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    Cara Restaurant

    4.0 (653 reviews)
    PriceyNew American
    Open 8:00 am - 10:30 pm

    Cara Restaurant Photos

    CARA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Cara Restaurant

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    Make me famous

    I love this place. The vibe, people and service are exceptional. Always best food and cocktails

    Alisa K.

    Came back recently for brunch and everything was as great as ever. Fresh flavors, amazing ambiance, and great service. Classic brunch or date night spot!

    Tomato and mozzarella
    Kim K.

    I made a reservation here wanting to celebrate a birthday, they were so amazing with accommodating the celebration. They gave us the best seat in the house with the view of the pool and restaurant, and even brought out a complimentary orange sorbet with a candle to celebrate. We ordered the tomato mozzarella which came with a medley of summer tomatoes, some salt and olive oil with 2 pieces of sourdough on the side. 7/10 The rigatoni arrabbiata I will say I was a little disappointed in, the spice level was perfect for me but may be a little spicy for others with a lower spice tolerance. It tasted like tomato sauce mixed with sriracha and chili flakes, not my favorite. 3/10 The Braised short rib wasn't dry had a beautiful display, it was topped with celery root puree, red mustard frills, and pickled turnips. 7.5/10 The Caesar salad was good but the taste of anchovy was a little strong. 6/10 The whipped potatoes were amazing, so creamy and perfectly salted. 10/10 Lastly , the espresso martinis weren't too strong and tasted great. The foam on top was perfect. 9/10

    Lemon shrimp pasta is to DIE for
    Tanya W.

    Ambience is perfect. Gorgeous. Absolutely. Food, absolutely love it. Take me back anytime. Service? Can be slow. But haven't exactly had a bad experience, I'd say. The bar? Fabulous. The kindest and drinks are delicious. I tried a new concoction of theirs that had way too much ginger and yakked and they were the sweetest and kindest about it even though I was completely mortified. And then? WE HAD DINNER THERE AGAIN RIGHT AFTER. AND I STILL LOVED THE FOOD! They close between lunch and dinner for a little bit fyi. The only knock? Valet parking. But what do you expect? It's LA

    Branzino w/ side salad and truffle pasta. Both delicious! The Branzino was cooked perfectly!
    J H.

    Came to Cara for dinner and had such an amazing experience! The atmosphere, food, and service were all incredible. Our waitress was so kind and attentive -- I can't remember her name, but she was from New York and gave us some of the best service! We ordered the branzino with the side salad, truffle pasta, and the cactus cocktail. The branzino was huge, perfectly split in half for me and my boyfriend, and honestly one of the best I've ever had. Everything was absolutely delicious. Definitely a spot we'd come back to.

    Make me famous cocktail and filet mignon
    Analiea M.

    I had my birthday dinner here and it was absolutely amazing. Thank you so much to the staff at Cara for such amazing hospitality. We arrived 10 mins late to our reservation but they had no problem seating us. The hostess was such a sweetheart and very helpful. You get transported to another world when you step in here. The ambiance is absolutely breath taking. To start we got the yellowtail crudo and oysters, and ceviche. All three were so fresh and delicious. We also got a couple of the make me famous cocktails and they were amazing. Not to mention the presentation is just as good as the taste. For our mains we got the fillet mignon and the whipped potatoes with kale and cabbage These have got to be my new favorite potatoes! From the delicious food and drinks down to the service, this place is truly great. The staff made me feel extremely special on my birthday! If you're looking for a romantic date night, a girls night or an intimate birthday dinner I recommend dinning at Cara.

    Mimi L.

    This is a pool side (pool is just a pond) restaurant at a boutique hotel near Thai town. We came in for brunch and got seated at a shaded table which was nice. The brunch menu was good with limited gluten free options. The restaurant was very cozy which was great for brunch times. I saw a lot of dining ppl with dogs. For food hubby had steak & eggs and I decided on caesar salad with shrimps. The corkage was a whopping $60! It was a bit much really. Yikes! To be honest I didn't like the food much, it was a little bland. The service was friendly but very very slow! It's great if you want to enjoy a slow brunch on a nice day but we had somewhere else to be! LOL It was still nice to try this beautiful outdoor restaurant though.

    Chia
    Amanda P.

    We stayed at the hotel so had the opportunity to dine here a few times. Small but beautiful space. Dining is inside a covered courtyard so weather is not an issue. Pleasing lounge-like music playing. Service is attentive but also discreet and gives you space. Speaking of space, the tables are nicely spaced so you don't feel like you are on top of the next person. Was able to converse with my party without a problem and without hearing other diners' conversations. Food was great. Enjoyed a breakfast of chia pudding and coffee. Fruit topping the pudding was fresh. Coffee was flavorful and not bitter. Lunch ceasar salad with salmon was outstanding. The greens were so fresh and the salmon was cooked just as requested. Dinner was just ok. Best thing here that we tried was the salad.

