Cuisine
Open
Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sat.-Sun.Features
- Heart-healthy dishes
- Full bar
- Reservations suggested
- Outdoor dining
- Open late Fri.-Sat.
- Valet parking
- Casual
* Click here for rating key
Whenever we walk into Literati II, the younger, sophisticated sibling of the adjacent Literati Café, we feel like we've entered the comfortable contemporary dining room of an exclusive, very food-conscious writers' retreat. The former Koo Koo Roo space has been artfully transformed with framed photos of authors and screen celebs (this is L.A., after all), a construction of used pencils and even a giant #2 Ticonderoga hanging on the walls. Chef Chris Kidder and his wife and pastry chef, Kimberly Sklar, have departed, but chef Brian Thomas will maintain the seasonal contemporary American cooking. Bread is accompanied by a spicy romesco sauce with a hint of hazelnut. Portobello mushrooms, sweet onion, green beans, acorn squash and sage leaves join forces in a vegetarian fritto misto. Large portions are the rule, including a gargantuan steamed artichoke with farm fresh flavor that works with or without its creamy egg aïoli, and a double-cut pork chop, smoky from the cedar wood grill, and moist due to 48 hours of brining. The menu changes daily, but there's always a wood-grilled eight-ounce burger or a hanger steak with french fries for carnivores. Desserts include a warm, sweet-tart cranberry and persimmon crisp, churros with hot bittersweet chocolate, a signature seven-layer cake of dark, milk and white chocolates and ice cream made on premises. The helpful service will offer suggestions from the twelve-page wine list which includes more than twenty choices by the glass.
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RESTAURANT AWARDS
Just published! Our annual restaurant issue features the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S., including Spago Beverly Hills, Providence, Urasawa and more!
DINING ON A BUDGET
Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area. Also, check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.












Whenever we walk into Literati II, the younger, sophisticated sibling of the adjacent Literati Café, we feel like we've entered the comfortable contemporary dining room of an exclusive, very food-conscious writers' retreat. The former Koo Koo Roo space has been artfully transformed with framed photos of authors and screen celebs (this is L.A., after all), a construction of used pencils and even a giant #2 Ticonderoga hanging on the walls. Chef Chris Kidder and his wife and pastry chef, Kimberly Sklar, have departed, but chef Brian Thomas will maintain the seasonal contemporary American cooking. Bread is accompanied by a spicy romesco sauce with a hint of hazelnut. Portobello mushrooms, sweet onion, green beans, acorn squash and sage leaves join forces in a vegetarian fritto misto. Large portions are the rule, including a gargantuan steamed artichoke with farm fresh flavor that works with or without its creamy egg aïoli, and a double-cut pork chop, smoky from the cedar wood grill, and moist due to 48 hours of brining. The menu changes daily, but there's always a wood-grilled eight-ounce burger or a hanger steak with french fries for carnivores. Desserts include a warm, sweet-tart cranberry and persimmon crisp, churros with hot bittersweet chocolate, a signature seven-layer cake of dark, milk and white chocolates and ice cream made on premises. The helpful service will offer suggestions from the twelve-page wine list which includes more than twenty choices by the glass.



