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Dining room at Bar Chelou in Pasadena, California. — Bar Chelou in Pasadena.

17 Date-Worthy LA Restaurants That Are Actually Open on Monday Nights

Find a great, celebratory place to eat on Monday, because not everyone can eat out on prime weekend evenings

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 18, 2023, 11:43am PDT

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Bar Chelou in Pasadena.

| Wonho Frank Lee

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 18, 2023, 11:43am PDT

Most of the time, Monday night dinner is made for comfort food in simple surroundings, or even (gasp) having dinner at home. For many, it’s a recharge day after a long weekend at hip bars and hot spots across the city, but for those really in-the-know diners, Monday night represents a chance to beat the crowds while still eating well at some of greater LA’s top restaurants. These are places that work for date night or off-weekend anniversaries, restaurants where the service, drinks, and decor help to pull the whole meal together — and where it’s possible to actually get in, without waiting for months on a reservation list. Here’s where to score a table on Monday nights around Los Angeles.

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Pasjoli

There may be no finer Santa Monica restaurant than Pasjoli, with its upscale French cooking from celebrated fine-dining chef Dave Beran and impeccable service standards. Monday nights are a great opportunity to relax and watch one of Los Angeles’s best restaurants turn out plate after plate of unrivaled French fare.

2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

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Pasjoli, Santa Monica, dining room. — Pasjoli, Santa Monica.

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Petit Trois le Valley

Classic French fare always tastes better on a whim, like a Monday night dinner in the Valley. Ludo Lefebvre’s enduring bistro has both the look and the charm of a Parisian restaurant, with hefty fare like steak frites, escargots, and trout almondine paired with the excellent cocktails and wine list.

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13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

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Petit Trois in Sherman Oaks.

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Sushi Note

The Valley's low-key wine and sushi spot is a secret find on Monday evenings, where locals can take in quality omakase and nigiri paired with a thoughtful wine list. The modest interior and somewhat hushed vibe with jazz tunes make it a solid date night.

13447 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

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A glass of wine and sushi platter at Sherman Oaks’ Sushi Note — Sushi and wine from Sushi Note.

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Nando Trattoria

Manhattan Beach’s restaurant Nando comes by way of Illinois, a Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant run by actual Sicilians. The vibe is sleek, modern, and almost late 2000s without feeling the last bit aged. As for the food, expect terrific, unfussy pastas, seafood, and more that cater to the sometimes unadventurous palates of the South Bay, with the fancy service to make even a Monday feel like a Saturday night.

1131 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

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Nando Trattoria in Manhattan Beach with modern furniture and artwork. — Nando Trattoria in Manhattan Beach.

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17 Essential South Bay Restaurants

Dante Beverly Hills

Looking for a lovely, lazy evening to lounge around with stellar cocktails, easy Italian American food, and a perfect breezy view? That’s Dante, a New York City offshoot nestled into the luxury Maybourne hotel in Beverly Hills. The service is awesome, the seating is comfortable, and the vibes are nice enough for celebrities without being pretentious. It’s a solid Monday date night option.

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225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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A bowl of burrata with tomatoes and grilled bread at Dante Beverly Hills. — Burrata with tomatoes and grilled bread at Dante in Beverly Hills.

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Bicyclette

Placed almost underground, this crowded bistro from Walter and Margarita Manzke always works as an early week date option, mixing strong cocktails and suave wine with excellent, classical French food with a California attitude. Think tomato and melon salad when the days are warm to boeuf bourguignon when it starts to feel cold.

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

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Bicyclette Bistro dining room — Dining room and bar area of Bicyclette.

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Juliet

Want to dress up and not feel out of place on a Monday night in LA? Juliet is the kind of place to wear a suit and fancy dress without feeling overdressed. It’s stylish and modern, almost Midtown Manhattan more than Culver City, but here it is, serving sleek French bistro fare in modest portions (order a few more dishes than you think you’ll need). From wine to cocktails to the shareable plates, Juliet is a surprising Monday night date spot.

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8888 Washington Blvd Suite 102, Culver City, CA 90232

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A long corridor dining room with glass and dark wood features. — Dining room of Juliet in Culver City.

