Casa Leo

This slightly inconsistent Spanish-inspired restaurant in Los Feliz comes from Jose Andrés Group alum Joshua Whigham. The chef-driven cuisine is great here, but the service is hit-or-miss—and at a time when even a more casual night on the town for two easily costs over $150, every forgotten item in an order or a noticeably long wait between dishes really counts. That being said, compared to most other Spanish restaurants in L.A., Casa Leo actually knows how to put together a decent plate of tapas. There’s acorn-fed jamón ibérico and a tasty tomato dish laden with tomato conserva. For the budget-conscious crowd, Whigham serves up flatbreads called cocas with a light, crispy crust similar to an Italian pinsa. I particularly enjoyed the trout en escabeche inspired by Basque chef Martin Berasategui and the painstakingly crafted cheesecake (a hybrid between New York and Basque).