For many of us, shopping on Black Friday is akin to visiting Disneyland during Grad Night. Why would you put yourself through the claustrophobic, panic-inducing clusterfuck that is The Grove on the morning after Thanksgiving? Is half off a jacket at Zara worth losing five years of your life from the stress?
Still, we love a good deal, and we love food, which is why we're thankful these restaurants are offering discounted Black Friday drinks and dishes to soothe our turkey hangover.
Hostaria del Piccolo: Visit one of Hostaria del Piccolo's locations—Santa Monica or Venice—on Black Friday and all your food might be, well, blackened. Available as both a la carte items or as a tasting menu ($30 per person), chef Bobo Ivan is making three new black dishes and a black cocktail: a black kale salad ($11), black tagliolini pasta with black tiger shrimp ragu ($15), black cod ($24) and a black licorice vodka cocktail ($13).
Messhall: This Los Feliz staple is getting creative with their Thanksgiving leftovers with a "Turkey Sammich" cocktail. But before you start heaving, let it be known: this drink is made with Wild Turkey (duh), Geijer Glogg, pumpkin syrup and lemon juice. Best of all, it's $5 all day long.
The Whisper Restaurant & Lounge: If you do find yourself struggling through suffocating crowds at The Grove, take a break at The Whisper Restaurant & Lounge. Their happy hour prices are available the entire day—11:30am to 6pm—and include $5 beer, $7 well drinks, $9 martinis and a selection of snacks to refuel. We're partial to the filet mignon skewers ($9) and bacon cheddar twists ($7).
If you'd rather spend your money on clothes than food, check out our picks for what to buy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.