When it comes to where to eat, no one knows better than chefs. And in Los Angeles, chef Josef Centeno ranks among the best. The James Beard Award-nominated chef has led his tasting menu temple Orsa & Winston to one MICHELIN star as well as the Los Angeles Times’s restaurant of the year in 2020. His Bar Amá, a more casual Tex-Mex-focused spot, has received accolades from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and more.
When Centeno isn’t overseeing his two popular restaurants, he’s dining around town. Here are some of his Los Angeles favorites.
Rappahannock Oyster Bar @ The Row DTLA
What to expect: Locally sourced, ethically fished, and responsibly farmed ingredients in a plethora of seafood options downtown.
What Centeno says: “Northeast-style seafood joint — we did team lunches here pre-pandemic.”
Rossoblu
What to expect: Award-winning Italian fare in a grand, industrial space downtown.
What Centeno says: “We’ve done team dinners here, and the food and service are always great.”
Terroni
What to expect: Southern Italian fare in a glamorous, West Hollywood space.
What Centeno says: “I was a regular at the Downtown location. Love the cocktails and the squid.”
All Day Baby
What to expect: A hip, all-day Southern-Californian restaurant in Silver Lake.
What Centeno says: “[Owners] Lien & Jonathan are wonderful; their food and service is always good. Pastries are awesome.”
Salt & Straw
What to expect: Playful ice cream with flavors that range from honey lavender to buttermilk pancakes with bacon and eggs.
What Centeno says: “Consistent, delicious ice cream in DTLA.”
