Animal

Walk into Animal on Fairfax and you’ll find yourself in a space that helped define modern LA dining. The brainchild of Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (the duo behind Jon & Vinny’s), this Beverly Grove spot opened in 2008 with a radical proposition: casual vibes, thumping hip-hop, and adventurous small plates meant for sharing. While it may no longer be the hottest reservation in town, it’s evolved into something equally valuable—a dependable neighborhood restaurant where the energy still crackles on weekend nights.

The menu rewards strategic ordering. Despite the restaurant’s carnivorous name, some of the most transcendent dishes are the vegetables. The ricotta gnudi are legendary—impossibly light dumplings that taste like butter-drenched clouds, served with whatever produce is in season. The roasted boniato yams arrive with crispy edges and impossibly creamy centers, balanced by tangy crème fraîche and herbaceous salsa verde. The hamachi tostada offers a welcome brightness, drawing from multiple culinary traditions without feeling confused.

Scoring a table is refreshingly easy these days, whether you’re planning ahead or popping in spontaneously. Grab a seat at the bar for a glass of wine and that famous bone burger, or settle into a table for a more leisurely progression of plates. The servers know the menu inside out and aren’t shy about steering you away from heavier dishes that might throw off your meal’s balance—take their advice.

Animal works best when you embrace it for what it’s become: a reliable spot for a fun dinner with excellent food, rather than a transformative culinary experience. Order the gnudi, explore the vegetable offerings, trust your server’s recommendations, and you’ll walk out having had exactly the kind of satisfying meal that keeps a neighborhood coming back.