There may be no hotter place to hang out east of the LA River right now than Capri Club at the edge of Eagle Rock and Highland Park. This aperitivo bar leans into snackable Italian bites and lots of fun pours, making it a natural draw for a younger, hipper crowd. —Farley Elliott

4604 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

(707) 337-0170

Evan Funke has been quietly executing Roman dishes at his Venice restaurant Felix with the intent of doing something completely focused on the Italian capital. Now Mother Wolf is open, and the reservations book is thick with people waiting to nab a table inside the gorgeous, regal dining room. The early word is almost exclusive positive on the food, with ricotta-filled squash blossoms, rigatoni all’amatriciana, and thin-crusted mortadella pizza filling Instagram posts. —Matthew Kang

Chef Lincoln Carson’s Mes Amis is a moody Hollywood hangout that comes with a redemption story. The former Bon Temps chef is back doing brasserie food with a bit of flair along one of the city’s busiest new restaurant blocks. Be sure to stick around for dessert. —Farley Elliott

Chef Ricardo Zarate is back in the Silver Lake swing with Causita, an upscale-cool Sunset Boulevard restaurant devoted to Nikkei cuisine. The Japanese-Peruvian hotspot is sure to be a hit with locals who crave a good cocktail and a great patio, not to mention the wide array of grilled meats, lobster dumplings, and variety of seafood preparations. —Farley Elliott

The lines grow early at Kuya Lord in Melrose Hill. This tiny shop from chef Maynard Llera is the work of years of waiting and pop-ups, cooking some of LA’s best Filipino food wherever he could. Now Llera and co. have a place to call their own, and the word is very much out. —Farley Elliott

Indian food and Italian American fare. The match didn’t seem obvious but somehow it works at this sports bar space in Silver Lake. Think makhini pizza with tomato, spices, and cream, blistered chicken wings with Kashmiri red chiles and garam masala, or malai rigatoni with tomato masala, cream, and coriander. —Matthew Kang

It’s unusual for a space like Alma to exist at the Grove, the normally staid outdoor mall where chain restaurants go to thrive. This two-story stunner is serious about its food, thanks to Grupo Hunan, the powerhouse culinary group out of Mexico City that has set up shop here in Los Angeles. Stop by for ground floor casual tacos, and then head upstairs for a more organized meal. —Farley Elliott

Manzke is the new upstairs option above Bicyclette that comes from Margarita and Walter Manzke of Republique fame. This definitely luxe dinner spot offers plenty of big (and expensive) wines to go along with a tasting menu that rides through truffles, caviar, and seasonal dishes — all meant to delight the city’s more discerning set. —Farley Elliott

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

(424) 500-9575

William Joo trained at Providence, Pizzana, and Ronan before opening this sleek, minimalist pizzeria in Pico-Robertson with wife and partner Jennifer So. Right now it’s one of the only Tokyo-style Neapolian pizza spots in town, with blistered wood-fired pizzas and a slew of Italian appetizers to start. —Matthew Kang

Legendary carnitas vendo “Momo” Acosta has opened a permanent physical location in Monterey Park after decades serving in Boyle Heights and South Central. With some of the city’s most celebrated pork tacos, El Momo now has six-day-a-week service with a relaxed dining area and even some parking spots. —Matthew Kang

Mid-City’s thoughtful new N/soto has been a long time coming. The follow-up project from the N/naka team of Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama is a beautiful balance of show and substance, marrying izakaya flavors and raw fish preparations with a dim, sleek dinnertime interior that is sure to be booked for months to come. —Farley Elliott

Chef Chris Bianco is back, ready to take on Los Angeles anew with signature pizzas and California sides that only this Phoenix phenomenon could pull off. While the restaurant is still leaning into daytime lunch hours and more New York-style by the slice option, expect big things for the more robust dinner section as time goes on. —Farley Elliott

The new Kodo in the Arts District is distinct in so many ways, from the severe, artistic dining areas to the comforting Japanese fare put down on the plate by chef Yoya Takahashi. This spare, thoughtful restaurant, with its long outdoor patio and warm cafe and sake bar up front, is part of a larger plan to completely flip a former firehouse into a serene hotel and spa stay. —Farley Elliott

710 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021

(213) 302-8010