Restaurants near Smith Recreation Center

Always a favorite to come to Bestia, their food is stellar and they just do it right! Arriving right before restaurant opens is always a fave of mine, caught the tail end of their service staff pre shift and it totally warmed my heart. It really does make a difference when employees seem like they like where they work. I heard and felt energy, excitement and fun from each person I encountered.

We visited to celebrate a birthday with a group of three, and since one of us is vegetarian, we made sure to choose dishes that everyone could enjoy, plus one dish with fish. We started with three dips—masabacha, baba ghanoush, and farm cheese—and four appetizers: Moroccan carrots, roasted cauliflower, grilled mushrooms, and prawns. For dessert, we had the kirsch custard. The dips were exceptional, each offering a delightful mix of textures and flavors; each was served with a different type of bread that perfectly complemented each dip. The appetizers were equally impressive. The grilled mushrooms had a lovely char, and the prawns, which were slightly spicy, were paired with a refreshing cucumber salad that balanced the heat beautifully. The kirsch custard was smooth and creamy, served with a cinnamon tuile and fruit compote, making it the perfect way to end the meal. We also enjoyed drinks from the bar, along with a bottle of wine. The food and service were both top-notch. One thing to note, though, is that the noise level in the restaurant is quite high, so if you’re looking for a quiet, intimate setting, this may not be the best option. However, it's a fantastic spot for enjoying a great meal with friends or if you don’t mind a livelier atmosphere.

A gem located on the top floors of this landmark building adjacent to Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles. It is a two elevator ride to the top where a restored "Perch" restaurant and bar are located. A opportunity to be seated at the perch viewing Los Angeles any time of day. Sunsets are extra special. You can view Los Angeles as it transforms from business to entertainment mode. Classic bar scene, delicious appetizers and an outstanding dining venue. If you love or hate LA, you will be charmed by Perch.

We had a few snags being seated. The restaurant has a large draft area and when we asked to be moved to another two top that was empty we were told no as it was reserved. Except so was our table. The dinners were after us that took the table. We were offered a communal table seat by the manager but the host - he would not budge and honestly had an attitude all night even when we thanked him and said good night. We pushed the seating aside and dug into the menu with our waiter who was super attentive. Explained all the dishes. Made excellent recommendations and spaced everything out perfectly. He made sure we knew dishes were to be shared which we usually like to do anyway but made this made our choices even better. Let me just say start with the dates- you will be drinking the butter they are in! We added chicory with bacon vinaigrette which was a warm tasty bite of goodness. One of my favorites was the seasonal squash with farmers cheese. I can’t wait to eat the left overs! Then the main mushroom crusted pork chop. It’s literally one of the largest chops I have seen. So delicious. Get yourself some cheddar potatoes to round out your meal! We came with enough packages it looked santa had come early! The staff is supper attentive and continually acknowledged our anniversary which was so wonderful. The manager went above and beyond to assist. Everyone there seems to help each other and it creates a welcoming atmosphere that makes us want to dine again. Make sure you get a reservation as we are already looking at booking our next one.

Oh my gosh, where do I start! First off, so super cute. The ambiance is sweet and feels like a little slice of magic. This was my first time here. We came to celebrate my birthday, there were 7 of us. We got seated right away in a comfortable area with enough space to enjoy ourselves. Abraham was wonderful in getting us started with our orders! We ordered the Pear and Brie pizza ( yummm) , the lamb hummus, the Chilaen sea bass, omg, so good, the petite filet, mac and cheese, and more. Michael was out server, he also took such great care of us. I could eat here every night and not tire of it. The food was delicious, the desert. The BEST Cake is out of this world and service impeccable. Well done Bacari!