Santuari Restaurant is a Date Night Oasis in Sprawling Los Angeles
In a city like Los Angeles, it’s easy to fall prey to flashy FOMO restaurants that promise celebrity sightings run by unwilling front hosts who seat you way past your reservation and then push you out before you’ve finished your dessert. Are you craving for something better? Santuari restaurant has been beating to the rhythm of its own drum since 2019, and it’s definitely found its groove. See why this Ibiza-inspired enclave is precisely what you need to spice up your date night.
*Santuari Restaurant sponsors this post, but the opinions belong solely to EatDrinkLA.
The Location
Santuari restaurant is nestled inside the Toluca Lake Tennis Club, and I can almost guarantee you’ve passed it without knowing what you’re missing. Its home on Forest Lawn Drive is the gateway to Los Angeles if you’re coming from the Eastside. While technically Toluca Lake, it’s also just below the East Hollywood Hills and Universal City area.
The restaurant space is Mediterranean-inspired, with bright whites and exposed wood beams. The Bar in the front is a preview of what’s to come, in delicious beige and amber hues, before you’re ushered into the stately white dining room that feels like it comes from another century.
If you’re looking for more privacy, the back dining space beneath the Ottoman arches is an entirely different world. Lush green walls and dark velvet booths keep you away from prying eyes while you can gaze out undisturbed at the lively main dining room. One can’t help but think of the painting La Grande Odalisque by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres when in this space.
The Menu at Santuari Restaurant
The menu at Santuari Restaurant by Chef Seth Greenburg changes seasonally and doesn’t subscribe to any restaurant dogmas. The menu doesn’t designate Appetizers and Entrées; rather, you get to decide how you’d like to craft your meal for the evening. Perhaps it’s several small dishes or just a large plate? The choice is yours.
An Artisanal Cheese Plate or Mezze Platter is a great way to whet the appetite, but it could also be the main event with a bottle of carefully curated wine by General Manager and Head Sommelier Sean Anderson.
All the dishes from this scratch kitchen offer a different taste of the world, imbued with the ingredients of California, from Diver Scallops with little potatoes to a Pork Ragout with hand-torn pasta, parmesan reggiano, house-made ricotta, and lemon zest.
Clams with n’duja, white wine, Calabrian chili, and served with grilled bread are reminiscent of a night in Granada. At the same time, the Rock Shrimp Beignets with old bay seasoning, dill, and tabasco aioli will have you feeling the ocean breezes off the Atlantic.
If you’d like to include one of the Larger Plates, the Iberico Pork Schnitzel is both delicious and eclectic, as this might be the only kitchen in Los Angeles where you will be enjoying a kimchi spatzle fusion of Korean and German cultures.
You also can’t go wrong with a decadent 28-oz Bone-in Ribeye. It’s served with chimichurri, horseradish, sea salt, and popovers and is perfect for the whole table.
If you’re feeling decadent, select something from the Chef’s Stash, which starts with Hand Cut Fries and can be accompanied by Shaved Black Truffle or Kaluga Caviar if you so choose.
End your meal on a sweet note with something from the Dessert menu. The Churros are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the Frozen Baby Bananas are a cheeky dessert that is perfect for two.
What to Drink at Santuari Restaurant
The Wines by the Glass are heavily dominated by European regions, which keeps with the theme of the restaurant. You can enjoy a glass of Sparkling Wine from Italy, Spain, or France depending, on if your palate prefers Prosecco, Cava, or Champagne.
Wines by the Bottle choices feature multiple regional choices along with selections that span the globe, and the sommelier will go out of his way to ensure you have the perfect one.
You’ll also find a variety of Bottled Beer and Cider as well as Non-Alcoholic Beverages like Mexican Coke and an Arnold Palmer – perhaps the only nod to the neighboring tennis club.
The Cocktail Program by Mixologist Michael Garcia is simply fantastic and changes every three months to match the seasons. The Specialty Cocktail Combinations are dazzling with punny names to match, and they represent the city of Los Angeles as a whole.
You’re the Shishito is made with house-infused blistered shishito gin, lemon, lychee, bergamot liquor, and petite cane syrup. It’s dangerously delicious and offers just the right amount of heat.
The crowd-pleasing Main Squeeze is Santuari’s interpretation of a Lemon Drop but with yuzu and apricot liquor. If you’re a fan of Mezcal, the Bean There Done That sweetens the smoke with black bean-infused mezcal, orange liquor, and the ever-controversial herb: cilantro.
If you can still see straight, be sure to order a Limoncello or Coffee Liquor to end your night. They’re both house-made right here in Toluca Lake.
Happy Hour at Santuari Restaurant
I know what you’re thinking, “How will I possibly taste all those cocktails in one date night?” The answer is – Happy Hour, which takes place Wednesday to Friday night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Bar area.
There’s a special Happy Hour menu that features culinary delights which aren’t available in the main dining room and all under $13. Recommendations include the Albacore Tostada with avocado, coconut milk, and serrano and the Chicharon, which crackles as you drizzle the soy black vinegar on top.
The Smoked Salmon Dip with cucumbers and crackers is a great shareable item if you’re dining with someone who you want to eat clean with, while the Peri Peri Wings let you get a little more messy.
House Red, White, and Sparkling Wines are just $10, and the pièce de résistance Happy Hour Seasonal Cocktail is $14.
Why I love Santuari
You can tell a lot about a restaurant by the desire the team behind it has to come in every day and represent – and that’s exactly what you find at Santuari. Owner Spencer Ramsey has complete trust in everyone, both in the front and back of house, and that resonates with the diners who can’t help but love the restaurant as much as the people who run it.
Santuari Restaurant feels like a treasure that’s only discovered after you’ve lived in Los Angeles for long enough, but you know it would be selfish to keep it to yourself. It’s the perfect spot for date night or impressing fellow Angelenos who feel like they’ve seen and done it all.
When to Visit
Santuari Restaurant is open Wednesday and Thursday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday night from 5 to 8 p.m.
Happy Hour takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Bar area Wednesday to Friday.
The restaurant is located at 6711 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles, 90068. Reservations can be made directly on their website or by email. The phone number is 323-902-9700.
Parking is Free, which is about as rare in Los Angeles as this very special restaurant.
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