Your favorite restaurants
Wilde's, FOUND subscriber favorite restaurants, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Los Feliz Hills real estate, Purity Organic Spa, PISCES Bar & Seafare, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Wilde life
By 530p on a recent rainy Saturday night, a long line of hopeful diners formed outside the door of Wilde’s, the new British-inspired restaurant on the corner of Russell and Hillhurst Avenues in Los Feliz. The restaurant glows through its windows from the soft warm light of candles, every coveted seat occupied. Upon finally reaching the host stand, some of those in line are told that a table would be available in three and a half hours, making that cozy dining room somehow glow even more.
In late October, childhood friends Tatiana Ettensberger and chef Natasha Price opened the doors of the spot they’d been dreaming up since they were kids. Thirty years after those dreams, Wilde’s has come to life at just the right time, in a neighborhood clearly hungry for it. “It’s a phenomenon!” says Ettensberger, who seems genuinely shocked by its reception.
Inside, tables are close together, and no one seems to mind. The tight list of low-intervention wines by the glass make choosing what to drink easy and quick. Ettensberger previously worked as general manager and wine buyer for natural wine bar Cafe Triste, and the list reflects it with a small selection of wines from producers she’s known for years. For such a buzzy new restaurant, the vibe is incredibly grounded. Ettensberger says most of the decor is from their own houses or their parents’ houses.
Humbly described in few words on the menu — ‘Welsh rarebit,’ ‘bangers and mash,’ ‘battered skate and mint,’ ‘meat pie for two’ — the food is both of LA and the taverns of rural England. A meal might start with kanpachi crudo topped with thinly sliced fennel and horseradish, or bright and bitter chicory salad with satsumas, toasted hazelnuts, and sheep’s curd. These produce-driven small plates are welcome counterpoints to the rich British fare that follows. The bangers are made brat style with whole mustard seeds, and the addition of sweet mostarda complements the traditional dish. It’s very difficult to decide between Eton mess and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Wilde’s is not reinventing the wheel but instead making the kind of food that, based on the hopeful diners waiting outside, everyone wants to eat. Its appeal is in the simplicity and nostalgia and the romance of a sweet, little candlelit restaurant that conjures happy memories of travels to Europe, date nights, and dinners filled with laughter. –Heather Platt
→ Wilde’s (Los Feliz) • 1850 Hillhurst Ave • Bakery Wed-Sat 8a-1p, dinner Wed-Sat 530-1030p • Reserve (“primarily walk-in”).
Photo: Kort Havens
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Seoul-based Korean restaurant Hojokban opens in the Arts District • The Brothers Sushi replacing Sushi Kiyono in Beverly Hills • LA sandwich-staple Uncle Paulie’s opening new location in Echo Park soon • Chicken caesar wrap kings Ggiata opens 6th location in Brentwood • What your restaurant merch says about you.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three properties in Los Feliz Hills that have come to market in the past 21 days.
→ 4022 Braeburn Way (Los Feliz, above) • 3BR/3BA, 3103 SF house • Ask: $2.499M • ‘The Industrial House’ designed by architect Robert James Elder, with panoramic skyline views • Annual taxes: $12,652 • Days on market: 20 • Agent: Hector Perez, Coldwell Banker.
→ 4799 Bonvue Ave (Los Feliz) • 3BR/3BA, 2272 SF house • Ask: $2.85M • austere 1960s design, first time on market in 65 years • Annual taxes: $28,064 • Days on market: 15 • Agent: Brian Ades, Sotheby’s.
→ 4778 Bonvue Ave (Los Feliz) • 4BR/5BA, 4300 SF house • Ask: $6.249M • restored Spanish Colonial with original details • Annual taxes: $48,016 • Days on market: 16 • Agents: Dorothy Carter & Michael Orland, Keller Williams.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: First rebuilt house in Pacific Palisades receives letter of occupancy • SoCal home values rose slightly in October • Meet the new owner of the Hobbit Houses, real estate agent Michael Libow • Brooklyn-based menswear boutique Corridor opening 3rd LA store on Echo Park Ave • Alo Yoga buys Beverly Hills office building for new HQ • Black Friday roundups: Girls of a Certain Age, Magasin, The Bittman Project.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Inside job
LILAH RICHCREEK ESTRADA • actress
Neighborhood you work in: Hollywood
Neighborhood you live in: Beachwood Canyon
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m filming season two of A Man on the Inside at Paramount Studios (available now on Netflix -ed.). I’m called into work at around 5 or 530a, and my first stop is the hair and makeup trailer. I’ll spend about an hour in there. It’s a lot of chatting and catching up with everyone, and sometimes, I’ll run lines with Ted [Danson] or other cast members I have scenes with that day. Once that’s done, I head back to my trailer, get dressed, and then review the immediate upcoming scene until I’m called to set. Once there, we’re shooting the scenes until we take a break for lunch, which is usually around 1 or 2. Then, it’s back to set until we wrap for the day. The days are often long, and I’m usually there about 12 hours.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’m not filming the show, but preparing to shoot some social media content at my house tomorrow to start promoting it. I’m currently at a new local nail salon in the canyon called Nashville Nails. It’s stunning in here. After I’m finished, I’ll head back home and spend some time with my six-month-old baby, before my writing meeting to go over some notes for a script I wrote. I’ll end my day with a family walk around our neighborhood before putting the baby down and hoping for a good night’s sleep!
