Reservations Worth Making: Linden 

As a New York lover at heart, I cannot recommend Linden enough. Something about it transports me to the city. The atmosphere is sexy and mysterious, the music is 10/10 vibey, and it is definitely an after-5 spot, whether you’re going for drinks and apps or sitting down for a full dinner.

I started with the herbed duck fat fries, which were divine. Dipping them into the lemon caviar aioli was a combination I had never experienced before, but it just worked.

For my entrée, I had the Fish Nahgril, which was delicious. The kingfish was light, clean, and crispy, served over a yuca and sweet plantain hash. I already love plantains, but paired with the yuca, it was especially good. The whole dish felt like an ode to the Caribbean.

My cousin ordered the off-menu special, an oxtail grilled cheese, and this was the dish that really made me melt. I had probably only had oxtail twice in my life before this, so I wasn’t expecting to love the combination as much as I did. It was rich, comforting, and crazy good.

For my drink, I ordered the raspberry sour. It was a little sweeter than I typically like my cocktails, but still enjoyable.

Linden is forever on my list of restaurants to frequent. It feels like one of those places that has become part of the culture, and their bar next door, dot, is easily one of my favorite spots for a night out in Los Angeles.

LINDEN
Hollywood, Los Angeles
Best for: Dinner, date night, drinks
Don’t miss: Duck fat fries
After: A drink at dot