Oakpointe Community | Ewing & Associates

The top 3 spots you must keep a secret

By: Deena Nissley

Malibu: The Old Place
Tough guys like Steve McQueen came to this rustic, country store-turned restaurant for a hearty meal of steak, clam, and potatoes. And that’s exactly what you’ll get, because the menu hasn’t really changed in more than 100 years. Stop by the Cornell Winery Tasting Room next door and pick a bottle to bring in with you. (Make reservations — they only take them for three seatings.)
29983 Mulholland Hwy. (818-706-9001)

Downtown: The Bootleg Theater
“Pay what you can” pricing is typical for indie rock shows and film screenings at this Depression-era warehouse. Get back in touch with your artistic side (the one you forgot about after you got tired of eating Top Ramen six nights a week) at this unpretentious, d-bag attitude-free hang for young directors, photographers, and musicians.
2220 Beverly Blvd. (213-389-3856)

Hollywood: The Hungry Cat
The best raw bar selections in LA are at a signless spot hidden away at this modern seafood haunt in the back of the Sunset & Vine complex (it’s across from the north entrance to Borders). Order up straight-from-the-ocean shellfish, from the Pacific and the Atlantic. Don’t like fish? Covered with bacon, blue cheese, and avocado, the Pug Burger is the only thing on the menu that can’t swim. High-concept cocktails mean you’re cabbing it home.
1535 Vine St. (323-462-2155)

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24 Heaven

The Lounge at WP24

By: Deena Nissley

As much as you’re enjoying Downtown’s new renaissance period, you still feel like it’s missing something.

Something classy, with sweeping views, spicy drinks and some Baby Pork Belly Bao Buns.

Good news: it’s been found. Welcome to The Lounge at WP24, now soft-open on the 24th floor of the new Ritz-Carlton at LA Live.

Hang a right out of the elevator, and the sprawling lounge will reveal itself gradually. First is the bar, where you can down an Umami Cocktail (gin, ume plum, cucumber and shiso leaf) to take the edge off the 110 traffic.

Then you’ll be ready to settle into the two-tiered modern cavern beyond. Take a seat near the giant wall of windows at a small, brightly colored tree trunk if you two are just here for the gin-enhanced view (there’s one ring for every round). Or find sanctuary in the larger semiprivate circular coves farther back if you’re gathered here for canoodling purposes or for the game on TV.

Technically, this could all be viewed as mere foreplay for the actual restaurant at the other end—WP stands for Wolfgang Puck, and the dining room opens soon—but watching the sun go down over asian plates of dumplings, Peking Duck Rolls and sashimi, paired with a tequila and jalapeño-spiked Dragon’s Fire… you might just stick with the foreplay.

Just this once.