Gnaw: Spot of 2019

In a food-focused city like Los Angeles, selecting a favorite restaurant is nearly impossible. Food trucks, corner stands, strip mall dives, fast-casual options, and upscale dining lingers around every single corner. With so many options, the exercise of finding something to explore can be overwhelming. Then you stumble across a gem like Breva Restaurant and you remember why you love the search for the perfect meal in the first place. Of all the meals I had last year, this was my favorite. For that, they are easily my Top Spot of 2019.

The Stage: Breva Restaurant sits on the first floor of Hotel Figueroa near LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. Modern, clean, simple, and sophisticated are the first words that come to mind when trying to describe the space. For us, we took it all in from the comfort of the bar. Arriving well before our reservation time, we sipped cocktails and found relief from the week that was before being invited into the restaurant.

The Food: For a starter, we ordered the Fig Style Spinach Dip with Parmigiano-Reggiano, Artichoke Hearts and Chips. The dip was smooth, creamy, and demanded to be devoured. When there are two people, you’re supposed to evenly split the appetizer. Well, this stuff was so good, I am afraid there might have been a 60–40% split in my favor.