    Handmade Pappardelle Truffle Pasta w/Salmon
    Bryan H.

    Went to this place on a recommendation from a coworker give to my girlfriend! Such a hidden gem in an area of Hollywood you probably wouldn't want to spend too much time in! The dining area was lovely, with the pool serving as a nice centerpiece! The wait staff was very attentive and kind, giving us some recommendations on what to order cocktail/food wise. And the food itself was delicious; I had the handmade pappardelle truffle pasta with salmon, which was creamy and melted in my mouth, and my girlfriend had the rigatoni with chicken, which she loved. The drinks and dessert were also delicious! If you're looking for a nice night out, definitely check this one out!

    Bianka G.

    I came here about 4 years ago for dinner and this time for lunch, but the truth still remains...What a transformation! Again, This place was a forever rundown motel in East Hollywood and they turned this around fast. It's so beautiful that it literally pulls you away from East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and transports you into a European oasis. You can try to find street metered parking or pay $15 for valet (cash/card). Once you enter, you walk through the beautiful hotel lobby and wait at the host stand. You are then escorted to the outside seating. Some which is covered by glass ceiling. At The center of the space sits an idle pond/shallow pool as a water feature, which at night looks also looks super nice with the string lights. We came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon and they were pretty empty. There is also breakfast available but ends at 11am and brunch on the weekends. My friend and I ordered espresso martinis (wake up call) and the warm baked banana bread to start. It was indeed served warm and delicious with the dark chocolate. The creme fraiche was the cherry on top. Light and buttery and the best accompaniment. For lunch we split the Cara Cheeseburger which comes with fries and the avocado beet grapefruit salad. Everything was good and tasted as expected. Burger was cooked to our liking and I loved the hazelnuts in the salad that gave it some texture. We lastly cheered with some rose for 20 years of friendship. Overall, such a pleasant lunch date! Great spot for a cute catchup or romantic date night.

    Brooke I.

    Cara is one of my favorite restaurants in LA. I've celebrated so many meaningful moments here: Christmas Eve dinner with my family, my birthday dinner, and my going-away dinner with my closest friends, and every experience has been exceptional. The ambiance is unmatched: beautiful, effortlessly chic, and intimate. The food is consistently incredible (the lemon pasta alone is reason enough to come back) and the service is welcoming and attentive. The overall vibe makes every visit feel special. This is a place I'll always come back to!!

    salmon
    Celine K.

    the location is beautiful and i feel like the food has gotten even better since the last time i visited. i recommend trying the lemon pasta and the breakfast potatoes. they have a good amount of options on the menu. they have valet for $18 and limited street parking. recommend checking them out!

    Oysters
    Serenity M.

    I came here for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday and had such a great experience. The restaurant is inside a hotel, and when I walked in, I wasn't sure where my friends were sitting. I asked the host, and she was so sweet she didn't just point me in the right direction, she actually walked me to the table. That really stood out to me, that was super nice of her! Everyone we interacted with was super kind and attentive, from the host to our server and even other staff. The vibe of the place was so peaceful it honestly felt like a little getaway just for dinner. And the views? Absolutely stunning. The food was good too. I tried the ceviche, which was decent, I personally would've liked a little more juice for extra flavor, but it was still tasty. What really impressed me was the Mic Czech beer the server recommended. I ended up loving it! If you're into light or blonde beers, I definitely recommend trying that one. Parking can be a little tricky, but they offer valet for about $15. I took an Uber so I'm not sure if they take cash, but I believe they accept cards. Overall, such a nice spot. I'd for sure come back and would totally recommend it if you're looking to try somewhere new with good food, chill vibes, and beautiful views.

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    Cara Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cara Restaurant

    No prices on the menu. How much are items?

    if you look at the Yelp photos of menus there are prices listed

    Does this place accommodate larger parties of 8-10?

    Yes

    Is there valet parking during the day (during the lunch hour)?

    Yes there is

    What time is breakfast served until?

    11:00am

    What time does the lunch menu end?

    2:00pm

    For brunch do we need reservations or do they accept walk ins?

    Reservations is highly recommended, but they would do their best to accommodate walk-ins as best as they can. There is beautiful Bar that recently opened to enjoy and offers a full menu

    Is the restaurant 21+?

    no it is not

    What is the corkage fee?

