One of the more exciting things about
Bestia's opening last weekend is having more really great cocktails in the Downtown LA scene, especially in the burgeoning warehouse district near
Tony's Saloon,
Church & State and
Little Bear. As with most Bill Chait-backed spots like Sotto, Playa and Rivera, Julian Cox is leading the boozy charge with creative Italian-inspired though straightforward cocktails, many featuring digestifs like Campari (the Rome With a View is a super refreshing quaff) and seasonality (the Arts District takes on the Manhattan with persimmon-infused rye).
After dinner, we sat at that nice long bar and sipped on the Sling (St. George Botanivore gin, Benedictine, Cherry Herring and seltzer), which was perfect after plates of beef heart tartare, mussels with chef Ori Menashe's house-made nduja, handmade chestnut pasta with poached egg, and braised pork and veal ribs with winter greens and cabbage. Bestia is now open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday nights.
