Cleo has been a mainstay in Los Angeles for years. We started our love affair with the Mediterranean fusion restaurant years ago the first time we had dinner at its Hollywood location, but our obsession with it went to another level when Cleo Third Street opened its doors in December last year.
After attending the Third Street location opening and popping into menu tastings for the spring and summer this year, it only felt right to celebrate my birthday there with a girls’ night out dinner, and share why it’s one of our top places in the city to ring in a special occasion – with a candle-lit dessert, natch.
Take a peek at the five reasons we can’t get enough of Cleo (especially for big nights out):
1. The Food: There are a ton of nice restaurants in Los Angeles, but the menu at Cleo Third Street keeps us coming back for more. The menu items are meant to be shared, so make sure to order a variety of things to try when you go. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
So, what should you order? Our faves on the menu include the crispy, flavor-packed Moroccan fried chicken, irresistible brussels sprouts chips served in a coffee filter (some of the best brussel sprout chips we’ve ever had), the brik pastry-wrapped Spicy Cigars filled with beef and feta, the delicious, layered, crispy potato mille feuille, and any of the kebabs (go for the chicken, steak, salmon or shrimp kabobs if it’s your first time there).
2. The Cocktails: Cleo Third Street usually switches up its cocktail menu every season, but there is always a full list of tasty inventive libations on it. The Cassis and Desist, whipped up with Reposado Tequila, cassis, lime and ginger, topped our list of favorite cocktails in LA this year, for example. While that’s not a year-round cocktail, you can find everything from smoky mezcal concoctions to berry-infused vodka drinks to Irish Whisky cocktails with splashes of lemon and muddles of mint on the revolving seasonal cocktail menu throughout the year.
FAB Tip: Cleo Third Street has a daily happy hour from 5-7 p.m. and it’s worth the trip. Beer is $6, Cocktails are $9, and small bites like brussels sprouts and spicy cigars are $7-$8.
3. The Vibe: Although we’re head over heels for the cocktails and the grub, the vibe here makes the restaurant an even more special place to dine. The two-level, 6,000-square-feet restaurant, which comes complete with a spiral staircase, has a swanky, yet cozy feel.
Guests grab drinks from the main downstairs bar and cozy up in plush buffet seating with signature craft cocktails and wine before ordering up tables full of small plates. The smaller upstairs dining room also has its own full bar, and makes for a more intimate dining experience if you’re dining with a beau.
Don’t miss Cleo the next time you’re in LA, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or in the mood for a delicious – and fun – night out on the town.
Happy dining, Destination Fabbers!
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