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| AYCE at Osteria La Buca |
In addition to the regular menu, starting tonight and every Monday, Cooks County offers three-course comfort food menus for only $25. Things kick off with cheese straws, spaghetti and meatballs, and homemade Neapolitan ice cream, and upcoming menus feature winter chili and fried chicken (8009 Beverly Blvd.; 323-653-8009).
Tuesday
Poor Tuesday. It's such a non day in the span of a week, but don't let that stop you from finding some goodness in it. Happy hour has commenced at Next Door by Josie, the gastropubby spot next to Josie LeBalch's eponymous Santa Monica restaurant. There's a smattering of nibbles, including house-made pickles, the famous caramel popcorn, a short rib sandwich, deviled eggs with pork cracklins, dry-rubbed pork riblets and more. Cocktails are only $6 and there are several wines by the glass for $5 (2420 Pico Blvd.; 310-581-4201).
Wednesday
If clubbing is more your thing, SBE debuted a new Prohibition-themed nightclub, The Emerson Theatre, in Hollywood. Open to the uplic on Wednesday and Friday nights, the club has a vintage 20s look and speakeasy vibe, albeit one with table service, specialty cocktails, burlesque dancers and celebrity DJs (7080 Hollywood Blvd.; 323-525-2453).
Thursday
Sometimes winter eating is about comfort food, sometimes it's about the cleanse. M Cafe's new winter menu somehow manages to hit both with dishes like cannelini bean and kale salad, hearty winter stew, creamy broccoli soup and rooibos pumpkin spiced lattes. Or check out the new Refresh cleanse, a five-day macrobiotic food and beverage menu created to reset your system for $375 (7119 Melrose Ave.; 323-525-0588).
Friday
Grab six to 10 of your closest friends for an all-you-can-eat meal of salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and red wine at Osteria La Buca. It all goes down in the private room, hopefully the one with the fireplace upstairs, and you must reserve ahead of time. It's available daily but only one party per night will be accepted; $30 per person (5210 Melrose Ave.; 323-462-1900).
Saturday
Diablo Taco, that place that guy from Vice hated for being "pretentious," actually has some really tasty tacos, so we suspect brunch will be just as good. Now open from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, get things like white pozole, breakfast burritos stuffed with bison chili or braised beef cheeks, and churros with smoked dulce de leche. Wash it all down with micheladas or mimosas (3129 W. Sunset Blvd.; 323-666-4666).
Sunday
Get those forks and camera phones ready: DineLA starts tonight. The twice-a-year Restaurant Week features specially priced menus at more than 250 restaurants across the greater Los Angeles area. How will you decide where to go? Stay tuned for our picks.