Barbara restaurants, MORE

Feb 29, 2024

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RESTAURANTS • First Person

Five of a kind

I am a proud member of the Hillstone hive. Like other Angeleno devotees of the restaurant group — which counts seven brands across 11 states — I love a Houston’s, an R+D Kitchen, and an Honor Bar for all the right reasons: they’re comforting, vibey, and consistent. I know when I’m halfway through a martini, it’ll be poured into a fresh, newly ice-cold glass. I also know that even though all Hillstone restaurants from Denver to Palm Beach deploy essentially the same formula, they’re called different names at least in part to avoid being categorized as a chain (which would require calorie counts on menus). Which is also perfectly fine by me.

Less okay, however, is that only one of the five Hillstone properties in Los Angeles, South Beverly Grill, serves a shrimp cocktail. Still, I’d happily visit the others — Honor Bar next door, Houston’s in Pasadena, or R+D Kitchen and Hillstone (both Santa Monica) — on any given night. The ribs are great, the cocktails are made right, and the sushi is passable. Many Hillstone regulars will recommend the veggie burger. I say skip it. Another contrarian opinion: pass on the spinach-artichoke dip and consider the grilled artichokes (if they’re available).

Of the five restaurants, Honor Bar is the most casual, while Houston’s boasts a koi pond. And because Hillstone restaurants breed neighborhood followings, Beverly Hills presents more posh than suburban Pasadena or Santa Monica (casual yet moneyed). Otherwise, they share a vibe: buttoned-up, yet undeniably warm, with an all-American feel.

Each dining room is packed, no matter the night. Make no mistake: Hillstone runs five of the hottest restaurants in town. Be sure to book in advance, unless you’re pulling up to the walk-in-only Honor Bar or R+D, in which case arrive early or prepare to wait it out with the rest of us. –Emily Wilson

→ Houston's (Pasadena) • 320 S Arroyo Pkwy • Sun-Tues, 1130a-9p; Wed-Sat, 1130a-10p.
→ South Beverly Grill (Beverly Hills) • 122 S Beverly Dr • Mon-Sun, 1130a-10p.
→ Honor Bar (Beverly Hills) • 122 S Beverly Dr • Sun-Sat, 1130a-10p.
→ R+D Kitchen (Santa Monica) • 1323 Montana Ave • Sun, 11a-9p; Mon-Wed, 1130a-9p; Thurs-Fri, 1130a-10p; Sat, 11a-10p.
→ Hillstone (Santa Monica) • 202 Wilshire Blvd • Sun-Wed, 1130a-9p; Thurs-Sat., 1130a-10p.

LA RESTAURANT LINKS: A new Thai market brings bustling Bangkok vibes to Hollywood • It appears Sweet Lady Jane bakery is coming back • Culinary hubs put a twist on home cooking in LA • What young wine drinkers want • A new type of ‘Tini is hiding in plain sight.

FESTIVALS • Partner

Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival tickets

The inaugural Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival is this weekend, March 1-3, and we’ve got a discount code for 30% off your all-inclusive tickets. The event will celebrate the best of LA’s food scene over three days in Santa Monica. All-inclusive tickets include unlimited food from 90+ chefs, free-flowing drinks, and immersive entertainment all weekend long.

Join in the fun by using the code FOUNDLA when you purchase your tickets.

LA WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Here comes the Spring 2024 home buying season, with high rates and high prices • Conservationists hope to buy 2.4 acre hollow in Laurel Canyon • Hiltons launch new luxury real estate brokerage Hilton Hilton • WeWork ditches major Gas Company Tower lease in DTLA • Design galleries proliferate in LA • Let’s make Walt Disney Concert Hall all that it could really be.

CULTURE & LEISURE • New Material

Adam Sandler, Nocturne Theatre (Glendale), Thurs @ 6p, GA, $20 per (or Fri @ 7p, $396 per)
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kia Forum (Inglewood), Sat @ 7:30p, section 107, $431 per
Reggie Watts - Live Comedy Special Taping, Regent Theater (Downtown), GA, Sun @ 930p, $49 per

GETAWAYS • Montecito

Spiny lobster sunsets

In a state with 840 miles of coastline, I always wondered why it was impossible to find an excellent seafood restaurant with beautiful views of the Pacific. Then I discovered Caruso’s at the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito.

The best tables are undoubtedly on the terrace, which offers front-row seats to crashing waves and pink sunsets, while the dining room resembles the inside of a yacht — bedecked in navy blue and crisp white, with teak wood floors and leather booths. Despite a dress code (strictly elegant) and Caruso’s corresponding top-tier service, a warm and inviting atmosphere persists.

Regional flavors and locally sourced ingredients drive the Italian-influenced menu. Highlights include chilled Santa Barbara spiny lobster, gnocchetti with uni (from an esteemed local diver, Stephanie Mutz), and Channel Islands halibut served underneath a parsnip puree. For dessert, buttermilk mousse made with honey from, of course, the property’s own beehives.

Rather than hastily returning to Los Angeles after an exceptional dinner, stay the night at the hotel. This allows for a nightcap at The Manor Bar, with its library-like setting and cocktail menu that nods to iconic literary villains: The Dorian Gray is fruity and Hennessy-based, while the spicy Shere Khan contains both mezcal and Aperol. And, finally, a good night’s sleep in a Rosewood Miramar Beach bungalow, marble bathrooms and Diptyque amenities included. –Victoire Loup

→ Caruso's at Rosewood Miramar Beach (Montecito) • 1759 S Jameson Ln • Sun-Thurs, 530-9p; Fri-Sat, 530-930p.

GETAWAYS • The Nines

Restaurants, Santa Barbara

Bettina (Montecito, above), pastels and wood-fired sourdough pizza from expat NYC baker
Bibi Ji (Downtown Santa Barbara), modern Indian fare paired w/impressive wine list
Caruso’s (Montecito), pre-fixe Italian-Californian inside Rosewood Miramar Beach
La Super-Rica Taqueria (Milpas), Julia Child-approved tacos and tamales joint remains packed
Sama Sama (Downtown Santa Barbara), Southeast Asian w/Michelin approval
Lucky’s (Montecito), stoic, serene chophouse, martini nirvana
The Lark (Funk Zone), seasonal California cuisine in industrial-chic digs
Tre Lune (Montecito), classic trattoria serving cacio e pepe and veal parmesan
Satellite (Downtown Santa Barbara), farm-to-table vegetarian w/ natural wine shop

GETAWAYS LINKS: Steep and deep: Big Bear records snowiest February since 2000 • The changing face of apres ski at Lake Tahoe • New Belmond Maroma in Tulum is both swaggering and rustic • Is The Aman still what it was? • Spa wars: the race to be the best retreat in the world • Should kids be banned from airline lounges?

ASK FOUND

A few FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we are seeking intel:

What florists or subscription flower services should I consider?
You published the best women’s boutiques, but what about men’s boutiques?
What’s your favorite restaurant in LA (if you haven’t told us already)?

Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com.

BARS • First Round