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Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse

Deep red wines and robust steak cuts (or around-the-world sampler platters) make for an invigorating night at Carlitos Gardel, the Argentinian spot hiding in plain sight along Melrose. While there are other steakhouses to enjoy for opulence and people-watching, the dim and cozy corners of Carlitos Gardel make for an ideal evening of red meat, wine, and possible canoodling.

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7963 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

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For the full (stuffed, really) experience: Carlitos Gardel. — Grilled meats and more from Carlitos Gardel.

Spartina

Stephen Kalt's enduring Melrose Avenue Italian restaurant has morphed into one of the city's most underrated date gems. A wide menu of California-Italian salads, appetizers, pizzas, and pastas makes it approachable while the nicely appointed indoor and outdoor dining rooms give it versatility for dates or larger groups.

7505 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

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Spartina ravioli with uni in a bowl. — Uni-topped ravioli from Spartina.

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Stir Crazy

Being open on a Monday night is purposeful for Stir Crazy, the Melrose wine cafe upstart that kept the name and some of the touches from the coffee shop that preceded it. Looking to craft a work-life balance and build, slowly, a local audience, this newcomer doesn’t sell its romano beans and poached big eye tuna plates or Spanish ham and cheese plates on Saturdays or Sundays at all, meaning Monday meals are really for the restaurant’s fans and customers who just happen to swing by early.

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6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

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A post shared by Stir Crazy (@stircrazy.la)

Also featured in:

14 Foolproof First Date Restaurants in Los Angeles

Harold & Belle's

One of LA’s enduring Creole restaurants, Harold & Belle’s is a lovely family-run place for bowls of file gumbo, jambalaya, and other New Orleans favorites in the heart of South LA. Third-generation owners Ryan and Jessica Legaux make sure the restaurant features more than enough Southern hospitality to make any night of the week feel special.

2920 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Here Is The Harold & Belle’s Restoration We’ve All Been Waiting For — Harold and Belle’s

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Here's Looking At You

Koreatown’s most ambitious restaurant is back after a near closure that was saved when owners Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener crowdsourced funds to pay for a reopening. The seasonal food is an example of LA’s global dining lens at its finest, with stellar cocktails to boot. Try the frog legs with salsa negra or the uni panna cotta starter.

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Visit Website

Here’s Looking at You restaurant in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California — Here’s Looking at You, Koreatown

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Alimento

Longtime neighborhood favorite Alimento is and has always been the kind of place where Silver Lake has gathered for excellent pasta and terrific wine. It’s a bonus that they choose to open on Monday, a night for locals to pop in and have great food from chef Zach Pollack, like chicken liver mousse or handmade tortellini.

1710 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Visit Website

Alimento — Alimento in Silver Lake.

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The Lonely Oyster

Echo Park’s Lonely Oyster prides itself on a handful of things. First, this feels very much like a Northeast seafood joint. It’s also got an incredible wine list that pairs well with chef Dom Crisp’s salmon crudo, ceviche, a uni caviar service, oysters, or a fantastic lobster roll trio. And finally, it’s open every day of the week from noon until midnight or 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

1320 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

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Salmon crudo at the Lonely Oyster in Echo Park.

Also featured in:

19 Splendid Seafood Restaurants to Try Around Los Angeles

Tsubaki

For refined Japanese cooking, it’s hard to think of a better place than Tsubaki. The diminutive Echo Park restaurant (and attached sake bar and snacks spot Ototo) is perfect for a Monday night celebration, dining over dry-aged sashimi, silken tofu, and grill-kissed meats.

1356 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

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Tsubaki, Echo Park.

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Loreto

Somewhat hidden in Elysian Valley, Loreto is swanky enough for a special night but approachable enough for a Monday date. The cocktails, certainly heavy on agave, are far better than the standard combo-plate Mexican spot. And the seafood, pristine and seasoned with just the right amount of lime and chile, wouldn’t feel out of place on a Mexican beach. Make sure to share the zarandeado fish.

1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Dining area and part of the bar at Loreto. — Dining room of Loreto in Elysian Valley.