    Hi Dennis - would it be possible to see a complete wine list? Your website has only by the glass. Harvey & Harriet at $24 a glass when it retails at $30 a bottle? Shame on you!

    How much is parking?

    There is street parking for $2/hr There was also valet but I can't recall the exact amount... $10-20?

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    Dogs are welcome provided they are leashed and well-behaved.

    Does this place do weekend brunch or just lunch and dinner?

    I think only lunch and dinner. Breakfast is available for hotel guests only

    View All 16 Questions

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    Running Goose

    Running Goose

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    This place was so good. I really loved the burger, the rosemary fries, and they have a great…read moreselection of drinks. My waiter was a foodie and he recommended a sour that was so good. There is both an indoor and somewhat outdoor area, so if you want something, a little quieter and high-end or more of a sports bar, they have both. I love the twinkly lights outside too. The service was fantastic. They were all efficient. I was on crutches so they sent me right away in a close spot surrounding area areas were so annoying and loud and nobody ever approached me the way this business did. They do it right.

    I've ordered from here numerous times on Uber Eats- they do have good food…read more HOWEVER, my mom sister and I went to the actual restaurant yesterday and it was honestly a completely bizarre experience. The restaurant was basically empty, but the man who "served" us was so weird and rude... he was acting as if he was extremely busy and the way he was speaking to me from the moment I walked in was extremely rude and lowkey aggressive. I ordered sparkling rose and he brought me what looked like prosecco- I said is this rose? He literally acted like I came in there every day annoying him or something... it was truly strange. He insisted it was rose (it wasn't rose colored ) Anyway it wasn't the rose that was the problem, it was the way this weirdo was acting. It's hard to explain it bc it was so weird but I was SO UNCOMFORTABLE I insisted we leave. By the way, we'd been there for five minutes. We went to superba instead and it was such a better vibe. Like night and day. Would not recommend dining in at running goose.

    Photos
    Running Goose
    Duck Confit Kak'ik- sublime
    Duck Confit Kak'ik- sublime
    Ribeye steak with black truffle butter and garlic kale.

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    Ribeye steak with black truffle butter and garlic kale.
    Linden

    Linden

    4.3
    (265 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Yall gotta try this delectable restaurant!!…read more Shout out to the Red Dining Book bc I never would have known about Linden, and I am so so glad it brought my friend and me here! The food is divine, the playlist on 100, the interior beautiful, chic, and homey at the same time. All the wait staff are so so friendly. We were able to find street parking but they do have $13 valet if you can't! We started with the Caesar brûlée which was solid, great presentation. 8/10 We next had the yucca fries in duck fat omg SO good. And I used to eat yucca literally every day when I lived in Paraguay. These fries were perfect GBD and the butter they come with? Absolutely heavenly. Perfect bite, perfect mouth feel, perfectly pillowy inside 10/10 Next we had the oxtail grilled cheese special. Yall, this was ooey gooey melty and the butter/oil/bbq sauce on the side was PERFECT for the sandwich. 9.5/10 for this We finished with the snapper and the agnolotti. The agnolotti was a great summertime dish;the corn and peas make it feel light. The agnolotti fell apart a little bit, but still delicious. 8.5/10 The snapper was perfectly breaded and cooked, and it came with the perfect accompaniments - the sauce, greens and fennel, and pink grapefruit rounded each other out perfectly. Great dish 9/10 I will definitely be bringing friends back here! It is a smaller restaurant, which adds to the homey feel. And my friend could not get over hearing Brandy and Janet in the same sitting. Truly great music!

