With news of restaurant closures seemingly being a L.A. staple, October brings a slew of new faces into the local restaurant scene. From new takes on charming bistros to high end dining experiences, there is plenty to explore this month.
Credit: Catherine DzilenskiTucked onto Santa Monica’s Main Street, Bar Fortuna is a neighborhood pasta and Italian cocktail bar that promises a warm, intimate dining experience. Inspired by chef and owner Brian Bornemann’s time living, cooking, and learning how to make pasta across Italy, Bar Fortuna is a casual, all-day experience perfectly fitted to its beach-adjacent location. It is neighbor to Bornemann’s other concept, Crudo e Nudo.
Credit: The Maybourne Beverly HillsOn Oct. 18, The Maybourne Beverly Hills, Spago Beverly Hills and the city of Beverly Hills are joining forces once again to throw its second annual fall barbecue event. Proceeds from the event go to the No Kid Hungry organization, which received $50,000 from the event last year. Guests can wander between live cooking stations and cocktail bars serving drinks and dishes from culinary experts across Southern California including Wolfgang Puck & Byron Lazaroff-Puck from Spago Beverly Hills and Daniel Castillo from Heritage BBQ.
Credit: CARVINGBLOCK StudiosBOBO Thai in Silver Lake offers a unique street-inspired take on Thai classics. The twist? It’s devoted entirely to Pad Thai. Thailand’s most famous dish gets 12 iterations paired with street bites and cocktails straight from Bangkok.
Credit: Courtesy Hotel Casa del MarLocated at Hotel Casa Del Mar, Mediterranean restaurant Terrazza serves its “Perfectly Pink Breakfast” and “Think Pink” menus in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Featuring a pink Pitaya Bowl for breakfast and a Casa Clover in Bloom cocktail in the evening, the hotel will donate $1 to Providence St. John’s Breast Cancer Research.
Credit: Kris KirkThe cult-favorite wagyu smashburger brand Burger She Wrote has expanded into Brentwood, marking the unveiling of its third and largest location on October 3rd. With plans to continue expanding across L.A., the smash burger spot maintains its devotion to a modern take on classic Oklahoma smash burgers.
Credit: Simran MalikHayley Feldman, owner of French Bistro chain Coucou, welcomes three of her favorite bars to each of Coucou’s three locations for one-night-only events this October. Occurring on three consecutive Wednesdays, the events include Bar Next Door × Coucou Venice on Oct. 7; Thunderbolt × Coucou Manhattan Beach on Oct. 14 and Seco Silverlake × Coucou West Hollywood on Oct. 21.
Galerie on the Sunset Strip has shaken up its culinary team, welcoming executive chef Justin Feliciano, the former head chef of New York’s Monkey Bar and Zero Bond and sous chef at Cote, and newly appointed beverage director Brynn Smith, the mind behind Bar Next Door. The long-established destination for young Hollywood is also implementing new weekly events, including Thursday Vinyl Nights, weekend DJ sets, a martini-friendly happy hour, and upcoming Wine Wednesdays.
Credit: From The World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants by Ekkehard Knobelspies (Quadrille, October 2026). Photography by Clay Larsen, Ray Kachatorian, Wonho Frank Lee, Stan Lee, and The World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants.Celebrating 10 years of service, Gwen is welcoming Firedoor’s Chef Lennox Hastie on Oct. 21 and 22 for a live fire dinner service, an extension of “The Rare Tour”, which promises to be the world’s 101 best steak restaurants. The dinner service will feature seven courses, including dry-aged Blackmore Wagyu and Westholme Wagyu striploin.
Credit: Katrina FrederickLocated a block away from Ocean Avenue, Kogen Omakase, headed by chef Yasu Iwai, opened its doors earlier this summer. At its intimate six-seat sushi bar, Iwai serves a variety of rare fish from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, which he selects in accordance with shun, or the season when a fish’s fat, flavor and biology are aligned to create the best flavor.
Credit: Courtesy La MoniqueOn Oct. 15, La Monique celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Penfolds Grange and its own first anniversary with a curated wine dinner. The menu includes rare selections from the Penfolds Grange wine library, as well as La Monique dishes like butternut squash agnolotti and beef Wellington.
Credit: Courtesy Pizzeria SeiA reprise of its popular omakase experience, Pizzeria Sei chef William Joo invites friends from around the world to collaborate on a new tasting menu of pizzas. The first event takes place on October 17 and highlights Ceres Pizza by Jake Serebnick and Julian Geldmacher from New York City.
Credit: Courtesy RedbirdTo celebrate its 150th anniversary, Redbird | Vibiana has a special cocktail menu reflecting the historical events that have occurred since the Vibiana Cathedral opened its doors in 1876. Menu highlights include the Penicillin Highball and Moonwalk, the latter being inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing and the celebratory cocktail astronauts enjoyed upon their return to Earth.
Credit: Jack ColtraneKnown for its casual, market-driven dining, Rustic Canyon celebrates 20 years in Los Angeles this December. To kick off the festivities, its October dinner series highlights the winemakers and chefs who have been a major part of the Rustic Canyon Family’s history.
Credit: Catherine DzilenskiA neighborhood-style bakery and cafe, Matilda’s arrives in Santa Monica with fresh-from-the-oven pastries, sandwiches and coffee aligned with their California-meets-Old World philosophy. Menu highlights include a shakshouka croissant and honey butter toast, made with the bakery’s brioche and finished with local honey.
Credit: Andrea D’AgostoOn Nov. 1, Rossoblu closes its doors after nearly a decade of service. To commemorate its history, chef Steve Samson invites chefs who have influenced Rossoblu’s culinary journey for two celebratory dinners on Oct. 27 and Nov. 17, aptly named Steve & Friends Cooking Together.
Credit: Courtesy Sushi Note Omakase Beverly HillsSushi Note in Beverly Hills shakes things up with its new nigiri omakase, a more approachable take on its dining experience served as a 14-piece sushi platter, plus dessert.
Credit: Courtesy Bar HarryInspired by the moxie of Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry, Bar Harry in Toluca Lake offers a unique glamping and dining experience. By bringing together comfort food, signature cocktails, and a dreamy stay at Camp Funtime, Bar Harry promises an unforgettable L.A. dining experience.
The post October Food News: Bar Harry Opens, Beverly Hills Autumn BBQ and Pizzeria Sei’s Omakasei Collaboration Series appeared first on LAmag.
