Did Michelin Get It Wrong? Lapaba Review

The Tasting Kitchen first opened in 2009 and put Abbott Kinney on the map as a dining destination in Los Angeles. Casey Lane, the original chef, left in 2019 and the restaurant slowly declined in popularity before a 2023 fire closed it for good…until this year.Casey Lane is back, the kitchen has been rebuilt completely (including a brand new Josper live-fire setup), and the dining room has been refreshed with its original olive tree salvaged and standing strong in the middle of the dining room.The food program at The Tasting Kitchen takes deep inspiration from South American and Spanish cuisine, combined with Lane's expertise in pasta, seasonal cooking, and flavor maximalism. The menu is robust, constantly evolving, and can be enjoyed as a tasting menu experience or à la carte.The beverage program is helmed by Blake Antrobus, a Shawn Lickliter disciple, who was previously at Dominique Crenn’s Monsieur Dior. The beverage program mimics Chef Casey’s seasonal approach with produce-forward cocktails, of which there are over a dozen. https://www.thetastingkitchen.com/ @the.tasting.kitchen 0:00 Intro4:22 The Cocktail Program6:46 Long Island Iced Tea8:29 Mr. Pink10:12 Passion Fruit Gin & Tonic12:16 Banana Old Fashioned14:13 Lambrusco & the Wine List14:57 Food Menu Overview 16:50 Gnocco Fritto with Prosciutto19:52 Matrimonio Toast22:41 Grilled Squid24:43 Delicata Squash with Caramelized Miso27:08 Tagliolini with Squid & Shrimp Tea29:16 Green Garganelli Bolognese32:26 Picanha with Chimichurri & Bordelaise35:13 Melted Leeks with Bacalao38:49 Desserts44:44 Ambiance 47:41 Service54:51 The Verdict 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AbbotKinney #VeniceBeach #LAFood #LARestaurants

The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2026 list is out, and we have notes. A professional chef and a Hollywood writer break down the origins of the list, what it gets right and wrong, where it loses us, and how critics should approach reviews and best-of lists.Bill Addison and Jenn Harris revealed this year's 101 with 31 new additions, which means 31 cuts. We dig into the unexplained churn, why restaurants are left out, and whether two critics can realistically cover all of greater Los Angeles. We also make the case for bringing back real ratings and honest negative reviews before revealing a personal top 10 restaurants we've covered on the show and how they compare.📰 The full LA Times 101 list: https://www.latimes.com/101🎧 Revisit the episodes behind our top 10:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIaErkzcHzOCz3iEmBGHmtdSvTF7t4RjX#LATimes101 #LosAngelesRestaurants #LAFood #FoodCritic

Inside Marilyn Monroe’s former talent agency on the Sunset Strip, Bar Next Door is a West Hollywood cocktail bar and a love letter to LA history. Their menu of signature cocktails are inspired by LA institutions, like Chateau Marmont, Tower Records, and the Roxy, with each beverage beautifully illustrated in the style of a vintage magazine or newspaper. The bar sits next door (har har) to Prince Street Pizza and is owned and operated in tandem. The space feels vintage, like the Rat Pack could walk in at any moment, with a bevy of easter eggs referencing Norma Jean that will be spotted by those with a keen eye. In May, Bar Next Door added food to its offerings, with bar pies straight from Prince Street Pizza’s ovens and Henry’s Secret Ice Cream, all of which pair well with the classic drinks served here. The vibe is classy, intimate, and one heck of a time, with small two-seater booths, classic swivel barstools, and a back room that’s perfect for groups and parties. https://www.barnextdoor.com/ IG: @barnextdoor_ https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/bars/a46103396/best-martinis-in-america-2023/ 0:00 – Intro 2:37 – Menu Breakdown 4:50 – Halloween Menu Review 8:14 – Mystery Shot 10:00 – Olive Drive Martini 13:00 – Gardner Street Cocktail 15:10 – Hustler Hollywood Cocktail 17:39 – Villanova Cocktail 19:04 – Marilyn Monroe 22:06 – Manhattan 25:04 – Final Cocktail Thoughts 29:10 – Food Breakdown 31:07 – Bar Pies 36:27 – Henrys Secret Ice Cream 39:31 – The Vibe 42:09 – The Service 46:15 – The Verdict 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else.Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #MarilynMonroe #SunsetStrip #WestHollywood #LACocktails #CocktailBar