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
We may go to one of our favorite spots, the restaurant at the Cara Hotel in Los Feliz, for dinner. Cara Restaurant serves American food, and sitting in their outdoor courtyard feels like you’re in Mykonos. We love a glass of The Better Half wine along with oysters. Their Caesar salad is also excellent, as well as their lemon pasta. If we’re up for it, we may also visit Lolo Wine Bar. Those are our two go-tos.
Any weekend getaways?
We’ll be going to Newport Beach soon. We like to go down there a lot because my husband’s father has a house we stay at. It’s super relaxed: We’ll take some walks on the beach, stroll the Newport Beach Farmers’ Market on Sunday, and have breakfast at Haute Cakes Cafe.
What was your last great vacation?
We love to travel, and pre-baby, we did a lot! Most recently, we visited the town of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. We stayed at a boutique hotel called Casa de Sierra Nevada, which was amazing. We spent four days sightseeing within the city itself. We did a tequila tasting at Casa Dragones, which included an architectural tour of the home it was held in. The location was a key spot during the Mexican Revolution, which made it pretty cool all around. As far as meals, the city is known for its rooftop restaurants, but the two standout ones we visited were La Unica and Quince.
What store or service do you always recommend?
My facialist, Carol, at Purity Organic Spa in Universal City, is the best. I typically get the Phyto Collagen Renewal Facial. I love that she only uses organic products.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
We got the whole Nuna travel situation (it’s called the Mixx Next + Pipa Aire RX Travel System to be exact) for travel with our baby. It’s super easy to maneuver and get around with.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I make a recurring donation to the Environmental Working Group. It’s an advocate group that creates a ratings system for products to see how healthy they are for your face and skin.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Rivalry Week
UCLA v USC • Coliseum (Exposition Park) • Sat @ 430p • Section 106, $401 per
Mavs v Lakers • NBA Cup • Crypto.com Arena (Downtown) • Fri @ 7p • Section 100, $891 per
Raiders v Chargers • SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) • Sun @ 125p • Sec C113, $529 per
GETAWAYS • Las Vegas
Oceans of opulence
The Skinny: The Wynn Hotel’s newest restaurant, PISCES Bar & Seafare, is a new Mediterranean seafood spot opened in May on the hotel’s bottom floor, directly in front of the Lake of Dreams.
The Vibe: A massive round bar stacked with seafood on ice commands attention as you step into the dining room. Globe-shaped chandeliers and light fixtures hang throughout, while black and gold mosaic-tiled floors make the whole place sparkle. From oversized hand-painted pottery with imagery of Greek gods to the bright blue wall adorned with crystal fish and golden orbs, it’s a room that leaves an immediate impression. The energy’s high and buzzing, while ebullient servers are knowledgeable about both the menu and concept.
The Food: Bountiful seafood platters with dry ice for drama. Crudo, caviar, and whimsical dishes like bass ceviche make for entertainment: the fish is arranged in a circle before lime, corn, and jalapeno dressing is poured in the center, finished with a fishbone-shaped cheese cracker. For mains, expect more clever presentations of well-cooked fish with sauces that enhance rather than overwhelm. Steaks are also done right, and dessert leans playful: If Fishes Were Wishes is their chocolate cake set atop white chocolate “fish bones.”
The Drink: A cocktail menu that reads like a mythological storybook with elaborate concoctions on every page. The Spirit of the Sea, a hot-and-dirty martini, delivers on both accounts. For something sweeter, the Aquamarine is a melon-based blue sangria. If it’s wine you’re after, enlist the knowledgeable sommelier, Daneli, to guide you through their worldly wine list.
The Verdict: In true Vegas fashion, it’s bold and expensive, but with spot-on food, impeccable service, and take-note design, PISCES is worth it. If you’re there when it’s not sweat-through-your-shirt hot, opt for a table on the patio to catch the nightly Lake of Dreams show, a fantastical multimedia production set against a 45-foot waterfall. –Dyana Lederman
→ PISCES Bar & Seafare (Las Vegas, NV) • 3131 Las Vegas Blvd • Sun-Thu 5-10p, Fri-Sat 5-1030p, bar opens 430 daily • Reserve.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Reconsidering San Francisco chef Gary Danko • In Seaside, chatting with Maligne chef Klaus Georis.
ASK FOUND
Three PROMPTS for which we seek your immediate attention:
Which bar or restaurant are you booking for your company’s holiday party?
Where are you sourcing your Christmas tree?
Where will you celebrate New Year’s Eve?
Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES • The Nines
Top 9 restaurants
We’ve been asking new subscribers to tell us their favorite restaurant right now since FOUND LA launched in November 2003. Over two years in, we’ve come to a few conclusions: 1) FOUND readers have good taste and 2) Los Angeles has a lot of great restaurants. Here, the most-named spots:
