Cafe Birdie

Walking into Cafe Birdie feels like stepping into a wealthy relative’s charming French provincial home. The Highland Park spot features a warm main dining room with scattered marble tables beneath wooden beams, creating an atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. Before settling in for dinner, make your way through the patio to Good Housekeeping, a hidden speakeasy tucked away in a detached building out back where exceptional cocktails await.

The menu might seem eclectic at first glance, spanning from steak tartare toast to fried chicken to pork ragu, but everything shares a common thread: pure, soulful comfort. The Moroccan-spiced fried chicken arrives with mysterious, magical seasoning that defies explanation. The pork cheek ragu features impossibly tender meat over perfectly al dente noodles—it’s the kind of dish that demands your attention. And those braised meatballs swimming in their potato puree? That alone is worth the trip.

Cafe Birdie strikes an impressive balance between casual comfort and date-night sophistication. You could bring your parents here for a memorable dinner just as easily as you could gather friends at the bar for cocktails and conversation. The patio seating adds another dimension, making it perfect for those Los Angeles evenings when you want to dine under the open sky.

Whether you’ve had a rough week or you’re celebrating something special, this Highland Park gem delivers the kind of dining experience that makes everything feel right. Skip the steak tartare toast (the citrus notes don’t quite land) and head straight for that pork cheek ragu and black pepper tagliatelle. Your soul will thank you.