    My friends, wife, and I had been looking forward to trying Linden for quite some time, so we made a…read moreFriday night reservation with high expectations. Unfortunately, we left feeling more disappointed than impressed. To start on a positive note, we were seated on time, and all four of our cocktails were well-made and enjoyable. Unfortunately, that's where the positives mostly ended. Our overall dining experience lasted over 2.5 hours, which was simply excessive. We were seated outside, and for most of the evening we appeared to be the only table outside being served. Despite that, everything moved at an incredibly slow pace. Several items we ordered were either never entered or never brought out, which only added to the frustration. For appetizers, the Caesar Brûlée was the biggest disappointment. It honestly tasted spoiled and had an unpleasant aftertaste that made it difficult to enjoy. The Curry Corn "Ribs" had a nice flavor, and the Lemon Pepper Brussels Sprouts were easily the favorite dish of the night. The $23 bread basket, consisting of two fish-shaped pieces of cornbread and four small pieces of focaccia, felt very overpriced for what was served. For our entrees, we ordered the For Goodness Steak and the Bama Smoke smoked chicken. The steak itself was cooked to the requested temperature and had good flavor, but it arrived only lukewarm, which took away from the experience. The smoked chicken breast was tender but lacked seasoning, and the Alabama white sauce wasn't what we'd expect from authentic Southern-style Bama sauce. We were also excited to try the restaurant's famous oxtail pot pie, but unfortunately it had already sold out by the time we arrived. What made the evening even more disappointing was the lack of hospitality. When we expressed our frustration about the long waits, we were told they were busy inside--as if sitting outside somehow explained or justified the delays. Had we been informed that outside service would be significantly slower, we could have made an informed decision or at least adjusted our expectations. Even more surprising, during a meal that lasted over two and a half hours, not one manager or member of leadership stopped by to apologize, check on our experience, or acknowledge the obvious service issues. Overall, the food was average at best, with a couple of standout appetizers, but nothing that justified the lengthy wait or made us eager to return. Service and hospitality are just as important as the food, and unfortunately both fell well short of expectations. Based on this experience, it's highly unlikely that we'll be back.

    Photos
    The perfect date night or intimate dinner
    The perfect date night or intimate dinner
    Lobster Frites
    Lobster Frites
    Plantain & Potatoe

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    Plantain & Potatoe
    Friends & Family

    Friends & Family

    4.1
    (339 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Wow wow wow. It's been a while since a bakery/brunch spot has impressed me so and for reasons I…read morevalue: the interior is homey but also like a massive cafeteria, the food is legit and special, and you can just tell the care they put into each pastry and dish. Short rib hash, tender and scrumptious -- who doesn't love a bread mop. But the buckwheat pancake floored me. As someone who always craves earthy and umami flavors, it hit the dang spot. Not too sweet, almost like a cross between a cornbread and a hot cake, fluffy, oh so crispy (presumably from the time spent in a scalding hot cast iron in the oven). And I haven't even gotten to the pastries yet. This is a place you come to to share everything and to wipe the plate clean.

    I was super bummed to see that most of their stuff was already sold, but hey, it was noon, and it's…read morejust proof that they make great stuff! The Morning Bun is the best! A crispy shell housing so many layers of chewy croissant-like dough. The Raspberry Fairy is light and lovely, and I enjoyed the muffins and a cookie as well. All delicious, but I think they truly excel at pastry, with all those beautiful layers. I can hardly ever drive to Hollywood, and I'm so happy to have had a chance to stop here. This bakery is clearly among the better ones in a city with a deep pool of talent, and I'd add that morning bun to my best-breakfast list.

    Photos
    Morning vibe.
    Morning vibe.
    Pork shoulder in red chili with scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheddar, pico de gallo and hominy in a whole wheat tortilla.
    Pork shoulder in red chili with scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheddar, pico de gallo and hominy in a whole wheat tortilla.
    Short rib and eggs

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    Short rib and eggs
    The Hollywood Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

    The Hollywood Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

    4.4
    (159 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    I had a lovely, quick meal last night at the Hollywood Rooftop Restaurant & Bar. I actually wish I…read morediscovered it sooner because it's great to pop into for drinks or eats before a screening at TCL or Egyptian Theatre down the street. It's really pretty on the rooftop plus has a fun vibe with a few wax figures around! Will Smith, James Dean, The Rock, Zendaya, Marilyn Monroe...a bunch of A Listers to dine around! lol! The staff was all so nice and kind here! I was actually really surprised to find such amazing staff at such a tourist type of spot. They were all just so great!!! The other clientele seemed to be coworkers there for happy hour, tourists popping by, then my friend and I! It was a good mix of people hanging out up there. I really liked the vibes. We went during happy hour which had a bunch of drink specials. I had a Mocktail which wasn't on the HH menu but it was so gorgeous and tasty! The Zombie ($12) had Grapefruit, lime juice, black iced tea, tiger's blood and was wonderful. I really appreciate when places put effort into their NA drinks. Also on the HH menu were a few food options and my friend had a $4 Steak Taco which he was happy with. I had the Box Office burger which was incredibly indulgent with A Cajun-spiced patty, balsamic onions, bacon jam, arugula and garlic aioli on a pretzel bun. Plus, they bring a little pan of melted blue cheese which they will pour tableside onto the burger for you. Cute! And I loved the burger. Who knew there was a great restaurant and bar on top of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on Hollywood Boulevard!? I didn't but now we ALL know~!

    Food is okay, nothing special. Food took too long though…read more Service is great they are all friendly and helpful. Place is nice and simple. I kinda like the ambiance. Would recommend trying but its for a one time thing not gonna keep on coming back.