Ruen Pair opened in 1996 and quickly became an LA institution. Thai restaurants are ubiquitous across Los Angeles, especially in Thai Town, off Hollywood Boulevard, but very few have celebrated a 30th anniversary, as Ruen Pair did this year. It’s a family-run establishment, well into the second generation of ownership. In 2020, the original owners of the family restaurant, Pensri and Somchai Jansaeng, gave the reins son Champ, who now runs it full time with his wife Chanita. The combination of Isan (northeastern) and Teochew (central) influenced Thai cuisines is Ruen Pair’s greatest strength. Isan’s cuisine focuses on sour and heat, exemplified in Ruen Pair’s Papaya Salad with Raw Crab, with sticky rice and fermented fish rounding out this region’s staples. Teochew's heavy Chinese influence brings a salty-sweet depth with dark soy, preserved vegetables, and “the breath of the wok” with signatures like the Salted Turnip Fried Egg or the Stewed Pork Leg.In 2023, Ruen Pair opened Kanomwaan Thai Gelato and Dessert Cafe right next door in their slow but steady expansion through the strip mall at Harvard and Hollywood. The menu features gelatos, milk teas, and shaved ice with unique and delicious Thai-inspired flavor combinations. If you do go to Ruen Pair, we recommend not skipping dessert. ruenpairthai.com @ruenpairla 0:00 – Intro 4:37 – Menu Breakdown 6:39 – Thai Iced Tea 8:42 – Ruen Pair Beer 10:54 – Papaya Salad with Raw Crab 13:07 – Thai Style BBQ Pork 16:07 – Fried Egg & Salty Turnip 20:00 – Stir Fried Crispy Catfish 22:19 – Tom Kha Gai 24:20 – Sauteed Morning Glory 26:55 – Stewed Pork Leg Over Rice 31:01 – Kanomwaan Thai Gelato & Dessert Cafe 38:25– Ambiance 40:20 – Service 45:58 – Verdict https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-ice-cream-los-angeles 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #ThaiTown #ThaiFood #LAFood

Maree, the new Parisian-inspired bistro and wine bar from 3 Michelin Star Chef Marcus Jernmark, is finally open in Beverlywood in the former Manzke space.Jernmark already found restaurant success in Los Angeles with Lielle this year, which opened in the former Bicyclette space and quickly earned 1 Michelin star after three short months. Maree is located on the floor above Lielle, and is the perfect juxtaposition to the tasting menu experience downstairs. The bistro aims to be a neighborhood institution, taking after the likes of famous Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. The menu brings a bistronomy approach to the LA French bistro landscape, focusing on fine dining techniques while using the best ingredients California has to offer in a relaxed setting, accompanied by really good wines. This past month, Aftertaste attended opening night to discover Chef Marcus's next act here in LA. Since we heard about its imminent opening during our meal at Lielle, we have been excitedly anticipating its opening, and we couldn’t put off going for even a day. Check out our video on Lielle to see why we were so excited for the expansion of Chef Marcus’ growing restaurant empire. Here is a link to that review we highly recommend it :https://youtu.be/3fRVMQGmi9g 0:00 – Intro 9:45 – Drinks 14:14 – Food Overview 15:22 – Escargot Beignets 19:51 – Bread and Butter 23:23 – Tartare 26:02 – Salt Spring Mussels 27:40 – Blue Prawn Cocktail 29:30 – Chicories 32:42 – Duck Ravigote 34:43 – French Fries 36:16 – Burger Au Poivre 43:25 – Mushrooms 45:52 – Dessert 53:08 – Ambiance55:40 – Service59:00 – Verdicthttps://www.maree.la/Instagram: @Maree_la 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else. Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #FrenchBistro #MichelinGuide #LosAngelesRestaurants #LAFood #WineBar