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Bar Chelou

Weekends are absolutely jam-packed at Pasadena’s Bar Chelou, a truly unprecedented mix of European and Californian flavors from talented chef Doug Rankin (ask a French person what chelou means, and it means ‘f**king weird’). Dive into the anchovies, the sprouting peas, or the merguez with toum, and it’s all just great on the plate. The fare is thought-provoking and fun without feeling too strange, and the service makes everyone feel special.

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37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

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An assortment of plates from Bar Chelou in Pasadena, California. — Dishes from Bar Chelou in Pasadena.

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Pasjoli

2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

There may be no finer Santa Monica restaurant than Pasjoli, with its upscale French cooking from celebrated fine-dining chef Dave Beran and impeccable service standards. Monday nights are a great opportunity to relax and watch one of Los Angeles’s best restaurants turn out plate after plate of unrivaled French fare.

2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Visit Website

Pasjoli, Santa Monica, dining room. — Pasjoli, Santa Monica.

Petit Trois le Valley

13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Classic French fare always tastes better on a whim, like a Monday night dinner in the Valley. Ludo Lefebvre’s enduring bistro has both the look and the charm of a Parisian restaurant, with hefty fare like steak frites, escargots, and trout almondine paired with the excellent cocktails and wine list.

Open in Google Maps

13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Visit Website

Petit Trois in Sherman Oaks.

Sushi Note

13447 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

The Valley's low-key wine and sushi spot is a secret find on Monday evenings, where locals can take in quality omakase and nigiri paired with a thoughtful wine list. The modest interior and somewhat hushed vibe with jazz tunes make it a solid date night.

13447 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Visit Website

A glass of wine and sushi platter at Sherman Oaks’ Sushi Note — Sushi and wine from Sushi Note.

Nando Trattoria

1131 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Manhattan Beach’s restaurant Nando comes by way of Illinois, a Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant run by actual Sicilians. The vibe is sleek, modern, and almost late 2000s without feeling the last bit aged. As for the food, expect terrific, unfussy pastas, seafood, and more that cater to the sometimes unadventurous palates of the South Bay, with the fancy service to make even a Monday feel like a Saturday night.

1131 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Visit Website

Nando Trattoria in Manhattan Beach with modern furniture and artwork. — Nando Trattoria in Manhattan Beach.

Dante Beverly Hills

225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Looking for a lovely, lazy evening to lounge around with stellar cocktails, easy Italian American food, and a perfect breezy view? That’s Dante, a New York City offshoot nestled into the luxury Maybourne hotel in Beverly Hills. The service is awesome, the seating is comfortable, and the vibes are nice enough for celebrities without being pretentious. It’s a solid Monday date night option.

Open in Google Maps

225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Visit Website

A bowl of burrata with tomatoes and grilled bread at Dante Beverly Hills. — Burrata with tomatoes and grilled bread at Dante in Beverly Hills.

Bicyclette

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Placed almost underground, this crowded bistro from Walter and Margarita Manzke always works as an early week date option, mixing strong cocktails and suave wine with excellent, classical French food with a California attitude. Think tomato and melon salad when the days are warm to boeuf bourguignon when it starts to feel cold.

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Visit Website

Bicyclette Bistro dining room — Dining room and bar area of Bicyclette.

Juliet

8888 Washington Blvd Suite 102, Culver City, CA 90232

Want to dress up and not feel out of place on a Monday night in LA? Juliet is the kind of place to wear a suit and fancy dress without feeling overdressed. It’s stylish and modern, almost Midtown Manhattan more than Culver City, but here it is, serving sleek French bistro fare in modest portions (order a few more dishes than you think you’ll need). From wine to cocktails to the shareable plates, Juliet is a surprising Monday night date spot.

Open in Google Maps

8888 Washington Blvd Suite 102, Culver City, CA 90232

Visit Website

A long corridor dining room with glass and dark wood features. — Dining room of Juliet in Culver City.

Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse

7963 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Deep red wines and robust steak cuts (or around-the-world sampler platters) make for an invigorating night at Carlitos Gardel, the Argentinian spot hiding in plain sight along Melrose. While there are other steakhouses to enjoy for opulence and people-watching, the dim and cozy corners of Carlitos Gardel make for an ideal evening of red meat, wine, and possible canoodling.

Open in Google Maps

7963 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Visit Website

For the full (stuffed, really) experience: Carlitos Gardel. — Grilled meats and more from Carlitos Gardel.

