Spartina

Tucked away on one of West Hollywood’s busiest strips, Spartina hides behind a fortress of potted plants that makes finding the entrance feel like discovering a secret garden. Once you’re past the greenery, you’ll find yourself in a festive outdoor space strung with lights and warmed by heat lamps—the kind of place where everyone seems comfortable and the wine flows freely at the bar as the evening unfolds.

The menu leans into crowd-pleasing Italian comfort food without trying to reinvent the wheel. Start with the bread and whipped ricotta drizzled with honey for a touch of sweetness, then move on to the pizzas and pastas that form the heart of Spartina’s appeal. The pork collar ragu stands out as a satisfying, unpretentious plate of pasta that reminds you why simple combinations of cheese, red sauce, and noodles became classics in the first place. The pepperoni pizza with its honey and chili oil topping offers an unexpectedly addictive sweet-heat combination.

This is the restaurant you recommend when your group chat is going in circles and nobody can commit to a plan. It’s centrally located, accommodates big parties easily, and serves food that keeps everyone happy without anyone complaining. The atmosphere works for early dates where you don’t want anything too intense, dinners with parents who appreciate a nice patio, or catching up with friends over shared plates.

Save room for the walnut pie—it’s the one dish that transcends “perfectly good” and enters genuinely memorable territory. Spartina may not be the most adventurous choice on Melrose, but sometimes dependable and delicious is exactly what the situation calls for.