    Photos
    The Hollywood Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
    Box Office Burger
    Box Office Burger
    Garlic Cheese Puffs with Tomato Bisque

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    Garlic Cheese Puffs with Tomato Bisque
    Darling

    Darling

    4.0
    (62 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    Came here for a quick dinner after doing some work at the Pacific Design Center. The…read moreambiance/aesthetic is super cute, feels upscale without feeling too "fancy". We sat in the lounge area and it was perfect. Got the ham appetizer, the burger, fries, and the raspberry sorbet dessert. Everything was incredible, one of the best burgers I've had in Los Angeles. Service was also great. I even called about an hour after I got home because I started getting a scratchy throat and realized I didn't specifically ask if there were strawberries in the raspberry sorbet (I'm allergic and that was completely my mistake for not double checking before I chowed down) but the host that answered was super nice, I could hear in the background her double checking with a server, who then even double checked with the kitchen to make sure they were giving me the correct answer which I really really appreciate. Side note, no strawberries in the sorbet I'll most definitely be returning here in the future.

    Came in for dinner on a Saturday night and the vibe was great. Loved the plush booth seating, super…read morecomfortable and made it easy to settle in for a long dinner. We ordered a bunch of cocktails along with a few glasses of red wine and champagne. The cocktails were definitely the highlight. We tried the Blackberry, Cucumber, Snow Pea, Tomato, and Daikon. The Tomato cocktail was my favorite by far -- savory, balanced, and not overly sweet. Blackberry was a close second, really refreshing and easy to drink. My first glass of champagne was unfortunately flat and pretty gross but to their credit they replaced it immediately once I mentioned it. Still, for an upscale restaurant, that was a little annoying to begin with. For food, we got the asparagus, burger, fries, abalone, and the bluefin tuna belly deviled eggs. The abalone was easily the standout dish of the night. Everything else ranged from just okay to forgettable. The burger sucked. Overall, I'd come back for drinks and would give the food another shot since the menu changes pretty frequently but this particular meal didn't totally hit for me.

    Photos
    Darling
    Grilled Bread
    Grilled Bread
    Darling

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    Lemon Grove

    Lemon Grove

    4.3
    (373 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Steak frites- 5 stars (A) Cacío Pepe- 5 stars…read more Service- 3 stars- the people are attentive but don't smile or engage much. It's feels passive aggressive.

    I made a reservation for Lemon Grove on a Saturday at 1:15 PM and was seated around 1:30. Despite…read morebeing short-staffed, the host was absolutely fantastic. He went above and beyond, helping clear tables, bringing us water, and making sure guests were taken care of while the restaurant was clearly stretched thin. After being seated, we waited quite a while for our server. I eventually noticed what I believe was a manager stop by our table to check on us and ask if we had any questions. Since we had been ready to order for some time, I asked if we could simply place our order with her. She was delightful, helpful, and very accommodating. We ordered the Brussels sprouts, breakfast potatoes, dinosaur kale salad, chicken sandwich, and burger. Everything was flavorful and delicious, but the burger was definitely my favorite. Combined with the beautiful weather and atmosphere, it made for a very enjoyable brunch. The biggest downside was the service speed. Our waiter was incredibly kind, but because the restaurant appeared to be understaffed, he was rarely able to stop by. There were long waits between ordering, receiving food, and getting assistance throughout the meal. It never felt like poor service from the staff themselves--it felt more like a staffing issue. towards the end, I had to remind the waiter that we were celebrating a birthday (it was in my notes, and two people in person were also told, but the waiter maybe forgot). When the tab came, I had to remind the waiter that I had already provided payment at the time of arrival. The delays continued when we were leaving. We needed parking validation and waited about 5-10 minutes because the host had stepped away and there was no one else available to assist. By the time we left, parking had cost us $33 for roughly 2.5 hours. Overall, the food, atmosphere, host, and manager were excellent, and the staff who were there worked hard under difficult circumstances. Had staffing been planned a little better, I suspect this would have been an easy 5-star experience and our visit would have taken closer to an hour or hour and a half instead of stretching much longer. Hopefully management addresses the staffing challenges, because the restaurant itself is definitely worth visiting.

    Photos
    Outdoor dining at the Lemon Grove
    Outdoor dining at the Lemon Grove
    SCALLOP CRUDO passion fruit agua chili, kumquat, asian pear, thai basil
    SCALLOP CRUDO passion fruit agua chili, kumquat, asian pear, thai basil
    Rooftop terrace

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    Rooftop terrace

    Cara Restaurant - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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