Botanica Named Top 10 in Los Angeles
The sunlight-dappled patio at Botanica has served as backdrop for an untold number of fabulous Instagram posts. You could probably spend hours people-watching at the aspirational all-day restaurant and marketplace that Heather Sperling and Emily Fiffer opened in a remodeled Silver Lake liquor store, but better to focus on the vibrant, produce-driven artistry happening in the kitchen. Like that stylish party-throwing friend who also happens to be an amazing cook, the two food-writing veterans excel at creating dishes that are both effortless and craveable. Soft-roasted kuri squash, luxuriant in brown butter and fried sage, arrives boosted with a dollop of burrata and a nest of lemony chicories. Ground lamb kabobs seasoned with Aleppo pepper ballast a salad of sharp raw herbs, but it’s the perky sumac yogurt that steals the show. A slim percentage of us have the leisure time (or budget) to linger over an Aperol spritz and soft-scrambled eggs with caramelized leeks each morning, but at Botanica that lifestyle feels nearly within reach. (1620 Silver Lake Blvd. Silver Lake)