From the driving, to the parking, to the not knowing where to drive or park, dinner in L.A. is harder than it should be. That’s why we created Dinner Plan — your itinerary to a damn good time. This week, we’re off to Highland Park for a night of delicious food, interesting musical experiences and a definite boogie or two.
The Shirt: Freenote Cloth
Highland Park
The temps are dipping enough at night that a woven button down will keep the brisk fall air at bay. The new Freenote Cloth store is located within walking distance to Hippo and Gold Line (see below), and they just dropped some brushed yarn shirts (Jepson and Captain Bodie) that were dyed and outfitted with custom buttons in Japan. Freenote’s shirts are pre-shrunk and built to last, both because of exceptional construction as well as an inherently timeless look.
Dinner: Hippo
Highland Park
Chef Matt Molina (of Everson Royce Bar fame) has wasted no time getting settled in Highland Park. First he opened Triple Beam, a pizza-by-the-slice joint that uses shears to cut a slice to your liking, which they price by weight. There’s a little courtyard where you can eat and drink canned beer. Hipster coffee bar GoGetEm Tiger came next, and shares the space. Hippo, his latest addition, is a trendy spot located at the back of this little complex. It’s nice enough to come off as chic, but it’s Highland Park, so you can still get away with being very casual. The food consists of well-balanced dishes that can be shared or ordered solo. The pancetta wrapped around the quail is a smoky complement that doesn’t overpower, the cappellacci is a sweet pasta dish that has a savory earthiness a la mushrooms and thyme, and the pastas themselves are expectedly superb given his stints at Del Posto, Campanile and Mozza. This spot is universal enough for many occasions, and has a great patio for al fresco dining, too.
5916 1/2 N. Figueroa (map)
Website
After-Dinner Drinks: Gold Line Bar
Highland Park
Keeping with the hood’s music scene, Gold Line is an audiophile’s dream bar: darkly lit with an area for dancing in the back and some 8,000 vintage records that sit behind the bar. Named after the Metro Gold Line that runs on the street behind Figueroa, Gold Line Bar is owned by Peanut Butter Wolf and the team at Stone’s Throw Records, which is headquartered upstairs. The library of rare finds comes from PBW’s personal collection, and every night before they open, a resident DJ comes in and selects the evening’s tunes. The bar is stocked with top-shelf hooch, and the McIntosh sound system means you get massive wooden cabinet speakers that fill the space with a rich sound. We’ll be back.
—
Main image via Gold Line Bar / Instagram
Join America's Fastest Growing Spirits Newsletter THE SPILL. Unlock all the reviews, recipes and revelry — and get 15% off award-winning La Tierra de Acre Mezcal.
