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LUNA PARK ambience sans attitude

672 S. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles (323) 934-2110 www.lunaparkla.com

San Francisco meets New York at A.J. Gilbert and Joe Jack’s hip bistro where a lively bar scene, moderately priced and creatively concocted menu, and eclectic décor pack the house on any given night of the week. 

Replete with dark woods, brick red walls and kitschy antique chandeliers twinkling over urban tag art, Luna Park welcomes the trendy locals that are looking for a place where good food meets ambiance sans the attitude.  Whether you’re perched at the packed bar, catching up with an old friend over the candle-lit rectangular wooden tables, or romancing in booths cloaked in muslin curtains, you’re guaranteed to have a good time without breaking the bank.

Start with an Icebreaker – sweet Vin De Glaciere shaken up with Vodka and poured over frozen grapes -- or their heady award-winning mojito muddled with fresh mint and lime and just the right amount of sugar.   Another favorite is the Crimson Cosmo where Vodka is kissed by Pomegranate Juice.  The wine list consists of close to fifty affordable bottles mainly from California , with some French and Italian selections and about a dozen of them are available by the glass.

An unusual combination, the Moules Frites – French for Mussels and Fries – is not only an excellent appetizer on the menu, but also a good metaphor for the restaurant itself where the bohemian and chic combine, where upscale and the comfortably ordinary merge to create conviviality.  A luscious warm goat cheese fondue comes with bite-sized chunks of grilled bread and thin apple slices.  For something spicy, there is a curry pork satay with vinegar dipping sauce and mint-cucumber slaw.

The Lunch Menu is full of daily specials and an impressive selection of salads and sandwiches ranging from the ubiquitous burger to a Mediterranean Tuna Salad sandwich with fennel, capers, tomatoes, olives, onions and arugula, and served with fries or salad.  Dinner offers additional finer fare like the perfectly flaky oven roasted Sea bass with garlic, potatoes, broccoli rabe and chile and a braised lamb shank with cranberry beans and brown butter polenta.  The catchy “Pot on Fire,” which is on both menus, is a version of the pot-au-feu.  A hearty serving of tender beef brisket, carrots, turnips, leeks and potatoes in light broth, it’s perfect in the cold season or when you’re craving some comfort food.  Grilled flat iron steak, which has gained such a following of late, is delicious with a green salsa made with olive oil, parsley, garlic and anchovies and served up with French fries.

Bonding over dessert is enabled by Make-Your-Own S’mores where homemade graham crackers, warm toasted marshmallows and a pot of bubbling melted Valrhona chocolate rekindle the fireside tradition.  Simpler but no less sumptuous is the bananas foster with banana ice cream melting over it.  If sugar isn’t where you get your kick from, a sixteen year-old Lagavulin single malt scotch or a selection of cognacs is also available so that you can sit long after the plates have been cleared and, disregarding the flood of incoming patrons, enjoy the ambiance just a little bit longer.

-GD

Choice Bites 

OASIS  Trendsetters enjoy perfect mojitos and Mediterranean tapas at this lounge out of the Arabian Nights. Exquisite choices include tandoori beef, seasoned French fries with chunky curry sauce and deep fried Piquillo peppers stuffed with goat cheese. Come for the sexy ambiance, stay for the unbeatable food.

611 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles (323) 939-8900

CINCH  Dodd Mitchell's stunning design and Chef Behre's European and Asian-inspired food attract the chic and beautiful at this lounge and restaurant. Whether it's Crème Brulee martinis, buttery sushi, grilled New Zealand venison or just schmoozing you crave, this is the spot for you.

1519 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (310) 395-4139

LE DOME  The legendary restaurant has been reworked by Dodd Mitchell and flaunts the culinary magic of chef Sam Marvin. Same spot but with a new, eclectic décor with theme rooms to fit every mood and food to keep you coming back.

8720 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood (310) 659-6919