Darling in West Hollywood is celebrity chef Sean Brock's first restaurant outside the American south, initially opening in 2025 as a Californian, seasonally-driven restaurant. This did not go over well with Angelenos; they wanted the cornbread and the grits and the fried chicken, they wanted the classics. And we don't blame them. Imagine a rock star band coming to town and playing none of their hits? Same thing.Darling is now being marketed as a southern-heritage restaurant with a kiss of California, taking advantage of the freshest and highest quality produce in the country. The cornbread is here to stay, as is the Carolina Gold rice and the Anson Mills grits, so Los Angeles finally gets to try some of these iconic classics from Chef Sean.Brunch and happy hour are now available at Darling, too. The hi-fi listening lounge is swinging in full gear, and the bar program has also been revamped to include a Southern touch.Darling.laansonmills.comhttps://la.eater.com/los-angeles-restaurant-news/304494/darling-west-hollywood-restaurant-southern-pivot-sean-brock0:00 – Intro 5:56 – Drinks Program Overview 6:25 – Amber Royale 7:45 – Shelby 9:42 – Midnight Club 10:48 – Reverie 12:05 – Paradis 13:38 – Drinks Overall Thoughts 14:49 – Food Program Overview 15:44 – Deviled Eggs 16:39 – Country Ham and Melon 18:29 – Texas Deer Skewers 20:34 – Cornbread 24:14 – Dressed Lettuces 25:07 – Abalone and Rice Stew 27:40 – Carolina Gold Rice29:53 – Vermillion Rock Fish and Grits32:04 – The Darling Burger34:31 – Food Overall Thoughts36:42 – Peanut Tart39:12 – Eton Mess42:42– Ambiance48:06 – Service 51:25 – Verdict 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Bar 109 is a cocktail bar in Melrose Hill, Los Angeles, that serves as the entry into 1-star Michelin restaurant Corridor 109 from Chef Brian Baik. Lucky for us, Bar 109 is also open for guests not wanting to shell out $325 a head plus 20% service, as you do in the back room.Up front, the cocktail menu and full suite of wines and sakes on offer are all available to order, as well as, a small food menu of mostly snacks, all created by chef Baik. Tuesday night is burger night at Bar 109, and begins at 8pm. It's reason enough to make the visit, though you better get there early as they sell out quick. Since we love a thick burger, we showed up early on a Tuesday and ordered every single thing on the menu, including the full gamut of cocktails.Drinks come from Kayla Garcia, who ran the program at Chicago's Kumiko before opening Thunderbolt's Valley sibling, Night on Earth, while the wine list is curated by Master Sommelier Michaël Engelmann.🍸 Bar 109 → https://www.corridor109.com/barNo reservations. First come, first served. 641 N Western Ave, Tue-Sat 6PM-midnight.0:00 – Intro4:42 – Menu Overview6:25 – Satsuma Margarita7:50 – Mikan Old Fashioned8:59 – Saigo10:31 – Marine Layer12:16 – Snap Pea G&T15:25 – Oolong Boulevardier16:13 – Bar 109 Vesper21:51 – Veggie Sticks24:25 – Mentaiko Fries29:05 – Wagyu Beef Dog31:50 – The BURGER38:07 – Ambiance44:34 – Service47:10 – Verdict🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Sips):1️⃣ Sip = Skip it2️⃣ Sips = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Sips = Worth a trek4️⃣ Sips = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Lapaba, or La Pasta Bar, aims to be exactly that: a neighborhood pasta bar. Given that the neighborhood in question is Koreatown, it makes all the more sense to incorporate the Korean cuisine LA is known for into the cooking. But don't let that fool you into thinking this is a Korean restaurant. Lapaba is, at its core, LA-style Italian.