Bacari Silver Lake

This Eastside outpost of a Mediterranean upscale-casual chain is best known for its shareable Israeli-inspired small plates, happy hour discounts and a nightly 90-minute open bar. Lined with huge trees, several types of plants and wrought-iron fencing, Bacari Silver Lake’s patio invokes a more romantic, grown-up Rainforest Café without the overpriced, humdrum food and scores of gleeful children running around. Most Bacari outposts have charming patio set-ups—I also like West Third and Sherman Oaks for outdoor dining—but the Silver Lake location has the best one, by far. Dinner dishes like mejadra, shawarma tacos and fried chicken sliders complement the relatively affordable $17 cocktails, which include mimosas, bellinis and Bloody Marys during brunch.