Destination dining in L.A. used to occur mostly at the high end or the low, said Andrew Knowlton in BonAppetit.com. Besides “glitzy spots for Hollywood types,” the city has also long been home to marvelous, budget-friendly Thai, Vietnamese, and Mexican joints. But a new scene is emerging in the middle ground, “geared less toward the celeb crowd and more toward discerning Angelenos in search of thoughtful food and drink.” If you care to walk among them, here are a few spots worth planning a weekend around.
Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant Forget New York’s contenders: This family-run institution is “the best Jewish deli in America.” Be sure to try the sandwich that earned Langer’s a James Beard Award: “warm, not-too-lean pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on thick slices of rye.” 704 S. Alvarado St., (213) 483-8050
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