⁠ ⁠Husband-and-wife chefs McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim are behind the stove, coming full circle back to their time together at Osteria Mozza to deliver a fresh take on Italian cuisine. And it doesn't hurt to have LA's godmother of food, Nancy Silverton, as your backer and menu consultant.⁠ ⁠ The bar runs mostly on wine (primarily Italian and French), rounded out with sake, makgeolli, and soju. With the kind of food they're serving, you won't miss the full bar anyway.⁠ ⁠ The space was gutted and rebuilt, and it is, as advertised, a true pasta bar. One large marble-topped counter winds through the room and covers the bulk of the seating, save for two tables in the back. The most coveted seats are directly across from the open kitchen and the pasta room, if you're looking for dinner⁠ and a show.⁠ 0:00 – Intro 2:55 – Rhubarb Tonic 3:50 – Negroni Sbagliato 4:50 – Cabernet 6:25 – House Made Milk Bread 7:44 – Fried Chicken 10:54 – Burrata Con Crema 13:53 – Tonnareli and Lobster 17:14 – Bucatini Amatriciana 19:15 – Agnolotti and Cheesy Corn 23:25 – Orechiette and Sausage 25:11 – Broccolini and Summer Beans 27:33 – Dessert 31:32 – Ambiance and Service 39:28 – Verdict 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Electric Bleu is a brand new French Bistro in Mar Vista by husband-wife duo chef Craig Hopson and creative director Mai Sakai.⁠ ⁠ Chef Craig's resume is truly impressive with stints at Troisgros, Guy Savoy, Le Cirque, and Picholine — absolute titans of the French dining world. Don't let that scare you away from trying the food here because the prices are some of the most reasonable we have seen in town for the level of food coming out of that kitchen.⁠ Electric Bleu boasts elite-level cooking and a fantastic wine list in a relaxed environment that is a perfect and welcome addition to a neighborhood that frankly does not have the strongest dining scene in LA.⁠ Mar Vista | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2025 https://electricbleu.com/ @electricbleula 00:00 – Intro 03:57 – Ambiance 06:18– Drink Talk 09:30 – Food Menu Breakdown 11:50 – Pate en Croute 15:20 – French Onion Soup 17:25 – Soup Talk 21:40 – Salad 24:03 – Cabbage 26:40 – Signature Roasted Chicken 31:10 – Electric Fries 33:22 – Beef Bourguignon 39:29 – Dessert 42:02 – Service Notes 47:35 – Verdict 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Not No Bar in Santa Monica comes to us from the team behind Dudley Market, transforming the old Isla space into a vibing tiki disco with solid Neapolitan pizzas and great cocktails. The space is small, loud, and what one could confidently call "a scene."⁠ ⁠ The place stays busy and becomes quite a party on weekends, usually with a line to enter and a DJ working the vintage hi-fi turntable. Leather booths line the perimeter, with the rest of the indoor area devoted to standing room high top tables. The large outdoor patio area boasts more seats and is a perfect place to have a summer tiki drink and split a pie with friends. ⁠ ⁠The pizza program perfectly accents drinks, baked in the wood-fired oven that came with the space. The pies are constantly rotating alongside a few small snacks and bites, including the obligatory crudo, an obvious addition from the Dudley Market alums.⁠ ⁠ https://www.notnobar.com/ @notnobar 0:00 – Intro 4:29 – Drinks Menu Overview 6:57 – Space Camp 98' Drink 9:27 – Scissorkick Drink 10:55 – Soy Del Rancho Drink 12:46 – High Low Drink 14:42 – Espresso Martini 20:39 – Food Menu Overview 23:50 – Margherita Pizza 26:45 – Clam Pie 31:45 – Snacks 34:22 – Dessert 36:42 – Ambiance 41:13 – Service 43:16 – Verdict🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Sips): 1️⃣ Sip = Skip it 2️⃣ Sips = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Sips = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Sips = Can’t miss #SantaMonica #CocktailBar #NeapolitanPizza #TikiBar #LARestaurants