Silver Lake’s All Day Baby Adds a New Outdoor Menu for Dinnertime Seating

After opening All Day Baby nearly a year ago in the heart of Silver Lake, managing partner Lien Ta announced a temporary outdoor dinner series called Helluva Time. It launches tonight, and right in ADB’s adjacent parking lot.

It’s an unusual move to open a restaurant with a completely different menu right next to an established one. But these are unusual times with coronavirus, and restaurant owners are frequently moving in new directions to bring in more customers. Helluva Time’s Friday/Saturday dinners will be stationed in a fully-covered seating area, with a menu by ADB chef/co-owner Jonathan Whitener, Thessa Diadem on dessert detail, and cocktails by Jorge Figueroa.

Whitener’s menu only includes 11 items, from playful small bites like shrimp pockets with perilla mint leaf, lemon, and Old Bay seasoning, and grilled mackerel or a smoked pork belly bossam as mains. Nothing is over $25 dollars, and all cocktails are $14.

They’re open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (last seating is at 8:15 p.m.). They’ll only accept parties of six or fewer, per LA County regulations, and no to-go/delivery. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are the good move, since Ta mentioned that reservations are filling up on Open Table.

In other news:

• The Los Angeles Times’ Jenn Harris joined longtime Dulan’s On Crenshaw operators Gregory and Terry Dulan to learn their coveted recipe for fried chicken.

• Los Angeles Magazine explored the once-booming coffee culture in Los Angeles, and asked a key question: when and how will it bounce back after COVID-19?
• Silver Lake’s Dinosaur Coffee is now in new hands. Dinosaur’s owner handed over the reins to Saadat and Janine Awanthe, who own Woodcat Coffee.
• West Coast Pretzels made it impossible for anyone trying to minimize carbs with its introduction of pretzel pizzas.

• Even though its still open for outdoor dining, the 50-year-old Harold & Belle’s installed a new to-go window. It’s lovingly labeled “to-gaux” with New Orleans classics like fried oysters, po’ boys, and etouffee.

Greg Rogers

• Inside Silver Lake’s Glorious New All-Day Restaurant From the Here’s Looking At You Team [ELA]