Spartina

7505 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Stephen Kalt's enduring Melrose Avenue Italian restaurant has morphed into one of the city's most underrated date gems. A wide menu of California-Italian salads, appetizers, pizzas, and pastas makes it approachable while the nicely appointed indoor and outdoor dining rooms give it versatility for dates or larger groups.

7505 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Visit Website

Spartina ravioli with uni in a bowl. — Uni-topped ravioli from Spartina.

Stir Crazy

6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Being open on a Monday night is purposeful for Stir Crazy, the Melrose wine cafe upstart that kept the name and some of the touches from the coffee shop that preceded it. Looking to craft a work-life balance and build, slowly, a local audience, this newcomer doesn’t sell its romano beans and poached big eye tuna plates or Spanish ham and cheese plates on Saturdays or Sundays at all, meaning Monday meals are really for the restaurant’s fans and customers who just happen to swing by early.

Open in Google Maps

6903 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stir Crazy (@stircrazy.la)

Harold & Belle's

2920 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

One of LA’s enduring Creole restaurants, Harold & Belle’s is a lovely family-run place for bowls of file gumbo, jambalaya, and other New Orleans favorites in the heart of South LA. Third-generation owners Ryan and Jessica Legaux make sure the restaurant features more than enough Southern hospitality to make any night of the week feel special.

2920 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Here Is The Harold & Belle’s Restoration We’ve All Been Waiting For — Harold and Belle’s

Here's Looking At You

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Koreatown’s most ambitious restaurant is back after a near closure that was saved when owners Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener crowdsourced funds to pay for a reopening. The seasonal food is an example of LA’s global dining lens at its finest, with stellar cocktails to boot. Try the frog legs with salsa negra or the uni panna cotta starter.

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Visit Website

Here’s Looking at You restaurant in Koreatown, Los Angeles, California — Here’s Looking at You, Koreatown

Alimento

1710 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Longtime neighborhood favorite Alimento is and has always been the kind of place where Silver Lake has gathered for excellent pasta and terrific wine. It’s a bonus that they choose to open on Monday, a night for locals to pop in and have great food from chef Zach Pollack, like chicken liver mousse or handmade tortellini.

1710 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Visit Website

Alimento — Alimento in Silver Lake.

The Lonely Oyster

1320 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Echo Park’s Lonely Oyster prides itself on a handful of things. First, this feels very much like a Northeast seafood joint. It’s also got an incredible wine list that pairs well with chef Dom Crisp’s salmon crudo, ceviche, a uni caviar service, oysters, or a fantastic lobster roll trio. And finally, it’s open every day of the week from noon until midnight or 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

1320 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Visit Website

Salmon crudo at the Lonely Oyster in Echo Park.

Tsubaki

1356 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

For refined Japanese cooking, it’s hard to think of a better place than Tsubaki. The diminutive Echo Park restaurant (and attached sake bar and snacks spot Ototo) is perfect for a Monday night celebration, dining over dry-aged sashimi, silken tofu, and grill-kissed meats.

1356 Allison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Visit Website

Tsubaki, Echo Park.

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Loreto

1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Somewhat hidden in Elysian Valley, Loreto is swanky enough for a special night but approachable enough for a Monday date. The cocktails, certainly heavy on agave, are far better than the standard combo-plate Mexican spot. And the seafood, pristine and seasoned with just the right amount of lime and chile, wouldn’t feel out of place on a Mexican beach. Make sure to share the zarandeado fish.

1991 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Visit Website

Dining area and part of the bar at Loreto. — Dining room of Loreto in Elysian Valley.

Bar Chelou

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Weekends are absolutely jam-packed at Pasadena’s Bar Chelou, a truly unprecedented mix of European and Californian flavors from talented chef Doug Rankin (ask a French person what chelou means, and it means ‘f**king weird’). Dive into the anchovies, the sprouting peas, or the merguez with toum, and it’s all just great on the plate. The fare is thought-provoking and fun without feeling too strange, and the service makes everyone feel special.

Open in Google Maps

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Visit Website

An assortment of plates from Bar Chelou in Pasadena, California. — Dishes from Bar Chelou in Pasadena.

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